Matthew 23:10

10 And don't let people maneuver you into taking charge of them. There is only one Life-Leader for you and them - Christ.

Matthew 23:10 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 23:10

Neither be ye called masters
Or guides and leaders; not but that, the ministers of the word are in a sense such; it is their business to lead and direct souls to Christ, to guide their feet in the way of peace, and to go before them, as examples to them, in word, in conversation, faith, and purity; but then they are to guide them according to the word of God, and not their own dictates; and teach them to observe the rules, and obey the ordinances of Christ, and not what are of their own inventing and prescribing; and to enforce the authority of their great Lord and Master, and not their own; and direct men to a dependence on Christ, as head of the church, who is the one Lord, as his faith is one, and his baptism one also: "for one is your master, even Christ"; which is said before, in ( Matthew 23:8 ) but being a matter of so much importance to the honour of Christ, and men being so apt to set up for masters themselves, in opposition to him, or in conjunction with him, or above him, it was necessary to repeat it; for in an authoritative sense he is the one, and only master of the assemblies.

Matthew 23:10 In-Context

8 "Don't let people do that to you, put you on a pedestal like that. You all have a single Teacher, and you are all classmates.
9 Don't set people up as experts over your life, letting them tell you what to do. Save that authority for God; let him tell you what to do. No one else should carry the title of 'Father'; you have only one Father, and he's in heaven.
10 And don't let people maneuver you into taking charge of them. There is only one Life-Leader for you and them - Christ.
11 "Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant.
12 If you puff yourself up, you'll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you're content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.