ACC ~ Matthew 23 v6 - 7

DEACONS AND BISHOPS WHO LOVE THE PLACE OF HONOR

ORIGEN: What are we to say about those who “love the places of honor at banquets and the front seats in synagogues and the highest respect in public places and to be called rabbi by everyone”? We must first admit that this kind of delight is found not only among the scribes and Pharisees but also in the church of Christ, and not only at dinner, while taking places at the table, but also the front seats in church. These are the deacons, or those who wish to become deacons, yet who “squander the savings of widows, praying for a good opportunity” and yet “will receive a greater judgment.” [1] They covet even more avidly the highly visible “first seats” of those called priests. Indeed, however, even they do not put as much effort into their scheming as those who are called bishops, the ones who love “being called rabbi by men.” It is they who ought most clearly to understand that a bishop is to be “above reproach” and so on, [2] so that he would be called “bishop” not by men [only] but rather before God. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 12. [3]

[1] Mt 12:40.

[2] 1 Tim 3:22.

[3] GCS 38.2:22-23.

THE BEST SEATS

CHRYSOSTOM: Everything he accused them of was small and trifling. Yet he was dealing with the cause of all the evils: ambition, the violent seizing of the teacher’s chair, and so on. These he brings forward and corrects with diligence, confronting this strongly and earnestly charging them. His own disciples needed to be warned about these matters. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 72.3. [1]

[1] PG 58:670; NPNF 1 10:438.

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