Elevate, Don’t Relegate

April 7, 2025

Within the Gospel of Jesus Christ there lies the opportunity to escape out of the messy situation our lives have probably become, to start over with a clean slate. Still and all, what we do with that opportunity is most significant and always up to each of us.

Do we take advantage and move upward and onward with our lives, or do we fall back into the same old patterns and choose to return to our old ways?

Jesus has provided the Way — is the way actually — and we can accept His Truth and enter His Life, or we can choose our own existential ways, our own “truths,” and whatever it is that we might call the “good life.”

This morning, around 3:00 am, I was continuing my reading of Matthew. I was in chapter 23 and wanted to make sure I was understanding correctly, checking the Greek meaning of some words.

It turned out to be pretty plain and simply understood.. Yet, it had important fundamental precepts and general rules of action which I felt essential to convey.

Here is the excerpt of what Jesus taught His Disciples, and it is the basis of this essay:

“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah.” — Matthew 23:8–10, NIV.

Too many Christian religious leaders have skipped over this frivolously and frequently. In the following verses, Jesus severely upbraided the Jewish religious leaders of the time, going up one side and down the other with quite a scolding, ending with “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?” (verse 33).

It looks to me that there are still some of the sane attitudes floating about that have picked up right where the scribes and Pharisees left off…

The start of chapter 23 lays out the principle criticism “do what they say, not what they do, because they don’t practice what they preach.” Then, Jesus goes further, saying what Christian leaders should not be like:

• Tying up heavy, cumbersome loads, putting them on other people’s shoulders, but not willing to lift a finger to help.
• Doing everything for people to see.
• Dress up in fancy religious garments.
• Love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the pews.
• :Love to be greeted with submissive respect in public places and be called by a special title.

Then Jesus lays out how His followers should be:

• “You are not to be called ‘Teacher,’ because you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.”
• “Do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.”
• “Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah.”

“The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” — verses 11–12.

Importantly, we must realize that Jesus was talking to Believers who were dedicated to following Him and His teachings.

Believers who want to follow Him, getting into a closer walk with Him, or others who want to turn away from their subsistence living, turning to God for a full life He has in store for them… He brings true hope. So, please don’t relegate, elevate to the relationship Jesus is offering to everyone. Remember, He is waiting for you, and:

• Jesus abundantly forgives.
• Jesus abundantly supplies.
• Jesus sticks with us.
• Jesus patiently corrects and encourages.
• Jesus will never abandon us.
• What Jesus starts, He finishes.

So, don’t relegate the opportunity to go to God directly.

Accept Jesus into your life, allowing the Comforter, the promised HolySpirit, to be your guide, reminding us of everything Jesus taught and did.

There will be no need for any interfering go-betweens standing in the way, keeping us from Him. There will be only the need for supporters, brothers and sisters in Christ, encouraging and confirming and reaffirming the dynamics of your new life. Christianity has always been about restoring Humanity into a personal and dynamic relationship with God.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes…” — Proverbs 3:5–7, ESV.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” — Matthew 11:28–30, NIV.