{"id":591,"date":"2007-12-01T22:40:36","date_gmt":"2007-12-02T04:40:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/toddbolen.com\/2007\/12\/01\/applying-matthew-238-12\/"},"modified":"2007-12-01T22:40:36","modified_gmt":"2007-12-02T04:40:36","slug":"applying-matthew-238-12","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/toddbolen.com\/blog\/2007\/12\/01\/applying-matthew-238-12\/","title":{"rendered":"Applying Matthew 23:8-12"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><font face=\"Gentium\" size=\"3\">8\u00e1\u00bd\u2018\u00ce\u00bc\u00ce\u00b5\u00e1\u00bf\u2013\u00cf\u201a \u00ce\u00b4\u00e1\u00bd\u00b2 \u00ce\u00bc\u00e1\u00bd\u00b4 \u00ce\u00ba\u00ce\u00bb\u00ce\u00b7\u00ce\u00b8\u00e1\u00bf\u2020\u00cf\u201e\u00ce\u00b5 \u00e1\u00bf\u00a5\u00ce\u00b1\u00ce\u00b2\u00ce\u00b2\u00ce\u00af \u00b7 \u00ce\u00b5\u00e1\u00bc\u00b7\u00cf\u201a \u00ce\u00b3\u00ce\u00ac\u00cf\u0081 \u00e1\u00bc\u0090\u00cf\u0192\u00cf\u201e\u00ce\u00b9\u00ce\u00bd \u00e1\u00bd\u2018\u00ce\u00bc\u00e1\u00bf\u00b6\u00ce\u00bd \u00e1\u00bd\u0081 \u00ce\u00b4\u00ce\u00b9\u00ce\u00b4\u00ce\u00ac\u00cf\u0192\u00ce\u00ba\u00ce\u00b1\u00ce\u00bb\u00ce\u00bf\u00cf\u201a, \u00cf\u20ac\u00ce\u00ac\u00ce\u00bd\u00cf\u201e\u00ce\u00b5\u00cf\u201a \u00ce\u00b4\u00e1\u00bd\u00b2 \u00e1\u00bd\u2018\u00ce\u00bc\u00ce\u00b5\u00e1\u00bf\u2013\u00cf\u201a \u00e1\u00bc\u20ac\u00ce\u00b4\u00ce\u00b5\u00ce\u00bb\u00cf\u2020\u00ce\u00bf\u00ce\u00af \u00e1\u00bc\u0090\u00cf\u0192\u00cf\u201e\u00ce\u00b5. 9\u00ce\u00ba\u00ce\u00b1\u00e1\u00bd\u00b6 \u00cf\u20ac\u00ce\u00b1\u00cf\u201e\u00ce\u00ad\u00cf\u0081\u00ce\u00b1 \u00ce\u00bc\u00e1\u00bd\u00b4 \u00ce\u00ba\u00ce\u00b1\u00ce\u00bb\u00ce\u00ad\u00cf\u0192\u00ce\u00b7\u00cf\u201e\u00ce\u00b5 \u00e1\u00bd\u2018\u00ce\u00bc\u00e1\u00bf\u00b6\u00ce\u00bd \u00e1\u00bc\u0090\u00cf\u20ac\u00e1\u00bd\u00b6 \u00cf\u201e\u00e1\u00bf\u2020\u00cf\u201a \u00ce\u00b3\u00e1\u00bf\u2020\u00cf\u201a, \u00ce\u00b5\u00e1\u00bc\u00b7\u00cf\u201a \u00ce\u00b3\u00ce\u00ac\u00cf\u0081 \u00e1\u00bc\u0090\u00cf\u0192\u00cf\u201e\u00ce\u00b9\u00ce\u00bd \u00e1\u00bd\u2018\u00ce\u00bc\u00e1\u00bf\u00b6\u00ce\u00bd \u00e1\u00bd\u0081 \u00cf\u20ac\u00ce\u00b1\u00cf\u201e\u00e1\u00bd\u00b4\u00cf\u0081 \u00e1\u00bd\u0081 \u00ce\u00bf\u00e1\u00bd\u0090\u00cf\u0081\u00ce\u00ac\u00ce\u00bd\u00ce\u00b9\u00ce\u00bf\u00cf\u201a. 10\u00ce\u00bc\u00ce\u00b7\u00ce\u00b4\u00e1\u00bd\u00b2 \u00ce\u00ba\u00ce\u00bb\u00ce\u00b7\u00ce\u00b8\u00e1\u00bf\u2020\u00cf\u201e\u00ce\u00b5 \u00ce\u00ba\u00ce\u00b1\u00ce\u00b8\u00ce\u00b7\u00ce\u00b3\u00ce\u00b7\u00cf\u201e\u00ce\u00b1\u00ce\u00af, \u00e1\u00bd\u2026\u00cf\u201e\u00ce\u00b9 \u00ce\u00ba\u00ce\u00b1\u00ce\u00b8\u00ce\u00b7\u00ce\u00b3\u00ce\u00b7\u00cf\u201e\u00e1\u00bd\u00b4\u00cf\u201a \u00e1\u00bd\u2018\u00ce\u00bc\u00e1\u00bf\u00b6\u00ce\u00bd \u00e1\u00bc\u0090\u00cf\u0192\u00cf\u201e\u00ce\u00b9\u00ce\u00bd \u00ce\u00b5\u00e1\u00bc\u00b7\u00cf\u201a \u00e1\u00bd\u0081 \u00ce\u00a7\u00cf\u0081\u00ce\u00b9\u00cf\u0192\u00cf\u201e\u00cf\u0152\u00cf\u201a. 11\u00e1\u00bd\u0081 \u00ce\u00b4\u00e1\u00bd\u00b2 \u00ce\u00bc\u00ce\u00b5\u00ce\u00af\u00ce\u00b6\u00cf\u2030\u00ce\u00bd \u00e1\u00bd\u2018\u00ce\u00bc\u00e1\u00bf\u00b6\u00ce\u00bd \u00e1\u00bc\u201d\u00cf\u0192\u00cf\u201e\u00ce\u00b1\u00ce\u00b9 \u00e1\u00bd\u2018\u00ce\u00bc\u00e1\u00bf\u00b6\u00ce\u00bd \u00ce\u00b4\u00ce\u00b9\u00ce\u00ac\u00ce\u00ba\u00ce\u00bf\u00ce\u00bd\u00ce\u00bf\u00cf\u201a. 12\u00e1\u00bd\u2026\u00cf\u0192\u00cf\u201e\u00ce\u00b9\u00cf\u201a \u00ce\u00b4\u00e1\u00bd\u00b2 \u00e1\u00bd\u2018\u00cf\u02c6\u00cf\u017d\u00cf\u0192\u00ce\u00b5\u00ce\u00b9 \u00e1\u00bc\u2018\u00ce\u00b1\u00cf\u2026\u00cf\u201e\u00e1\u00bd\u00b8\u00ce\u00bd \u00cf\u201e\u00ce\u00b1\u00cf\u20ac\u00ce\u00b5\u00ce\u00b9\u00ce\u00bd\u00cf\u2030\u00ce\u00b8\u00ce\u00ae\u00cf\u0192\u00ce\u00b5\u00cf\u201e\u00ce\u00b1\u00ce\u00b9 \u00ce\u00ba\u00ce\u00b1\u00e1\u00bd\u00b6 \u00e1\u00bd\u2026\u00cf\u0192\u00cf\u201e\u00ce\u00b9\u00cf\u201a \u00cf\u201e\u00ce\u00b1\u00cf\u20ac\u00ce\u00b5\u00ce\u00b9\u00ce\u00bd\u00cf\u017d\u00cf\u0192\u00ce\u00b5\u00ce\u00b9 \u00e1\u00bc\u2018\u00ce\u00b1\u00cf\u2026\u00cf\u201e\u00e1\u00bd\u00b8\u00ce\u00bd \u00e1\u00bd\u2018\u00cf\u02c6\u00cf\u2030\u00ce\u00b8\u00ce\u00ae\u00cf\u0192\u00ce\u00b5\u00cf\u201e\u00ce\u00b1\u00ce\u00b9. (NA26) <\/font> <\/p>\n<p>8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. (ESV)  <\/p>\n<p>One of the best commentaries on Matthew is written by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/exec\/obidos\/ASIN\/0567083756\/713713713-20\">Davies and Allison<\/a>, who are by no means conservative.&nbsp; About this passage, they say:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Although one might urge a less literal interpretation, we assume that, taken together, the injunctions against &#8216;rabbi&#8217;, &#8216;father&#8217;, and &#8216;instructor&#8217; constitute a general prohibition against all ecclesiastical titles.&nbsp; Thus there is no more room for &#8216;bishop&#8217; or&#8217;the most reverend&#8217; than &#8216;rabbi&#8217;.&nbsp; If so, one could scarcely find a biblical text so little heeded (3: 278).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>I don&#8217;t want to do more here than simply raise the question.&nbsp; I think it&#8217;s easier to think about this issue when you&#8217;re younger than when you&#8217;re older.&nbsp; Before you have titles than after.&nbsp; You can read the whole passage, particularly the previous 7 verses where Jesus is denouncing the Pharisees for doing the opposite of this.&nbsp; The question is, what would Jesus say to your church, or your school, or to you about this matter.&nbsp; How should we apply it?&nbsp; If we can&#8217;t quite maintain the proper tension, on which side of the fence is it better to fall off?&nbsp; Woe to you if you get it wrong.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>8\u00e1\u00bd\u2018\u00ce\u00bc\u00ce\u00b5\u00e1\u00bf\u2013\u00cf\u201a \u00ce\u00b4\u00e1\u00bd\u00b2 \u00ce\u00bc\u00e1\u00bd\u00b4 \u00ce\u00ba\u00ce\u00bb\u00ce\u00b7\u00ce\u00b8\u00e1\u00bf\u2020\u00cf\u201e\u00ce\u00b5 \u00e1\u00bf\u00a5\u00ce\u00b1\u00ce\u00b2\u00ce\u00b2\u00ce\u00af \u00b7 \u00ce\u00b5\u00e1\u00bc\u00b7\u00cf\u201a \u00ce\u00b3\u00ce\u00ac\u00cf\u0081 \u00e1\u00bc\u0090\u00cf\u0192\u00cf\u201e\u00ce\u00b9\u00ce\u00bd \u00e1\u00bd\u2018\u00ce\u00bc\u00e1\u00bf\u00b6\u00ce\u00bd \u00e1\u00bd\u0081 \u00ce\u00b4\u00ce\u00b9\u00ce\u00b4\u00ce\u00ac\u00cf\u0192\u00ce\u00ba\u00ce\u00b1\u00ce\u00bb\u00ce\u00bf\u00cf\u201a, \u00cf\u20ac\u00ce\u00ac\u00ce\u00bd\u00cf\u201e\u00ce\u00b5\u00cf\u201a \u00ce\u00b4\u00e1\u00bd\u00b2 \u00e1\u00bd\u2018\u00ce\u00bc\u00ce\u00b5\u00e1\u00bf\u2013\u00cf\u201a \u00e1\u00bc\u20ac\u00ce\u00b4\u00ce\u00b5\u00ce\u00bb\u00cf\u2020\u00ce\u00bf\u00ce\u00af \u00e1\u00bc\u0090\u00cf\u0192\u00cf\u201e\u00ce\u00b5. 9\u00ce\u00ba\u00ce\u00b1\u00e1\u00bd\u00b6 \u00cf\u20ac\u00ce\u00b1\u00cf\u201e\u00ce\u00ad\u00cf\u0081\u00ce\u00b1 \u00ce\u00bc\u00e1\u00bd\u00b4 \u00ce\u00ba\u00ce\u00b1\u00ce\u00bb\u00ce\u00ad\u00cf\u0192\u00ce\u00b7\u00cf\u201e\u00ce\u00b5 \u00e1\u00bd\u2018\u00ce\u00bc\u00e1\u00bf\u00b6\u00ce\u00bd \u00e1\u00bc\u0090\u00cf\u20ac\u00e1\u00bd\u00b6 \u00cf\u201e\u00e1\u00bf\u2020\u00cf\u201a \u00ce\u00b3\u00e1\u00bf\u2020\u00cf\u201a, \u00ce\u00b5\u00e1\u00bc\u00b7\u00cf\u201a \u00ce\u00b3\u00ce\u00ac\u00cf\u0081 \u00e1\u00bc\u0090\u00cf\u0192\u00cf\u201e\u00ce\u00b9\u00ce\u00bd \u00e1\u00bd\u2018\u00ce\u00bc\u00e1\u00bf\u00b6\u00ce\u00bd \u00e1\u00bd\u0081 \u00cf\u20ac\u00ce\u00b1\u00cf\u201e\u00e1\u00bd\u00b4\u00cf\u0081 \u00e1\u00bd\u0081 \u00ce\u00bf\u00e1\u00bd\u0090\u00cf\u0081\u00ce\u00ac\u00ce\u00bd\u00ce\u00b9\u00ce\u00bf\u00cf\u201a. 10\u00ce\u00bc\u00ce\u00b7\u00ce\u00b4\u00e1\u00bd\u00b2 \u00ce\u00ba\u00ce\u00bb\u00ce\u00b7\u00ce\u00b8\u00e1\u00bf\u2020\u00cf\u201e\u00ce\u00b5 \u00ce\u00ba\u00ce\u00b1\u00ce\u00b8\u00ce\u00b7\u00ce\u00b3\u00ce\u00b7\u00cf\u201e\u00ce\u00b1\u00ce\u00af, \u00e1\u00bd\u2026\u00cf\u201e\u00ce\u00b9 \u00ce\u00ba\u00ce\u00b1\u00ce\u00b8\u00ce\u00b7\u00ce\u00b3\u00ce\u00b7\u00cf\u201e\u00e1\u00bd\u00b4\u00cf\u201a \u00e1\u00bd\u2018\u00ce\u00bc\u00e1\u00bf\u00b6\u00ce\u00bd \u00e1\u00bc\u0090\u00cf\u0192\u00cf\u201e\u00ce\u00b9\u00ce\u00bd \u00ce\u00b5\u00e1\u00bc\u00b7\u00cf\u201a \u00e1\u00bd\u0081 \u00ce\u00a7\u00cf\u0081\u00ce\u00b9\u00cf\u0192\u00cf\u201e\u00cf\u0152\u00cf\u201a. 11\u00e1\u00bd\u0081 \u00ce\u00b4\u00e1\u00bd\u00b2 \u00ce\u00bc\u00ce\u00b5\u00ce\u00af\u00ce\u00b6\u00cf\u2030\u00ce\u00bd \u00e1\u00bd\u2018\u00ce\u00bc\u00e1\u00bf\u00b6\u00ce\u00bd \u00e1\u00bc\u201d\u00cf\u0192\u00cf\u201e\u00ce\u00b1\u00ce\u00b9 \u00e1\u00bd\u2018\u00ce\u00bc\u00e1\u00bf\u00b6\u00ce\u00bd \u00ce\u00b4\u00ce\u00b9\u00ce\u00ac\u00ce\u00ba\u00ce\u00bf\u00ce\u00bd\u00ce\u00bf\u00cf\u201a. 12\u00e1\u00bd\u2026\u00cf\u0192\u00cf\u201e\u00ce\u00b9\u00cf\u201a \u00ce\u00b4\u00e1\u00bd\u00b2 \u00e1\u00bd\u2018\u00cf\u02c6\u00cf\u017d\u00cf\u0192\u00ce\u00b5\u00ce\u00b9 \u00e1\u00bc\u2018\u00ce\u00b1\u00cf\u2026\u00cf\u201e\u00e1\u00bd\u00b8\u00ce\u00bd \u00cf\u201e\u00ce\u00b1\u00cf\u20ac\u00ce\u00b5\u00ce\u00b9\u00ce\u00bd\u00cf\u2030\u00ce\u00b8\u00ce\u00ae\u00cf\u0192\u00ce\u00b5\u00cf\u201e\u00ce\u00b1\u00ce\u00b9\u2026 <span class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/toddbolen.com\/blog\/2007\/12\/01\/applying-matthew-238-12\/\">Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13,25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-591","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-faith","category-matthew"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/toddbolen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/591","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/toddbolen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/toddbolen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toddbolen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toddbolen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=591"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/toddbolen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/591\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/toddbolen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=591"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toddbolen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=591"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toddbolen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=591"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}