Why did Jesus instruct not to call anyone father?

I. Overview of the Instruction

Jesus’ words, recorded in Matthew 23:9, read: “And do not call anyone on earth your father, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.” At first glance, these instructions can appear confusing, since Scripture elsewhere affirms respecting and honoring parental or mentor-like figures. In Exodus 20:12, for instance, the command to “Honor your father and your mother” is clearly upheld. A more robust exploration of the context and meaning behind Matthew 23:9 clarifies that Jesus was not prohibiting the natural use of “father” in familial or respectful settings. Rather, He was confronting specific religious abuses and titles of spiritual authority that distract from God’s unique role as our ultimate Father.

Jesus’ words remain significant, as they highlight humanity’s tendency to exalt religious leaders over reliance on the Creator. By understanding the cultural context in which Jesus spoke and the scriptural consistency concerning honor and authority, readers can identify the heart behind this directive: a reminder that reverence intrinsically belongs to God, so that no human authority overshadows or replaces Him.

II. Scriptural Context and Key Passage

1. Primary Text

• Matthew 23:9: “And do not call anyone on earth your father, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.”

Jesus’ instruction appears in the midst of a lengthy discourse (Matthew 23:1–36) where He confronts the religious leaders (scribes and Pharisees) for hypocrisy, pride, and the desire for honor.

2. Immediate Context

• Before this verse, in Matthew 23:8, Jesus says, “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.”

• Following, in Matthew 23:10, He adds, “Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Christ.”

Together, these statements form a threefold warning against seeking or accepting exalted, honorific titles that elevate a person’s standing improperly within the community of faith.

3. Parallel Themes

• In Mark 7:6–7, Jesus quotes Isaiah, pointing out heart issues in combining religious tradition with self-elevating practices.

• This parallels the idea that spiritual leaders, while serving legitimate roles of guidance, must not claim ultimate “ownership” of their followers in a way that replaces or rivals God’s authoritative Fatherhood.

III. The Religious Leaders of Jesus’ Day

1. Titles and Status

Jewish religious leaders in the first century enjoyed high social standing. This often led to the practice of using reverential forms of address. Leaders might be called “Father” or “Rabbi,” granting them not only respect but sometimes an inflated authority. This dynamic is evident in various first-century writings and has been confirmed by archaeological and historical research identifying seats of honor in synagogues and special greetings in marketplaces (Matthew 23:6–7).

2. Cultural Reverence vs. Spiritual Pride

Jesus was not condemning ordinary respect shown to men who had biological children or to mentors giving spiritual guidance (see 1 Corinthians 4:15, where Paul describes himself as a father in faith). Instead, He was addressing the heart attitude in which these titles were used to elevate the scribes and Pharisees, overshadowing God’s place as the ultimate authority.

3. Manuscript Evidence for Matthew 23

Ancient manuscripts such as Codex Vaticanus, Codex Sinaiticus, and others in the Alexandrian text family confirm this passage’s authenticity. Among the finds that corroborate the reliability of Matthew’s Gospel, the quotations in early Christian writings—such as those by church fathers like Ignatius (early 2nd century)—show the consistent transmission of Jesus’ teaching. This attests to the stable preservation of these words throughout centuries of copying and translation.

IV. The Meaning of “Father” in First-Century Culture

1. Religious Honorific

The term “father” could function as an honorific for respected religious teachers and elders. In that cultural context, it went beyond mere respect and often verged on attributing near-divine authority.

2. Acknowledging Earthly Authority

The Old Testament and New Testament are replete with instructions to honor father and mother (Exodus 20:12, Ephesians 6:2). Jesus’ proscription in Matthew 23:9 should not be taken to contradict these commands. Instead, it underscores that unbridled veneration of religious teachers, as though they were supremely authoritative, is forbidden.

3. God’s Ultimate Fatherhood

The biblical narrative consistently presents God as “Father”—the only perfect, eternal source of life and authority. Passages such as Malachi 2:10 emphasize, “Do we not all have one Father? Did not one God create us?” Jesus’ teaching affirms and expands this truth: humankind shares one Father in heaven, transcending all human systems of titles and power.

V. Proper Reverence to the True Father

1. Avoiding Misplaced Devotion

A recurring issue in religious communities, past and present, is the temptation to place unwavering devotion in charismatic human leaders. By commanding His followers not to call anyone “father,” Jesus emphasized that only God is worthy of ultimate spiritual surrender.

Early Christian writers such as Clement of Rome and Polycarp highlight their devotion to God the Father and Christ the Lord, rather than promoting themselves as ultimate spiritual authorities—mirroring precisely Jesus’ caution in Matthew 23.

2. Humility Among Believers

In line with Jesus’ instruction not to call anyone “father,” the immediate context in Matthew 23:12 states, “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Humility is critical for leaders to remember the singular authority of God and guide others gently without seeking undue reverence.

VI. Affirmation of Spiritual Mentors

1. Order in the Church

Although Jesus forbade exalting religious leaders with reverential titles that usurp God’s role, the New Testament does teach the importance of spiritual guidance. Passages like Ephesians 4:11–13 describe how God gives apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to equip believers.

Mentors often serve like spiritual parents, instructing and encouraging. The apostle Paul, for example, uses fatherly language in 1 Corinthians 4:15: “For in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.” Yet even here, Paul never claimed ultimate authority or demanded a title, but instead pointed followers to Christ as the head of the Church (Colossians 1:18).

2. Rightful Respect vs. Idolatry

Recognizing a spiritual leader’s wisdom does not conflict with Jesus’ command when that recognition emphasizes God’s grace rather than the leader’s own status. Believers are encouraged to acknowledge those who labor in preaching and teaching (1 Timothy 5:17), but only God the Father and Jesus the Christ command worship and ultimate obedience.

VII. Applications for Today

1. Guarding Against Title Inflation

Jesus’ words challenge modern believers to avoid exalting certain individuals—pastors, teachers, or mentors—with a level of reverence that competes with God’s authority. Historical examples abound of how unbridled devotion to human leaders can lead to church abuses or cultic practices.

2. Nurturing Humble Leadership

Leaders can affirm their role as servants, stewards, or helpers in the faith (cf. 1 Peter 5:1–4). The biblical record, supported by the historical veracity of the Gospels—evidenced in manuscripts such as the Dead Sea Scroll fragments (for OT context) and early papyri of the New Testament—underscores humility in leadership as vital to healthy religious practice.

3. A Consistent Biblical Trajectory

Genesis portrays humanity as created to bear the image of the eternal Creator (Genesis 1:27). The genealogical records (found in places like Genesis 5 and Luke 3) attest to humans reproducing and having earthly parents. Yet at every stage, Scripture returns to the foundational truth that there is one origin: the Father in heaven who fashioned all life. This consistent message persists into the New Testament, culminating in Jesus’ direct teaching.

4. Reinforcing the Ultimate Authority of God

The forcefulness behind Jesus’ teaching reminds believers that our ultimate allegiance is to God alone. Voracious manuscript evidence, including the widely-documented textual tradition of the Gospels and historical corroborations (like references to Jesus in first-century Jewish and Roman sources), adds weight to His commands. This reality places the focus on the single, sovereign Father in heaven.

VIII. Conclusion

Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 23:9 calls believers to remember that no human leader should ever supplant God’s place of ultimate authority. The instruction does not deny the importance of parents, mentors, or those who guide; it corrects any mindset that elevates such figures above the Creator or presumes to place them on equal footing with Him.

Through historical studies, archaeological discoveries, and manuscript evidence, the Gospels remain trustworthy witnesses to Jesus’ words. Across centuries of theological debate and scholarly research, this passage endures as a challenge for every generation: revere God, who alone is our Father, and keep all human titles in their proper place. Such a perspective preserves humility, fostered by a rightful recognition that, as Exodus 3:15 illustrates, the eternal God’s name and authority stand above all human titles forever.