Jesus, the
Christ as Teacher — the authoritative Rabbi of his disciples and of every Christian. 'Rabbi' (my master/teacher) is used of Jesus throughout the Gospels. He taught with unique authority (Matthew 7:29) and called his followers to learn from him (Matthew 11:29).
Christ as Rabbi/Teacher is central to his identity. The Hebrew 'Rabbi' (literally 'my great one') was a term of respect for Jewish teachers. The Greek 'didaskalos' (teacher) and 'kyrios' (master) also apply. Several biblical truths. (1) Jesus accepted the title. John 13:13 — 'Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.' He affirmed his teaching authority. (2) His authority was unique. Matthew 7:29 — 'he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.' The scribes quoted earlier rabbis; Jesus taught on his own authority — 'But I say unto you' (Matthew 5). (3) Disciples were 'learners.' Greek 'mathētēs' (disciple) means learner. Jesus called the Twelve and others into apprenticeship — they spent three years learning from him by his teaching and life. (4) Matthew 23:8 limits 'Rabbi' to Christ. Jesus warned: 'But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ.' Not forbidding all teaching but warning against the title-pride of the Pharisees. (5) Christ teaches with the Spirit's help. John 14:26 — the Spirit will 'teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.' Christ continues to teach through the Spirit. (6) Christians learn from Christ throughout life. Matthew 11:29 — 'Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me.' Discipleship is lifelong learning. (7) Christ-the-Rabbi shapes Christian ministry. Pastors and teachers are stewards of his teaching (2 Timothy 2:2). The church's calling includes teaching what Christ commanded (Matthew 28:20). Practical implications. Submit to Christ's teaching. Read the Gospels — the primary source. Apply his words. Recognize that all human teachers point beyond themselves to him. The Christian life is fundamentally a school in which Christ is teacher.
“Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.”
“But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ.”
“They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?”
“For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart.”
Submit to Christ as your Rabbi. Read the Gospels regularly — sit at his feet. Apply his teaching. Be a disciple (learner) all your life. When you find good teachers, recognize they point beyond themselves to Christ. The Christian life is a school in which we never graduate.
'Rabbi' (Hebrew, literally 'my great one') was a term of respect for Jewish teachers. The disciples called Jesus 'Rabbi' (John 1:38). He accepted it: 'Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am' (John 13:13). His teaching had unique authority (Matthew 7:29) — he spoke not as a rabbi citing other rabbis, but on his own authority as the Son.
Matthew 23:8 — 'But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ.' This was a rebuke to the Pharisees who loved titles and the honor they brought (23:5-7). Jesus was not forbidding all teaching or all titles but warning against the title-pride that obscured the unique role of Christ. Christ alone is the ultimate Teacher; human teachers are stewards.
Matthew 7:29 — 'he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.' The scribes quoted earlier rabbis ('Rabbi So-and-so said...'). Jesus taught on his own authority — 'But I say unto you' (Matthew 5:22, 28, 32, 34, 39, 44). He didn't cite tradition; he spoke as the source. This implied a claim to divine authority, which is what the people noticed.
(1) Read the Gospels regularly. (2) Memorize his teachings. (3) Apply them to your life. (4) Pray for the Spirit's help (John 14:26). (5) Sit under faithful pastoral teaching at a local church. (6) Read good Christian books. Christ continues to teach through Scripture, Spirit, and church. He is the lifelong Rabbi.