One is Your Teacher, the Christ

When Jesus walked among us in the flesh, He taught the crowd who followed Him and He taught His disciples to observe what the Scripture interpreters and proclaimers of their day taught them from the Word of God, but not to follow their example. Their spiritual leaders gave them “to do” lists but did not “do” the “to do’s” themselves. In fact, they were laying heavy burdens on their followers. The burden that they laid on their followers was to exalt them. They wanted to be popular, and well-treated. They wanted special titles of recognition. [1]

Elizabeth Villani wrote in an article for HR Magazine, “Western humanity has, over the last 50 years, bred a civilization that fundamentally relies upon others to feel good enough. We fill our gap in confidence with clothes, holidays, gadgets, alcohol, relationships and yes, recognition - looking to them to make us happy.” [2]

God did not create us to bear the weight of being in the place of God to others. We should recognize our frailty. Our fallibleness! Let us maintain a humble view of ourselves and an exalted view of God’s Messiah Jesus. He’s the Savior sent from heaven by God our Father to save us from our sin.

Jesus Christ urges His leaders not to embrace titles like “Rabbi” meaning teacher because… “One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren.” He urges us not to call our spiritual leaders, “father” because… “One is your Father, He who is in heaven.” And He repeated, “Do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ.”

All the glory and the respect for teaching should be to God’s Messiah Jesus Christ. He is the One who gives us the true revelation of God and the true meaning of Scripture.

Jesus taught that the one “who is greatest among you shall be your servant.” Thus, we have apostles like Peter, James, John, and Paul identifying themselves as slaves (doulos) of Jesus Christ. Paul could say of himself and his proteges, “We do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.” [3]

It was in this context that our Lord and Savior lamented, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’” [4]

While our Messiah taught us to respect and obey the earthly governments of this world, [5] He calls us His followers to have One leader, and that is the One whom the Father sent, even Him Jesus our Messiah. He is the One we are to bless, and to worship. We place Jesus Christ in the highest place, and everyone else, especially, teachers and servants of His Word in comparatively humble places. He alone is worthy of our praise and thanksgiving!

[1] Matthew 23:1-7
[2] hrmagazine.co.uk/content/features/why-needing-recognition-is-a-clear-sign-of-emotional-immaturity
[3] Mt. 23:8-12; 1 Peter 1:1, James 1:1, Rev. 1:1, Rom. 1:1; 2 Cor. 4:5
[4] Matthew 23:37-39
[5] Romans 12:18; Romans 13:1-8; Acts 5:29 – inasmuch as their will does not demand disobedience to His will.