Matthew 23:8 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition) But you should not assume the title ‘Rabbi,’ for [only] one is your teacher [i.e., Jesus Himself] and all of you are [simply] brothers. More versionsKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition But you are not to be called rabbi (teacher), for you have one Teacher and you are all brothers. American Standard Version (1901) But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your teacher, and all ye are brethren. Common English Bible “But you shouldn’t be called Rabbi, because you have one teacher, and all of you are brothers and sisters. Catholic Public Domain Version But you must not be called Master. For One is your Master, and you are all brothers. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version But be not you called Rabbi. For one is your master; and all you are brethren. |
A disciple is doing well if he can be [as good] as his teacher, and the slave [as good] as his master. If they have called the master of the house [i.e., Jesus] Beelzebub [i.e., the chief of evil spirits. See Mark 3:22], how much more [likely] will they call members of his household [i.e., the disciples] the same thing!
While he was still talking, suddenly a bright cloud engulfed them. Just then, a voice spoke out of the cloud, saying, “This is my dearly loved Son, who is very pleasing to me; listen to Him.”
Neither assume the title ‘Master’ [i.e., teacher], for [only] one is your Master, the Christ [i.e., God’s specially chosen one].
They love the [special] greetings they receive at the open shopping markets and to be addressed as ‘Rabbi’ [Note: This word signified ‘great’ or ‘master’].
Then Judas, the one who betrayed Him asked, “Am I the one, Rabbi?” Jesus answered Him, “You have said so.”
So, immediately he went to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi,” and [then] kissed Him [enthusiastically].
Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man answered, “Rabboni [i.e., Teacher], I want to have my sight restored.”
Then Peter remembered [what Jesus had done to the fig tree on a recent occasion], and said to Him, “Rabbi [i.e., Teacher], look, the fig tree you cursed [the other day] has withered up.”
And when Judas came, immediately he went to Jesus and said, “Rabbi,” and then kissed Him [enthusiastically].
And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi [i.e., Teacher], it is good for us to be here. Let us build three small shelters, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” [See note at Matt. 17:4]
But I prayed earnestly for you, that your faith would not fail [to be strong]. And when you have turned back [i.e., from going astray briefly], provide [spiritual] support to your brothers.”
Then Jesus turned and saw them following [Him] and said to them, “What are you looking for?” And they answered Him, “Rabbi (which means Teacher), where are you staying?”
Nathaniel replied to Him, “Rabbi [i.e., Teacher], you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”
The disciples replied to Him, “The Jews [there] have just been trying to stone you, and you are going back again?”
[Then] Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned toward Him and replied in the Hebrew language, “Rabboni” which means “Teacher.”
This man went to Jesus one night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we [i.e., speaking of himself and other Jewish leaders] know that you are a Teacher sent from God, for no one could perform these [miraculous] signs that you are doing unless God were with Him.”
These disciples went to John and said to him, “Rabbi, look, that man who was with you on the east side of the Jordan River [i.e., Jesus], whom you testified about, is immersing people and everyone is going to him.” [Note: Actually, it was Jesus’ disciples who did the immersing. See 4:2].
Meanwhile Jesus’ disciples urged Him, saying, “Rabbi, [have something to] eat.”
And when they found Him on the other [i.e., west] side, they said to Him, “Rabbi, how did you get here?”
His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, did this man sin or was it his parents’ [sin] that caused him to be born blind?”
For we do not have [the right to] rule over your faith [i.e., to dictate concerning your personal relationship with God], but we want to work with you for your happiness. For you are [already] standing firm in your faith. [Note: This whole narrative alludes to some unresolved problems still existing there in Corinth]
For we do not preach ourselves, but [we preach] Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake.
from whom every family in heaven and on earth receives its name. [Note: Here Paul resumes the prayer he began in verse 1].
not as a slave [only], but more than a slave, as a dearly loved brother. [He is that] to me especially, but how much more to you, both in a physical way [i.e., by continuing to serve as your slave] and in [the fellowship of] the Lord [i.e., now also as your brother in Christ].
Not many of you should be teachers, my brothers, because you [should] know that we [teachers] will be judged more strictly.
Do not act as dictators over the people you are assigned to care for, but [rather] serve as examples of how they ought to live.
I [am] John, your brother who participates with you in the suffering and kingdom and endurance [which we experience] in [fellowship with] Jesus. I was on the island called Patmos for [preaching] God’s message and for testifying about Jesus. [Note: Patmos was located in the Aegean Sea between present-day Greece and Turkey].
Then I fell down in front of him to worship him. But he said to me, “Do not do that; I am [only] a fellow-servant with you and with your brothers who hold onto the testimony about Jesus. You should worship God. For the testimony about Jesus is the spirit [i.e., the purpose, or source] of prophecy.”
But he said to me, “Do not do that; I am [only] a fellow-servant with you and with your brothers, the prophets, and with those who obey the words of this book. You should worship God.”