Greatness = genuine service, not fancy titles

In Jesus’ day (and still today), many leaders (even religious ones) wanted exalted, lofty titles. Scholar William Barclay wrote, “The Pharisees liked to be addressed as Rabbi and to be treated with the greatest respect. They even claimed…greater respect than that given to parents, for, they said, a man’s parents give him ordinary, physical life, but a man’s teacher gives him eternal life.” * Jesus said his Kingdom was not about high-status in position or title. Greatness lay in serving others selflessly.

• Pharisees were political and social leaders as well as spiritual. Scholar N. T. Wright said, “Today’s equivalents… might be the leaders, elected or unelected… who rejoice in ‘celebrity’ status, make speeches about public values while running lucrative but shady businesses… use their position to gain influence for their families and friends, and allow their private interests secretly to determine public policy…. What matters is the huge and humbling principle of verses 11 and 12.” ** How easy or hard is it for you to fully accept Jesus’ clarity about greatness as service?
• Does verse 9 mean it’s wrong to send a Father’s Day card, or otherwise honor your earthly father? No—Jesus often used a teaching style called “prophetic hyperbole,” overstating to make a point. Here he likely referred to men demanding the title of Elijah the great prophet (cf. 2 Kings 2:12) and other “fathers” of the faith. When, if ever, have you wished to make yourself feel more important by demanding your “rights” of role, status, or title?