In Jesus’ day (and still today), many leaders (even religious ones) sought exalted, lofty titles. Scholar William Barclay wrote, “The Pharisees liked to be addressed as Rabbi and to be treated with the greatest respect. They even claimed … greater respect than that given to parents, for, they said, a man’s parents give him ordinary, physical life, but a man’s teacher gives him eternal life.” By contrast, Jesus said his Kingdom was not about high-status titles, but about greatness in serving others.

• Scholar N. T. Wright noted that the Pharisees were not just religious, but also political and social leaders. He asked, “What are today’s equivalents? Some might be the leaders, elected or unelected, in our wider societies, who … rejoice in their ‘celebrity’ status, make grand pronouncements about public values while running lucrative but shady businesses on the side, use their position to gain influence for their families and friends, and allow their private interests secretly to determine the public policy of their country … What matters is the huge and humbling principle of verses 11 and 12.” How easy or hard do you find it to lay aside human ideas of greatness in favor of Jesus’ definition of greatness as service?
• Does verse 9 mean it’s wrong to send a Father’s Day card, or otherwise honor your earthly father? No—Jesus often used a teaching style called “prophetic hyperbole,” overstating to make a point. Here he probably referred to men who demanded the title of Elijah the great prophet (cf. 2 Kings 2:12) and other “fathers” of the faith. When have you noticed in yourself a wish to make yourself feel more important by demanding your “rights” of role, status or title?