Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 23:10

10 Neither be ye called masters, for one is your master, even Christ.

It is most certain that our Saviour doth not here forbid the giving of the Titles of Masters and Fathers to his Ministers. for then Paul would not have given himself the Title of Father, 1 Cor. 4.15. nor called the Galathians his little Children, Gal. 4.19. nor called Timothy his Son, and himself his Father, Phil. 2.22. nor call'd himself a Doctor of the Gentiles, 1 Tim. 2.7.2 Tim. 1.11. That which he forbids, is 1. An Affectation of such Titles, and hunting after them. 2. Rem Ti[illegible: 4 letters] the Exercise of an absolute Mastership, or a Paternal absolute Power. So as to require any to believe things because they said them, or to do things because they bid them, without seeing the things asserted, or first commanded in the Word of God. For in that Sense God alone is Mens Father. Christ alone their Masters. Pastors and Teachers in the Church, are all but Ministers, Ministers of Christ to publish his Will; and to injoyn his Laws, nor must any be owned as Masters and Fathers to impose their Laws, and Doctrines. This is twice repeated, because such is the Corruption of humane Nature, that it is very prone, not only to affect these swelling Titles, but also to exercise these Exorbitant Authorities.