But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.
Parallel translations
- WEB But don’t you be called ‘Rabbi,’ for one is your teacher, the Christ, and all of you are brothers.
- KJV But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
- NKJV But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren.
- NASB But as for you, do not be called Rabbi; for only One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters.
- NLT “Don’t let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Disciples must not seek the title 'Rabbi,' for they have one Teacher, the Christ, and are all brothers. It calls believers to humility and equality under Christ's sole authority.
Overview
Jesus forbids his followers to grasp at titles that exalt them as authorities over others. Christ alone is the ultimate Teacher, and all believers stand as equals before him. This is not an absolute ban on every use of words like teacher, but a warning against a spirit of self-exaltation, since spiritual mastery belongs to Christ alone.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- Jas 3:1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
- Luke 22:32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
- 1 Pet 5:3not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
- 1 Cor 1:12–13What I mean is this: Individuals among you are saying, “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.”
- Rev 1:9I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance that are in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and my testimony about Jesus.
- Matt 23:10Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Christ.
- Matt 17:5While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!”
- Col 1:1–2Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
- Rom 14:9–10For this reason Christ died and returned to life, that He might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.
- Eph 3:15from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.
- John 13:13–14You call Me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, because I am.
- Matt 10:25It is enough for a disciple to be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!
- Rev 22:9But he said to me, “Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God!”
- Rev 19:10So I fell at his feet to worship him. But he told me, “Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who rely on the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
- 2 Cor 1:24Not that we lord it over your faith, but we are fellow workers with you for your joy, because it is by faith that you stand firm.
- 1 Cor 3:3–5for you are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and dissension among you, are you not worldly? Are you not walking in the way of man?
- 2 Cor 4:5For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.
- Matt 26:49Going directly to Jesus, he said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 23:8 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.