Neither be called masters, for one is your master, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you will be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
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Matthew 23:10-12 sits inside this longer paragraph.
Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples, saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees sat on Moses’ seat. All things therefore whatever they tell you to observe, observe and do, but don’t do their works; for they say, and don’t do. For they bind heavy burdens that are grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not lift a finger to help them. But they do all their works to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad, enlarge the fringes of their garments, and love the place of honor at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, the salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi, Rabbi’ by men. But don’t you be called ‘Rabbi,’ for one is your teacher, the Christ, and all of you are brothers. Call no man on the earth your father, for one is your Father, he who is in heaven. Neither be called masters, for one is your master, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you will be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Parallel Translations
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Neither be called masters, for one is your master, the Christ.
But he who is greatest among you will be your servant.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
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Be not called masters for there is but one youre master and he is Christ.
He that is greatest amonge you shalbe youre seruaunte.
But whosoever exalteth himsilfe shalbe brought lowe. And he that hubleth himsilfe shalbe exalted.
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Be not called doctours: for one is your doctour, euen Christ.
But he that is greatest among you, let him be your seruant.
For whosoeuer will exalt himselfe, shall be brought lowe: and whosoeuer will humble himselfe, shalbe exalted.
Examined in Scripture Analysis
Contradictions (2)
Questions where the Bible appears to say two different things, with the passages on each side set together.
Cross-references (23)
- James 4:6 (v12) But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
- 1 Peter 5:5 (v12) Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you clothe yourselves with humility, to subject yourselves to one another;…
- Luke 14:11 (v12) For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
- Proverbs 29:23 (v12) A man’s pride brings him low, but one of lowly spirit gains honor.
- Matthew 18:4 (v12) Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Show all 23 cross-references
- Luke 18:14 (v12) I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who…
- Proverbs 15:33 (v12) The fear of Yahweh teaches wisdom. Before honor is humility.
- 1 Corinthians 9:19 (v11) For though I was free from all, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.
- Matthew 5:3 (v12) “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
- John 13:14-15 (v11) If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example,…
- Galatians 5:13 (v11) For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don’t use your freedom for gain to the flesh, but through love be servants to one another.
- Mark 10:43-44 (v11) But it shall not be so among you, but whoever wants to become great among you shall be your servant. Whoever of you wants to become first…
- Proverbs 16:18-19 (v12) Pride goes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall. It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the…
- Luke 22:26-27 (v11) But not so with you. But one who is the greater among you, let him become as the younger, and one who is governing, as one who serves. For…
- 2 Corinthians 4:5 (v11) For we don’t preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake,
- Daniel 4:37 (v12) Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven; for all his works are truth, and his ways justice; and those who walk…
- Job 22:29 (v12) When they cast down, you will say, ‘be lifted up.’ He will save the humble person.
- Luke 1:51-52 (v12) He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down princes from their…
- Philippians 2:5-8 (v11) Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be…
- Matthew 20:26-27 (v11) It shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. Whoever desires to be first among you…
- Isaiah 57:15 (v12) For the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy, says: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also who is of a…
- Psalms 138:6 (v12) For though Yahweh is high, yet he looks after the lowly; but he knows the proud from afar.
- 2 Corinthians 11:23 (v11) Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself.) I am more so: in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in…
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (16 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv10, 12 It seemeth that the Scribes did very greedily hunt…
It seemeth that the Scribes did very greedily hunt after such titles, whom verse 16 he calleth blind guides.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv10–12 10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is…
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.
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{a} Quibus nihil placet nisl quod e capitis sui liripipio ipsi protulerint. Muchesias.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On v11 We have what is in Mat 23:12 twice in…
We have what is in Mat 23:12 twice in Luke, Luk 14:11; 18:14. These verses expound what went before, and let us know;
1. That it was not a title, but the affectation of a title, which he blamed.
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2. Not a doctorship, or mastership, but such a doctorship or mastership as made a man too big for the ministry of the church; such honour as lifted up the man’s heart above his work.
He is an infamous doctor in the church of Christ, who thinks himself too high or too great to be a minister in it. For God will abase, and men shall abase, him who exalteth himself. God resisteth, and men usually contemn and despise the proud, especially ministers who are so. Both God shall exalt, and men shall honour, those that humble themselves, both to men, condescending to those of low degree, and to their work, thinking not the meanest ministry to souls a work beneath them.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv10–12 Neither be ye called masters,.... Or guides and leaders;…
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 Mat 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.
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.
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Matthew 23:11
mat 23:11
mat 23:11
mat 23:11But he that is greatest among you,.... Either who really is so, having more grace, and greater gifts bestowed upon him, than others; which doubtless was the case of some of the disciples, or who desired to be the greatest, was ambitious of, and affected a superiority over others, and to be in the highest post and place, as it is certain some of them did. This was what they were often contending about among themselves, who should be greatest: and Christ here seems to have regard to that vain spirit, which appeared among them; and his view is, to check and restrain it: "shall be your servant"; or "let him be your servant". Service is the way to honour; he that would be most esteemed ought to do the most work; and the man that has the most grace, and the greatest gifts, ought to employ them for the use and benefit of others; See Gill on Mat 20:27.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv11–12 Matt. xx, 26.
Matt. xx, 26.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv10–12 Verse 10. Neither be ye called masters] καθηγηται, leaders.…
Verse 10. Neither be ye called masters] καθηγηται, 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, אבי אבי רבי רבי מרי מרי, 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.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On v11 Mat 23:11-12. But he that is greatest among you,…
Mat 23:11-12. But he that is greatest among you, &c. — If any one among you would in reality be greater than another, let him be the more condescending, kind, and ready cheerfully to serve others in love. The words may either imply, 1st, a promise that such should be accounted greatest, and stand highest in the favour of God, who should be most humble, submissive, and serviceable: or, 2d, a precept enjoining the person who should be advanced to any place of dignity, trust, or honour in the church, to consider himself as peculiarly called thereby, not to be a lord, but a minister, and to serve others in love. Thus Paul, who knew his privilege as well as duty, though free from all, yet made himself servant of all, 1Co 9:19. And our Lord frequently pressed it upon his disciples to be humble and self-denying, mild and condescending, and to abound in all the offices of Christian love, though mean, and to the meanest; and of this he set a continual example. Whosoever shall exalt himself, shall be humbled, &c. — It is observable that no one sentence of our Lord’s is so often repeated as this: it occurs with scarcely any variation at least ten times in the evangelists.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv10–11 Neither be ye called masters - That is, leaders,…
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.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv11–12 But he that is greatest among you shall be…
But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant--This plainly means, "shall show that he is so by becoming your servant"; as in Mat 20:27, compared with Mar 10:44.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv11–12 11. Shall be your servant — The pope indeed…
11. Shall be your servant — The pope indeed styles himself servus servorum, servant of servants. And if the name fulfilled the thing this would be enough.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv10–11 10. masters] Rather, leaders, guides, it is not the…
10. masters] Rather, leaders, guides, it is not the same word as in Mat_23:8.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv10–12 (10) Neither be ye called masters.—The word is not…
(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.)
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv10–12 Neither be ye called masters; kayhghtai : leaders, guides.
Neither be ye called masters; kayhghtai : leaders, guides.
This is just what the Pharisees claimed to be. (see ver. 16 and Rom_2:19, Rom_2:20) One is your master (Kayhghthv , Leader), even the Christ. Hero Jesus announces himself, not only as their Teacher, but as the Messiah, their Ruler and Guide. He is censuring that sectarian spirit which began in the primitive Church, when one said," I am of Paul; another, I of Apollos," etc., (1Co_1:12) and has continued to this day in the division of the one body into innumerable sects and, parties, ranged under various leaders, and generally bearing their founder"s name. "What then is Apollos? and what is Paul? Ministers through whom ye believed; and each as the Lord gave to him". (1Co_3:5) How mournful to think that Christ"s great prayer for unity (Joh 17) is still unfulfilled, frustrated or delayed by man"s self-will!
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain On vv11–12 11. He that is greatest. Instead of seeking chief…
11. He that is greatest. Instead of seeking chief seats at feasts or in the synagogues, and titles that will exalt him above others, let him seek to become the servant of all. Compare Matt. 20:26.
B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v11 he who is greatest among you
he who is greatest among you
"the person who is most important among you"
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among you
Here "you" is plural and refers to Jesus' followers. (See: Forms of You)
exalts himself
"makes himself important"
will be humbled
This can be stated in active form. AT: "God will humble" (See: Active or Passive)
will be exalted
This can be stated in active form. AT: "God will make important" or "God will honor" (See: Active or Passive)
translationWords
servant
humble
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv10–11 23:10 Teacher: This title denotes the function and office…
23:10 Teacher: This title denotes the function and office of leading others into knowledge about God. Jesus, not the scribes and Pharisees, is the teacher of God’s will (5:17).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.