Call No Man Rabbi
Posted: Tuesday, May 05, 2009
by Rabbi Stanley
Mosaic Ministries
Shalom in Yeshua,
I've recently been debating with a group of people concerning Mathew chapter 23...
1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:
2 "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat.
3 So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.
5 "Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries[1] wide and the tassels on their garments long;
6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues;
7 they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi.'
8 "But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers.
9 And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.
10 Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ.[2]
11 The greatest among you will be your servant.
12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. (NIV)
. Honestly, I don't see the need to debate this as it's very clear that Yeshua was speaking figuratively here. Their argument is this, we are not to call a Rabbi "Rabbi" or a teacher "Teacher" or a father "Father" or call anyone else who has a title by that title. They believe that this is a literal statement so we can't call our dad "dad" or a Dr. "Dr." etc.
Now, have we really dumbed down this much? Can we not use even the slightest bit of common sense anymore? 'Cause I'm disappointed. We've allowed liberalism to cloud us so much that we can't see even the simplest Scriptural truths anymore. We think everything is grayed and there is no more a black and a white. We think we are so clever now that we should debate everything, right down to the absurd. We think that makes us look intelligent. We could debate a piece of poop till the other gets down and eats it and then still debates that it isn't poop. Sorry it's so graphic but that's what it calls for. If we can't see the simple passages then how on earth are we going to get to the meat of what the Bible offers us? Jesus clearly here is telling us that He is THE Teacher, that He is THE Rabbi, that He is THE Master. Not that we can't call our dad "dad".
Let me tell you what kind of people like to throw this Scripture around. They are egomaniacs. They feel there is no higher authority then themselves so why should they call anyone by a title. They have no respect for authority and no respect for the G-dly even though they claim they do. They quote Paul when he said that all his education is rubbish and use that to stand on their claim that no one elses education means anything. They call this humility. But it isn't humility my friends, it's false humility. Real humility is knowing who you are in G-d. It doesn't mean you go around disrespecting Ministers. If you're doing that... G-d help you. G-d has put Pastors (Rabbis), Elders etc there for a reason (if they are truly G-dly). Sure you have to be careful who you submit yourself to them because there are a lot of fakes and phonies out there but you better be quite sure they are a phony before you start to disrespect them. Cause if you're wrong, I doubt you'll get yourself out of that mess. You'll just keep on defending it even when you know in your own heart that you're wrong. How do I know this? Because I just watched it happen to a woman. Even after 7 days of explaining this Scripture she was still in rebellion, she'd have none of it. What a shame my friends. This is a very simple scripture to understand. It would be wrong for the Bible to tell us not to call anybody Father if it uses the term repeatedly dozens of times. in both the Old Testament and the New Testament
Here's just a few from Genesis and Mathew... it sure says "father" an awfully lot of times for it not supposed to be saying "father"
Genesis 2:24
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Genesis 4:20
And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.
Genesis 4:21
And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.
Genesis 9:18
And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan.
Genesis 9:22
And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father , and told his two brethren without.
Genesis 9:23
And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father 's nakedness.
Genesis 10:21
Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were children born.
Genesis 11:28
And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees.
Genesis 11:29
And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.
Genesis 12:1
Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father 's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
Genesis 15:15
And thou shalt go to thy father s in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.
Genesis 17:4
As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.
Genesis 17:5
Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
Genesis 19:31
And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth:
Genesis 19:32
Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.
Genesis 19:33
And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.
Genesis 19:34
And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father : let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father .
Genesis 19:35
And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.
Genesis 19:36
Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father .
Genesis 19:37
And the first born bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day.
Genesis 19:38
And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.
Genesis 20:12
And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father , but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.
Genesis 20:13
And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father 's house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.
Genesis 22:7
And Isaac spake unto Abraham his fathe r, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
Genesis 22:21
Huz his firstborn, and Buz his brother, and Kemuel the father of Aram,
And this is just in one book of the Bible... And none of these are being used to talk about G-d as our Father! What about the New Testament?
Matthew 2:22
But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:
Matthew 3:9
And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father : for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
Matthew 4:21
And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father , mending their nets; and he called them.
Matthew 4:22
And they immediately left the ship and their father , and followed him.
Matthew 8:21
And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father .
Matthew 10:21
And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
I wasn't even sure if I was going to post anything on this because it hardly warrants the time it took to type it but if there is one out there who can't figure this Scripture (Matt.23) out... then I'm glad to help by posting this page. And if that one would like to give me a call... please don't.
Shalom in Yeshua,
Rabbi Stanley
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Top-level comments on this article: (10 total)When you say it says do not be called rabbi and say it doesn't mean what it says and try and explain it away, you aren't looking at the simple meaning as you criticize others for not seeing the simple. Instead you should ponder why it says call no man father. Your logic is to call yourself rabbi as instructed not to do, then to explain it away by saying it doesn't mean what a 5 year old could clearly see it means. But you call yourself rabbi so it is clear you have a bais. You should not do it, and ponder why, not do what it says not to and justify it with arguments not based in the text. Trying to make it seem stupid and not worth your time only comes off as a bully technique that isn't backed up with scriptures. It sounds like arrogance,but it wasn't a strong textual argument.lol lovingneighbor what an oxymoron, or is it just moron? You're exactly the kind of person I'm writing about here, this could be your biography lol.Good luck, you need it.RABBI Stanley
When you say it says do not be called rabbi and say it doesn't mean what it says and try and explain it away, you aren't looking at the simple meaning as you criticize others for not seeing the simple. Instead you should ponder why it says call no man father. Your logic is to call yourself rabbi as instructed not to do, then to explain it away by saying it doesn't mean what a 5 year old could clearly see it means. But you call yourself rabbi so it is clear you have a bais. You should not do it, and ponder why, not do what it says not to and justify it with arguments not based in the text. Trying to make it seem stupid and not worth your time only comes off as a bully technique that isn't backed up with scriptures. It sounds like arrogance,but it wasn't a strong textual argument.
Wow, so much title-hungry frustration and angst in this article. You proved your own case against yourself rather nicely. Not one of these scriptures says...'Father such and such' They say such and such who is a father. they are describing these people not saying their title. They are expressing function not authority. You are delusion and sad. The only title you deserve is lil lord farquaad. lolYour rebellion with authority is your problem. If you want to have a discussion go to Mosaic Ministries. I can talk freely there and I'll tell you a little about yourself. RABBI Stanley
'Talk freely?' lol We put these rules here so that potty mouths like you can't shame yourself and the religion you profess to have any more than you already do. I don't need to go anywhere to talk freely with you. I can say what I want here and you can have to take it. lol Take it! lolYes, you can be a coward which is exactly what I thought you were. :-)
Stanley, you are comparing apples with oranges. You are very confuse and arrogant, and you are confusing people. You are of your father the devil, the father of CONFUSION!I'm sorry you're confused by something so simple.
Rabbi Stanley
What an inference. Scrpture is clear believers are brothers and sisters, not to be elevated above the office of servant no matter the office, teacher-pastor, evangelist one holds. The reason believers are admonished not to call one elder John or rabbi Johannin, is because human nature being what it is tends to elevate the personage. What's more where in the NT,is Paul referred to as rabbi or apostle - the same holds true for the disciples.Where in the NT are these referred to as anything but their surname? The problem with messianic Judaism and messianic Jews in our day is reflected in a'superior' elevation of the office without submitting first to the officer in charge,. Meanwhile forgetting the middle wall of partition IS broken down. I speak from experience as one involved in Jewish fellowhips before there were congregations, more likely before you were born. A little suggestion here, let Scipture speak for itself!Scripture speaks for itself when it uses these words (Rabbi, Father etc) over and over again. It's people like you who have hangups with authority who have to rewrite the Bible to fit their psychosis.
Rabbi StanleyI also have strong doubts concerning your claim to Messianic Judaism. It's more likely you are making up a story. I've been in Messianic Judaism for 40 years when there were only a handful of Messianics in the US, I don't remember you being there. Your story doesn't fly Linderman.
Rabbi Stanley
Mr Stanley, I too am Messianic but I am quite disappointed in your demeaning (and thus ungodly) statements. You have said that Yeshua was speaking figuratively because the word "father" is used throughout Scripture. In saying that, however, you utterly ignore the verse's context! He's addressing the leadership (Pharisees) who wanted to be treated with deference (Matt 23:5-7). To this He tells them to discard their chauvinism for "One is your Master", not many! Rather than wanting to be addressed by deferential titles, "they are all brethren" and treated as equals! So leaders of congregations should not be given such 'glorious' titles (such as father or rabbi), befitting only of the Master (vs 8, 9), they should be servants (vs 11). You rationalize this important passage away by calling it figurative and then give no meaning to it! You have pushed it under the rug without regard - a sin (II Tim 3:16-17).
No, I'm not an egomaniac that rejects authority. I believe authority should be headed strongly. But you seem to have the same idea of authority that the Pharisees had and for which Yeshua denounced them.
One last thing: when an idea seems too obviously wrong, you usually have misjudged it.
David
I have been a member of a messianic congregation for about 15 years. I will have to concur with Mr Linderman and suggest that although your congregation may wish to call you Rabbi as I am sure you teach from scripture, I recommend you avoid using the title in reference to yourself. You are the pastor or elder of a congregation. It is never simple when we proof text for our own desire or determine dogmatically that the scripture does not mean what it says because it is "figurative" or "allegorical". I pray that the Lord help you with your anger.
cj
You're not a Messianic CJ, you're a Christian. Please stop telling people you're a Messianic. Thank you. Rabbi StanleyEphesians 2:14 "For he himself is our shalom, who has made the two echad and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,"
What are you doing brother? Are you trying to put up the wall of hostility which Messiah took down? There are no Messianics nor Christians we are ALL Brothers.
"There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all echad in Messiah Yeshua." Galationas 3:28
Your Servant,
DavidYou need to get out of Florida, it's cooking your brain. That same portion that you just quoted also says "there is no male or female" as well. Guess what David, I'm guessing you're still a male! That passage is about SALVATION and Salvation only. We all still have different callings too. So like I said, move north and save what few brain cells you have left. RABBI StanleyPS, quit calling me brother. You're not my brother. I don't hang out with anybody who has an IQ lower then 70. RavInteresting that my IQ is the reason that you do not wish to call me brother. Maybe you are right about my IQ. But my IQ is high enough to know that SALVATION is the reason you are my brother whether you like it or not.
Your brother,
DavidSorry, you're still not my brother. Rav
It seems that someone who calls himself "Rabbi" may not be able to look at that portion objectively. Your identity is tied up in this title and if you were to honestly look at the scripture about this topic you risk loosing part of your identity which you worked hard to earn. If then it is not good to you to simply be called "kh" then maybe your heart really is tied up in the title because "Rabbi" makes you to be a "great one". The question really is, would you be less important if you did not have your title? How much honor and authority among your brothers do you get just because you are called "Rabbi"? If you were called "Servant Stanley" instead, would you still get honor for your serving well? In fact double honor? I can bet that people would constantly call you "Rabbi" even if you told them not to. Isn't Yeshua telling us not to let our brothers think we are somehow greater than them? Not to let our brothers think that we are the authority on spiritual matters? Not to let them elevate us? When this happens your brothers think less of themselves. They think that in order to serve God they need to become elevated as you are. Let your honor be from your service as Yeshua said rather than from a respected title.
Your Servant,
DavidYour false humility makes me want to gag to be honest with you. You are so full of pride and you try to mask it with a bunch of meaningless words. You obviously have a problem with authority as does anyone who has a problem with calling someone Rabbi or Doctor or any other title. You're "sticking it to the man", how original (sigh). Sorry, some will fall for your nonsense, but I wont. Get some help. RABBI Stanley.You are using the 'appeal to motive' by saying that obviously anyone who disagrees with your view has a problem with authority. Yet I do not call into question your IQ. You may be right about your Ad hominem attack concerning my false humility, but I would not know because pride is blind. (sigh) Does that still discount my conclusion?
I think we need to agree to disagree. I am not trying to impose on you or anyone my view. I am really trying to figure out what Jesus means myself and debating like this helps me think about it.
Brother David
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