Call no man Rabbi | Let's Talk Biblical

If you love talking about the Bible as much as I do, then I think you'll really enjoy this show. Welcome to Let's Talk Biblical, the podcast where we dig deep into the heart of scripture, explore timeless truths, and have real conversations about what the Bible says and how it applies to us. My name is Lex and I want to thank you for joining me on today's episode. So, grab your Bible, get comfortable, and let's talk biblical. Hey guys. So, the topic of discussion tonight is uh dealing with what Yeshua said where he said, "Call no man rabbi or don't don't be called rabbi." He was speaking to his disciples and he told them, "Don't let anyone call you a rabbi." and it's in Matthew chapter 23 and we're going to look at the context of this and see what he's talking about. Um I I think that there is within this movement there's a lot of mixed opinions on this topic and we have some uh leaders, teachers, uh pastors, whatever you want to call them, who identify as rabbis and then you have others who are uh very very strongly opposed to the title rabbi. And um is is this about titles or is this about something else? So we I want to dive into what Yeshua is talking about and see if we get a better understanding of what he is telling us in this uh text. All right. So let me go and pull up Matthew 23. And so Matthew 23:1 it says, "Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples." So he's talking to everyone present, the you know, not just his disciples, but everyone around. He said, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. Therefore, whatever they tell you to do or whatever they tell you to observe that observe and do, but do not go do according to their works, for they say and do not do. Okay, so first off, um this is said in the context, right? He says, "They sit in Moses' seat, so do what they tell you." Uh what does that what does that mean? They have a a position of authority within the community. um they have a position of authority in the synagogue and when they speak from that authority you're supposed to obey them because you're supposed to obey the authorities. Um and the specific phrase sit on Moses seat is actually a reference to um reading of the Torah. So when they sit in Moses seat they would be reading from the Torah. So they would be basically they'd be reading uh scripture to the people. So, whatever whatever they say when they're reading scripture, uh, you do that. But then he says, uh, don't do what they do. And he's going to go on, he's going to describe what that means to do what they do. So, let's let's keep reading. Uh, for they bind heavy burdens hard to bear and lay them on men's shoulders, but they themselves will not move will not move them with one fing with one of their fingers. Um, but all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their felactories broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best places at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues. Uh, greetings in the marketplace and to be called by men rabbi, rabbi. Okay. So, um he says here that they uh let me go ahead and go back here and they bind heavy burdens hard to bear. Um but they themselves do not move them with one of their own fingers. So, uh what does it mean to say they bind up heavy burdens and put on men's shoulders? Um most people uh most most scholars mo most uh Bible teachers would agree that he's talking about placing extra burdens on people that is not uh found in scripture. And so they um they add to the requirements of what God what God has required in scripture. They've added to that extra burdens that are hard to bear. Um and then but they themselves don't try to do those things. And so they're they're being made hypocritical. They tell you you need to do this, but they don't do it, for example. Um so an example of this might be um they would say that you need to um give an extra uh extra tithe, but then they don't give the extra tithe. Or they say you need to um what's a good example? um you know you are breaking the Sabbath if you do this such and such but then when it comes to them and they have the similar situation they go ahead and do it and excuse it that it's okay and so this idea of being hypocritical they they put burdens on people that they themselves don't try to carry. Um then he says they love the best places at the feasts and the best seats in the synagogues. And so um this is about them wanting to be seen as somebody important. They want to be seen as exalted. They want to see be seen as um somebody who is esteemed by others. Um they want that they want that esteem. They want that reputation. um they want to be exalted by men. They want accolades. They want people to uh in a sense they want worship is is in a sense what they're what they're looking for. Um greetings in the marketplaces and to be called by men rabbi, rabbi. Okay. So now let's stop with this word rabbi. And I want to um show you in here what this word rabbi means. And so, let me get this pulled up here real quick. And let's pull this up on the screen for you. Okay. So, here we are. We have uh the uh the word pulled up here, Rabbi. And it's it's actually uh in in this text, it's a Greek word, but it comes from a Hebrew word. And um but it means my master. Um and it it's as a title of honor. Okay. So when they say my they say rabbi, they're saying my master. And um the origin is the word rav. Um and it means my master or rabbi. Um and so it's you know master rabbi. Um and it's a a teacher recognized by the Jewish public for accumulating great number of Bible facts. uh respected for his accumulation of knowledge. Okay. And so um rabbi is often uh it's a term that means great one and it it means great in number. Um but it's probably referring to the number of facts or Bible knowledge that the rabbi has acquired. And so when they say lab uh rabbi, they're literally saying my great one or my master. Um, and it's it's honor it's an honorable title. Um, but uh and it's used by Jews to to address their teachers and is a form of the Hebrew word meaning great. Okay. And if you go to the Hebrew word rav um you see here that it it means to abound. Uh it can mean captain, elder, um exceedingly full, great, increase, uh many, master, mighty one, multiply, officer, often, uh plenteous, populace, prince, um suffice, and so there's a lot of different ways that this word is used. Uh but the point is that it has to do with um greatness. And um and so when they call someone Rav like Rav Shaul uh or rabbi uh you know rabbi whoever um they are esteeming that person as a master meaning you know you're you're the you are greater than me um you're my teacher you are someone I come to humbly to learn from and because of your vast knowledge of the scriptures and um it's it's a term of exaltation. Okay, so that is what the word rabbi refers to. So it means master, my master or great one is is really the the two best ways to describe this this word rabbi. Okay, so he says they love to be called rabbi. Okay, so these these men they want they love the best seats in the feasts in the synagogues. They love to be greeted by men and called rabbi, rabbi. Okay. And and they uh they want their works to be seen by men. Okay. They want to be seen as someone who is um uh holy and righteous. They want to the the people to look at them and and see them as holy and righteous people. They want to be known as holy men. And so they uh make their fletoreies broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. And they love to be called rabbi. Okay. But then Yeshua turns to his disciples and he says, um, "But you do not be called rabbi, for one is your teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren." Okay, so you do not be called rabbi, for you have one rabbi. You have one teacher. Now, let's let's look at this word. Um, and so let me pull this up here and let's see what this teacher means when we look at this. and we go to uh okay the word teacher here let me pull this up on the screen for you okay here is the word teacher uh did descalos and uh it means a teacher and um sometimes the kJV might translate it doctor master or teacher Um and the NASB translates it teacher u but it means a teacher instructor um having reverence um but it's it's a it's a teacher instructor or master someone who you go to for education um and so this is I want to point this out because this is a different word than what he uses here in a minute okay but it's uh someone uh an a teacher and instructor knowledge for their mastery in the field of learning in scripture, a Bible teacher, a competent competent in theology. Okay. Um and so Dascalos is referring to a teacher, a Bible teacher, basically. Okay. And then we go um to the let's let's go ahead and keep looking. And so uh you do not be called rabbi for one is your teacher, the Christ. So you have one teacher and it's Yeshua. And you're all brethren. You are all brothers. So you are all peers is the idea. You you are equals. Do not call anyone on earth your father for one is your father. He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers for one is your teacher the Christ. Okay. So now here is another reference to teacher but it's a different teacher. So uh this is 2310. Let me go and pull that word up for you. And Let's see what he's using here. So, he says, uh, not let anybody call you teacher. And the word here, let me pull it up now, is uh, cathasees. Okay, so cathates is very different than the word we were looking at a minute ago. Now, it's translated master or leader. Um, and we see in in the version that I was looking at the New King James that it was translated teacher, but it's not teacher. Um, it means master or leader. Uh, leader, guide, one who instructs the way they should go. Um, an instructor or a rabbi. One who starts, establishes or institutes. Um, kata and heomi. Um and it means a teacher or a master. Um and so if we look at these words, kata is um about, after, against. Uh so it's according to um so it's it's kind of a a it doesn't give us a whole lot of information, right? Uh but then we go to heomi and it means uh count chief, count esteem, governor, judge, uh rule, um lead, leader, uh chief, command, lead. And so this word has a lot to do with authority um and strength and command and office and rule and judgment and things like that, right? And so but it has it it refers to a leader someone who leads the way. Okay. A governor or an official who leads. Okay. So now when we look at the context of this he says and do not be called leaders for one is your leader. Okay. So this isn't when you look at the what this word actually is in Greek it's referring to someone who is um has a position of authority someone who has a leadership role. someone who has um uh an office such as a governor, such as a um chief, uh some sort of a rulership. And so this isn't talking about teacher, someone who teaches you and instructs you. This is talking about someone who is trying to um dictate what you should do and where you should go. And so this is a little bit different. But let me go back. And so he says, "But you do not be called rabbi for one is your teacher." Okay, the word teacher there actually means teacher and he's referring to himself Yeshua as the teacher. Um, and so here we have rabbi contrasted with teacher. Rabbi means great one or well-learned one. My master, my great one, my uh my great exalted teacher. Um, someone who has amassed a lot of knowledge of the Bible would be called a rabbi. And he's saying don't call anyone a rabbi, but you have a teacher and it's Yeshua. Yeshua is your teacher. And so that's what he's saying here is you don't need to have a man be your rabbi because you have Yeshua and he is uh he is your great teacher. He is he is the greatest teacher. Um and there were times actually that he was called rabbi in the New Testament. Um and so I I think it's interesting that he he could be called rabbi because he is the great one because he is our master. Um but he didn't even refer to himself as rabbi here. because he could have said you you do not be called rabbi but you have a rabbi and that's me I'm your rabbi like he could have said that but he didn't he referred to himself as a teacher so even here he was humbling himself and not calling himself a great one uh but do not call anyone on earth your father for when is your father he who is in heaven okay so now this one uh the Greek word here is per and it means father but what is he talking about here well in the context here he's talking religious leadership. So, rabbi, teacher, leader, father, these are religious um leaders that he's talking about. And so when the when the uh Jews refer to Abraham as their father, they say, "Wait, well, father Abraham, Abraham is our father." Um what they're saying is that he is our um the the founder of our religion. He is the the father of our faith. He is the leader in our um uh our belief system, things like that. So um so if we go and look at that word, let's go ahead and pull this up here. Okay. So the word here is as I said per and it means father or parent. Um literally or figuratively and um so it can be a literal parent or a figurative parent and uh that's something that we we have to understand here is is that he's talking about the figurative parent um not necessarily the literal parent. Uh so per's father one who imparts life. Uh progenitor bringing into being or past the potential of likeness. Uh per fathers are used of our heavenly father. He imparts life from physical birth to uh the gift of eternal life through the second birth. Um father refers to beginner originator or progenitor. um intimate connection, relationship. Um the New Testament never speaks of universal fatherhood of God towards all men. Um which is interesting that there's some people that say, "Oh, we're all God's children." Well, not true. We're only believers are considered God's children. Um but uh the idea that um God is our father is what he's trying to get point out here. Uh equivalent to uh generator or male ancestor uh the nearest ancestor. Um and so when we look at how this word is used in other places um in place of his father Herod so there's a literal father Herod was his literal father Abraham uh our father to Abraham to our father Abraham for our father um this would be uh more of a literal uh I'm sorry, more of a figurative father. Um Zebedee, their father. This is a literal father. Um their father uh they left the boat in their father and followed him. There's a literal father. Uh glorify your father who's in heaven. Now that's speaking of God our father. Um you be sons of your father who is in heaven. God our father. Uh heavenly father. Um, father in heaven. Uh, let me see. Trying to find a specific verse. It's from John. Let me see if I can get there a little quicker. There's a lot more references to father than I was intending on go through. So, let me just get over here to John. Okay. And we go. All right. So, verse uh chapter 4. You are greater than our father Jacob. So, here is here's a reference to Jacob being uh their father. This is the woman at the well and um she's referring to Jacob as her father. Well, Jacob is not her literal father. This is a figurative father. And it's it's considered like the father of the faith, right? And our fathers worshiped in this mountain. Uh well, you know, again, our fathers referring to the ancestors, the ones who who started this faith. Um and then then Yeshua talks about father uh he worshiped the father uh in spirit and truth. And so he's he's taking you know there you're you're talking about father Jacob. I'm talking about the real father, the heavenly father in heaven. Um and then uh that's who the father seeks. And then we go to um you know John five, he says, "My father is working um and referring to God." And they say he made God his own father, making himself equal with God. Um, and then we see verse where's it at? Our fathers ate mana. U, so there's another figurative father. Um, okay. They said to him, "Abraham is our father." Okay. So, this is uh John 8. And um let's just go ahead and pull that up real quick and read through it. So we go to John 8. That's verse 39. Okay. Skip down here to All right. I know that you are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill me because my word has no place in you. I spoke of what I have seen with my father and you do what you have seen with your father. And they answered and said to him, Abraham is our father. Okay. So, here they're speaking of Abraham as their father. This is the um the kind of thing that Yeshua is referring to. Call no man your father. Um Abraham is not their literal father. It's not talking about the the parent, the one who raised them. It's talking about a religious founder. And so, we might say that um Martin Luther is the father of the Lutheran church. Okay, that would be uh one way of of using that in the same kind of way that Martin Luther is the father of their faith, the Lutheran faith. Um, you know, and so John Calvin is the father of the Calvinist belief system. Um, John Wesley is the father of the Wesleyan belief system. And so those are uh modernday examples of things that are similar to this. And so Abraham is our father. Abraham is the father of our uh belief system. And Jesus said to him, "If Abraham were your children, if if Abra if you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham, but now you seek to kill me." Okay? So, um so he's saying that uh you're not really Abraham's kids because you're not acting like Abraham. And we see other examples in the Bible where it talks about um we are children of Abraham and we're sons and daughters of Abraham. And that's given as a good thing. And so um it's interesting here how it's being used. But do not call anyone on earth your father. For one is your father, he who is in heaven. Okay? So it's about exalting someone um to this status, right? saying that um like for example, if you were if you were my disciple, you know, if we were in doing disciplehip together and and we were together and and you you referred to me as your father, the father of of your faith, um that would be inappropriate because uh you know, you you'd be exalting me to some sort of a a high level um of of importance in your life. And so it' be the same thing as if you call me a rabbi. If you call me rabbi, it's like you're saying, "You're my master. You're my great one. I'm exalting you because of your vast knowledge." That's that's inappropriate. And that's what Yeshua is saying we shouldn't do. But it's all about exalting uh exalting one another, exalting others, and and being exalted over others. And he's saying, "Don't be like that. Don't be like those who like to be called rabbi." Okay? uh those who like to be greeted and called by men rabbi, rabbi. Um looking for the best seats in the best places at the feast and in the synagogues. Um that's that's what he's opposing is this idea that you you want to show off. You want to be better. You want to pretend that you're somebody more important, somebody you're more special. Um and and I see this um you go to some places and you have um like the the pastor walks in and he has like security guards around him, you know, like the Men in Black or something and nobody gets to talk to him. You can't talk to him without uh you know schedule scheduling permission to speak with him. and he's uh you know they keep him locked away in some sort of a green room before service so that he's got privacy and nobody's interacting with him and you know they usher him into the the sanctuary and nobody gets a chance to talk to him or touch him and then when he's done they usher him out back to a secret private place and only those who have permission can go in and talk to the guy. That's that's the kind of absurdity that Yeshua is talking about here. you're you're not that special. You don't you don't need that treatment. Um and you know the the the title rabbi um you could also substitute instead of rabbi you could say reverend you know because within Christianity you have a lot of people want to be called reverend. I'm I'm reverend so and so. I'm the the honorable reverend whoever you know like you know if you you were do let's just take my name for example. If I was to say, "Oh, I'm I'm Reverend Lex Meyer or I'm Reverend Meyer." Uh, you're it's what is that? That's a title of authority. That's a title of exaltation. Um, it's it's like if I introduce myself, oh, I'm Reverend Reverend Meyer. Nice to meet you. Well, that's I'm I'm wanting to exalt myself when I do that. If I if I was to if I was to refer to myself as Reverend Meyer, I would be exalting myself over you and saying I have a position of authority over you. And reverend means revered one. It means we're supposed to revere that person. Um, and so, you know, I I'm really cautious with, you know, I don't I don't introduce myself and say, "Hey, I'm Pastor Lex or I'm Pastor Meer." I don't do that. I don't introduce myself as reverend or pastor um because I don't want to exalt myself over someone else. I think the title doctor does the same thing too when people say, "Oh, I'm Dr. So and so." Um you know, if I had a a PhD or something, I I I could put the name title doctor in front of my name and I could be Dr. Lex Meyer. Um it's a title of exaltation. It's a it's a title of um to meant to exalt that person above everyone else because they're so much more learned. They have so much more knowledge and understanding. And that's that's kind of the way rabbi functions. You know, it was this idea that they are a master. You go to get your master's degree, you become a master. um you have mastered that uh that language or you've mastered that uh subject, you become a master in that uh in that realm of knowledge. And so if you have a doctorate, you're a doctor of theology, well that's very different than a doctor of psychology or a medical doctor. Um they're all very different. And so a doctor of theology could never practice surgery in a hospital because they they don't have the knowledge to practice surgery in a hospital. And a a a neuro uh you know a doctor of psychology or counseling uh they shouldn't be practicing theology because they haven't studied uh theology and so they don't have the knowledge in that area of expertise. And likewise, they wouldn't be doing brain surgery or dental surgery even. Uh you wouldn't want your uh psychologist to perform uh root canal on you because he has the word doctor in front of his name. So it's very specific to what their knowledge is related to. Well, rabbi would basically be a doctorate of Torah or a doctorate of Old Testament. uh because they have such vast knowledge in the scriptures. Um that's basically what you're saying is is they are this exalted master in this realm of knowledge. Um and Yeshua is saying don't do that. Don't exalt people based on their knowledge. Don't exalt pe people based on um titles. Don't give people titles of exaltation. Um and so uh you know he says not to let anyone call you rabbi. Okay. And then um so he says uh do not be called teachers for one is your teacher the Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. Now here he shifts gears a little bit and he tells us he's comparing great with servants. So you know uh the title rabbi is about being great. the title leader or teacher or pastor or reverend or doctor. All of those are titles to exalt someone and make them great. And he says, "Whoever is to be great among you, he's supposed to be your servant." And and so he's exalting service and saying that if you want to be great in the kingdom of God, you need to be a servant. You need to be one who serves and gives and and not try to exalt yourself. And so he's he's kind of flipping um this this idea of greatness on its head and he's saying, you know, according to the world, according to most most everybody else in the way the world works, uh you get a title and that makes you somebody important. And he's saying that's not what that's not the way it works in the kingdom. He said, I don't care about titles. I don't want you to have titles. I want you to be servants. I want you to serve. And that's what's going to make you great in the kingdom is serving. And so he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled. And he who humbles himself will be exalted. So now here we we have this idea of exaltation. Again, the rabbis uh they want to be greeted as rabbi. They want to be exalted. They want to be the best seats in the synagogues. Things like that. He says, "Whoever um whoever exalts himself will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Okay? So, uh exalting yourself, you would exalt yourself by saying, "Oh, I'm Reverend so and so, or I'm doctor so and so, I'm pastor so and so, I'm Rabbi so and so." You're exalting yourself above other people. And he says, "If you exalt yourself, you're going to be humbled." And so, um, it's wise not to exalt yourself because when you do, at some point you're going to be humbled and it's going to be, um, it's going to be embarrassing. You're going to get egg on your face and it's not going to go well. Um, and then, but he goes on, he says, "But what are you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men, for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in." Okay. So he's saying that you are keeping people out of the kingdom uh by your own hypocrisy. Woe to you scribes and Pharisees hypocrites for you devour widows houses and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. So um you know they are devouring widows houses. What does that uh what does that mean to devour widows houses? um you know, these these poor widows don't have a whole lot and you're taking what little they have. And so that's that's what it means to devour widows houses is you're you're stealing from the widows. You're robbing from the widows. who are um I think a modern day example of this would be uh the prosperity preacher who is on TBN and he says uh you know if you are struggling financially uh you need to give us a large donation because God will bless you uh he blesses a cheerful giver. So send us a large donation and God will bless you and multiply and you'll you'll receive back more than what you gave. Um that is that is a modern example of uh devouring widow's houses. You're you're praying on the weak. You're praying on the poor. You're praying on those who are uh who don't have much and you're taking what little they have and um you're you're manipulating them to and using them and you're causing them to to end up being in a worse state than they were originally. also that you can um exalt yourself and fatten your own pockets and things like that. And so that's what he's saying these scribes and Pharisees are doing. Um and and as I was saying, this is what a lot of modern prosperity preachers are doing too. um as they're they're taken taken from the widows, the poor, the orphans, the the the destitute, the downcast, those who are struggling financially, and they're saying, "Hey, um you know, you just need to give more. If you'd give more, God would bless you more." That's that's manipulation, and that's not uh that's not okay. Um what they should be doing is saying, "Oh, you're you're in a you're in a bad place. let let us help you. The church has money to help people like you who are struggling financially. That's what they should be saying. Uh but instead, they're saying, "Oh, you're in a bad place financially. You need to give more so that God will bless you." No, they they got it all backwards. Um they should be helping those in need. And so, um, if you're a part of a a church and they are not helping when you are financially struggling, um, you know, that's I think that's something you need to consider is maybe they're maybe they got the priorities wrong because the church should be trying to help those in need, especially those in their community who are in need. Um now if you're also if you're someone who comes back monthto monthth asking for help continually um then there may be something where they need to take take some time and sit down with you and say hey let's let's look at your budget and see why you constantly need help every month. um see if we can help you budget better or see if we can help you figure out where you know where your your money is being wasted and uh put it to better use or um if you need to sell something that you know you're drowning in debt and you need to maybe sell your car or something and get you a different car um you know I think it's wise sometimes to say okay we can't just keep throwing money at you every month uh let's see how we can help you get into a better financial state But again, it's the church trying to help when when they say that they're trying to help. They're trying to get you to a better place financially so that you don't have to be constantly asking for help every month. Um, but it would be absolutely inappropriate in my opinion for if if someone in the congregations went to church came to the pastor and said, "Hey, I'm struggling financially. I'm not sure if I'm going to make my rent this month." And the pastor says, "Oh, you know what? You you just need to give more. take take what you would have given to rent and you know give that to the church and then God will bless you and you'll have all the rent money you need. That's stupid. And if somebody tells you that kind of nonsense, just go someplace else because that is absurd. Um that is they're devouring widows houses. That's the kind of thing they're doing. um they're they're taking somebody who's already destitute and they are uh just bringing them to a deeper level of debt and destitution and and misery. Um you're depleting what little they have. And that is absolutely wrong. And that's that's why he calls them hypocrites. Um and for pretense, they make long prayers. And so, you know, they they're stealing from the widows and then they make long prayers so they seem righteous and holy. Uh, woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites. Um, for you travel land and sea to win one proite, and when he is one, you make him twice the son of hell as yourselves. And so they are um not teaching them. They're making disciples, but they're not teaching him well. They're making their disciples just like them. What do you blind guides who say, "Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing. But whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he's obligated to perform it." Okay, so now they're putting all this exaltation in the gold, the money, the treasures. Um, you know that the temple isn't the important thing, but it's the treasure in the temple that's important. And so that's hypocrisy. Uh, fools and blind, which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold? Obviously Yeshua is saying it's the temple that is greater than the gold. And whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing. But whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it. Fulls and blind, which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? Okay. Now, when you think about um the uh let me actually let me finish this thought. Therefore, he who swears by the altar swears by it and all things on it. And uh he who swears by the temple swears by it and all who dwell and uh and by him who dwells in it. And he who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits on it. What are you scribes and Pharisees hypocrites? For you pay Okay, let's go ahead and uh pause here for a second. Let's go back up here to um the gold in the temple. Okay. So he says wrong one. So he says fools and blind which is greater the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold. Um when you think about this concept the the discussion we're having about uh rabbis and great ones and things like that, right? Uh which which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? um they're wanting to exalt the person. And so they they're saying they're exalting a person and calling him rabbi. They're exalting him and calling him a great one. And he says that's not the one you should be glorifying. The one you should be glorifying is the one who sanctifies him. That's God. God is the one who deserves the glory, not not the um not the one who he has been uh sanctifying. And so fools and blind, which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? The gift is referring to uh in in the case of rabbi, rabbi, teacher, pastor, uh leader, shepherd, whatever that person is, they're a gift. And they're actually referred to as a gift uh in Ephesians where he says, you know, that he he gave gifts to men. Some he gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors, some teachers. And but he's referring to these leaders, these people in the church as gifts. Well, you don't exalt the gift. And so, you don't exalt the gift, you exalt the the one who sanctifies the gift. Yeshua is the one who sanctifies the gift. Um, and you know, God is the one who sanctifies. And so, you exalt God and not men. And hopefully that helps uh bring some connection here between this uh what he's talking about here and how it all ties together. There's therefore he who swears by the altar swears by it and all things on it. So um it's the idea of going to the father instead of the teacher, exalting the father instead of the teacher. Okay. Okay. So then we go down. Um, okay. Here's where we are. What are you scribes of Pharisees, hypocrites, for you paid tithe of mint and anise and cumin and have neglected the weightier matters of the law, justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done without leaving the others undone. Okay? So he's telling them, you've tithed, but uh you've left out the weightier matters of law. So what what they're doing here is they are tithing um and they're tithing from their garden. So like they're tithing from their mint and they're their cumin and their anise. They're tithing from their garden. And so they're they're bringing their tithes in as if they have done some kind of wonderful thing. Um but they're he says you're neglecting the weightier matters of the law, the more important things you're not doing. And so they make a big show of the things they do. But the things they do aren't as important as the things they're not doing. And the things they're not doing, they kind of hide. They're they're hiding uh the weightier matters of law that they're not fulfilling them. They're not doing justice and mercy and faith. They're hiding that. And they're they're not showing that off, but they're showing off the parts of the law they do keep. Well, look at me. I'm I'm I'm I'm early to to synagogue every Sabbath and I have my tassels on and they're very long and beautiful and I wear these beautiful garments so that everyone can see me and know that I'm a righteous person. I have my Bible with me and I get a nice big nice big Bible that I can show off and it's a study Bible that that shows how how smart I am and how much I know and I exalt myself in any way I possibly can. That's basically what he's talking about is people who act like that. They want to be seen by men and revered by men and he's saying don't do that. And so they pay, you know, they pay their tithe. They want to make sure everybody sees them tithe. you know, they they write their check and they carry it around and stick it in the box where everybody can see them, whatever, you know, um they they want to make sure everybody sees that they're doing the righteous acts that they want people to see them doing. But then there's things that they hide, things that they do that is unrighteous, but they don't want anybody to know about them. So, they hide those things, uh parts of the law that they ignore or they don't keep. Okay? And he says, "Blind guides who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel." Now, here's an interesting one. We have they strain out a knat and swallow a camel. Both of those things are unclean, right? And so you have um you know, you have uh let's say you have tea like I do and if I didn't have a lid on it, maybe a gnat flew into my tea and I go to take a drink and I see a net in there. Oh man. You know, so I'd pick and strain out the nat to get it out of my drink. before I take a drink, right? Because I don't want to drink a gnat because that's nasty and gross. It's a bug in my drink. You strain out a gnat, but then you swallow camel. Well, camels are another unclean thing, but they're massive. They're huge. And so, you're you're straining out this tiny thing that's not really that significant, but then you swallow this giant thing that's really significant. And that's that's the kind of thing he's referring to here. It's it's a good uh allegory uh illusion to help you picture what he's saying, you know. So they uh you know they they they tithe and they make a big deal about tithing from the garden, but then they neglect the weight of your matter, the bigger things, the more important things. They neglect. It's same as you know, someone who strains out a nap, but then, you know, doesn't worry about the camel. They just eat the whole camel. um you know there you're you're you're you're picking at the small things that don't matter and you're ignoring the big things that really do matter. Um what do you scribes and Pharisees hypocrites? Uh for you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they're full of extortion and self-indulgence. Okay. Uh here it is. He's talking about how they present themselves on the outside. They make the outside beautiful, but inside it's corrupt. uh blind Pharisee cleanse first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish that the outside of the cup may be clean also. So cleanse the inside first. Okay. So let's just imagine my cup. I have this cup and on the outside it looks good. It's clean. You don't have any any dirt or grime or grunge or mold or anything on it, right? It's just it looks good. But then let's say you open it up and uh you know you go to to go to use it and you look inside and it is full of uh you know it's dirty and filthy. Looks like it hasn't been washed in years. It's got mold growing on it because you know whatever was in here previously didn't get washed out and it started molding and and growing stuff and it just looks nasty and disgusting inside. Well, that's that's what he's describing. He's saying on the outside it looks good. On the outside you have all these righteous acts. you you make yourself appear good to men, but inside you're rotten. You're full of mold and and nastiness. And he says, "First, you need to cleanse the inside of the cup." U because you know which is more important, the inside or the outside? If if if it was the other way around, if I had the outside of the cup, if I dropped it in the mud and you know, you had some mud on it and some dirt and uh maybe even fell in in a pile of poop, you know, you had some poop on here somewhere, but the inside's nice and clean. Well, you know, what could you do? Well, you could use a straw, I guess, and and drink through the straw. You wouldn't have to touch the outside. The inside's still okay. It hadn't got anything inside of it. You know, it's got this lid on. It protected everything inside. Um, you know, maybe just wipe off the place where you would take a drink and you take your drink. Um, and so which is more important? That the inside of the cup is clean or that the outside of the cup is clean? Well, the inside is more important because that's where the the food or beverage would be. And so that's where the important stuff is. Um so first cleanse the outside uh first cleanse the inside of the cup and that the outside of may be clean also. Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and and all uncleanness. Okay, so again he's saying you emphasize the outside. You emphasize what it looks like to other people, the appearance to others. Um, but inside you're rotten. Even so, you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. What are you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you bind uh because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous and say, "If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. Therefore, you are witnesses against yourselves that you are the sons of those who murdered the prophets. Okay, Philillip, then the measure of your father's guilt, serpents, brood of vipers. How can you escape the condemnation of hell? Therefore indeed I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city that you may uh that on you may come the righteous all the righteous blood shed on the earth from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zachcharias son of Barakiah whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Assurely I say to you all these things will come upon this generation. Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who sent who are sent to her. Often I wanted to gather your children together, but as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you are not willing. See, your house is left you desolate. For I say to you, who shall see uh for I say to you, you you shall see me no more till you say, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. All right. So this is a um a really interesting chapter and he is going after the religious leaders uh the scribes, the Pharisees, those who like to be called rabbi. Um and he's he's really going after him and he's saying that you are exalting yourself. Um and you shouldn't be. He's calling them hypocrites and he's telling his disciples don't be like them. Okay. Don't be like them. Don't be like those who exalt themsel. Don't be like them who uh seek to be exalted by others. Don't be like them who are whitewashed tombs who make the outside look good but inside uh they're full of hypocrisy. Don't be like them. Okay, that is that is the point he is making here. Um, and so now, uh, if you guys have any questions, I want to give some time for questions. And, um, I'm going to start skimming through the the questions now. So, if you have a question, type question in all caps and we will get to your questions here shortly. Hey friends, if you've been enjoying the show and you want to help keep the conversation going, then we'd love your support. Let's Talk Biblical is a listenerupported podcast and we couldn't do this without you. Your support helps keep this show running. For more information about how you can support this ministry, visit unlearnthees.com. And thank you so much for being a part of Let's Talk Biblical. Now that we've explored the depths of today's topic, it's time to hear from you. Welcome to the Q&A portion of the show where you can ask questions about today's topic. So, post your questions in the chat and let's talk biblical. All right. Uh first question here says, "Does this mean that this is wrong when pastors, preachers, and elders have special seats during church gatherings as I often see in today's churches?" Um, you know, that's that's actually a really good question and I I am of the opinion that it is wrong. Um, and so oftentimes you'll see in churches where they have up on the pedestal, up on the podium, they have special chairs set up apart for like the the pastoral staff and they'll set up there on the podium um as they're some sort of exalted person. Um I I don't see the purpose in that. Why why are they doing that? um you know the only the only purpose I would see is for example if they are there for a for a reason. So like if you have one one person who is reading um you know going through some sort of announcements and liturgy things like that have them seated on the stage so it's quick access to the the pulpit and then when they're done they can go sit down with their family and someone who is um you know if they're they're teaching or reading scripture have them seated up there so they have quick access to the pulpit but then go back down and sit with their family when they're done. Um you know things like that. That might be a reason why some do it. Um, but just to have them seated up there all the time, like even if they're not speaking, not teaching, why are they sitting on the stage just to exalt them as if there's something special? U, that would be where I'd see a problem with it. if if they're doing it for just that it's easier uh to have them already on the stage so that um we're not waiting for them to to walk up from the back of the room and climb the stairs and and and uh you know so they can get to their uh get to the pulpit quicker so they can make their announcement quicker so they can you know whatever they need to do just for the the element of of speed and brevity. That would be the only reason I would see maybe having uh special seats on the chairs for people who are scheduled to be doing something on stage that day. Um otherwise it just seems like it's there for show and I don't understand that. Um so I guess it depends on the purpose, you know, and if it's if it's to to to exalt them somehow, I'd say no, that's inappropriate. Um okay, I had another question. uh is it biblical to tithe even though there's no Levitical priesthood? And he clarified. He said, "What I mean is, should we still tithe even though there was no Levitical priesthood?" Um I actually have a couple of videos where I talk about this. And um the I I've actually changed my view on it over the years. And so, you know, years ago I did a video saying u that we we shouldn't be tithing anymore because there's no Le Levites. Um but that my view has changed on that um over the years. And I I do think that we're still supposed to tithe. Um but it doesn't go to Levites. And so we have um I I think the tithe would go to towards ministry. And so it would go towards um the the ministry of the church, the function of the church, keeping the church um supported and uh you know so you have a place to meet and keeping the the pastoral staff um you know keep a food on the table for them basically um so that they can survive because a worker is worthy of his wages. Um I think that that is that is something that we can see in the New Testament is that uh financially supporting churches and ministries and and uh things like that is uh appropriate and encouraged throughout the New Testament. Now um if you want to be strict with 10% tithe, I don't know if you can necessarily um say it has to be a strict 10% tithe when you're looking at financially supporting ministry. Um, but I think it's a good principle and it's a good starting place. Um, and when you look at the tithe in the Old Testament, actually there's three different tithes. Um, there's the the tithe that goes to the the Levites and the function of the temple. Then there's a tithe that is um for you and your family for the feast days. And then there is a tithe that is every third year for the poor. And uh so you you really you have three tithes. uh mentioned throughout scripture, but most people just talk about one tithe. Um and so I guess because you know a lot of people don't keep the feast, so they don't see the the feast day tithe as important. Um so don't mention that. And uh maybe they don't think about um helping the poor either. So maybe they ignore the the third 30-year tithe for the poor. Um but really there's three tithes. And it's the tithes are for God and for his work and his ministry and his service and for those who are doing his work. And so even though there's no Levites, we still have the work of ministry. And I would argue that the work of um spreading the gospel is a greater ministry than the service in the temple. And uh if you look in the book of Hebrews um you'll see you I think you'll quickly understand why I think that is because the ministry of Yeshua is greater than the ministry of the temple. And um and so you know and if you look in Hebrews it talks about how um that Levi paid tithes to Melkisedc through Abraham. And so really what you know he was saying is that ab uh that that Levi is not as significant as Mal as as Melkazedc and the argument he's putting forth is that Yeshua is a priest like Melkisedc and he's greater than Levi and his priesthood is greater than Levi and so we should be paying tithes to MelzDC not Levi because Melzdc is greater than Levi. And so that's that's kind of the argument that's being made there. Um, and that Levi actually paid tithes to Melzdc through Abraham. Um, and so, uh, I would I would say, yeah, we are supposed to be, um, tithing and giving to, uh, support ministry, Christian ministry. And especially if you are part of a church, I would encourage you to be tithing to that church to support the the ministry of that church. Oh, excuse me. Um, but I have I have some videos uh on my channel if you want to go and look them up. Uh, that might be helpful. You can watch them that they'll be able to cover I I cover the topic a lot more extensively in those videos than I can do just right now in a brief Q&A. Um, okay. Uh, Peaches uh says, "Question. Is it wrong for me to address my rabbi as rabbi?" Um, I would not I would not call anyone rabbi. Um so I I think it's better to um just call them by their name, you know, and so like I know um Tovia Singer likes to be known as Rabbi Tovia Singer. Just call him Tovia Singer. You don't have to call him Rabbi. Um, and it's, you know, it's it's like if I was to say, "Okay, everybody needs to call me Reverend uh Dr. Reverend Pastor uh Rabbi Lex Meyer." Like, why why do you need to call me anything other than Lex? You know, just call me Lex. Call me Lex Meer. Why do you need to add something to that? you know, I don't need to be called Pastor Lex or Reverend Lex or Rabbi Lex or whatever. I I don't need those titles. Um, just call me Lex. And that's that's what I would do for you, too, you know. Um, I think I I think the titles get in the way and I think the titles exalt people higher than they should be exalted. Um, I think people need to remember that we are we are all equal in the sight of God. That uh you know when when God's looking at us, I'm not more important than you and your rabbi is not more important than you and um you know your your professor is not more important than you and somebody with with multiple degrees is not more important than you. Um in the eyes of God, we're all equal. We're all peers. we're all um siblings and so this idea of of us needing to exalt someone above someone else uh that's I think that's unnecessary and I think that's not uh I think it's not good for us to do that. Um, you know, it's one thing to uh to have some to have someone who teaches and who uh leads and who gives guidance and who gives correction and who um you know hears from the Lord, prophesies um you know, things like that. Those are those are functions and that's that's something I'm going to talk about next week is function uh versus title. And so, um, this I I thought we were going to get into it today, but we really just didn't have time. U, but function is going to be, uh, you know, where where I think it's important. And so, when you look at um, even the way that the the apostles uh, refer to themselves, Paul didn't start his letters and say, uh, this is Apostle Paul writing to you. He say, "This is Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ. This is Paul, an apostle of Yeshua. This is Peter, a bondervant of Yeshua." Like, Peter didn't even call himself an apostle. He called himself a bondervant, but everybody else called him an apostle. Um, you know, and so we have uh these these men who were chosen by Yeshua to be apostles who didn't exalt themsel and say, "Oh, I am apostle." so and so. I'm Apostle Peter. I'm Apostle Paul. I'm Apostle John. They didn't do that. They said, "I'm I'm John. I'm Paul. I'm Peter. I'm an Apostle and a bondervant. I'm I'm a slave of Jesus Christ. Basically, I'm a slave of Yeshua." And they weren't using apostle as a title of exaltation. Um apostle means sent one. They're basically saying, "I'm I'm one that was sent by Yeshua. I'm I'm his sent one. I'm his emissary. I'm his um I'm his uh what's the word? I'm I'm his there's a word I'm trying to think of and is on the tip of my tongue and I cannot think of it but it's uh the one who goes on in in in place of the king. The one who is sent um in this in the in the place of the king as his um to speak on his behalf. And so that's basically what they're saying is is you know we're not we're not the important one. We're just sent by the important one. We're not we're not the king. when we're sent by the king, uh, don't exalt us, don't worship us, worship God. And we even see times in like in the book of Acts, for example, when people tried to worship the apostles and they refused to worship. They said, "No, don't worship me, worship God." Um and that's one thing I think that this um internet the the ability to put teachings online put teaching on the internet YouTube and Facebook and all the different social media platforms um uh television networks uh you know things like that all of this you know having uh pastors teachers online like like I am right Now the problem with it like there's a lot of great things that come with it. You know it's great that we can reach you know thousands of people all over the world millions of people even potentially uh different every country that has internet access. You can you know have potential to reach them. This is that's amazing. The problem though is that it it it puts us in a position that people would try to exalt us. And that's that's the big the big problem I see with this is is it puts guys like me who I'm I'm just a guy making a video putting online teaching teaching the Bible. Um it it puts me in a position where someone like you might try to exalt me and that's that's not right. That's not appropriate. And I've even I've encountered that sometimes. I've had people come uh like come to visit at Soot or come to visit at church and they're just like like they act like they're seeing uh you know a celebrity like they're seeing their favorite football player or their their favorite actor or something like that like they you know they they just have like this big picture in mind like that that that I'm somebody special that I'm some sort of celebrity and I'm not. And I don't want that. I don't want to be exalted like that. And that's what causes so many preachers to get arrogant and to get uh to start thinking more highly of themselves than they should is people who watch them online and then when they meet them, they exalt them and they make them like, "Oh, you're so wonderful. You're so amazing. You're so great. You're you're puffing the person up. Don't do that. And don't don't do that with me, please. I don't want that. Um, you know, if you want to come visit, great. Come visit. I'd love to meet you and I'd love to shake your hand and and uh tell you, you know, it's it's it's nice to meet you, but just I would just caution you, be careful that you're not exalting um these these television and uh internet teachers u because that that's inappropriate. And and also don't don't elevate your pastor and and exalt him as if he's something special. Um he's not. He's not something special. He's just a guy just like you. Um just just a man. He's flawed. He's he's um he's he's trying to do his best. And he's he may be a few steps further down the road than you are. Um, but he's still on the same path and he's still dealing with similar struggles and he's still um working through his own salvation. Um, none of us have arrived. We're all on the same journey. Just that, you know, someone who's a teacher is just usually a little further down the road so they can help other people um down the road too. You know, help people travel down the same road. So, we've got to be careful not to exalt. That's why I said, "Call no man, Rabbi, but you are all brothers." You know, I'm I'm no different than you. I'm I'm just like you. I'm I'm human just like you. Okay? I'm not I'm not the son of God. Yeshua is the son of God. Exalt him, worship him, magnify him, glorify him. I'm just I'm just a guy, okay? I'm just here to to help point you to Yeshua. And that's that's the job of every pastor, every teacher, every prophet, every evangelist. They need to remember that that's their job. Their job is not to say, "Look at me." Their job is to say, "Look at him. Look at Yeshua." And if they if they stop pointing to Yeshua and start pointing to theirel, they've gotten it all they've got it all mixed up. They're they're doing they're doing it wrong. Um they're going down the wrong road. And um so you got to watch out for those people. If they if they stop pointing to Yeshua and they start pointing to themsel, just change the channel and and stop listening to them because they're uh they're in it for themsel. Um, okay. Let's see. Question. Isn't that disrespectful to address him by his first name? Uh, okay. So, this is in in response to your question about calling a rabbi rabbi. Well, he would probably consider it disrespectful. um there's a good possibility he does. And so anyone who who introduces themsself as a rabbi or a reverend or something like that, they they want that respect. They want that exaltation. And so, yeah, it would be considered disrespectful in their mind to be called something other than rabbi or reverend uh because they want that. They want to be called rabbi. They want to be called reverend. They're seeking that. And so, um, maybe it is disrespectful to him, but I don't think Yeshua's too concerned about that. I don't think he didn't say, "Well, don't call someone rabbi unless they'd feel disrespected. And if they're going to feel disrespected, then yeah, go ahead and call them rabbi. It's okay." He's saying, "Don't don't do it. Don't exalt somebody like that. Don't don't make them into something they're not. They're not your master. They're not your great one. Why Why are you calling them that?" That's what rabbi means, master and great one. Um, are you exalting them? Do you want to exalt them? Do you want them to be exalted in that way? Um, Yeshua is saying, don't don't exalt them like that and don't seek to be exalted like that. And so, I would I would talk to your rabbi and say, well, you know, right here Yeshua says you shouldn't be called rabbi. Um, why why do you want to be called rabbi? Right here Yeshua says don't. Are you are you following Yeshua's instructions? I would have a I would have a conversation with the guy if it was me. Um especially if he came to me and I you know and I didn't call him rabbi and he said, "Oh, you need to call me rabbi." I said, "No, I don't." Turn to Matthew 23. Let's look at what Yeshua said. I would have that conversation with the guy. Now, you may not be comfortable having that conversation with him. I don't know. But I would have that conversation with him. Um uh let's see. How do you explain that Jesus said that Zachchariah son of Barekiah was murdered between the temple and the altar when it was Zachariah son of Jedekiah? Um well that is probably a conversation that's going to be too indepth for today and it's not on topic but uh probably a simple answer would be it could be um translation issue could be a scribe made an error. Uh you know there's probably a lot of different things we can go into to look at that but um it's not on the topic today. So let's keep on going with the topic. a teacher in Oklahoma called rabbi by people in the comment section all the time. It may be some need to find someone they look up to tell them what to do. Yeah, I mean sometimes uh people just are looking for somebody to look up to. Uh how refreshing. Brother Lex, my husband who has led smaller groups has communicated this uh thought from the get-go. I'm your brother. You are my brother. Yeah. Okay. Um, let's see. I'm not seeing any other questions in here. One more look real quick. Okay, I'm not seeing anything else. So, uh, next week, next week we are going to be talking about, uh, functions in ministry. And so, functions versus titles. And so um it'll be the idea of like what is a title? Title is having to do with exalting someone. Function is what they do. Function is is what role they serve and things like that. We're going to look at specific functions in the Bible, specific roles and functions that we see in the Bible and how it's not about having a title, but how it's about serving a purpose. And so that's what we're going to look at next week. And so hopefully uh this has been beneficial and I look forward to seeing you again next week. Thanks. Thank you for joining me on Let's Talk Biblical. If you enjoyed this episode, then share it with your friends and keep the conversation going. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss anything. And I look forward to chatting with you again next week. Until next time, keep talking biblical. Shalom.