"And they love the place of honor at banquets, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called by men, Rabbi. But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers," (Matthew 23:6--8).
* By the Lord Jesus' day, the Pharisees had considerable authority, power, and preferential treatment. In contrast to their titles of superiority, the Lord Jesus said that His disciples are brothers. Question: are we as brothers and sisters in the Lord treating each other accordingly?
* The Pharisees' feelings of spiritual superiority came through in the preferential treatment they expected, including ostentatious titles. The Lord Jesus, however, instructs His disciples to humbly recognize one another as brother and sister. And such designations should not only emphasize our equality, but also the kind of love we are to demonstrate.
* By calling His disciples 'brothers,' the Lord Jesus pointed to at least two implications: (a) no Christian is inherently superior to any other believer; and (b) as equally-loved members of God's family, our commitment to one another should reflect such love.
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