NOTES for Mat 23:1-12
Before us are the Teacher, His disciples, and the people, thirsting for answers to their many questions. Jesus touches on the problem of spiritual authority. People are surrounded by a variety of "teachers": Pharisees, Sadducees, and so on. And they very much want to understand who is right and whom to follow. This desire belongs to every human being: to know where the truth is, where things are better, with whom one will gain more, especially when the matter concerns one's own salvation. Jesus, describing the situation that has developed, speaks about how one should respond to it. Without rejecting the teaching of the Pharisees, He warns people, read: us, against their behavior (see also Matt. 16:6). Jesus reduces the discussion of teachers to the point that all are equal before God. Moreover, the one Father makes us brothers. And only the law of love (Matt. 23:11) is worthy to be the model of relationships among us.
Does it happen that we speak beautiful, correct words, giving someone advice or teaching, while we ourselves are so far from putting them into practice? And how hard it can be to realize that this is so... And then there is the pride of having helped, advised, and being so very "correct" oneself...