Charles Ellicott 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 — The greetings referred to were more than the familiar "Peace with you," and involved the language of formal reverence (compare the note on Luke 10:4) paid to those whom people delighted to honor.

Rabbi, Rabbi — The title properly meant a "great" or "chief" one, as seen in Rab-Mag ("the chief priest,"Jeremiah 39:3) and Rabsaris ("the chief eunuch," 2 Kings 18:17). In the days of Hillel and Shammai, it came to be applied to the teachers or "masters" of the Law and, as such, was given to the scribes who devoted themselves to that work. In Rabban (said to have been first given to Simeon, the son of Hillel) and Rabboni (John 20:16), we find forms that were supposed to imply an even greater degree of reverence.