It Shall Not Be So Among You (Part 1)

What kind of relationship among his followers is consistent with the teachings of Jesus?  Did Jesus set up a central authority over his followers?  Should a faithful follower of Jesus submit to the authority of an institutional church?  These are the questions that this post will explore.

Perhaps the best biblical text on the subject is this one:

But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you.

Following, is the text in its full context.  In this story, the sons of Zebedee are requesting a privileged position in the future "kingdom" that they were expecting Jesus to set up.  Jesus goes on to reject the very idea that there would be "great ones" among his followers that would "exercise authority over them"— in his words: "It shall not be so among you".

Matt. 20:20 ESV — Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” 22 Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” 23 He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” 24 And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

As a contrast, following is an excerpt from Catechism of the Catholic Church:

The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living teaching office of the Church alone. Its authority in this matter is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ." This means that the task of interpretation has been entrusted to the bishops in communion with the successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome.

The Catechism goes on to state that "the faithful receive with docility the teachings and directives that their pastors give them in different forms".

This is by no means an isolated example of authoritarianism among the many Christian churches— although it is perhaps the most extreme.

My approach to the study of this question is to read the Bible with this subject in mind, looking for insights wherever I find them.  I have used word searches to help answer questions on other topics, but this topic seems so general that a focused reading is probably a better approach.  This post focuses on my findings in the Gospel of Matthew.

Jesus was born powerless— not in royal court or from a wealthy family.  He was not born into the religious establishment.  The Matthew account of his life begins with his family fleeing, fearing for his life.

Matt. 2:13 NRSV — Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 

Matt. 2:22 NRSV — But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. 

Jesus was raised in Galilee and that is where much of his work took place— Galilee was not a center of power.

Early in the Gospel of Matthew, we find John the Baptist in the wilderness.  This is a reoccurring setting for many of the events in Jesus' life.  The wilderness is not where powerful people meet together.  There is a significant tendency toward rural locations in Jesus' life.

Matt. 3:1 NRSV — In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’”

Matt. 5:1 NRSV — When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 

Matt. 13:1  NRSV — That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 

Matt. 14:13 NRSV — Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 

Matt. 14:23 NRSV — And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 

Matt. 15:29 NRSV — After Jesus had left that place, he passed along the Sea of Galilee, and he went up the mountain, where he sat down.  

Jesus chose his disciples from among common people— some of the most prominent of his disciples were from laboring occupations.  His disciples are not powerful people.  They are not promising candidates to be "great ones" who might "lord it over" and "exercise authority" over others.

Matt. 4:18 NRSV — As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 

Matt. 4:21 NRSV — As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them.

Jesus taught a way of life that favored the lowly— the poor, the meek, the persecuted.  He commended the merciful and the peacemakers.  Jesus' sayings found in Matthew 5 do not bring to mind a picture of those who "exercise authority" over others.

Matt. 5:3 NRSV — “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matt. 5:5 NRSV — “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Matt. 5:7 NRSV — “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Matt. 5:9 NRSV — “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Matt. 5:10 NRSV — “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Jesus describes himself in terms of weakness— homeless and humble.

Matt. 8:20 NRSV — And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”  

Matt. 11:29 NRSV — Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 

Jesus taught that we should treat the humble as if we were receiving Jesus himself— "in my name".  These texts do not create an authoritarian impression in the reader.

Matt. 18:5 NRSV — Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.  

Matt. 18:10 NRSV — “Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven.  

Matt. 19:14 NRSV — but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” 

Matt. 25:40 NRSV — And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ 

Jesus taught that it is hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  Power and riches generally go together.  Those who "lord it over" and "exercise authority" are usually rich.  Wealth gives power to buy the time and efforts of others, giving the rich person opportunity to exercise authority.

Matt. 19:23 NRSV — Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 

Jesus compared John the Baptist to those who live in palaces.  He goes on to say that no one "has arisen greater than John the Baptist".   Soft robes and royal palaces are not the marks of greatness in the kingdom of heaven.

Matt. 11:8 NRSV — What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces.  

Matt. 11:11 NRSV — Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 

Greatness in the kingdom of heaven is the opposite of our sinful human understanding of greatness.

Matt. 18:1 NRSV — At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a child, whom he put among them, 3 and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 

Matt. 19:30 NRSV — But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first. 

Jesus spoke critically of the religious establishment and he was not well received by the most powerful religious leaders.

Matt. 5:20 NRSV — For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  

Matt. 16:21 NRSV — From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.

There is certainly a need, at times, for corrective action within the church.  But in what manner is it to be done?  The prescription that Jesus taught begins with individuals and progressively advances to "one or two others" and only then to the whole congregation.  There is no hint of an authoritarian hierarchy in this teaching.

Matt. 18:15 ESV — “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

The same chapter goes on to emphasize the plurality and the circumstances of authority: "where two or three are gathered together" in the name— character— of Jesus.

Matt. 18:18 ESV — Truly, I say to you [plural], whatever you [plural] bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you [plural] loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you [plural], if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Jesus taught that his followers should not claim teaching authority for themselves.

Matt. 23:8 NKJV — But you, do not be called “Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. 9 Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. 11 But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

Jesus was not suggesting that we should not teach— "Go therefore and make disciples.... teaching them to obey" (Matt 28:18-19 NRSV)— but rather that we should be humble and not claim authority for ourselves.  In Matthew 28:18, Jesus says "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me", which is consistent with Matthew 23:10, "for One is your Teacher, the Christ."

These texts from Matthew are by no means exhaustive, but the message is clear.  There is no hint of any central or hierarchical church authority in any of these teachings.  The notion that any man would "exercise authority" over the church or be named an authoritative teacher of the church is contrary to the principles that Jesus taught.

Matthew 20:20-28 and Matthew 23:8-11, together, are perhaps the most direct evidence on this topic.  I hope to continue looking at this subject from other parts of the bible in a future post.