Code of Honor
“But not so with you, but let him who is the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as the servant.” Luke 22:26
Not So With You – The leadership fad will run its course. Eventually we will learn that leadership is a verb, not a noun. Then we will realize ubiquitous leadership training is wasted effort. We should be training those who are born leaders, not expecting everyone born to become a leader through training. Once we see this distinction, we can concentrate on Yeshua’s insight into leadership. Leadership is serving, a verb for everyone. It is the application of each person’s unique gift for the benefit of others. Leading is serving someone else according to the way God made me.
Yeshua’s disciples thought leadership was a matter of status. The greater the rank, the more important the person. Those who lead are at the top of the pyramid. But Yeshua turns it upside-down. Serving others is God’s measure of leading. It’s not a position. It’s an action – an action that anyone can perform.
Now that we’ve settled this issue, we should notice one important implication. The phrase “not so with you” (in Greek humeis ouk outos) is gender neutral. Oh, it’s clear Yeshua is addressing His disciples, but we can hardly justify the claim that His statement applies only to them. Yeshua declares that anyone who is a disciple will follow this exhortation. So, every man and every woman who claims Yeshua as Lord will lead by serving another. Seems obvious, doesn’t it? If it is so obvious, then how can we justify the claim that husbands are the rulers of their homes and wives are to be subservient to husbands’ wishes? Should we ignore Yeshua’s declaration? Does serving another apply to everything except marriage? Hardly! If a husband is a follower for Yeshua, then he leads by serving his wife, not by demanding she serve him. His leadership is exhibited in his willingness to give up his agenda and take care of hers. He lives for her. This, by the way, is exactly the behavioral expression of Yeshua’s sacrifice for the Body. If leadership is service, then there is no room at all for status or ranked authority in the Christian home.
Most Christians are quick to apply the servant-leader vocabulary to circumstances outside their homes. They try to emulate Yeshua’s behavior at work, at school, at church and in social settings among others. But when it comes to marriage, the principle is suddenly abandoned. Now men rule. Now the curse of Eve puts a wife under her husband’s authority. Now the man is the “head” of the home by divine proclamation. Now women are to be silent, submissive and subservient. And we call this leadership? Who are we kidding?
Oh, yes, before all the women stop cheering, remember that the principle applies to both sexes.
Topical Index: leadership, serving, authority, husband, wife, Luke 22:26
This is a question for my Precepts Bible class? Why did the Jews give up animal sacrifices if they do not believe that Jesus is the Messiah and the sacrifice for our sins. We are studying Hebrews 9.
I’m interested also in this answer Gail.. I have wondered this for years.. The Passover was all about the blood of a lamb. Christ (the Messiah) is our Passover Lamb. He is the atoning sacrifice and his cross was the propitiating sacrifice for our sins. Very Jewish indeed- wouldn’t you say?
Skip.. since we are returning and rediscovering the Jewish roots of our faith.. what about this “sacrifice for sins”? What about the blood of the perfect Lamb?
See my reply to Gail. Do you suppose that the Messianic Jews stopped celebrating Passover after Yeshua rose from the dead? If they didn’t (and I think there is clear evidence that they didn’t), then what does this say about the Christian idea of the finality of Yeshua’s death? Maybe we have the wrong spin, do you think?
Sister,
Not only did Paul and the other early believers in Yahushua continue to offer sacrifices at the Temple, put according to Ezkiel we will again in the millenial reign!
Outside of a Levitical understanding of the Temple and the priesthood [and given the modern Christian understanding of Hebrews 😉 ], it is hard to understand where the writer of Hebrews is coming from.
In Hebrews, the writer is giving a midrash comparing the earthly Temple and priesthood (just copies of the heavenlies) to Yahushua as our High Priest in the Heavenly Sanctuary itself. Yahushua’s VENUE IS IN HEAVEN, not on earth where in fact He could not even be part of the Aaronic priesthood (since He came from the tribe of Judah). His work in heaven assure us of our status in the world to come.
The work of the earthly Aaronic priesthood was to help us here in our EARTHLY VENUE to “come near” [‘sacrifice’ from the Hebrew noun ‘corban’- ‘thing brought near’] to the Holy One here on earth. Because the Holy One is in fact holy and pure/clean/tahor, His manifest presence cannot abide to be approached by someone in a state of impurity/uncleaness/tamei. Therefore He has in His Grace established procedures to allow us to change our status of being impure/unclean to being pure/clean that on earth we could draw near to His manifest presence (Shikeinah) at the Temple. This procedure required a priest as intercessor, and a sacrifice. The same that is completed by Yahushua for us in heaven! o/o/o/
As long as there is an earth and a physical people Israel, and as long as He will abide in a Shikeinah form, these will be necessary.
Also note that the sin offering/chata-at is not just for sins, but also for a number of purifications including for non-sin things like child birth! The many things that make us ‘unclean’/tamei are all related to realms of death. Realms of death must be overcome in order to truely abide with the Giver of all life, so the sin offering/chata-at is necessary on earth… and necessary to have been done by Yahushua in heaven for our status in the world to come. PraiseYAH!!! 😀
Hope this helps! 🙂
Nice to have you back, Tom.
Where there is no temple, there is no requirement for animal sacrifice. The temple was destroyed in 70AD, so animal sacrifice stopped. But the really important question is this: Did the disciples and the early Messianic community stop animal sacrifices after the resurrection, that is, between about 30AD and 70AD? If they did NOT, then our interpretation of the role of the death of the Messiah is certainly confused.
“But not so with you”..
“The words I speak unto you../ study to show yourself approved unto G-d a workman/ Remember.
I do remember brother Skip the day these words were revealed to me. I thank you for this. This statement from the mouth of the Messiah is incredibly strong. The word “but” is itself a show-stopper. Then in addition to the “big but!” is a knotty “not”! This word “not” reminds me of a turning plow. It turns everything either upside down or rightside up. It is a powerful word of repentance. It’s like taking a speeding freight train and reversing direction instantly. We need to pay attention to the “buts” and the “nots”, when the Teacher speaks.
What we need to do is to live the words given unto us from the mouth of the LORD who has spoken them. We need to heed and we need to hearken to His words written in the Lamb’s book of life, our Bible.
“Husbands, love your wives as the Messiah loved the church and gave himself for her”.. (Ephesians 5.25. Looking for something to do? Try living this. Incarnate the words of G-d into your marriage. Love your wife supremely. Love your wife sacrificially. . “as Christ loved”. (that kind of love)
Yes, “it is written”. We just need to “remember”, “hearken” and “heed” His words of life. Oh yes.. we need to be “doers of the word..” -To love one another with a pure heart fervently. There’s a tall order! Is this possible??