Note 4 at Mt 23:8: As explained in note 2 at Joh 1:38, the term "rabbi" primarily meant "master," although it could refer to a doctor or teacher. Jesus' statement that we should not call any person "master" (Mt 23:8 and 10) is not to be taken that we should not submit to those in authority over us, for that would violate many scriptures in God's Word (Ro 13:1-7, Eph 6:1-9, Col 3:20-4:1, and 1Pe 2:13-20). Eph 6:5, 9; and Col 4:1 even use this terminology in referring to human relationships. Therefore, this must be speaking of making some person a master in the sense of Lordship and not of a social or civil situation.

Likewise, Jesus told us not to call any man on earth "Father" (Mt 23:9). This is not speaking of a physical, father-child relationship, since the Apostle Paul applied this term to people often (Ro 4:11-12, 16; 1Co 5:1; Eph 5:31, 6:2; 1Th 2:11; 1Ti 1:9, 5:1; Heb 7:3, 10, and 12:7). Paul even referred to himself as being a father to the believers in Corinth in a spiritual sense (1Co 4:15). However, Paul made it clear that the head of every person is Christ (1Co 11:3). Therefore, Paul was not emphasizing the sovereignty of a father but rather referring to the part he played in their spiritual births.

In both of these instances, the point that Jesus was clearly making was not to seek self-exaltation or recognition through titles. As Pr 27:2 so aptly puts it, "Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips." Trying to apply these statements with an unreasonable literalism could make us just like these Pharisees Jesus was rebuking who "strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel" (Mt 23:24).