Some scholars maintain that this verse is either a second form of the saying contained in verse 8 or else a commentary which developed on that saying. If this judgment is correct, then verse 10 is parallel to verse 8 and therefore anticlimactic. But the verse may be understood as a logical development in the total argument of verses 8-12: just as there is only one heavenly Father (verse 9), so there is only one who has the authority to represent him absolutely, and that one is the Messiah.

Master translates a noun which is found only here in the New Testament. Its root meaning is “interpreter,” which explains the renderings “teacher” (New Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible, New American Bible) and “Leader” (Good News Translation). Neither be called masters may have a similar structure to verse 8, possibly “Don’t let anyone call you ‘Leader’ ” or “Don’t call each other ‘Teacher.’ ”

For the problem of translating the Christ (Good News Translation “the Messiah”), see comment at 1.17. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translates the last clause of this verse as “because there is only one who leads you, and he is Christ, the promised Savior.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .