Jesus Teaches

Today’s Gospel Text: Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; 3 therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear,h and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. 6 They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, 7 and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students.i 9 And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father — the one in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah.j 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted. Matt 23:1-12 NRSV

Reflection:  Every family will have it; memories of a grandfathers chair or a fathers chair or a grandmothers or mothers favorite chair.

In certain families I can’t think of a person, in their own house without occupying their favorite chair, sitting in durbar, dispensing advice to those who come to them.

The chair then gets passed on from one generation to another, just like the throne that passes on to the next generation. They do hold sentimental value but some chairs hold the value of authority, like the chair of Moses or the Kings or rulers chair.

Who then would occupy the seat of Moses, If not the scribes and Pharisees?

What did Jesus mean, was it the real seat of Moses or was it the seat of authority? It seemed, in all probability, the seat of authority in dispensing justice or teaching the faith. The criterion was clear; “whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do.”

The emphasis of the statement is more on not doing what they do and hence the injunction to follow their teachings which was disjointed from what they taught; they taught correctly but acted falsely.

What would happen when the teaching itself would not be in accord with the faith? We see Jesus already at hand correcting many of their false interpretation of the Law of Moses.

In the new dispensation, the seat of Moses is abrogated and we have a new seat, established by Christ himself who is the primary teacher through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Hence this is a clear message to the Protestants who make heavy use of this text to hit out at the Catholics, that the primary teacher is not the word of God, but Christ himself who still lives to teach.

He then teaches through the Magisterium, the teaching authority instituted by him, which in turn, open to the Spirit of Christ, teaches the word faithfully in reference to tradition and sound doctrine.

Prayer: Teach me thy way, O Lord, that I may walk in thy truth; unite my heart to fear thy name. Ps 86:11

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