Monday August 4, 2025 - Rabbi, Rabboni, Teacher

Chapter 10: Rabbi, Rabboni, Teacher Day 2

His Name Revealed:

Matthew 23:8 - But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren.

John 13:3 -8 - Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 6 Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?” 7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” 8 Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” 

John 13:12-17 - So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

Jesus my Rabbi and Lord on the night before you died you painted a picture by your words and deeds on what it means to be your disciple, help me to advance in wisdom, love and grace as your disciple. Give me opportunities to follow you by serving others. Help me to seek hidden and humble ways to do Your will. 

Understanding the Name:

    In ancient Israel all education was religious education, and scripture was the sole textbook, understanding it was vital because long life, success and happiness flowed from living in accordance with the laws of God. But the Jews did not think that people were able to understand and apply scripture without the guidance of a teacher. Gradually scribes who devoted their lives to copy and understand the laws of God became their primary instructors, lacking access to the temple after the exile, the Jews began meeting together for prayer and instruction in places that became known as synagogues and schools started being built around these synagogues where boys began to be educated in age between 5 and 7.

    In the first century Rabbi a Hebrew word became to be known as a title for scribes or theologians trained in the law.  Rabboni, is an expanded Hebrew form that means my Rabbi, Scribes were also known as teachers of the law. The king James version of the word calls them lawyers; Rabbi is literally translated my great one and can also be translated as my master or my teacher, 

    During the first century it was customary for a Rabbi to take on disciples, who would be bound to him for life. After spending several years with their Rabbi studying scripture and the oral and written traditions surrounding it, the disciples would then become Rabbi's through the laying on of hands, 

    By Jesus' day the scribes held considerable power in Jewish society serving not only as religious educators but as judges, the majority were members of the party of the Pharisees many of them as Jesus pointed out were consumed with the desire for public acclaim and positions of honor. Over time the scribes added so many rules and regulations to the law that Jesus faulted them for placing heavy burdens on the people without lifting a finger to help them. Though Jesus disciples called Him Rabbi, which must have upset the scribes because of His lack of formal training there was no evidence that He was ever ordained. Unlike most Rabbis who merely taught what they had learned from another Rabbi, Jesus taught with His own authority as though His wisdom came from above. A fact remarked by many who heard Him. Jesus counseled His disciples never to seek the honorific title Rabbi; He alone would be their teacher and master. 

    Another word for teacher in the New Testament is the Greek word dáskalos.  Jesus was an enormously popular teacher, who drew crowds wherever He went using questions, discussions, proverbs, symbolic actions, parables and even miracles in order to teach people the way to live. The content of His teaching is most powerfully and eloquently evident in the story of His life.