In the Old Testament lesson (Joshua 3:7-17) God confirms Joshua as the leader to replace Moses in the sight of the people. How? By parting the waters so the people can pass through on dry ground at Joshua's signal. Sound familiar? That's because it is familiar, it's what happened at the Red Sea but with a twist. Now the law has been given and another set of rulers is in place as well, the priesthood, and they have a part to play here as well in carrying the ark into the Jordan. In the Gospel lesson (Matthew 23.1-12), Jesus affirms the scribes and Pharisees, in their teaching, as authentic leaders of the people but their actions fail to match their words so Jesus says don't follow them in what they do. He then says not to call anyone rabbi for you have one teacher (who He doesn't name), don't call anyone father for you have one Father who is in heaven, and don't call anyone instructor for you are instructed by the Christ. Do you see the Trinity in that? There is a place for earthly teachers of the Word but ultimately we have the Holy Spirit to guide us as well. Leadership flows through the Trinity to the church through men and women but we all have the Spirit to guide us into all truth. In the epistle (1 Thessalonians 2:9-13) Paul points to himself but only to the extent that he aligns with truth. He may be the teacher but his teaching isn't the word of man, it is the word of God or it is nothing. The source of all authority in the church is the Word of God.
