One Master
Matthew 23:7-8 “The
Pharisees love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them ‘Rabbi.’
8 But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you
are all brothers.” 9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one
Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you
have one Teacher, the Christ.”
ONCE I walked into a room in the church and some people were
standing. One person standing said, “We’re standing for Jesus and for pastor.”
Now I want to be clear that the words were not designed to elevate me to the level
of Jesus. The one who said it loves Jesus very much and certainly knows the
difference. To affirm that, I quickly responded that only Jesus is the one we
must so honor.
With that said, Jesus
said we are to honor others: “honor your
father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 19:19) And we know it is good
manners to stand for others as they enter a room or leave. Certainly one way to
love others is to honor them with good manners.
Honor, though, can
become inappropriate and idolatry as we hold some people in the church above
others. Pastors and elders are given authority to rule in a church. “It was he who gave some to be apostles,
some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and
teachers.” (Ephesians 4:11) But all
church members are to equally honor each other. God chooses such people to
serve; yet, we must know Jesus taught there is only one Father, and there is
only one Master – himself.
Honor each other as
a family in Christ. Honor God above all.
LIFE Link: Know the one Master.
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