This is “Forbidden Messianic Titles and Roles for the Body of Messiah.” And this discussion is within the purview of the central theme for this ministry: “Yeshua-focused Torah Living.” We are all about promoting the Netzari Faith that was once delivered to the first century saints.

 This Was Not a Planned Post

And just so you know, this topic was not a planned one. I did not plan in advance (over several weeks and days like our other series and reading discussions) to discuss this topic or issue. It came to me while recently surfing some of the Messianic Assemblies and teachings platforms. And what I found in my surfing of these sites and platforms are a lot of religious traditions being propagated by the organizations’ leaders and teachers and so forth, which I generally do not have a dog in their fight so to speak. If these groups want to hang out and worship in religion, have at it.

 Blatant Violations of Yeshua’s Commandment

But then, I ran into a roadblock with these groups when I saw and heard members of their fellowships all but worship their leaders, calling them rabbis and such. For me, it’s one thing for brethren in our Faith Communities to want to adopt rabbinic traditional worship practices and wear the associated garb or attire. But it’s an entirely different thing when brethren see themselves as believers, but then violate the Master’s commandments. For Master stated unequivocally to His disciples:

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (Joh. 14:15). And “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love” (Joh. 15:10).

Too many folks in our Faith Community violate Yahoshua’s instructions by taking unto themselves titles and positions of authority that should be reserved only for Yehovah and Yahoshua Messiah.

 Yeshua Contrasts the Religious Leaders of His Day with the Ways of the Kingdom

Matthew 23:1-36–In speaking to a gathered crowd of followers, Y’shua contrasts the ways of the scribes and Pharisees with the ways of the Kingdom. And in the midst of His pointing out the deficiencies of the scribes and Pharisees (which no doubt many of Y’shua’s followers revered and feared), He turns his attention to His disciples and followers instructing them not to take on the character traits of the Jewish religious leaders of His day. In particular, Master instructed:

(8) “…you should not be called “My Great One” (virtually every English translation of the Greek manuscripts use the official title “Rabbi“) for there is only One Who is Great and you are all brothers. (9) And do not call yourself Father for your Father is One who is in heaven. (10) And you should not be called leaders (most English translations of the Greek texts use the title Masters), because One is your leader, the Mashiyach. (11) But he who is greatest among you, let him be a servant to you. (12) For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (AENT).

 Yeshua Condemns the Religious Leaders’ Intent

And then of course Master goes right into the various levels or mentions of woes that He levels towards the scribes and Pharisees because these defy the established spiritual rules and ways of the Kingdom. As Master states before going into His commandments forbidding the assumption of certain titles of authority and leadership roles in the Body, He exposes the true nature, character and hearts of the religious establishment.

 Is Yeshua’s Prohibition Against Certain Titles and Roles a Matter of Simple Obedience or an Exercise of Meaning?

Yet many folks within our various Faith Communities, resist this commandment. They see no reason to not elevate certain members of our Faith Communities to positions of authority with the titles to go with it, such as Rabbi, Master  and Teacher, and what not. These argue vociferously that Master did not mean we are not to elevate people to positions of authority and grant them titles , such as that which is common among various Jewish Messianic sects. These have no problem calling their leaders Rabbi and Master–even Nasi, which is a Jewish title meaning “prince.”  Nasi was one of the most revered titles rendered to some of the ancient sages such as Hillel, Gamaliel, etc. in the Mishnaic period of Jewish history.  The title “Rabban,” which is a higher title than that of “rabbi” supposedly rendered unto certain Jewish sages or even Nasi’s beginning with Gamaliel the Elder, beginning around the middle of the first century–around the time of our Master’s ministries.

 An Analysis of the Title Master

Master in the Greek is “kathegetes,” which means a guide; a master or teach. Master in Hebrew is “adon,” which means lord; master. It is generally a reference to men. It is typical to superintendent of household or of affairs. It has been used also to reference a king or even Elohim. Adon is clearly the root of the title “Adonai;” a title that we are all familiar with in our Faith Communities. Contrary to conventional teaching and wisdom, Adonai is in fact NOT the Creator’s Name. It is in fact a title that was rendered or given by our ancient cousins for Yehovah.

 People Choose to Apply Titles to the Creator Instead of Referring to Him by His Personal Name

So, in general, when Jews come across the tetragrammaton in Scripture, because of the universal rabbinic banning of the pronunciation of the Eternal name, instead of pronouncing the actual Name of the Creator as far as they may or may not know it, will instead  refer to Him as either LORD (all caps) or Adonia. This ban has deep, even dark ramifications associated with it. Not that the term or title Adonai is dark or evil, for I do not believe it is. It is just a title. The problem, however, is that Scripture promotes the declaring and praise of the Eternal’s Name (not His title) throughout the earth (Psa. 22:22; 102:21; Exo. 34:5; Isa. 12:4; Heb. 2:12; etc.).  When Yah’s people are prohibited from uttering-praising-declaring the Eternal’s Name as they know it, the Eternal is not being honored and properly worshiped in all the earth. To deny the Creator His Name, that He Himself declared throughout the Tanach, is satanic at its very core. The simple fact that we are encouraged to promote His Name (not His title) throughout the whole of Scripture, by Yah Himself, as well as His prophets; Yahoshua Himself; and the apostles, yet certain entities have covered up the true pronunciation and use of the Creator’s Name, clearly shows how the enemy has successfully over the centuries, has promoted blasphemy of the Creator’s True Name. (If you are interested in learning more about what it means to blaspheme the Name of Yehovah, I would encourage you to listen to or read our post entitled: “Blaspheming the Name of God–Part 2 of the Series A Question of One’s Jewishness“).

Master in the Greek is “didaskalos,” which means a teacher; one who teaches concerning the things of Yehovah. It was used to refer to Yahoshua, which He endorsed and encouraged:

“Ye call Me Master (didaskalos) and Lord (“kurios,” meaning the one who has the power of deciding on matters of the Faith and of an individual’s life): and ye say well; for so I am” (Joh. 13:13; KJV).

 The Focus Must Always Be Yeshua

The focus must always be that of Yahoshua. And Master here, as in other places of the apostolic writings, recognized that He was at any given time competing with men who took unto themselves such titles as Master, Lord and Rabbi, garnering unto themselves recognition, power and authority over humanity. Yahoshua, on the other hand, was the only one who was granted authority and power over humanity by His Father, Yehovah Elohim.  Thus, no human has any right to take on these titles. We, members of the Body of Messiah, are instructed by Yahoshua, to simply refer to those who find themselves in oversight or teaching positions in the Body of Mashiyach as brother or brethren. Titles of authority and notoriety are contrary to the ways of the Kingdom of Elohim.

 Followers of Yeshua Called Yeshua Master and Rabbi

We find in John 1:28, 49; 3:2, 25-26 where certain individuals referred to our Master as Rabbi or Master (“kathegetes”), the title of which Yahoshua did not reject or discourage, because He in fact would be the individual’s Rabbi, and by extension, He is ours.

Now today, particularly in certain sects of our Faith Communities, the tradition of conferring such titles and authority continue despite Y’shua telling us not to.

Why do so many of us ignore or reject our Master’s instructions regarding this?

 Excuses for Violating Yeshua’s Title and Role Prohibition

The reason given by those who oppose the general, raw understanding to be derived by our focus passage is that Master Y’shua did not mean or say we cannot refer to our leaders as Rabbi or Nasi or Leader or such. These contend that Master was actually referring to the meaning behind these titles, such as that of one being deemed as “Great.” And these will go into a whole lot of discussion justifying their understanding by describing the purpose behind the Master’s instructions as opposed to the commandment Master gave to not call any individual their Rabbi, Father (father not from a biological or relational standpoint but from a ecclesiastical standpoint) or Master. These draw our attention, correctly so I might add, towards addressing the central problem of elitism; of hierarchies; of man-made governments running the Faith once delivered.  But I strongly differ from these as it relates to the direct commandment: Yahoshua commanded us NOT to call any man Rabbi, Father or Master. We can justify doing so all we want, but at the end of the day, our Master, Yahoshua told us not to.

 Interesting Story Justifying Violating the Title and Role Prohibition

I came across a teaching by a Messianic Group I look into from time-to-time, the flavor of the group being very rabbinic, which I do not necessarily oppose with a qualifying reason. The qualifying reason I refer to is that, as long as the rabbinic traditions do not supersede the teachings of our Master Yahoshua and the primacy of Torah (i.e., the rabbinic traditions subordinate Torah or outright replace Torah; the rabbinic traditions cause Yah’s people to stumble or send the wrong message to the world that the group in question places their trusting Faith, not in Yahoshua and His sacrifice for their salvation, but instead, in their traditions and the order of their services and in their Jewish-based halachah).  Well, the leader of the group, who has taken on the titles of Rabbi and Nasi, reasoned that this commandment given by Yahoshua to not call any man Rabbi is misunderstood, but instead applies to the meaning of the title, don’t call any man O’ Great One. He went on to assert that the people of his congregation want to have over them a person who they can refer to as their rabbi. Thus, why would anyone seek to deny these individuals that blessing of having a rabbi operating in their lives.

Really? Really? Even if this gentleman was completely right in his assertions, why would any true, covenant walking man or woman choose to have over them–over their lives–a human Rabbi as opposed to Yahoshua Mashiyach, who should be their Rabbi. You can’t have two Rabbis, right? And if Yahoshua is anything like His Daddy, He is jealous. I can’t imagine Yahoshua is content with members of His Body referring to certain brethren as their rabbi, with all the authority and privileges that title brings with it.

 What About the Gifts Given to the Body?

Now, some might introduce into this argument the roles or ministries given to the Body by Mashiyach:

(11) “And He (the He being Yahoshua) gave some Shlichim (aka apostles); and some prophets; and some preachers; and some shepherds (aka pastors) and teachers (12) for perfecting the Set Apart believers for the work of the ministry, for the edification of the Body of the Mashiyach. (13) Until we all become one and the same, in faith and in the knowledge of the Son of Elohim, and one complete man according to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Mashiyach. (14) And that we might not be children uprooted and turned about  by every direction of wind by the wrong doctrines of men who plot to seduce their cunning, (15) but that we  might be established in our love; and that everything in us might progress in the Mashiyach who is the head…” (Eph. 4:11-15; AENT).

Mashiyach, who is the head is key here in this Pauline passage, for this is the point that Master was conveying to the gathered followers and disciples as recorded in our focus passage. He, Yahoshua, is our Rabbi and our Master, while Yehovah is our Father. So then, there is no room to call or refer to those individuals in the Body who should be brethren as Rabbis, Masters and Fathers. These are titles and roles reserved only for Yahoshua and Yehovah.

But what about the 5-titles or roles listed by Shaul in Ephesians 4:11-15? Don’t these, when exercised or put into operation by brethren in the Body of Mashiyach, accomplish the same missteps and infractions as referring to individuals in the Body as Rabbi, Master and Father? Well, yes and no. For when these roles or titles are used to create hierarchical systems in the Body, they are accomplishing the same thing as having rabbis, masters and fathers operating in the Body.

Now, I won’t go further  into this subject because there is a teaching out there that was delivered by my beloved brother and friend, Robert Bills, of highpursuitministries.com, the host of the Way of Spirit and Truth podcast and webcast, that thoroughly addresses this conundrum. Robert lays out all of the concerns and realities to be understood in these often referred to entitles as offices, of which he in his 5-installment series, brilliantly puts to rest the thinking that these roles should be viewed as hierarchical offices in the Body of Messiah. If you are so led, I would humbly refer you to this content rich and important series.

 Humans Naturally Categorize and Label People

It goes without saying that humans prefer to place individuals in categorical boxes in order for them to understand where in the society or community an individual belongs. Thus, it is also human nature for humans to apply titles to those that they place into categorical boxes, for the ease of quickly and conveniently identifying them.

 The Economy of the Kingdom Stands in Opposition to that of Human Kingdoms

But the economy and operation of the Kingdom of Elohim does not adopt such practices or thinking. There is One God–One Elohim–Who is our Father. Then there is Yahoshua–the Mashiyach–Who is our Master and Great Teacher. Then there’s the Body of Mashiyach that consists of brothers and sisters, all of whom are undergoing the lifelong sanctification process. We, who are of that Body are all equal. It just so happens that Abba, through Yahoshua, has seen fit to equip certain members of this Body to serve in the capacity of apostles,  teachers (not Great teacher for this one gets his learning from Yahoshua and the Ruach haKodesh); prophets; evangelists; pastors and teachers (Eph. 4:11) as well as those who possess certain gifts that benefit the Body of Mashiyach (1 Cor. 12:28-31). As much as it is a temptation for us at times to elevate those fulfilling these roles or possessing such gifts to hierarchical positions in the Body of Messiah, it behooves us to resist that urge. There’s nothing wrong with honoring those who operate in any of these capacities. But no one is to be esteemed above another. For Master taught:

“Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but Yehovah knoweth your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of Elohim” (Luk. 16:15; KJV).

In another place, Yahoshua taught this fundamental reality of the Kingdom Way of Living:

“So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen” (Mat. 20:16).

 My Refusal of Titles and Roles

Many over the years have attempted to confer unto me titles of deacon, elder, teacher, even rabbi, all of which I never felt comfortable with and I often went out of my way to resist and discourage. I much prefer that which my friend and brother in the Faith Robert Bills refers to me by: My brother in the Faith; or my dear brother. This provides for a sense of relationship while also garnering respect for one another.

Now, from time to time I will refer to individuals I am referencing in my discussion by their names, along with their various professional and academic titles so as to facilitate you, the readers and listeners of this ministry, in tracking down their reference materials. Nevertheless, as much as I respect them as gifts to the Body of Messiah, and as much as I honor their achievements in the academic world, let’s say, I have no interest in elevating them in the Body as Rabbis, Masters or Fathers.

 Closing Thoughts and Reflections

The conferring and granting of titles of any type, apart from titles such as brother, sister, child of Yehovah, elect, set-apart one, and the like, serve only to incite hierarchies and vanities in the Body of Mashiyach. Master told us simply not to call any man rabbi, master or father. So instead of trying to find ways and reasons for skirting around this direct commandment, why don’t we simply do that–not call any member of the Body rabbi, master or father? And those of us who may find ourselves in the blessed positions or roles of expounding upon the eternal truths of Yah’s Word, why don’t we point those who Abba has given unto us to teach, to Yahoshua as being their one and only Rabbi and Master, and Yehovah as their One True Father and Elohim? If we can do that, we will have stripped the enemy of one more thing that it uses to diminish the Name and Image of Yehovah in the earth.