We are reading the final chapters of the Gospel of Matthew.  Jesus is speaking again but this time he turns his attention to his own disciples and the people.  After a series of interactions and confrontations with the scribes and the Pharisees in which they fail to challenge him, Jesus turns to his disciples and those following him and tells them to do what they teach but not follow what they do.  Even though Jesus challenges their authority to teach on numerous occasions, today he affirms their teaching.  Jesus first acknowledges the legitimacy of the scribes’ and the Pharisees’ teaching for they occupy the chair of Moses, law given by God.  It is not the teaching that is really the issue here.  So, what is it? 

Jesus draws the conclusion that it is not so much the law that is the problem, as those who teach them, because they do not practise what they preach.  Their words and their actions do not match.  Jesus has probably heard their teaching on the law but also has seen their actions.  He observed the consequences when those who teach others to do one thing but themselves do another or don’t do it at all.  It’s a bit like when politicians don’t deliver their election promises.  It becomes problematic because they will lose their credibility.  The scribes and Pharisees are given the authority to teach, and Jesus has no issue with that, but their teaching authority is weakened if they don’t become the first ones to put them into action.  Ultimately, people lose their respect for the law when those who teach and enforce them don’t practise them.   

Jesus’ warning about the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees is also a warning for his disciples and those who follow him, for they will also go on to teach his words and commandments.  They too will be given the authority to teach but will they practise what they preach?  Preachers must be authentic.  If he or she is not authentic, that is don’t do what they preach, then sooner or later people will see through.  Sometimes it is better to say little rather than say much but don’t deliver.  It is interesting to note that the consensus among the people of God is that good preaching always comes up as the first among other qualities they expect from their pastors.  But that is sometimes misunderstood by pastors as having to say the most perfect words every time.  Whereas good preaching means authentic preaching – that is it must come from Christ, the only one Teacher, and that the preacher must be an authentic person who strives to do what he preaches.  The inauthenticity of those who are entrusted with the words of God is called out in the first reading.  Priests of the line of Levi caused many to stumble by their teaching because they didn’t follow the paths of God but showed partiality in their dealing with God’s people. 

The teaching of Christ must have the law of love for God and neighbour as its guiding principle.  Both preachers and followers of this law must not attract attention to themselves or be distracted by titles and position of honour, but serve one another with a humble and servant attitude.  Disciples of Jesus are called not only to preach the Good News by words, but also by our whole lives as well, we hear in the second reading from St Paul.  To become more and more authentic witnesses of the Gospel in the world all of us will need ongoing conversion.  An important way of doing that is to take his words to heart and to receive his body so to become like him – body broken and shared for others.  And I wonder if that’s what happens whenever we gather for the Eucharist!   

By Deacon Tien Tran

Published: 3 November 2023