Matthew 23:8
New International Version
“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.

New Living Translation
“Don’t let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters.

English Standard Version
But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers.

Berean Standard Bible
But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.

Berean Literal Bible
But you shall not be called 'Rabbi,' for your Teacher is One, and you are all brothers.

King James Bible
But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

New King James Version
But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren.

New American Standard Bible
But as for you, do not be called Rabbi; for only One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters.

NASB 1995
“But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers.

NASB 1977
“But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers.

Legacy Standard Bible
But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers.

Amplified Bible
But do not be called Rabbi (Teacher); for One is your Teacher, and you are all [equally] brothers.

Christian Standard Bible
“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ because you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
“But as for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi,’ because you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.

American Standard Version
But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your teacher, and all ye are brethren.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But you shall not be called “Rabbi”, for One is your Rabbi, but you are all brothers.

Contemporary English Version
But none of you should be called a teacher. You have only one teacher, and all of you are like brothers and sisters.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But be not you called Rabbi. For one is your master; and all you are brethren.

English Revised Version
But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your teacher, and all ye are brethren.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But don't make others call you Rabbi, because you have only one teacher, and you are all followers.

Good News Translation
You must not be called 'Teacher,' because you are all equal and have only one Teacher.

International Standard Version
"But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' because you have only one teacher, and all of you are brothers.

Literal Standard Version
And you may not be called Rabbi, for one is your teacher—the Christ, and you are all brothers;

Majority Standard Bible
But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brothers.

New American Bible
As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.

NET Bible
But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have one Teacher and you are all brothers.

New Revised Standard Version
But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students.

New Heart English Bible
But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for one is your Teacher, and all of you are brothers.

Webster's Bible Translation
But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

Weymouth New Testament
"As for you, do not accept the title of 'Rabbi,' for one alone is your Teacher, and you are all brothers.

World English Bible
But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi’, for one is your teacher, the Christ, and all of you are brothers.

Young's Literal Translation
'And ye -- ye may not be called Rabbi, for one is your director -- the Christ, and all ye are brethren;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Woes to Scribes and Pharisees
7the greetings in the marketplaces, and the title of ‘Rabbi’ by which they are addressed. 8But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9And do not call anyone on earth your father, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.…

Cross References
Matthew 23:7
the greetings in the marketplaces, and the title of 'Rabbi' by which they are addressed.

Matthew 26:25
Then Judas, who would betray Him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?" Jesus answered, "You have said it yourself."

Matthew 26:49
Going directly to Jesus, he said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed Him.

Mark 9:5
Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters--one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

Mark 10:51
"What do you want Me to do for you?" Jesus asked. "Rabboni," said the blind man, "let me see again."

Mark 11:21
Peter remembered it and said, "Look, Rabbi! The fig tree You cursed has withered."

Mark 14:45
Going directly to Jesus, he said, "Rabbi!" and kissed Him.


Treasury of Scripture

But be not you called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all you are brothers.

be.

Matthew 23:10
Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.

2 Corinthians 1:24
Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

2 Corinthians 4:5
For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

one.

Matthew 10:25
It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?

Matthew 17:5
While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

Matthew 26:49
And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.

all.

Luke 22:32
But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Ephesians 3:15
Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

Colossians 1:1,2
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, …

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Matthew 23
1. Jesus admonishes the people to follow good doctrine, not bad examples
5. His disciples must beware of their ambition.
13. He denounces eight woes against their hypocrisy and blindness,
34. and prophesies of the destruction of Jerusalem.














(8) Be not ye called Rabbi.--The teaching of our Lord was not without its foreshadowings in that of the better scribes, and a precept of Shemaiah, the predecessor of Hillel, lays down the rule that "men should love the work, but hate the Rabbi-ship."

One is your Master.--The word, as found in the better MSS., is used in its old sense as "teacher." He was, as the disciples called Him, the Rabbi to whom they were to look for guidance. They were not to seek the title for themselves as a mark of honour. As they did their work as "teachers" (1Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11), they were to remember Who was teaching them. The received text of the Greek gives the word which means "guide," as in Matthew 23:10.

Even Christ.--The words are wanting in the best MSS., and have apparently crept into the text from a marginal explanatory note, completing the sense after the pattern of Matthew 23:10.

All ye are brethren.--The words would seem to come more naturally at the close of the next verse, and are so placed in some MSS. There is, however, a preponderance of authority in favour of this position, nor is the use of the name here without significance. The fact that men are disciples of the same Teacher constitutes in itself a bond of brotherhood. . . .

Verse 8. - Be not ye called Rabbi. After stating the customs of the Pharisees, Christ proceeds (vers. 8-12) to give his own disciples a lesson in humility. The pronoun is emphatic, "But ye, be not ye called." They are not to be eager for such distinctions, indicative of spiritual superiority. The prohibition must be understood in the spirit, and not in the letter (comp. 1 Corinthians 11:1; 1 Timothy 1:2). Our Lord does not forbid respect for teachers or different grades in his Church (see 1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11-13); that which he censures is the inordinate grasping at such personal distinctions, the greedy ambition which loves the empty title, and takes any means to obtain it. One is your Master, even Christ. The received text gives εῖς γάρ ἐστιν ὑμῶν ὁ Καθηγητής ὁ Ξριστός. Many good manuscripts read Διδάσκαλος, Teacher (so Revised Version) instead of Καθηγητής, Leader, [and omit ὁ Ξριστός. Both these variations seem reasonable and warranted. "Leader" has probably been introduced from ver. 10, where it occurs naturally; it is out of place here, where, for the sake of concinnity, "Teacher" is required in both parts of the sentence. And it is unlikely that Jesus should here expressly mention himself. He is speaking now of their heavenly Father; to himself he refers in ver. 10. In support of the allusion to the Father, Bengel cites Matthew 16:17; John 6:45; Acts 10:28, etc. The Vulgate has, Unus est enim Magister vester; and yet Roman Catholic commentators interpret the clause of Christ, in spite of the purposed indefiniteness of the expression. Jesus points to the inspiration of the Father or the Holy Spirit as that which teaches his disciples. They were to follow no earthly rabbi, but the heavenly Teacher. All ye are brethren. And therefore, so far, equal. They were disciples of our Lord, and to them appertained equality and fraternity.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
But
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

you
Ὑμεῖς (Hymeis)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

are not to be called
κληθῆτε (klēthēte)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2564: (a) I call, summon, invite, (b) I call, name. Akin to the base of keleuo; to 'call'.

‘Rabbi,’
Ῥαββί (Rhabbi)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4461: Of Hebrew origin; my master, i.e Rabbi, as an official title of honor.

for
γάρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

you
ὑμῶν (hymōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

[have]
ἐστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

one
εἷς (heis)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1520: One. (including the neuter Hen); a primary numeral; one.

Teacher,
διδάσκαλος (didaskalos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1320: A teacher, master. From didasko; an instructor.

and
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

you
ὑμεῖς (hymeis)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

are
ἐστε (este)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

all
πάντες (pantes)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

brothers.
ἀδελφοί (adelphoi)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 80: A brother, member of the same religious community, especially a fellow-Christian. A brother near or remote.


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