Matthew 23:8 - Exposition

Be not ye called Rabbi. After stating the customs of the Pharisees, Christ proceeds ( Matthew 23:8-12 ) 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. 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 εἷς γα ì ρ ἐστιν ὑμῶν ὁκαθηγητη ì ς ὁΧριστο ì ς . Many good manuscripts read διδα ì σκαλος , Teacher (so Revised Version) instead of καθηγητη ì ς , Leader, [and omit ὁχριστο ì ς . Both these variations seem reasonable and warranted. "Leader" has probably been introduced from Matthew 23:10 , 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 hero expressly mention himself. He is speaking now of their heavenly Father; to himself he refers in Matthew 23:10 . 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.