“And you are not to be called ‘Rabbi’, for you have one Teacher, and you are all students. All who exalt themselves will be humbled & all who humble themselves will be exalted.” ~ Jesus (Matthew 23:8-12)

 

This is an important passage, not only because it relays the Truth that no modern-day preacher should have the gall to claim “special knowledge” of the Scriptures (“special knowledge” that is indeed impossible to attain, no matter how many years one might study the ancient manuscripts &/or test their various interpretations), but also because it reflects the Truth that Jesus himself was a human being – just like those to whom he was preaching his Way of Selfless Love – and just like his modern-day readers to this very day (see Numbers 23:19, Acts 2:22, Mark 24:36, John 7:16, John 14:12, et al) …

For, as any earnest student of the Scriptures already knows, Jesus was all about humility – not only related to us, but related to himself as well. Indeed, he went out of his way on a number of occasions to extol his followers to not worship him at all, but rather to fully emulate his teachings instead (see Mark 10:18, John 5:41, John 8:50-54, John 12:44, et al).

And yet, as most of us are already aware, this is not what happened.  Paul came along, flipped Jesus’ wishes on their head, and created the very same Jesus-centered religion that Jesus avidly fought to nullify while he was alive …

 

Ahhh, the sad irony of it all.

 

 

Filed under: My Favorite Verses by Scaughdt