Why does Matthew 23:9 say to call no man on earth 'father'? Text And Immediate Context “Do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, who is in heaven.” (Matthew 23:9). Spoken in the same discourse that contains seven “woes” against the Pharisees (Matthew 23:1-36), the command falls between two parallel prohibitions: “Do not be called Rabbi” (v 8) and “Do not be called leaders” (v 10). All three forbid status-seeking titles that inflate human authority in spiritual matters. God’S Unique Paternity In Scripture • Malachi 2:10—“Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us?” • Ephesians 3:14-15—“I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.” • Isaiah 63:16—“You, O Lord, are our Father…Our Redeemer from of old is Your name.” By reserving “Father” for Yahweh, Jesus redirects honor to the Creator alone. What Jesus Forbids And What He Permits Jesus is not banning the everyday recognition of biological fathers (Exodus 20:12). Nor is He condemning spiritual mentorship, for Paul writes, “For in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel” (1 Corinthians 4:15). The difference: Paul describes a relationship; he does not prescribe an honorific title for himself. The prohibition is against adopting “Father” as an ecclesiastical rank claiming ultimate authority over conscience. Historical Abuse Of Titles Intertestamental literature (e.g., Sirach 3:1; Testament of Levi 14) shows a growing culture of honorifics among teachers. By the first century, such titles carried hierarchical weight. Later ecclesiastical history repeated the pattern: second-century Roman presbyters were addressed as “papa,” which evolved into “pope,” and by the fourth century Western bishops commonly bore the title “Father.” Jesus’ warning anticipated that drift. Consistency With The Rest Of The New Testament • 1 Peter 5:3 instructs elders not to “lord it over those entrusted” to them. • Matthew 20:26—“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” • James 3:1 warns that many should not become teachers because of stricter judgment. All echo the same principle: leadership without self-exaltation. Philosophical And Theological Reflection If ultimate reality is personal (the Triune God), then ultimate authority is relational, not institutional. Calling God “Father” establishes identity and dependence; calling a human “Father” in the same sense transfers that dependence horizontally, violating monotheistic devotion. Practical Application 1. Address spiritual leaders by function (“pastor,” “elder”) rather than exalted honorifics. 2. Measure teaching by Scripture, not by the teacher’s prestige (Acts 17:11). 3. Cultivate humility: “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled” (Matthew 23:12). Early Church Witness The Didache (c. AD 50-70) instructs, “Appoint for yourselves bishops and deacons…for they too carry out the ministry of the prophets and teachers” (15.1) without assigning paternal titles. Ignatius of Antioch, while honoring bishops, still calls God “the only Father” (To the Magnesians III). Archaeological And Textual Corroboration Inscribed first-century ossuaries from the Kidron Valley show familial names without sacerdotal titles, reflecting lay leadership in early Jewish-Christian communities. The Dead Sea Scrolls (4Q521) criticize leaders who “seek honor among men,” paralleling Jesus’ polemic. Conclusion Matthew 23:9 safeguards the exclusive fatherhood of God, curbs human pride, and protects believers from authoritarian control. Far from negating respect for earthly fathers or mentors, the verse places every relationship under the overarching paternity of the Creator, ensuring that all glory—“Soli Deo Gloria”—returns to Him alone. |
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