Jesus' last words in the temple begin with a warning about the Pharisees' cravings for honor. They wanted to be sat, greeted, and titled with distinction, especially in public for obvious reason. Jesus shakes the foundation of their entire Rabbinical system when He commands those in His hearing to no longer call one sinful man "teacher," "father," or "leader." Instead, as Jesus reminds them, they had one Teacher (the Spirit), one Father (in Heaven), and one Leader (the Christ).

The Pharisees had sat in Moses' seat and exalted themselves as more holy than others by adding to God's law. But Jesus came down in abject humility, and in the end abrogated none of His eternal authority.