Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 23:7

"and the salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called of men, Rabbi." — Matthew 23:7 (ASV)

Greetings in the markets. Marks of particular respect shown to them in public places. Markets were places where multitudes of people were assembled. They were pleased with particular attention from the multitude and desired that all should show them particular respect.

Greetings. Salutations. See Barnes on Luke 10:4.

To be called—Rabbi, Rabbi. This word literally signifies great. It was a title given to eminent teachers of the law among the Jews; a title of honour and dignity, denoting their authority and ability to teach.

They were gratified with such titles and wished them to be given to themselves as denoting superiority. Every time a title 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 such titles in use among the Jews—Rab, Rabbi, and Rabban—denoting different degrees of learning and ability, as literary degrees do among us.