Loving the Uppermost and Chief Seats - Matthew 23:6

Matthew the apostle wrote, “Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not you after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries,and enlarge the borders of their garments”, and in chapter twenty-three and verse six of his book Matthew shared how Jesus said the scribes and Pharisees, “love the uppermost rooms … and the chief seats” where we read:

And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,

The verse reads, “And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, ...”. Matthew began with the words, “and love” which means “are fond of, have affection for and personal attachment to” “the uppermost rooms” which means “the first and chief reclining places and tables” “at feasts” which means “at formal meals usually held in the evening”. Matthew shared how the “scribes and Pharisees” were also “fond of and had personal attachment” to the “chief reclining places and tables” at “formal meals”.

The verse goes on to say, “and the chief seats in the synagogues, ...” Matthew continued with the words, “and the chief seats” which means “the first and preeminent chairs of the council” “in the synagogues” which refers to “the assembly of Jews formally gathered together to offer prayers and listen to the reading and expositions of the scriptures”. Matthew shared how Jesus said the “scribes and Pharisees” also desired to sit upon the “seats of preeminence” within the Jewish worship centers.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus exposed the prideful “hierarchy” of the “religious leaders” known as the “scribes and Pharisees”. He shared how they wanted to be “exalted” in both the “feasts” and the “worship center” before the people. This exudes “prideful behavior” from these “religious leaders”, and their actions only revealed who they really were inside. Jesus pulled no punches when He revealed “hypocrisy”, and those who are wise shall never seek to be in positions like these “scribes and Pharisees”. Rather, they should humbly yield themselves to Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord” and allow Him elevate them to any position that He sees fit to grant them.

Next time we see Matthew write how Jesus shared how the Pharisees love, “greetings” and to be called “Rabbi, Rabbi”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.