Titles and Robes

5“Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries^a wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.

8“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.9And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11The greatest among you will be your servant. 12For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. (Matthew 23:5-12)

Thoughts: The Pharisees did things for people to see.  Many in America do this as well.  We like to look good- with good cars, nice houses, nice boats, the best tickets at the best events- things that make us supposedly look good.  But looking good temporarily does not affect us for eternity.  It could even adversely affect us.  Some will go into debt so high in order to look good- or have our children look good.  But this is just for show.
      One of my seminary professors said that the further we move away from the Bible, the longer our robes and the more colored our stoles become, and the more degrees and titles are meted out. 
      The biggest truth for us is that the greatest will be a servant and the humble will be exalted.  We are called not to seek to look good, but to humble ourselves rightly before God.  

Prayer: Lord, let me seek you from the heart and not to seek to simply look good.