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Y7. Acknowledging God as Our Supreme Father, & Yeshua as Our Supreme Rabbi, Teacher, & Leader.    [Make a Comment]

We are to acknowledge God as our Supreme father, and Yeshua as our supreme rabbi, teacher, and leader.

This precept is derived from His Word (blessed be He):

Key Scripture

Matthew 23:8-10
But you are not to let yourselves be called 'Rabbi'; because you have one Rabbi, and you are all each other's brothers. And do not call anyone on earth 'Father.' because you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to let yourselves be called 'leaders,' because you have one Leader, and he is the Messiah!

Commentary

The Greek words used in Matthew 23:8-10 are for rabbi, for father, for teacher or leader. Since other Scriptures refer to our earthly fathers, teachers, and leaders, and since John does not object to being called "rabbi" in John 3:26, Yeshua cannot be saying that we should not appropriately acknowledge our earthly fathers, teachers, leaders, and ordained rabbis. He is instead saying that we are to acknowledge our Father in heaven as our supreme father, and only him (Yeshua) as our supreme rabbi, teacher, & leader. The context is Yeshua criticizing Torah-teachers and the P'rushim who are using titles to elevate their stature, and doing things in public in order to be seen. This is a warning to us as well, to neither elevate our positions higher than we ought, nor approve or affirm others who may seek to do the same.

Commentary by Daniel C. Juster

Yeshua is warning us against gaining our identities through titles or other means that give an idolatrous level of honor to human beings.

Classical Commentators

This Mitzvah is not addressed by any of the Jewish classical commentators.

NCLA: JMm JFm KMm KFm GMm GFm

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