2nd week in Lent, Tuesday – 15th March 2022 – Mt 23,1-12
To Be a Different Leader
Jesus criticizes those leaders, the scribes and Pharisees, who do not walk the talk. He makes three points about their hypocrisy. Firstly, ‘they say but do not do’, which means that there was no consonance between their words and actions. They did not act on their words. Secondly, ‘they burden while failing to act themselves’, which means that they lay law upon law on the people and make life so much more complicated than it really is. Thirdly, ‘they act to be seen by men’, which means they make an impression on others. This they did by wearing broader phylacteries. The ‘tassels’ were attached to the prayer shawls, and the most important seats in the synagogue refer to the place of honour at the front facing the congregation, occupied by teachers and respected by leaders. The scribes and Pharisees wanted to be noticed, commended and honoured more than to pray. In contrast, the disciples of Jesus ought not to go for external titles and higher distinction. They should avoid thinking that they are better than others and deserving special titles of respect. They were to be one in God and serve him alone, like Jesus the master and teacher. Authority and leadership were to be expressed in selfless service.
