Matthew 23:9?

Question

"And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven."

I do not know about all of Christianity, but I do know Catholics say "father" to their priest...

Is this not a complete contradiction to what happens in churches across the globe? If the Bible is the word, why not follow it completely? Or does Jesus mean this in a symbolic sense (Call no man your GOD on Earth, for you have one GOD...)? I am not trying to disprove Christianty here, just wondering how Christians feel about this.

Answer 1

I am in agreement with you. This goes against Scripture and is another Catholic "tradition" that has been invented. It is disrespectful to God and blatant idolatry.

Answer 2

It seems to me that not a single Catholic has responded thus far (or am I mistaken). I am a person who is seriously considering converting to the either the Roman Catholic Church or the Greek Orthodox Church, both of which refer to presbyters as father, thus I will attempt to offer an explanation of this passage.

Indeed, Catholics and Orthodox believe in the Bible. The problem is that they take the Bible as a whole, not just a single verse.

The quick scriptural response that most Catholic apologists will employ is to invoke Acts 7:2, where Stephen called other men "father," Acts 22:1, where Paul called other men "father," and especially 1 Corinthians 4:15, where Paul states that he became our father through the gospel.

That last verse is particularly interesting, because it does not mean Paul was our literal, biological father; rather it means he is our father in a spiritual, or religious sense. Father Paul!

But there is one other passage that no apologist seems to bring up, but I consider the most relevant, and that is 1 Timothy 5:1. If you consult the original Greek text, you will find the word "prebytero" (i.e. presbyter). The literal reading would be a command that we not disrespect a Presbyter, rather we should address them as father. So, why do Catholics and Orthodox Christians address their presbyters as "father"? Because the Bible tells them so.

As a side note, 1 Timothy 5:1-2 provides a structure very similar to what we find in the Roman Catholic Church today, with Father Presbyters, Mother Superiors, Brother Monks, and Sister Nuns.

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

It is in my opinion that Roman catholics do a lot of things which are rationalized and anti scripture. But that doesn't bother them. I am really not sure is this applies though.

The Jews of the day, perhaps even now look at the inheritance as being the sons of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They do rightly say this in one sense; that they are the descendants of those men by relation.

But what Paul was saying and Jesus too was that God counts the spiritual aspect of the relation. For it was by the spirit that the promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was made. Look anywhere in the history concerning those that were in faith with God, there were those that God was not looking at favorably at; there was no trust of God in them. God did not save them merely because they were the physical descendants of those men, but because they trusted God.

As Habakkuk had said, the Just shall live by faith.

So I believe that Jesus was countering that notion, that it was not merely by being born into the family of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that they would be God's people. It was typically only a remnant- the one's who trusted God and were in the trust of Him who were children of God's kingdom.

I am not sure if I would call it 'symbolic' or not. But I do see Jesus countering those that said their father was Abraham referenced in John 8:38 - 47.

Answer 4

Catholics also feel it necessary to pray to God through the same said father. That need to go through a priest was removed with the death of his Son. Catholics also pray to saints and have idols to represent them. The Bible says not to worship any images of creatures on earth or in heaven. That is the problem with religion. Jesus desired us to be of one mind and one accord.

Answer 5

I believe he means it literally. But Catholicism has disobeyed the Bible in SO many ways, they are are a weak example of anything good. I don't know of any other denominations that say 'father' and likewise I really do believe the catholic church to be the harlot in Revelations, they fit it to a tee. Research more about the atrocities cause by 'christianity' and find the catholic church.

Answer 6

News Flash pal, Most religions taught in churches ARE contradictory according to man. They have taken the true Word of God many times over and have distorted the facts to what they want to hear and believe.
Personally, I beleive it was symbolic, meaning, Don't go worshipping man or anything he has to offer over Him, God the Father.

Answer 7

He was using hyperbole (exaggeration to make a point) to show the scribes and Pharisees how sinful and proud they were for not looking humbly to God as the source of all authority and fatherhood and teaching, and instead setting themselves up as the ultimate authorities, father figures, and teachers.

Christ used hyperbole often, for example when he declared, "If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell" (Matt. 5:29, cf. 18:9; Mark 9:47). Christ certainly did not intend this to be applied literally, for otherwise all Christians would be blind amputees! (cf. 1 John 1:8; 1 Tim. 1:15).

Answer 8

This is not to be taken the wrong way, but catholicism is wrong when it comes to being concerned about confession of sins to a priest. You don't need a priest to confess your sins to, you need to speak directly to God himself! God hears your prayers, he knows what you do before you do it, and if you just accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior and repent of your sins, then you have eternal salvation. Your past, present, & future sins are forgiven!!! Our God is an awesome God!!!! The verse, "NO ONE SPEAKS/ COMES TO THE FATHER BUT THROUGH ME" means that you have to pray IN JESUS' NAME to have GOD receive your prayers.

Answer 9

The Bible says that obedience to God's commandments is what the love of God means.

Obviously, many have neither the love of God, nor the love of truth.

Answer 10

There are a lot of contradictions. A lot will try to answer by referring you to another scripture that will contradict another. Its a loop that goes round and round. Good question and I look forward to reading the many responses this will get justifying such contradictions...