Should We Call Our Teachers Rabbis?
Matthew 23: 8. But you should not be called "My Great One", [1] for there is only one Who is Great and you are all brothers. 9. And do not call yourself Father [2] for your Father is one who is in heaven. 10. And you should not be called leaders, because one is your leader, the Mashiyach. 11. But he who is greatest among you, let him be a servant [3] to you. 12. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. (Aramaic English New Testament by Andrew Gabriel Roth)
[1] Aramaic here does not mean "Rabbi" as in "teacher" per se, as in Matthew 28 Y'shua commands his disciples to teach the world. Instead, Y'shua is addressing the more literal meaning of "rab" which is "great" as shown in Genesis 6:5, "the wickedness of man was great on the earth." The previous eight verses teach against elitist behavior, so "do not be called My Great One, for you have One that is Great, YHWH." This is directed to the Rabbis (leaders) themselves, not to the followers. Certainly this does not win popularity among the Rabbis.
[2] This prohibition against calling leaders "father" is to avoid giving high status to men which is due unto YHWH. Catholics openly defy this commandment, but all institutions who use flattering titles for leaders are culpable; see Job 32:21-12. Isaiah 56:10-12 exposes leaders who "can never have enough" and who keep their "followers" in spiritual and often financial poverty by seeking personal gain for themselves. See also 1 Timothy 4:3.
The focus of Yeshua's instruction has to do with desiring praise of man for self-exultation, rather than being a true servant who keeps in mind that YHWH is God, Yeshua is His Messiah, and we are simply passing along what Yeshua our REAL RABBI taught. If someone "loves" to be called Rabbi, then this is a problem to him because he is putting the focus upon himself and deceiving those who follow him.