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Many people have written to The Refiner's Fire to inquire about the use of the title of "rabbi" in Messianic synagogues, because the Bible seems to suggest we are not to call anyone "rabbi". But is this true? Let's check it out....
Matthew 23: 8. But you should not be called "My Great One", [1] for there is only one Who is Great and you are all brothers. 9. And do not call yourself Father [2] for your Father is one who is in heaven. 10. And you should not be called leaders, because one is your leader, the Mashiyach. 11. But he who is greatest among you, let him be a servant [3] to you. 12. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. (Aramaic English New Testament by Andrew Gabriel Roth)
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[1] Aramaic here does not mean "Rabbi" as in "teacher" per se, as in Matthew 28 Y'shua commands his disciples to teach the world. Instead, Y'shua is addressing the more literal meaning of "rab" which is "great" as shown in Genesis 6:5, "the wickedness of man was great on the earth." The previous eight verses teach against elitist behavior, so "do not be called My Great One, for you have One that is Great, YHWH." This is directed to the Rabbis (leaders) themselves, not to the followers. Certainly this does not win popularity among the Rabbis.
[2] This prohibition against calling leaders "father" is to avoid giving high status to men which is due unto YHWH. Catholics openly defy this commandment, but all institutions who use flattering titles for leaders are culpable; see Job 32:21-12. Isaiah 56:10-12 exposes leaders who "can never have enough" and who keep their "followers" in spiritual and often financial poverty by seeking personal gain for themselves. See also 1 Timothy 4:3.
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The focus of Yeshua's instruction has to do with desiring praise of man for self-exultation, rather than being a true servant who keeps in mind that YHWH is God, Yeshua is His Messiah, and we are simply passing along what Yeshua our REAL RABBI taught. If someone "loves" to be called Rabbi, then this is a problem to him because he is putting the focus upon himself and deceiving those who follow him.
Yeshua also told his disciples not to call anyone "father" too. Is this to be taken literally? Is it wrong to call someone "father"? After all, it is written, "Honor your father and mother." Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are the patriarchs of our faith and often referred to as "fathers" in the Scripture. Is this wrong? No! Sha'ul (Paul) referred to Abraham is "our father" in Romans 4:1. Was this wrong? He even went so far as to call the Corinthians his sons and his own role as father in 1 Corinthians 4:14-17.
1 Corinthians 4: 14. I write these things, not to shame you; but I instruct you, as dear children. 15. For though you have a myriad of teachers in Mashiyach, yet not many fathers; for in Y'shua Mashiyach, I have begotten you by preaching. 16. I beg you, therefore, that you be like me. 17. For this cause have I sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved son, and faithful in Master YHWH, [1] that he might bring to your recollection my ways in Mashiyach, agreeably to what I teach in all the assemblies. (AENT)
Was Sha'ul contradicting Yeshua's teachings? No, because this is what the prophets were called by their students! 2 Kings 2:12 shows that Elisha called Elijah "My father." The king of Israel also called Elisha "My father" in 2 Kings 6:21. There are other examples but hopefully this illustrates the point. Is it NOT wrong to call someone "father" or "rabbi" in a spiritual sense if they "fathered" you in set-apart instruction.
In fact, Adonai gives, "some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers." Is it wrong to be called "teacher" since Yeshua is our Teacher? No....
What we are doing is merely paying respect to a learned person's office to honor his devoted years of training and dedication. One needs to read the Bible in context and not pick and choose certain scriptures as "proof" to support their own ideas, philosophies or phobias concerning titles.
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