This Sunday, the lectionary invites us to ponder Matthew 23:1-12. These are the first twelve verses in a section[1] to which the English Standard Version supplies the heading, “Seven Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees.”
Like last week’s passage, this week’s passage is set within the last public encounter between Jesus and the social and religious leaders in the Temple before they arrest him. Jesus speaks at length about the self-serving actions and the hypocrisy of the leaders who argued with him.
He says these leaders are more interested in receiving personal, public honour, and in supposedly God-pleasing “sacrifices” and cleansings and scripture-reading and copying, and monument-building, than in obeying the biblical prophets – who urged focus on justice and mercy in society.
The gospels are pamphlets. They’re designed to explain what Jesus revealed and commanded. The evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, wrote their pamphlets, their Gospels, for different audiences. For example, Matthew wrote for Jews. But all of them had the same message: Israel had failed to organize itself around God’s laws. Had failed to ensure justice and mercy for all. Had failed to establish God’s righteous kingdom.
We’re so used to reading the Bible as personal “words from God” to us as private individuals, that we forget it’s designed to guide societies. Matthew looks squarely at the destruction of the Temple by the Romans in AD 70. He sees it as God’s judgment on the Jews. He sees the Temple’s destruction as God taking away the special position of the Jews – taking away their assignment to establish God’s kingdom of justice and mercy.
God took away their assignment because they repeatedly, for centuries, focused on small things, instead of large things. As the prophets repeatedly told them, their leaders were assigned to look from the sky and make corrections to things which were broken. Instead, as Jesus points out in today’s encounter, they looked at things at the personal level – things like when and how to wash, how and where to give, and so on – and explained how to do them in “correct” ways.
Matthew tells us Jesus told the assembled people, the crowd and his disciples, something which must’ve jolted them like lightning: He said to call no one rabbi; or father; or instructor. When he said that, there must’ve been a great murmuring amongst the listeners, and there must’ve been more discussion – which Matthew doesn’t record.
The law, the fifth commandment, is explicit: we are to honour our fathers and mothers. And Jesus himself said, in this same encounter, that they should “practice and observe” the teachings of the scribes and Pharisees. Jesus also sent out his disciples to teach, to instruct people.
So, he was being hyperbolic; he was exaggerating, to emphasize a point. And what is that point? The point is that authority must be derived not from birth or appointment but from study, observation, obedience, and most of all, service. In verse 11, we hear Jesus saying,
“The greatest among you shall be your servant.”
As I ponder today’s reading, I think about what Pastor Matthew would write if he were preparing a tract for Malaysians. What would he say to us, the “crowds and disciples,” who grumble about grand corruption, like the Tabung Haji scandal?[2] Or about the abuse of children in Tahfiz schools?[3] Or about the price of eggs[4] or oranges, or petrol, or electricity?
Would he tell us to pray and read our Bibles and give more money to charitable causes? Would he say anything about our national leaders in religious institutions or palaces or Parliament or Putra Jaya? Would he say anything about the titles conferred on and used by these leaders?
What do Malaysia’s pastors, preachers, and lay leaders say?
Peace be with you.
[1] Verses 1-36.
[2] I am deeply moved by a reflection titled “Amanah betrayed: Why the Tabung Haji scandal is the real test of Merdeka,” written by Azam Aris (14 September 2026). He begins with this line: “For two consecutive weeks, during Friday prayers, on Aug 28 and Sept 4, the imam at the Putra Heights mosque — echoing sermons delivered at other mosques across Selangor — spoke forcefully about the need for Muslims to free themselves from greed and to place the highest importance on preserving amanah, or trust.” He quotes at length from the sermons.
[3] Bridget Welsh, who is not a Muslim, wrote about this on 25 September 2024, in “Malaysia’s child abuse shocker highlights need for reforms.” Note this: “Enterprises purporting to follow Islamic principles have mushroomed in Malaysia. The use of an ‘Islamic’ brand has become big business. Such Islamic services have grown exponentially, catering to a market that increasingly identifies with its faith.” And this: “far too few political leaders across the political spectrum are speaking out for the victims. Many have been allegedly seen to have close ties to GISBH [Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings], featured in meetings in the company’s regular newsletters.” Malaysian police rescued about 400 children from 18 homes related to GISBH (link). I’m NOT suggesting that abuses happen only in non-Christian institutions. I’m only speaking about what’s in the news.
[4] NST, October 7, 2026: Cheap eggs may be history as prices head higher [WATCH]
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