⁵They do everything ^qto be observed by others: They enlarge their phylacteries ^r^sand lengthen their ^•tassels. ^t^u⁶They love the place of honor at banquets, the front seats in the ^•synagogues, ^v⁷greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘^•Rabbi’ by people.

⁸“But as for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi,’ because you have one Teacher, ^wand you are all ^•brothers. ^x⁹Do not call anyone on earth your father, because you have one Father, who is in heaven. ^y¹⁰And do not be called masters either, because you have one Master, ^zthe ^•Messiah. ¹¹The greatest among you will be your servant. ^a¹²Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. ^b

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Footnotes

q23:5 do all their works
r23:5 Small leather boxes containing OT texts, worn by Jews on their arms and foreheads
•Fringe put on the clothing of devout Jews to remind them to keep the law; Nm 15:37–41
t23:5 Other add on their robes
•This is a place where the Jewish people met for prayer, worship, and teaching of the Scriptures.
•The Hebrew word means my great one; it is used for a recognized teacher of the Scriptures.
w23:8 Other add the Messiah
•The Greek word adelphoi can be used as a reference to males only or to groups that include males and females. It is the context of each usage that determines the proper meaning.
z23:10 Or Teacher
•Or the Christ; the Greek word is Christos and means the anointed one. Where the NT emphasizes Christos as a name of our Lord or has a Gentile context, “Christ” is used. Where the NT Christos has a Jewish context, the title “Messiah” is used.

Cross references

s23:5 Ex 13:9; Dt 6:8; 11:18; Mt 6:1, 5, 16
u23:5 Mt 9:20; 14:36; Mk 6:56; Lk 8:44
v23:6 Lk 11:43; 14:7; 20:46
x23:7–8 Mk 9:5; 10:51; Jn 1:38, 49; 11:8; Jms 3:1
y23:9 Mal 1:6; Mt 6:9; 7:11
a23:11 Mt 20:26–27; Mk 9:35; 3Jn 9
b23:12 Pr 29:23; Ezk 21:26; Lk 14:11; 18:14; Jms 4:6, 10; 1Pt 5:5–6

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.

“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

They do everything to be seen by others: They enlarge their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love the place of honor at banquets, the front seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by people.

“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ because you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters. Do not call anyone on earth your father, because you have one Father, who is in heaven. You are not to be called instructors either, because you have one Instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

NLTNew Living Translation

“Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels. And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues. They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi.’

“Don’t let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters. And don’t address anyone here on earth as ‘Father,’ for only God in heaven is your Father. And don’t let anyone call you ‘Teacher,’ for you have only one teacher, the Messiah. The greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

And they do all their deeds in order to be seen by people, for they make their phylacteries broad and make their tassels long. And they love the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by people. But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ because one is your teacher, and you are all brothers, And do not call anyone your father on earth, for one is your heavenly Father. And do not be called teachers, because one is your teacher, the Christ. And the greatest among you will be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

KJV 1900King James Version

But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Public Domain