"best seats in the synagogues"

John Luke's “Blogcorner Preacher" is IMHO, one of the best Christian blogs around the ‘blogosphere.’
Whenever I read his blog, I can imagine JL standing on a box on the corner of some street preaching! He is so on the ball when he writes his posts; they are straight shooting, insightful, stimulating, refreshing, as well as ‘hitting the nail on the head’ theologically. Why don’t you leave him a comment and let him know that you appreciate his blog! Read on…

Matthew 23 has some of Jesus' strongest preaching, and you've got to know that this is therefore some of the strongest preaching in all creation. Matthew 23, vv. 2-9 is a warning about hypocrisy and pride. I am perhaps naive, but it seems to me that if a Christian does nothing else, he should at least attempt to follow these teachings of the Lord. And how many of us, myself most certainly included, succeed at this bit of discipleship? Let's look at the record, as they say:

Matthew 23: 2 "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, 3so practice and observe whatever they tell you--but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice. 4They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. 5They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, 6and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues 7and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. 8But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.

We all know those who don't practice as they preach, and I won't take any cheap shots at the Catholics for having "Father" as a title for their priests. How about those "best seats in the synagogues?"

Many churches have little memorials to families who have been members for generations, or who have been particularly generous of their time and treasure. Plaques in memory of, or dedicated to, but almost always with credit being taken by the Smith family, or whoever. Stained glass with built-in panes proclaiming who provided the money for them. Seating that is known to "belong" to particular families, with, at the least, sharp looks and some words to anyone else who deigns to sit in one of the "best seats." Continue reading…

GBYAY