Matthew 23 · Verse 8

Matthew 23:8

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

Matthew 23:8, King James Version

Matthew 23:8 in other translations

BSB	But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.
WEB	But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi’, for one is your teacher, the Christ, and all of you are brothers.
ASV	But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your teacher, and all ye are brethren.
YLT	‘And ye--ye may not be called Rabbi, for one is your director--the Christ, and all ye are brethren;
DARBY	But ye, be not ye called Rabbi; for one is your instructor, and all ye are brethren.
BBE	But you may not be named Teacher: for one is your teacher, and you are all brothers.
Webster	But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

What does Matthew 23:8 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

8. But be not ye called Rabbi; for one is your Master--your Guide, your Teacher.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 8. Be not ye, etc. Jesus forbade his disciples to seek such titles of distinction. The reason he gave was, that he was himself their Master and Teacher. They were on a level; they were to be equal in authority; they were brethren; and they should neither covet nor receive a title which implied either an elevation of one above another, or which appeared to infringe on the absolute right of the Saviour to be their only Teacher and Master. The command here is an express command to his disciples not to receive such a title of distinction. They were not to covet it; they were not to seek it; they were not to do anything that implied a wish or a willingness that it should be appended to their names. Everything which would tend to make a distinction among them, or destroy their parity; everything which would lead the world to suppose that there were ranks and grades among them as ministers, they were to avoid. It is to be observed that the command is, that they were not to receive the title. "Be not ye called Rabbi." The Saviour did not forbid them giving the title to others when it was customary or not regarded as improper, (comp. Acts 26:25;) but they were not to receive it. It was to be unknown among them. This title corresponds with the title "Doctor of Divinity," as applied to ministers of the gospel; and so far as I can see, the spirit of the Saviour's command is violated by the reception of such a title, as it would have been by their being called Rabbi. It is a literary distinction. It does not appropriately pertain to office. It makes a distinction among ministers. It tends to engender pride, and a sense of superiority in those who obtain it, and envy and a sense of inferiority in those who do not; and the whole spirit and tendency of it is contrary to the "simplicity that is in Christ"

(x) "But be not" Jas 3:1

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 8 But be not ye called Rabbi - As our Lord probably spoke in Hebrew, the latter word rabbi, in this verse, must have been in the plural; but as the contracted form of the plural sounds almost exactly like the singular, the Greek writer would naturally express them both in the same letters. None of the prophets had ever received this title, nor any of the Jewish doctors before the time of Hillel and Shammai, which was about the time of our Lord; and, as disputes on several subjects had run high between these two schools, the people were of course divided; some acknowledging Hillel as rabbi, - infallible teacher, and others giving this title to Shammai. The Pharisees, who always sought the honor that comes from men, assumed the title, and got their followers to address them by it. See on Mat 19:3 (note). One is your Master - Instead of καθηγητης, guide or leader, (the common reading here, and which occurs in Mat 23:10), the famous Vatican MS., upwards of fifty others, and most of the ancient versions, read διδασκαλος, master. The most eminent critics approve of this reading and, independently of the very respectable authority by which it is supported, it is evident that this reading is more consistent with the context than the other, - Be not ye called Masters, for one is your Master. Even Christ - Griesbach has left this out of the text, because it is wanting in many of the most excellent MSS., versions, and fathers. Mill and Bengel approve of the omission. It might have been brought into this verse from Mat 23:10. Our Lord probably alludes to Isa 54:13, All thy children shall be taught of the Lord. Ye are brethren - No one among you is higher than another, or can possibly have from me any jurisdiction over the rest. Ye are, in this respect, perfectly equal.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 23:1-12

The scribes and Pharisees explained the law of Moses, and enforced obedience to it. They are charged with hypocrisy in religion. We can only judge according to outward appearance; but God searches the heart. They made phylacteries. These were scrolls of paper or parchment, wherein were written four paragraphs of the law, to be worn on their foreheads and left arms, Ex 13:2-10; 13:11-16; De 6:4-9; 11:13-21. They made…

Read the full comment on Matthew 23:1-12 →

Matthew 23:8 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὑμεῖςhumeisyou yourselvesG4771

δὲdehoweverG1161

μὴmēnotG3361

κληθῆτεklēthētemay be calledG2564

ῥαββί·rhabbiRabbi;G4461

εἷςheisOneG1520

γάρgarforG1063

ἐστινestinisG1510

ὑμῶνhumōnof youG4771

ὁhotheG3588

διδάσκαλοςdidaskalosTeacherG1320

ὁho<the>G3588

Χριστός,ChristosChristG5547

πάντεςpantesallG3956

δὲdenowG1161

ὑμεῖςhumeisyou yourselvesG4771

ἀδελφοίadelphoibrothersG80

ἐστε.¶esteare.G1510

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 23:8

James 3:1
My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
Luke 22:32
But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
Revelation 1:9
I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:12-13
Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
1 Peter 5:3
Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
Matthew 23:10
Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
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.
Colossians 1:1-2
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
John 13:13-14
Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
Romans 14:9-10
For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
Ephesians 3:15
Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
1 Corinthians 3:3-5
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

be.
10; 2Co 1:24; 4:5; Jas 3:1; 1Pe 5:3
one.
10:25; 17:5; 26:49; Joh 13:13,14; Ro 14:9,10; 1Co 1:12,13; 3:3-5
all.
Lu 22:32; Eph 3:15; Col 1:1,2; Re 1:9; 19:10; 22:9

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Matthew 23:7
And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
Matthew 23:8
But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
Matthew 23:9
And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

Read all of Matthew 23

Matthew 23:8 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Mas vosotros, no queráis ser llamados Rabbí; porque uno es vuestro Maestro, el Cristo; y todos vosotros sois hermanos.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Mais vous, ne soyez pas appelés: Rabbi; car un seul est votre conducteur, le Christ; et vous, vous êtes tous frères.
German Elberfelder 1871	Ihr aber, laßt ihr euch nicht Rabbi nennen; denn einer ist euer Lehrer, ihr alle aber seid Brüder.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Vos autem nolite vocari Rabbi: unus est enim magister vester, omnes autem vos fratres estis.