“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

In Matthew 23:8-12, Jesus redirects his address from the Pharisees to the crowds standing by. He contrasts the Pharisees’ self exaltation with what God wants. We are not called to pursue titles and positions that glorify ourselves. Rather, our attitude should be that of a servant.

What is a servant?

Later in the book, Matthew gives one example of a servant in 26:6-13…the woman who annointed Jesus’ feet. The disciples did not want to acknowledge her action, but Jesus responded in v.10, “”Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me.”

It takes humility, submission, sacrifice, and action to be a servant.