Friday, 2 October 2026
greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ Matthew 23:7
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“And the greetings in the markets, and to be called by the ‘men’, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’” (CG)
In the previous verse, Jesus noted that the scribes and the Pharisees affectionated the first-reclining in the suppers, and the first-sittings in the synagogues. He next says, “and the greetings in the markets.”
This is always enjoyable. When you are recognized by someone in public, it makes you feel special in the midst of so many others. But what Jesus refers to is more than just being noticed and greeted. It is the particular attention drawn to them, not because they are on friendly terms with someone they meet, but because others greeting them refer to them as superiors, quite often being fawned over because of their supposed importance.
It would be akin to a senator walking in public wearing something that identified him as the senator. People who didn’t even know him would gladly line up to acknowledge him, buttering him up with words so that someday they may be able to gain his favor in one manner or another.
Some people live for this kind of attention. The scribes and Pharisees, as Jesus noted, fit this category. He next says the type of greeting that people would call out, saying, “and to be called by the ‘men’, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’”
The word rhabbi is first used here. It is from rav, abundant. It is usually translated as great, many, and so on. It can indicate the state of something, like “great wickedness,” the amount of something, like “great wealth,” etc. It is not used in the sense of being amazing or exalted. In other words, in Psalm 48, it says –
“Great [gadol] is the Lord, and greatly [meod] to be praised
In the city of our God,
In His holy mountain.
2 Beautiful in elevation,
The joy of the whole earth,
Is Mount Zion on the sides of the north,
The city of the great (rav) King.” Psalm 48:1, 2
The word rav in the psalm refers to the power or authority of the king, not his amazing greatness, like the word gadol used in verse 1. With this in mind, the word rhabbi speaks of the person’s great (abundant) learning and his ability to express that knowledge in his teaching. Of this word, Barnes notes –
“Every time it was given to them it implied their superiority to the persons who used it, and they were fond, therefore, of hearing it often applied to them. There were three titles in use among the Jews – Rab, Rabbi, and Rabban – denoting different degrees of learning and ability, as literary degrees do among us.”
Life application: Titles are often earned, such as doctor. It is right to recognize this type of achievement. Being the president of the United States gives the person the right to be called president for the rest of his life.
This is standard thought. In the 1992 race for the presidency, the Clinton campaign made a point of not addressing the sitting president as “president.” Even during the national debates, he called him George Bush. This was the beginning of a real decline in thought on the left, which has steadily continued to this day.
Once respect for authority is removed, an unhealthy attitude in the people becomes increasingly common. For those on the left, this lack of respect permeates their thinking. Police officers, judges, and other public figures are treated shamefully by politicians in their speaking, and this transfers to their constituents, who refuse to have respect for those appointed over them.
But the Bible says, “Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor” (Romans 13:7).
This calls out for us to consider: does President Clinton deserve the honor of being called president? If he failed to call his predecessor by his rightful title, does that not disqualify him from being given the same honor? No. Just because he is a vile person, it doesn’t mean he is not entitled to the respect of the office which he held.
And we do not need to reduce ourselves to the same depraved level as such people. Be ready to give honor where honor is due.
Lord God, help us to live our lives in a manner that brings You glory at all times. It is often difficult to meet every expectation of Your word, but it is right for us to do our best at all times to do so. Help us to have the right attitude when we interact with others and before You all our days! Amen.