Why does Jesus instruct against calling anyone on earth "father"? Verse in Context Matthew 23:9: “And do not call anyone on earth your father, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.” • Spoken during Jesus’ public rebuke of the scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 23:1-36). • Follows commands against titles of honor that elevate leaders—“Rabbi” (v. 8) and “Instructor” (v. 10). Understanding “Father” in Jewish Culture • Rabbis were often addressed as “my father,” expressing total allegiance to their teaching. • Discipleship sometimes crossed the line from respect to near-reverence, rivaling devotion owed only to God (cf. Malachi 1:6). • Jesus confronts this culture of elevating human teachers to spiritual supremacy. Jesus’ Central Point • Exclusive Fatherhood of God: Only the heavenly Father possesses ultimate authority over souls (Isaiah 63:16; James 1:17). • Guarding against idolatry of leadership: Titles can create a hierarchy that shifts glory from God to man (Acts 10:25-26). • Cultivating humility: “The greatest among you shall be your servant” (Matthew 23:11). Rejecting self-exalting titles keeps leaders lowly and followers free. What It Does Not Forbid Scripture elsewhere uses “father” legitimately: • Biological fathers—Ex 20:12; Ephesians 6:2. • Spiritual mentorship—Paul writes, “For in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel” (1 Colossians 4:15; see also 1 Thessalonians 2:11). • The difference: descriptive acknowledgment versus honorific that claims divine authority. Jesus prohibits the latter. How to Apply Today • Guard the heart: Resist exalting any pastor, teacher, or tradition to a place that clouds direct dependence on God. • Choose language wisely: Titles are not sinful in themselves, yet they must not communicate ultimate authority or foster celebrity culture. • Cultivate servant leadership: Leaders point others upward, not to themselves (1 Peter 5:2-4). • Keep family honor balanced: Love and obey earthly parents, while recognizing the Father in heaven as the source of all parenthood and authority (Ephesians 3:14-15). |
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