Matthew 23:8-12 8But you are not to be called rabbi, for there is one teacher for you, and you are all brothers. 9And do not call a father among you, for you have one heavenly Father. 10Neither be called teachers, for you have one teacher, the Christ. 11The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Jesus gives a different paradigm for his disciples who are to model his humility seek to serve rather than to be served and to have heart holiness rather than look pious by attention getting religious acts. The title rabbi was used for a position of honor and set a person off from others. There were certain social expectations along with this title. Jesus’ followers were to go by a different system. They did not need intermediaries or priests from whom to learn. They could all go directly to the Messiah for their education. Jesus does not mean that there should be no education in the church. To make disciples requires teaching others about Jesus (28:19-20). The rabbis in Jesus’ day had a certain aura and demeanor that set them aside as special, above normal people.
Calling a person father was also a sign of high respect. Jesus probably not talking about family relationships but those who higher position and authority. Teachers were sometimes called fathers by the Jews. Christians have one Father in heaven. That puts all disciples on the same level as brothers and sisters, adopted into God’s family. No one was to be higher than another in status or importance. Christian hierarchy is quite simple: one Father and one teacher. We can go directly to our teacher and directly to God.
So much of the global church directly contracts Jesus’ teaching on this matter. Priests are called “fathers,” and pastors and teachers are often elevated to high positions of honor. A lot of this is culturally conditioned, and so we must break the molds of culture. Jesus gives the kingdom paradigm in verses 11-12. Disciples must take the low position of servanthood. Jesus set the example by giving his life as a ransom for many (20:26-28). Discipleship is the way of self-sacrifice in love for others (John 15:13). Greatness comes in service and ministry (diakonos).
In verse 12, Jesus refers to the great reversal of discipleship. Those who exalt themselves in this life will be humbled before God. The immediate application of this statement was to the Jewish leaders, scholars, and religious type who went around strutting their greatness and piety before others. But this statement also has a timeless application that warns all who set themselves up as great. It does not take much to cause a person to fall off of his or her pedestal. Disciples must be humble and in a low position, willing even to wash one another feet like Jesus (John 13). In the end, they will be exalted by their heavenly Father. Serving and being humble can be difficult in our modern world that is full of competition and the survival of the fittest. The kingdom value calls us to the way of self-giving love in model of Jesus.
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