It is written in John 3:10, “Yeshua answered and said unto him, Art thou the teacher of Israel, and understandest not these things?
If Yeshua (Jesus) literally meant “Call no man Rabbi (Teacher)”, why would He call Nicodemus “THE TEACHER OF ISRAEL”?
It is written in Ephesians 4:11 “and he has given some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some shepherds and teachers “
If, according to Matthew 23:8, there is only One Teacher (Rabbi), which is the Messiah, why did He give teachers to His body as part of the 5-fold Ministry?
If Yeshua (Jesus) seems to prohibit the use of the term "teacher," Why, in Matthew 28:19–20, does the Messiah himself appoint certain men to be teachers in his Church: It reads "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations . . . teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."
What did Yeshua (Jesus) mean?
Again, look at the context. He criticized Jewish leaders who love "the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues, and salutations in the marketplaces, and being called ‘rabbi’ by men" (Matthew 23:6–7). His admonition here is a response to the Pharisees’ proud hearts and their gasping after marks of status and prestige.
He was using hyperbole (exaggeration to make a point) to show the scribes and Pharisees how sinful and proud they were for not looking humbly to God as the source of all authority and fatherhood and teaching, and instead setting themselves up as the ultimate authorities, father figures, and teachers.
Another example of Hyperbole is when Yeshua (Jesus) said “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell" (Matthew 5:29, 18:9; Mark 9:47). Yeshua certainly did not intend this to be applied literally, for otherwise all believers in the Body of Messiah would be blind amputees!
There was also a temptation in the Jewish world of Yeshua’s day, when famous rabbinical leaders, especially those who founded important schools, such as Hillel and Shammai, were highly exalted by their disciples. It is this elevation of an individual man—the formation of a "cult of personality" around him—of which Yeshua is speaking when he warns against attributing to someone an undue role as master, father, or teacher.
He is not forbidding us to recognize that the person does have a role as a spiritual father and teacher. The example of his own apostles shows us that.
Reread the context of Matthew 23:1-7, but let me quote it from this Hebrew and Greek Study Bible (NASV). It is written “saying, The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses: therefore, all that they tell you, do and observe: but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things, and do not do them. and they tie up heavy loads and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men: for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments and they love the place of honor at banquets, and the chief seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called of men, Rabbi.”
Yeshua is stating that no-one should seek titles (in particular rabbi) to gratify their own selfish desire. Such a man receives openly the praise of men and in so doing becomes disqualified from a reward in the World to Come.
The Messiah was teaching that all titles, which denote mastery of a profession should not be used to make one a master over another or allow one to view another as being more important.
Torah teaches that the greatest person is the one who serves and attends to the needs of others vigilantly.
Remember, Yeshua was talking to Jews and therefore dealt with the title that they were most abusing. In the context here He refers to the then accepted common usage of the word rabbi as “Master.” This was a misappropriation of the term of the title assigning authority not given by God. He is not picking on one or two titles out of a multitude of manmade titles and forbidding their usage. He is attacking an ungodly principle involving that which religious people tend to play. Their desire for titles that men invest with has attached to them authority, esteem and self-importance. This is an ungodly attitude and is prohibited by Yeshua.
Consider this point: Some religious leaders think they are more accurate to scripture by being called pastor or elder. Yet, under the principle of Messiah these titles can be just as much used in an evil way. “Pastor”, scholars say, means shepherd.
It was not titles themselves that our Messiah was warning against, but rather the disciple's desire to be exalted.
God’s Chain of Command
In any army there is a chain of command. Winning battles depends on everyone's important contribution. The chain of command is used for communication and Lord YHVH used a chain of command when He set Israel in order, using Moses, Samuel and David to define it. By God's Word, there were set judges, elders, priests, Prophets, Captains and eventually Kings and Princes.
The army of our Messiah, Yeshua, is no different. There must be a chain of command and titles are used to define the chain. The purpose of the title is to set in order, not to puff up, those who have them. God has equalized his people, as He did with Israel of old, by declaring them all kings and priests in the realm of the Kingdom of heaven. But this does not change the necessary chain of command and the appointment of certain ones to certain tasks.
These titles in the chain do not define our importance, but only our responsibility to Him. The title is not evil by itself; it is what we think of it. This is why my Rabbi asked to be called “Rabbi.”
In the Messianic Jewish movement the title of Rabbi consists of a vocation ministry responsibility under the Messiah. It is NOT a title of exaltation, but given only for purpose of order in the body. In Modern Hebrew it means simply teacher.
Today a Rabbi is a congregational leader/servant.
He is an administrator of the business and spiritual things in the congregation given to him by God.
He organizes and encourages the various gifts and callings in the congregation.
He is responsible to teach the Torah, the Word of God, soberly with earnest study, but He is not the only one responsible.
He is traditionally of Jewish origin, so the title helps him to identify with and to serve the Jewish people especially, but not exclusively. The Messianic Rabbi is in his role because of Divine appointment, not because of personal worth or even skill. He will be judged, according to James 3:1, more severely than most at the judgment because of his responsibility. Consider this verse: It is written in James 3:1 “Be not many of you teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive heavier judgment.”
This verse sets up the context of Chapter 3 which talks about the “power of the tongue.” To remove this verse, as most people do, destroys the entire context of chapter 3.
Rather than prideful in His work, the Messianic Rabbi mostly feels inadequate, unworthy, and trembling at the task. He realizes that nothing he does of himself actually accomplishes anything; that it is Adonai who does all that is good and eternal in quality. He knows and acts, knowing that he is no more important than the least, in fact, he is the least.
In First John 2:13-14, Yochanan calls mature believers in the faith, “fathers”. Was not John paying attention to Yahshua? Didn’t Yahshua warn us not to call any man father in Matt 23:9? Does that also include your biological father? Is not John contradicting Yahshua? On the other hand, maybe John was in rebellion. Of course not! We know that is not the case. He correctly refers to mature believers as fathers of the faith, despite Yahshua’s pronouncement.
Therefore, it is safe to say when you are a mature believer and are able to lead others as John said, you are a father of the faith. When you walk in the ministry of teaching, within the Messianic Jewish community, given by Yahshua to teach others, you are a rabbi. He is not picking on two titles as evil over and above all the others! He merely is rebuking the principle of arrogance and pride in man’s tendency to issue or appropriate titles, without divine sanction and anointing!
Blessings and Shalom,
Joel Ness
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