why in the bible does it say not to call any man father for you have one father that is in heaven?

Question

i notice some religions use the name father to address their leaders

Answer 1

In context, Matthew 23:7-9 reads, "... And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven."

This is call for humility for those in leadership roles. Not to be taken literally.

We are not to deny our male parent and cut the Commandment to honor our father and mother in half.

Some leaders in any church may fall into the same folly as the pharisees of Jesus' day.

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

I learned this in Greek class a few days ago - the Greeks really had no concept of father/son love. In their culture, the only responsibility of fathers was to be teachers of their children. Yet despite that, Jesus said that we should call God "abba Father" which literally means "daddy Father" which IS a personal relationship. Also in context, the Jews (which Jesus was) so much revered the name of God that if you even said God's name or wrote it fully, you would be considered a criminal. They thought God's name was so amazing that if you mispronounce it you are doomed. Jesus telling us to have a love relationship with God was an extremely radical thing. Today's society has evolved and the concept of father/son relationship has become more about love and less about instruction (that's the school's job now, right or wrong).... Essentially though Jesus told us that we are to have a personal relationship with God Almighty. It doesn't literally mean that we cannot love our fathers or call them "dad". Also I could go in to all the theology that God is truly our ultimate father (i.e. Creator) but that is not as profound as actually having a relationship with him. The idea that you can know God personally was very radical and ultimately that is what upset the Jewish theologians into killing Jesus.

Answer 3

there is always a problem when people quote the bible out of context.
this line does not refer to the father who sired you but to those in the church who wish to be called father.
here is the line again, IN CONTEXT


Matthew 23:8-10 (Amplified Bible)
8But you are not to be called rabbi (teacher), for you have one Teacher and you are all brothers.
9And do not call anyone [in the church] on earth father, for you have one Father, Who is in heaven.
10And you must not be called masters (leaders), for you have one Master (Leader), the Christ.

too bad those two who answered this question in a negative way do not understand what was being said.
they show not only their ignorance of the bible, but religion in general. Their hateful rhetoric should be kept to themselves when they do not offer reasonable answers to reasonable questions.
If they do not know the answer, they should not take up space to make thoughtless answers

Answer 4

Those religions are false religions. And yes there is a false Christianity. The word does say not to call any man Father. But I think that the word was really referring to anyone that was in a pastoral position, not to call them father, so that they could not become boastful or take any glory that belonged to God or cause them to place themselves high above others. I think it is okay to call our dads father. They aren't running a church.

Answer 5

Hmmmm! I don't know that scripture and I've been raised in church all my life. I'll have to try to find it to know exactly what it means. A lot of single verses are taken out of context.

My own religion doesn't address our leaders as "father" but my husband's does. I've asked Him about it before. He doesn't know why they do it. The same about worshiping statues or the Virgin Mary. I don't get it. The Bible also says not to bow to graven images or have "any other gods before me" yet it seems that's exactly what my husband's church practices.

Answer 6

This helps avoid the embarassment to those children who do not know who their biological fathers are. There are many like that and so we just reserve the title Father for our Heavenly Father.

You can call any guy that hangs around the house, "Dad" or "Steve" or "my mom's significant other" since few folk are getting married anymore.

I noticed that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have said that they are not going to get married until "everyone can get married." I am not sure what that means but sounds like we can just call him "Brad" and leave the title "Father" to someone much more responsible.

Hope this helps.

Answer 7

He is talking about ascribing titles to individuals on earth as can be seen from the context --- do not be called father, rabbi, or leader. His point is made a couple verses after when he says that those who exalt themselves will be humbled.

The man who helped produce you is a father in role and responsibility and he is not putting himself there so that everybody looks up to him.

Answer 8

Jesus was talking about spiritual leadership. Christians should not call any spiritual leader father. But because some do is a reason to wonder why they have done so.

Answer 9

For the same reason that the very next verse says "call no man your teacher", which likewise doesn't make sense in the bare, literalist sense. Obviously though, neither passage is meant to be taken literally. Both passages, properly interpreted, make a lot of sense, and both tell us essentially the same thing - that we must not give to any man the glory that belongs to God alone.

Answer 10

Great question. The Catholic Church is a "church" that greatly contradicts the Bible, so I can understand your confusion. Jesus says never to call any man your father, and yet the Catholics do it. All I can say is that they're not following biblical Christianity.

Answer 11

Not to use the word father in a spiritual way. Neither be called leaders, for you Leader is one, the Christ. But the greatest one among you must be your minister.
Matt. 23:9,10,11,12.