The Bible is a book that has to be studied if you are going to comprehend it. All too often we scan the surface of a scripture and think we understand it completely. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, "
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
The only way we need not be ashamed is if we thoroughly study the scriptures and rightly divide them from the untruths of our evil society. Let's take, for example, verses 8-10 in Matthew 23.
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8. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
9. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
10. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ."
I have heard people many times refer to these verses and say we should not call anyone Rabbi, father, or master. But is that what these verses are actually saying? There are people who take these verses even farther. Did you know the word "Mister" is a variant of the word "master"? This fact can be found in virtually any dictionary. In fact, here is what WordOrigins.org says about this:
"The word master has several different, although related, meanings in English. And it has given rise to a well-known variant, mister. The noun master is almost exclusively used to refer to males, but there is a female counterpart in mistress. These words have also given rise to various abbreviations, Mr., Mrs., and Ms."
If we cannot refer to someone as Master, then what about the variations of these words? Should they not be used either? Before we get carried away, there are a few things we need to consider.
We know John 10:35 says that scripture cannot be broken. It never contradicts itself. If it seems to, then we surely just don't understand it. Keeping this in mind, how do we explain the verses that seem to contradict those in Matthew 23?
Let's consider John 3:25-26:
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25. Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.
- And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him
."If you go on to read John's answer you will notice that he did not rebuke them for calling him Rabbi. Why is that? What about Acts 7:2 where Stephen addressed the council by saying "
Men, brethren, and fathers hearken;" Wasn't Stephen righteous? Did he contradict Matthew 23:9? What about John 3:10 where Jesus spoke to Nicodemus and said, "
Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?" What about Ephesians 6:9 and Colossians 4:1 both of which give instructions to men serving as masters?
As already stated, scripture cannot be broken. These men did not transgress the scriptures. There is actually a simple answer to these questions. You must read the verses in Matthew 23
in context to gain the proper understanding. Go back and read verses 1-12.
If you understand the context of these scriptures, Christ said the Scribes and Pharisees loved flattery and to be called titles of authority. It was their
vanity and
hypocrisy that Christ was speaking against! We are warned against
using or
being called flattering titles in Job the 32nd chapter. This is what the Scribes and Pharisees demanded of the people. They loved to be called Rabbi and Master. It wasn't the words or titles that was the problem. It was their misuse of the titles and vanity that went against righteousness.
The word "master" in Matthew 23:8,10 is a different Greek word from the other places master is used. It is Strong's #2519 and is ONLY used here in these 2 verses. Obviously, "master" is the English word here.
Kathegetes is the Greek word. In other places, the Greek word
Didaskalos is also translated "master" in English. Though translated the same, we must be able to understand the principle each conveys. These words must be taken in context in order to understand the proper meaning.
Take the word Rabbi. It is usually translated as teacher. There is certainly nothing wrong with being a teacher. The Scribes and Pharisees wanted to be called Rabbi because technically its root word means much, many, or multitude. In the strictest sense, Rabbi means "my one to have much", or "my source of supply" according to author David Hargis. This is how the Scribes and Pharisees wanted people to look upon them and address them. The terms were not the issue in Matthew 23. It was the vanity of the Scribes and Pharisees that went against everything Christ taught. They wanted to be the source of supply for the people. We should all realize that God alone is the Source of our supply.
Scripture does not condemn the role of a master, or a Rabbi, and certainly not a father. It is the
misuse of these titles for vain glory or flattery that is condemned. 1 Peter 3:6 says Sarah called Abraham Lord, or
Kurios in the Greek, which can also be translated as master. Abraham had authority as her husband and Sarah understood this. It was good for her to recognize him as her lord or master. But, as a Godly man, Abraham loved his wife,
not the title she called him. That is what separated Abraham from the Scribes and Pharisees.
Calling your paternal parent "father" is not wrong unless you are putting him before God. Calling someone Rabbi or teacher in English is not wrong unless you make them the source of your supply. Recognizing those in authority is not wrong as long as you remember that God always comes first and is the Supreme Authority. God calls people what they are! Titles are used throughout scripture, but the title must fit the responsibility the person is undertaking.
We all have different responsibilities within our families and within the body of Christ. However, demanding flattering titles to fit these responsibilities is unGodly! I will refer to Mark 10:42-45:
"But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
43. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister (or servant
):
44. And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
45. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister (serve), and to give his life a ransom for many."
We, as the body of Christ, are here to serve, not to be served. The next time you read Matthew 23, remember the principle taught in scripture is not that all titles, or variations of titles, are wrong to use. It is the improper use of titles for flattery that is wrong.
