Focus: Good Master (Pt.2)

Text: Mt.19:16

"And, behold, one came and said unto him, GOOD MASTER, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?"

A God-seeker acknowledged and addressed Christ as a good master. As the Son of Man, He is good. As the Son of God, He is good. As the Savior of the world, He is good. As master, He is absolutely good.

The goodness of Christ is both 'agathos' and 'kalos,' intrinsic and contagious, authentic and aesthetic, beneficial and useful.

Now let us focus on the word, Master, and see the various shades of meaning in the Greek.

Here in our text, the word in the Greek is 'didaskalos,' which means 'a teacher, an instructor, or a doctor at law.' In Matthew 22:36, someone says to Him, "Master, which is the great commandment in the law?"(Mt.22:36). In Luke 2:46, Jesus Christ is found "sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions." The word 'doctors' is the same as master or teacher. In Act.13:1, it is translated as 'teachers.' Nicodemus acknowledges Christ as 'a teacher who has come from God.' Christ is a teacher par excellence. Matthew says that "he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes" (Mt.7:29). In 13:54, Matthew says that He came into His own country and "taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works." Luke tells us that "he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all" (Lk.4:15). Luke also tells us that as He was teaching, that it came to pass that the power of the Lord was present to heal (Lk.5:17). 

Christ is the Master-teacher! He has truth, healings and miracles in His mouth. He imparts wisdom and inculcates knowledge.

Matthew reports that "Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I?" (Mt.26:25). Still on Judas Iscariot, he says that "as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him" (Mk.14:45). In these Scriptures the word is 'rhabbi.' That is the word we know as Rabbi - the Jewish teacher of the law or the Jewish religious professor. Christ is our Rabbi; He downloads the revelation of heaven into our hearts. He speaks truth into the inner recesses of our beings. He lights up our souls. The entrance of His word brings light to us. He decodes mysteries and discloses the mind of God to us. 

Through His teachings He brings us into face-to-face encounters with God. We are informed, formed and transformed by His words. He teaches, and we learn. Indeed, we learn of Him.

In Matthew 23:10, Jesus Christ says, "Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ." The word here is 'kathēgētēs.' It is a compound word of 'kata' and 'hēgeomai.' It speaks of guiding, directing, instructing, or leading. Christ leads, and we follow in His path. He does not only know the way, He is the way. He takes us down a path and ensures that we arrive at our destination. We never lose our way, following Him. He doesn't point to the way, He leads the way. He explains and expounds until the light of His knowledge shines in us.

In Luke we read, "And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night…" (Lk.5:5). Peter calls Him, "Master." The Greek word is 'epistatēs.' It is a compound word of 'epi,' meaning upon or over, and 'histemi,' meaning 'to stand.' Together it means 'an overseer, or a superintendent.' It speaks of one who stands over others, dictating, governing, protecting and supervising. Christ is our magistrate and frontline leader. He says, "He that cometh from above is above all…" (Jh.3:31). He is above all of us and stands taller than us. He deserves to be our Master-leader, and He leads us perfectly well. He is supreme and has rightful authority over us. His power over us is legal and legitimate. He is not lording it over us. He rules by love and governs by grace.

Luke tells us, "And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm" (Lk.8:24). In chapter 6:46, Jesus Christ says, "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Lk.6:46). In John, Jesus Christ says to His disciples, "Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am" (Jh.13:13). In these Scriptures the word is 'kurios.' It refers to a person who possesses supreme authority, one who exercises control, and one who has an edge over others. Such a person is a master-owner. He is often referred to as 'sir.' He occupies a superior position over others. He is owner and ruler. 

Jesus Christ rules the elements of nature and controls demonic forces. His word is law. His decree is final.

Whatever He says, stands. He commands the winds to hold their breath, and He calms storms. He legislates, interprets and executes. He is the sovereign and the supreme commander of the hosts of heaven. Nature is at His beck and call. The forces of evil bow at His feet. Wherever He does not rule, He overrules. He is the Lord - the Master-owner. He is either the Lord of all or He is not Lord at all.

In Mark we read of the blind man saying to Christ, "LORD, that I might receive my sight" (Mk.10:51). In John 20:16, we read, "Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master." The word is 'rhabboni' in these two Scriptures. The word refers to a great person or a great master - one who wields a great influence over his followers or subjects. He is held in high esteem by his admirers. In His post-resurrection appearance Mary acknowledges Christ as her Rabboni, and it is also as Rabboni that Blind Bartimaeus begged Him for divine help. Hallelujah!

Simeon prays, "LORD, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word" (Lk.2:29). Paul writes to Timothy, and says, "If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the MASTER's use, and prepared unto every good work" (2Tim.2:21). Peter speaks of those "who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the LORD that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction" (2Pet.2:1). Jude talks about "denying the only LORD God, and our LORD Jesus Christ" (Jud.1:4). The two 'lords' here are 'despotēs' and 'kurios.' Jesus says, "If I then, your LORD and MASTER, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet" (Jh.13:14). Here again we have 'kurios' and 'didaskalos.' Now the word 'despotēs' means 'supreme' or 'sovereign' master.

Paul declares, "For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be LORD both of the dead and living" (Rom.14:9). Here the Greek word is 'kurieuō,' which means 'to have dominion over.' Christ is the master of both the dead and the living. He rules everywhere. He predominates all spaces, and indeed all worlds and universes. There is no place where He has no rule and no creature that is not under His control and command. He is our owner and ruler.

It is interesting to know that Christ is a good maker, a good master, a good father, a good leader, a good savior, a good teacher, a good ruler, and a good everything. Under His rule, we rejoice. Under His economy, we lack nothing. In His classroom, we learn wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Under His able leadership, we are safe, secure, and sustained - led, fed, and fended for. In all ramifications, Jesus Christ is the Good Master.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter