Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 23:1-12
1. Jesus’ admonition of the multitudes and His disciples 23:1-12 (cf. Mark 12:38-39; Luke 20:45-46) read more
Matthew 23:8-10 Esv
Thomas Constable
Thomas Constable
Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 23:8-10
These verses applied to all the Jews but particularly the disciples (cf. Matthew 23:1). By placing "you" in the emphatic first position when He spoke to the disciples Jesus was implying that they would take the position of leadership over God’s people that the critics then occupied (cf. Matthew 13:52). They were not to love it when people called them "rabbi" because they had but one teacher (Gr. didaskalos), namely, Jesus. They were to regard themselves as on the same brotherly level as... read more
John Darby
Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - Matthew 23:8
23:8 instructor, (d-12) Or 'guide,' 'guides.' read more
John Darby
Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - Matthew 23:10
23:10 instructors, (d-4) instructor, (d-9) Or 'guide,' 'guides.' read more
John Dummelow
John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 23:1-39
Denunciation of the Pharisees1-36. Final denunciation of the Scribes and Pharisees. The other synoptists insert in this place a brief utterance directed against the scribes (Mark 12:38-40; Luke 20:45-47), but the discourse as it stands is peculiar to St. Matthew. A portion of it, however, is inserted by St. Luke at an earlier period, on the occasion of a dinner at a Pharisee’s house (Luke 11:37-52) and this suggests that we have here a collection of sayings against the scribes and Pharisees... read more
Charles John Ellicott
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Matthew 23:8
(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... read more
Charles John Ellicott
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Matthew 23:9
(9) Call no man your father.—This also, under its Hebrew form of Abba, was one of the titles in which the scribes delighted. In its true use it embodied the thought that the relation of scholars and teachers was filial on the one side, paternal on the other; but precisely because it expressed so noble an idea was its merely conventional use full of danger. The history of the ecclesiastical titles of Christendom offers in this respect a singular parallel to that of the titles of Judaism. In... read more
Charles John Ellicott
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Matthew 23:10
(10) Neither be ye called masters.—The word is not the same as in Matthew 23:8, and signifies “guide,” or “leader;” the “director” of conscience rather than the teacher. (Comp. Romans 2:19.) read more
William Nicoll
Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Matthew 23:1-39
Matthew 23:5 Old Samuel Johnson, the greatest soul in England in his day, was not ambitious. 'Corsica Boswell' flaunted at public shows with printed ribbons round his hat: but the great old Samuel stayed at home. The world-wide soul wrapt up in its thoughts, in its sorrows what could paradings, and ribbons in the hat, do for it? Carlyle. Reference. XXIII. 5. C. Jerdan, Pastures of Tender Grass, p. 291. Matthew 23:8 The passage before us presents us with the true foundation on which all... read more
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Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 23:9
9. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven, c.—To construe these injunctions into a condemnation of every title by which Church rulers may be distinguished from the flock which they rule, is virtually to condemn that rule itself and accordingly the same persons do both—but against the whole strain of the New Testament and sound Christian judgment. But when we have guarded ourselves against these extremes, let us see to it that we retain the full... read more