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Messianic Judaism and Catholic religious organizations have spiritual teachers who go by the titles ‘rabbi’ and ‘father.’ This video will analyze Yeshua’s (Jesus’) statement against calling anyone by these titles, will examine other titles, and will address the practical application of His words to not call any spiritual teacher rabbi or father.
MATTHEW 23:8-10 (NASB1995):
“But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, the Messiah (Christ).”
Matthew 23:10, in the NKJV translation, uses the word ‘teachers’ and the NIV and ESV use the word ‘instructors’ in place of the word ‘leaders.’ A more proper translation is ‘leaders.’ Persons who teach God’s word are obviously Scripture teachers or instructors.
MATTHEW 5:19 (NKJV):
“Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and TEACHES men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and TEACHES them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 23:10 properly translated, “Do not be called leaders, for One is your Leader, the Messiah (Christ),” corresponds with Yeshua’s (Jesus’) teachings in Matthew 20:25-28, Mark 10:42-45, and Luke 22:25-27.
Yeshua (Jesus) said, “Do not call any man on earth ‘rabbi,’ father,’ or ‘leader.’”
rabbi [1]:
A person appointed as a Jewish religious leader.
father [2]:
Often as a title or form of address, a priest.
Judaism currently rejects its Messiah, Yeshua (Jesus) and His teachings, so it is understandable that the Messiah denying Jews continue to persist in calling their teachers ‘rabbis.’ Messianic Jews and Catholics, who have accepted Yeshua (Jesus), are without excuse in calling their religious teachers ‘rabbi,’ ‘father,’ and ‘pope.’ When Yeshua (Jesus) instructed us to call no man rabbi, father, or leader, He was speaking in the context of calling no spiritual teacher a rabbi, father, or leader, for we are all brethren and we are all under One Father, Almighty Elohim (God) and One Leader, Yeshua (Jesus).
CATHOLIC OBJECTIONS
Catholics call their spiritual teacher priests ‘father,’ and the leader of the Catholic Church ‘pope,’ which is Latin for ‘father.’ Among the many excuses Catholics argue for doing so, despite the words that Yeshua (Jesus) spoke, include, “A male parent is called ‘father,’ the same way we call our priests ‘father.’” “Scripture speaks of Abraham being the ‘father’ of many nations.” Etc.
GENESIS 17:4-5 (NKJV):
“As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations.
No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations.”
EXODUS 20:12; DETERONOMY 5:16 (NKJV):
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which YHWH (the Lord) your God is giving you.”
Catholics who defend using the term ‘father’ to address their priests are intentionally disobeying Yeshua (Jesus) by willfully using an out of context application of what He said. Of course we can call our biological dads ‘father,’ as this is acknowledged by the 5th Commandment, for they are our earthly biological fathers. We can call Abraham the father of Israel, for he is the biological father of Israel and many nations, from whom the whole nation sprang. We can call America’s founders the Founding ‘Fathers,’ for they were the founders and framers of the United States of America. Yeshua (Jesus) clearly spoke of not calling any spiritual teacher rabbi, father, pope, or leader.
While Yeshua (Jesus) didn’t speak against calling anyone ‘reverend,’ the same principle from His statements to call no man rabbi, father, or leader applies.
reverend [3]:
Used as a title or form of address to members of the clergy.
Origin: Late Middle English, Old French, or Latin: ‘person to be revered.’
We should not call anyone on earth reverend, for there is One Redeemer, Yeshua (Jesus), and One Father who is in heaven that we are to revere. By what title should we then call spiritual teachers? ‘Brother,’ ‘minister,’ ‘pastor,’ or ‘teacher’ is sufficient.
brother [4]:
A (male) fellow Messianic, Christian, or member of a religious order.
minister [5]:
A member of the clergy. minister to: Attend to the needs of someone.
Origin: Middle English, Old French, Latin: ‘servant.’
pastor [6]:
A minister of a church or congregation.
teacher [7]:
A person who teaches, especially in a school (or one who teaches the Scriptures).
Yeshua (Jesus) once asked, “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” – Luke 6:46 (NKJV)
Yeshua (Jesus) commanded spiritual teachers to not be called by the title rabbi, father, or leader and He commanded His followers to not call any teacher of Scripture rabbi, father, or leader.
Why call no man rabbi, father, or leader?
Idolatry.
idolatry [8]:
Extreme admiration, love, or reverence for something or someone.
MATTHEW 23:12; LUKE 14:11, 18:14 (NKJV):
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Do not conform to the ways of this world (Romans 12:2). Come out from among them and be separate (2 Corinthians 6:17). Worship Elohim (God) in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24).
Obey Yeshua (Jesus) as Leader. Call no spiritual teacher rabbi or father.
1. ‘Rabbi,’ Oxford Dictionaries, Oxford University Press, 2016,
< http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/rabbi >.
2. ‘Father,’ Oxford Dictionaries, Oxford University Press, 2016,
< http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/father >.
3. ‘Reverend,’ Oxford Dictionaries, Oxford University Press, 2016,
< http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/reverend >.
4. ‘Brother,’ Oxford Dictionaries, Oxford University Press, 2016,
< http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/brother >.
5. ‘Minister,’ Oxford Dictionaries, Oxford University Press, 2016,
< http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/minister >.
6. ‘Pastor,’ Oxford Dictionaries, Oxford University Press, 2016,
< http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/pastor >.
7. ‘Teacher,’ Oxford Dictionaries, Oxford University Press, 2016,
< http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/teacher >.
8. ‘Idolatry,’ Oxford Dictionaries, Oxford University Press, 2016,
< http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/idolatry >.
