Mt 23:1-12
1Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, 2saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. 3Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. 4They tie up heavy burdens [hard to carry] and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. 5All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. 6They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, 7greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’
8As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. 10Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Messiah. 11The greatest among you must be your servant. 12Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
Marks of Respect: In a culture where not many could read and write, those with skills like the scribes (Greek grammateis) were the possessors and the transmitters of learning. In Israel, the scribes were a class of professional exponents and teachers of the Torah, held in respect and addressed as “my lord” or “master” (rabbi). While some scribes came from the priestly aristocracy, the vast majority were from every other sector of society. They taught the people the Law, spoke in the synagogues, settled cases in the community, copied Scriptures texts, and acted as guardians of tradition.
Though not necessarily Pharisees, most scribes belonged to the Pharisee party who adhered to the strict interpretation of the Law. The Pharisees (Hebrew perusim, the “separated ones”) were probably connected with the Hasideans who fought with the Maccabees against the Syrian Hellenizers. They conceived of religion as centered upon the observance of the Torah, and gave a strict interpretation of the Law.
In his time, Jesus was also addressed as rabbi. But his teaching was recognized to be more authoritative than that of the scribes. He often came into conflict with them.
In the Gospel, Jesus denounces the scribes and the Pharisees. Scholars believe that the speech reflects not just the deep opposition between Jesus and the teachers of the Law in his time, but also the conflict between the followers of Jesus and the Pharisaic Judaism that arose after the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD. In their effort to rebuild the Jewish nation around the Law, the Pharisees excluded the Jews who believed in Jesus as the Messiah. In turn, the Church criticized the rabbis, just like Jesus did.