Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 23:10
Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, [even] Christ.
10. masters ] Rather, leaders, guides, it is not the same word as in Mat 23:8.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Neither be ye called masters – That is, leaders, guides, for this is the literal meaning of the word. It refers to those who go before others; who claim, therefore, the right to direct and control others. This was also a title conferred on Jewish teachers.
Neither of these commands forbids us to give proper titles of civil office to men, or to render them the honor belonging to their station, Mat 22:21; Rom 13:7; 1Pe 2:17. They prohibit the disciples of Jesus from seeking or receiving mere empty titles, producing distinctions among themselves, implying authority to control the opinions and conduct of others, and claiming that others should acknowledge them to be superior to them.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 10. Neither be ye called masters] , leaders. God is in all these respects jealous of his honour. To him alone it belongs to guide and lead his Church, as well as to govern and defend it. Jesus is the sole teacher of righteousness. It is he alone, (who is the word, light, and eternal truth,) that can illuminate every created mind; and who, as Saviour and Redeemer, speaks to every heart by his Spirit.
Though the title of Rabbi, mentioned above, was comparatively recent in the time of our Lord, yet it was in great vogue, as were the others-father and master, mentioned in this and the following verse: some had all three titles, for thus in Bab. Maccoth, fol. 24. It is feigned,” says Dr. Lightfoot, “that when King Jehosaphat saw a disciple of the wise men, he rose up out of his throne, and embraced him, and said, , Abbi, Abbi! Rabbi, Rabbi! Mori, Mori! – Father, Father! Rabbi, Rabbi! Master, Master!” Here then are the three titles which, in Mt 23:7-8; Mt 23:10, our blessed Lord condemns; and these were titles that the Jewish doctors greatly affected.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Neither be ye called masters,…. Or guides and leaders; not but that, the ministers of the word are in a sense such; it is their business to lead and direct souls to Christ, to guide their feet in the way of peace, and to go before them, as examples to them, in word, in conversation, faith, and purity; but then they are to guide them according to the word of God, and not their own dictates; and teach them to observe the rules, and obey the ordinances of Christ, and not what are of their own inventing and prescribing; and to enforce the authority of their great Lord and Master, and not their own; and direct men to a dependence on Christ, as head of the church, who is the one Lord, as his faith is one, and his baptism one also: “for one is your master, even Christ”; which is said before, in Mt 23:8 but being a matter of so much importance to the honour of Christ, and men being so apt to set up for masters themselves, in opposition to him, or in conjunction with him, or above him, it was necessary to repeat it; for in an authoritative sense he is the one, and only master of the assemblies.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Masters (). This word occurs here only in the N.T. It is found in the papyri for teacher (Latin, doctor). It is the modern Greek word for professor. “While represents , stands for the more honourable , –” (McNeile). Dalman (Words of Jesus, p. 340) suggests that the same Aramaic word may be translated by either or .
The Christ ( ). The use of these words here by Jesus like “Jesus Christ” in his Prayer (Joh 17:3) is held by some to show that they were added by the evangelist to what Jesus actually said, since the Master would not have so described himself. But he commended Peter for calling him “the Christ the Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16f.). We must not empty the consciousness of Jesus too much.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Masters [] . Lit., leaders.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
10. For one is your Master, even Christ. He repeats a second time the former statement about Christ’s office as Master, in order to inform us that the lawful order is, that God alone rule over us, and possess the power and authority of a Father, and that Christ subject all to his doctrine, and have them as disciples; as it is elsewhere said, that Christ is the only
head of the whole Church, (Eph 1:22)
because the whole body ought to be subject to him and obey him.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(10) Neither be ye called masters.The word is not the same as in Mat. 23:8, and signifies guide, or leader; the director of conscience rather than the teacher. (Comp. Rom. 2:19.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
Ver. 10. One is your Master ] Where then are magistri nostri parisienses? our doctores resolutissimi? our masters of opinions, whose word must stand for a law, whose tenets must pass for oracles? a By the canon law, Omnes sanctiones apostolicae sedis irrefragabiliter sunt observandae. The pope may not be disobeyed.
a Quibus nihil placet nisl quod e capitis sui liripipio ipsi protulerint. Muchesias.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Mat 23:10 . , kindred with (Mat 23:16 ), guides, leaders in thought, desiring abject discipleship from followers. Gradatio: Rabbi, pater, ductor , Beng. The threefold counsel shows the intensely anti-prelatic spirit of Jesus. In spite of this earnest warning the love of pre-eminence and leadership has prevailed in the Church to the detriment of independence, the sense of responsibility, and loyalty to God. : in this place though not in Mat 23:8 a part of the true text, but possibly an addition by the evangelist (“a proof that Matthew here speaks, not Jesus,” H. C.).
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Mat 23:10. , guides)[990] i.e leaders, authorities. There is a gradation in these phrases: Rabbi, Father, Guide. They were titles of spiritual eminence amongst the Jews. The same principle is enforced in 1Co 3:5-6.[991]
[990] E. V. Masters.-(I. B.)
[991] In the original, quae destruitur etiam 1Co 3:5, s.: lit., which [sc. spiritual eminence] is demolished also in 1Co 3:5-6.-(I. B.)
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Reciprocal: Mat 23:8 – be Mat 26:18 – The Master 1Co 12:5 – but
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
3:10
The original for master not only means a leader, but also denotes a great and authoritative teacher. Christ is the only one in the kingdom of heaven that is deserving of that distinction (chapter 28:18).
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mat 23:10. Leaders. Higher than Rabbi, leaders of sects, etc.
For one is your leader, even the Christ. Hence the disciples were and ought to be called Christians, not by any human name (comp. 1Co 1:12). As Mat 23:9-10 refer distinctly to the Father and the Son, some have referred Mat 23:8 to the Holy Ghost; in order to find here a hint of the Trinity. A possible, but improbable, interpretation.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
23:10 Neither be ye called {k} masters: for one is your Master, [even] Christ.
(k) It seems that the scribes hunted very greatly after such titles, these scribes being the ones whom he called blind guides in Mat 23:16 .