To be honest, at first I thought this is just another random joker talking on YouTube about what he thinks after reading the book. But, I was very soon put to shame as the message that he shares contains some profound insights that I think we all would need to learn from.

I would like to start with this verse. Matthew 23:5-7 "Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; ⁶they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; ⁷they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi.'

They Make Their Phylacteries Wide (Materials)
Oh yeah! I can still remember the days when i yearn for a Kikilala t-shirt when I was young and mum gave it to me. Then, when I grew older, I start to yearn for brands such as, Addidas, Nike, Converse, etc and I went out to get it too. And now, goodness...I am starting to set my eyes on stuff such as Fossil, Armani, Jack London...gg.

The point is I will never be satisfied with what I want! Once I got something, I will yearn for something more! All these flashy brands are not for me to see as I am wearing it. Obviously, it is to attract attention.

God knows that we need all the attention in the world that's why He gave us all the attention in the world! Deuteronomy 31:8 "The Lord will never leave you nor forsake you". Are you humble enough to trust Him and forgo your earthly desires?

They Love the Place of Honour at Banquets (Events)
We all enjoy big flashy gala events. The more important you are the more prestigious events you will attend. The way the world paint it makes the people who are not invited to those events feel less important.

Do you still remember the aching feeling when you are not invited to a friend's birthday party when the whole class is invited? Do you still remember the feeling of loneliness when most of your friends are busy visiting houses during Chinese New Year and you are not invited? Do you still remember the time when a bunch of friends are happily talking in a group but the moment you join in they all disperse? Yes, we all have the need to feel involved either directly or indirectly in certain events or activities if not we will feel less important, lonely and even rejected.

However, once we have all these. We yearn for more events. Bigger, grander, more prestigious ones! Nothing can satisfy our ever growing yearnings. How to handle this ever growing need to be noticed? The Parable of the Great Banquet. Luke 13:16 "Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the Kingdom of God". The true banquet lies in the Kingdom of Heaven where the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind will be invited.

They Love to Have Men Call Them "Rabbi" (Title)
Titles! Who does not yearn for titles? Everyone does! Don't believe me? Just try taking away the surname of the title Mrs xxx from any wife and see whether the husband will come hunting for you.

Similarly, the importance of title is greatly magnified in Malaysia. Just put a simple Datuk (Sir) in front of your name. I guarantee that your applications will be approved faster, your land lease will be longer, queuing up will be something of a past and even getting out of trouble with police will be easier! With all these, who does not yearn to have a big flashy title in front of their name?

And what happen when we got the title? We want more control, more power! And with every power added to us, we yearn for even more! In the end, we become so power crazed that we become irrational, greedy and even resort to blackmail, murder, arson, etc just to gain more power! However, Jesus Christ taught us how to handle this need. Luke 18:14 " For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted".

Noticing the Needs of Others
Let me end this with a few verses from the bible.

Matthew 6:25-27 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Stop worrying now!

Matthew 22:39 "Love your neighbour as yourself".

Have you seen anyone that has a need that you can fulfill lately?