The Bible in general and the gospels in particularly have strong warnings to those who consider themselves to be great teachers and examples. Look again at the warnings to the Pharisees in Matthew 23 and/or the implied criticisms of religious leaders in Luke 20. Pick out one warning you would particularly like *your* teachers/leaders/professors to pay attention to, and explain why that warning is particularly important.Friday, February 2, 2007
Be not called Rabbi, Rabbi... (Extra Credit)
The Bible in general and the gospels in particularly have strong warnings to those who consider themselves to be great teachers and examples. Look again at the warnings to the Pharisees in Matthew 23 and/or the implied criticisms of religious leaders in Luke 20. Pick out one warning you would particularly like *your* teachers/leaders/professors to pay attention to, and explain why that warning is particularly important.
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The one warning I would pick to give those in the position of teaching would be to humble and not gloat and brag about their honors. Jesus states in Matthew 23 that the leaders of his times liked to be honored. "[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, and to have people call them rabbi." (The last part applies to those going around, demanding others to call them Doctor.)
Overall, teachers and instructors should not brag about their achievements and honors because Jesus warned in verse 12 "All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted."
I have to agree with Warren and heir about Matthew 23. Leaders seem to look for posession and praise instead of doing their jobs to protect and help the people. they like the thought of power and having the ability to control others. These leaders tend to gather followers who want the same authority over others and the wealth that goes with it. This appears to be a never ending process for governments, businesses, schools, and communities. people should be more self-less in their acts instead of self-centered.
The warning I would choose would be matthew 23:8-10 "(8)But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. (9) And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. (10)Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ."
Often those who are of a higher authority whether a teacher professor or any type of leader often puts themselves at a higher level than the students, that they are teaching. When Jesus gives the statement about calling no one rabbi, father, or master.
He is telling them that they as the leaders are no greater than their students and are actually on the same level as their students, and that their is actually one leader that would be God himself. And everyone no matter if they are a great leader. Or even if they are a measy student have the same oppurtunity of connecting with God.
Margaret Schiley
Matthew 23:10-11 caught my eye:
Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you will be your servant.
Of course, professors are here to teach us what they know. However, I have felt in the past with some of my professors that they are so caught up in their position, title, and knowledge that they forget their duty: They are here to serve the students of this university with an education.
The warning given here in Matthew 23:12 is the same that Warren used--that those who can't humble themselves and make their life acheivments secondary to their educational duty will sooner or later be forceably humbled. Meanwhile, those teachers who put their students above any sort of title will receive their students' respect daily and maybe even someday earn public recognition for being a truly great teacher.
Rachelle Rasmussen
The warning that I would like to give my teachers, leaders and such is in the begining of Matthew "The scribes and the Pharises have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do no follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice." That teachers and leaders usually prech to students and such about doing things, from attendence to homework or to be a good law abiding citizen but then we could not follow their example because that would not be what they said to do. They need to understand that they are watched and that is part of the job that they chose, and they should not expect things from others that they themselves are not capable of producing.
I agree with Warren. You should be humble and not always bost about your achivements. Everyone should take that to heart and work to help each because is the right thing to do and not to increase status.
Ka'Nova Williams
One warning to those who consider themselves to be great teachers and examples that I think teachers/leaders/professors should pay attention to is: "First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean." Rather than worrying about appearing intelligent, wealthy, or powerful, a leader or teacher should work on his or her inner self to be sure that he or she is not a hypocrite. Also, a teacher should worry more about the well being of his or her students than his or her status.
Alyson Guthrie
The warning that I chose was Matthew 23:12 "For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." I chose this verse because there are some professors who will speak condesendingly their students because they are smarter then them. Whereas, they should try and treat their students as people who can understand if given the right instruction.
Luke 20:46-47
Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes…
Despite, the passage’s generalization of teachers and its practices, I agree with Warren’s analysis. Is Jesus commenting on all teachers or just the teachers that focus on personal achievement? It is inherently true that many teachers, or scribes, in this case use their status as a main point for self-empowerment and success. For example, at many larger universities the professors are only there to finish their newest research project/thesis, instead of teaching in order for the betterment of character and knowledge wealth. They are teaching for the wrong reasons. A teacher does not claim certain distinctions or express personal achievement. A teacher demands the success of the pupils and gains his wealth when others succeed. A teacher does not need the satisfaction of material pleasure just the ability to spread either Jesus’ words or any other type of knowledge. Do not underestimate the power of people to judge intentions. People are transparent despite what we may think. It is particularly important to teach with good intention and purpose; for the welfare of others. It is not enough to merely say you are a teacher, but you have to teach a good lesson without underlying motives. Do not underestimate the power of pure intentions and or the ability to truly teach.
Kirsten Saunders
Christ was concerned with the Hearts of individuals and most of their leaders were crooked. The Leaders wanted to Kill Him because He challenged their Motives and exposed their corruption to the general public.
In the beginning of Luke Chapter 20 there is a significant example of how Jesus cornered the Leaders into either acknowledging that Jesus teachings were right, or openly rejecting Jesus and John the Baptists teachings and facing the crowd.
Jesus said, “ I will also ask you a question, and you tell me, did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” The Leaders discussed it with one another, saying “If we say,’ from heaven’, He will say, ‘why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘of human origin,’ all the people will stone us; for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” So they answered that they did not know where it came from. Luke 20:3-7
Obviously they must have know in their hearts that Jesus was right, but they loved their corrupt power too much to do what was right in God’s eyes.
If I were to use an example of something teachers and leaders in our day should work on, it would be to do what is right, to have a good heart and not be corrupt.
-Nate Mills
"Be on guard against the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and love greetings in the marketplaces, seats of honor, and places of honor at banquets." (Luke 20:46)A sign of a god teacher is not the one who requires the table and boasts of how many papers he or she has written. Many teachers have forgotten why they are in the profession, which is to share their knowledge with the student. It is not to belittle, ignore, or put a student who has a question, even if it is to them seems very unimportant.
In Luke 20: 20, the religious leaders have sent spies to try and trap Jesus in an answer about taxes. Jesus knew about their craftiness and says in verse 25: “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
I agree with Jesus that we should give to people what is theirs, but when it comes to money and whatnot, give God what's right not what's left.
--Amanda Blood
My favorite 'woe' from Matt 23 is in verses 25 and 26...
25"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean."
It kills me to see people who act outwardly like something, but inwardly they are not. The greatest of which are Christians who show up on Sunday, but leave it in the church. Act the way you say you should act- simple as that.
Instead of putting a clean robe on a dirty body, take a shower, then put the clothes on. It may mean you'll have to be naked for a period of time but that's what it takes to keep it all clean. Otherwise, no matter how clean the clothes are, the body will make it dirty.
In Matthew verse 33 of chapter 23 sums up his entire rampage of the pharasees hyprocracy. He finally tells this is what you are doing to those I have sent and becuase of that how will be able to see heaven when can you can barely escape hell.
It is like telling teachers u do not know everything; so stop acting like you do for the only one who knows all is me for I have come down from heaven. He sent his servants, prophets and the like and yet the pharasees still ingored them and went on there marry old way. For this Christ reprimanded the pharasees saying "You snakes! You brood of Vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?"
Jessica Hinners
The warning that seems to be the most useful in troday's world world would be the warning about teachers putting themselves at a higher level than the students.
This is a very important warning for me because teachers who do that seldom teach much besides their own opinion. And although the State of SD says all we have to do is throw the bad info out on a test and then forget it, I for one would like to learn in my time in classes that I payed for.
John Schirado
I would like to comment on those who like to be greeted with respect, and to have people call them rabbi.
I have heard it commented among minister friends of my husband that it is always a good thing to be considered a little above the common laity. It is always better to dress a little finer, and not object when people put you up on a pedestal, even if it's just a little.
My opinion of this idea is that it leaves little room for people who are non-clergy to realize that pastor's are just like everyone else. Pastor's deal with the same difficulties, problems, temptations, pride, sins, etc., that everyone else does. Putting others on a pedestal leaves the impression that it is acceptable for non-clergy to err but not for clergy. Clergy are expected to be perfect, to never do or say anything wrong, and are very unlikely to be excused or forgiven by those who hold such views.
My husband has been made to apologize, by those who hold these views, to people who have become offended at him, when he really didn't do anything wrong. The other person wasn't expected to make amends, or apologize, change their view, or let bygones be bygones, because it is not expected. It is only expected of clergy who are supposed to be perfect.
I think the separation that "title" and "rank" places between clergy and non-clergy is a farce. We are all ambassadors of Christ, and whether or not it is your occupation, should'nt determine how perfect you are, or whether or not you should be held accountable for your actions, whether fictious or real.
Another thing that it does is convey the lie that it is possible to be perfect, at least for some of us. How can a pastor explain to his congregation the manner in which you overcome errors, faults, sins, etc., if he has never personally experienced such errors. What a rediculous way to think because it causes pastors, who have a genuine problem, and really need help, to not seek help, counsel, and hide the things that could actually be taken care of and serve to help others who find themselves in the same situation.
All things that happen to one, happen to all, nothing is uncommon, but all things are common, and nothing or no one is extraordinary when it comes to these things.
OK, I'll get off my pulpit now!
Donna Baskins
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