Ethics of Authority
J.A. Macdonald Matthew 23:1-12 Then spoke Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,… After Jesus had put the Jewish sectaries to silence, he addressed his disciples and the people, who had witnessed his encounters, as to how they should deport themselves in respect to the scribes and Pharisees. I. SECULAR AUTHORITY SHOULD BE RESPECTED. 1. Jewish magistrates were to be obeyed. (1) "The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses' seat." Moses is figuratively represented as then still sitting to deliver his oracles (cf. Acts 15:21). Note here the lessons of posthumous influence. (2) The Law of Moses was the municipal law of the state. The scribes and Pharisees, being members of the Sanhedrin and inferior councils, "sat in Moses' seat," viz. as magistrates. As expounders of the municipal law, they did not travel out of their depth, and were therein sufficiently learned to give them weight and reputation. (3) Evil men occupy good places. The seat of Moses must not be overturned because its occupants dishonour it. It must rather be upheld to make them ashamed. 2. Pagan rulers are to be obeyed. (1) Any regular government is better than none. The tyranny of a monarch is more tolerable than the anarchy of a mob. (2) Christ submitted to the rule of Caesar, and to that of the inferior Roman magistrates. This he did purely for our example. (3) His inspired apostles encouraged obedience to existing authorities as being "ordained of God." They were therefore to be held in reverence. They were to be supported. Taxes were to be paid to them. Prayer was to be made for them. II. THE EXAMPLE OF EVIL RULERS MUST BE AVOIDED. 1. As inconsistent teachers. (1) The scribes and Pharisees did not fill the chair of Moses as theologians with the sanction of Christ. On the contrary, he showed that they made void the Law by their traditions. He warned his followers to beware of their doctrine (see Matthew 16:6). (2) They might be obeyed in what they read from the Law and the prophets. The "therefore" limits the application of the "all things whatsoever" to precepts of inspiration as distinct from the traditions of the elders. We may not reject sound teaching because of the unworthiness of the teacher. (3) Yet must we be suspicious of the teaching of the wicked. People must be warned of wolves and dogs and deceitful workers (cf. Acts 20:29, 30; Philippians 3:2; 2 Corinthians 11:13). 2. As inconsistent workers. (1) "They say, and do not." The study of the hypocrite is to seem religious in the sight of men, rather than to be religions in the sight of God. (2) They would aggravate the burden of the Law, which was sufficient in itself (see Acts 15:10), by the addition of traditional imposts. (3) The burden they imposed upon the people they would not touch with a finger themselves. They were the priests who fasted upon wine and sweetmeats, while they forced the people to fast upon bread and water! (4) How different the example of Christ, who took upon himself our heaviest burden, to make all easy for his people! 3. As examples of pride and ostentation. (1) The scribes and Pharisees literally interpreted Exodus 13:16 and Deuteronomy 6:8, and wore scrolls of paper or parchment with texts of Scripture written on them, bound round their wrists and foreheads. The fringes on their garments, which God enjoined upon the Israelites to remind them of doing all the commandments (see Numbers 15:38), they wore broader and longer than other men. They paraded their piety "at feasts," and "in synagogues" and "in markets," where they might be seen. (2) In all this ostentation there was superstition. They looked upon their phylacteries as preservatives in the sense of amulets. (3) Such aspirants must be jealousy watched. "Mark and Luke have selected from our Lord's discourses, handed down in full in Matthew, the sins of pride, avarice, and hypocrisy, as those most suited to show why they should 'beware of the scribes'" (Harmer). III. CHRIST MUST BE EXALTED EVERMORE. 1. By refusing the arrogance of his enemies. (1) The scribes and Pharisees would set aside the claims of Christ. They affected to be called "Rabbi," "Father," "Master," in an unwarrantable sense. The Talmud pretends that "King Jehoshaphat used to salute the wise men with the titles, Father, Father; Rabbi, Rabbi; Master, Master!" This claim purported that, as the "wise men," they should be implicitly believed in what they affirmed, without asking any further question. It purported, moreover, that they should be implicitly obeyed in what they enjoined without seeking further authority. (2) But here they must be resisted. The Christian has but one infallible Teacher. So has he but one absolute Father - the heavenly. So has he but one supreme Master - Christ. None but Christ has ever fully illustrated his doctrine in his life. 2. By cultivating true humility. (1) In this is Christian greatness. Love is greatness. The heart is at once the most important and most laborious organ; the servant, yet the ruler of all. Self-love is purified and dignified by being subordinated to the love of God and our neighbour. (2) The Christian will not exalt himself. He must not covet the titles affected by the scribes, nor must he assume the authority and dominion implied in these names. When self-love is exalted, self itself becomes abased. (3) The Christian will not unduly exalt his fellow. "All ye are brethren." Ministers are to each other brethren. They are brethren to the people. Christ himself is the "Firstborn among many brethren" (Romans 8:29). What an example to his disciples! (4) The Christian loses himself in exalting Christ. "Call no man," etc., i.e. ascribe infallibility to none (see 1 Corinthians 3:5, 6). The whole passage (vers. 3-7), like Matthew 20:25, may justly be regarded as a prophecy and warning to the Christian Church. "Among Christians there is none to sit in Christ's seat" (Alford). It was George Herbert's habit, when he mentioned the name of Christ, to add, "my Master." 3. Christ will abase the proud, and exalt the humble. (1) "Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled." "All the world cannot exalt a proud man, because God will pull him down" (Anon.). (2) "Whosoever shall humble himself shall be exalted." No sentence of our Lord's is so often repeated. It occurs in the evangelists, with little variation, at least ten times. Pride is as natural to man as it is hateful to God. (3) "Honour is like the shadow, that flees from those who pursue it, but follows those who flee from it" (Henry). - J.A.M. Parallel Verses KJV: Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, WEB: Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples,