Why do Catholics call priests "Father" when Jesus said "call no man father" (Matt 23:9)?

Answer 1

Let me see if I can add something to these answers.

One of the first times that a religious individual tried to show me that the Catholic Church was wrong was by pointing out that we call our priest ‘Father’ even though Christ Himself said not to call anyone by that name. I shall try to explain why it is not against Christ to call our priests ‘father’.

I acknowledge that Jesus did say: “And give no man the name of father on earth: because one is your Father, who is in heaven ” (Mat 23:9). Was Jesus saying an all-encompassing statement? Did He leave any room for exceptions? This verse seems to indicate that the Catholic Church is wrong in calling Her priests ‘father’.

After being barraged with questions mostly to trick Jesus into saying something unscriptural, Jesus turned to the people who were following Him and said: “The scribes and the Pharisees have the authority of Moses; All things, then, which they give you orders to do, these do and keep: but do not take their works as your example, for they say and do not.” Jesus was condemning their actions for they may be teaching correctly but they were not doing what was taught…they were being hypocrites.

But Jesus also said in the next few verses: “But all their works they do as to be seen by men…and the things desired by them are the first places at feasts, and chief seats at Synagogues, and the words of respect in the market-places, and to be named by men, Teacher.” Jesus was denouncing their egos, he was telling everyone that these priests were in it for the fame and not for the Glory of God. And so, our Lord wanted to make sure that the people knew because he did not wish it to continue.

And so, in this context did Jesus say in Matt 23:8 : “But you may not be named Teacher: for one is your teacher, and you are all brothers. And give no man the name father on earth: because one is your Father, who is in heaven.” It seems as if Jesus was trying to condemn what the Pharisees and Saduccees were doing. They were, in effect, misusing the title of Father. It is this misuse that Jesus is condemning.

If Jesus was condemning all uses of the title father then surely His disciples would have understood it that way. But you can see many different instances where Jesus’ apostles use the title father. In the book of Acts St Stephen addresses the rabbis and his fellow jews as “Men, brothers and fathers, listen”(Acts 7:2). Also in Acts 4:25 we find Peter and John Glorifying God saying with one accord: “Sovereign Master, You are the One who has made heaven and earth and the sea and all things in them, Who, through the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, has said, ‘Why, did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples devise vain things?’” And once more in Acts we find the apostle Paul talking to the elders of Jerusalem saying: “Men, brothers and fathers, hear my defense which I now make to you.”



With these past verses we find that Peter, John, Paul and Stephen all use the title ‘father’. Would it surprise you that even Jesus himself used that title? He uses it when referring to Abraham in his parable of the suffering rich man. Being a parable Jesus is unrestrained in using any and all terms allowable to Him for describing this story and He still chooses to use the term ‘father’ when referring to the rich man by addressing Abraham in Luke 16:24: “…Father Abraham, have mercy on me…” and again in verse 30: “…No, Father Abraham; but if someone risen from the dead would go to them, they will repent.” If Jesus was making an all-encompassing statement when He said to call no man Father, then He either made a mistake (which I don’t believe) or He is not the perfect example of man (which I believe He is the perfect example to follow). Therefore, there is no other conclusion to come of this other than Jesus was denouncing the misuse of the title and not of the word itself. Anything else would deny the deity of Christ.

This little study brings us also the point that to take anything on its own, that is not to use the whole of the scriptures to compare what is said about a certain subject is to possibly bring you to some very wrong beliefs which Christ never intended. Some of what is said in one verse of scripture cannot be all-inclusive statements. It needs to be interpreted in light of other passages that refer to the same subject matter in order to have a clear picture of what the Word of God is trying to teach you.

God Bless
Robin

Answer 2

This is a question I have as well. The answer I received is that Catholic Priest are called Father because they are excepted as being a father figure over the parishioners.
Like a Shepard in charge of a flock of sheep. The only relationship to God is that of a title given by the church. I have never has a satisfactory answer yet myself. It also says not to call anyone Rabbi or Master.
Rev. TomCat

Answer 3

So, what do you call your male parent?

The use of Father for a minister is supported clearly by St. Paul in 1Cor. 4:15, when he describes himself as the spiritual father of those whom he has converted. The title father is used for priests not as a diminution of God’ rightful authority but in recognition of the place of priests as the ordinary ministers of the sacrament of Baptism. Through Baptism the faithful are given a new birth of supernatural grace (cf. Jn. 3:5). Further, priests serve as spiritual fathers to all of the faithful under their pastoral care. In Church history, the term Father has been used for the greatest saints and theologians of the early Church, and it was commonplace for the first hermits and monks in Egypt to refer to each other as Fathers

Answer 4

Dear lord why are you getting hung up on the details?
This is directed just as much to the contributers as it is to the questioners. Out of all the discrepancies in the Bible, you choose this one to be picky about? Sheesh.
"And thats a main reason i can't agree with Catholics" You are an idiot. Father is a title! It in no way effects what they believe. It doesn't make them hypocrites. Jesus looked to his earthly father (Joesph) as a teacher. And thats exactly how Catholics see Priests. As Earthly fathers, as teachers.
The Bible says a lot of things, take the message and move with the times!

Answer 5

Catholics call their priests ``Father'' because in all matters pertaining to Christ's holy faith they perform the duties of a father, representing God. The priest is the agent of the Christian's supernatural birth and sustenance in the world. ``Father'' is a title which does not conflict in the slightest with Matthew 23:9. Christ forbids the Christian to acknowledge any fatherhood which conflicts with the Fatherhood of God--just as He commands the Christian to ``hate'' his father, mother, wife, and his own life, insofar as these conflict with the following of Christ. (Luke 14:26). But Christ does not forbid Christians to call His own representatives by the name of ``Father.'' Catholic priests share in the priesthood of Jesus Christ (not a human priesthood), and their sacred ministry partakes of the Fatherhood of God. Like St. Paul (himself a Catholic priest), every Catholic priest can refer to the souls he has spiritually begotten as his children in Christ. (1 Cor. 4:14). St. Paul considered himself to be the spiritual father, in Christ, of the Corinthians: ``For if you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, by the gospel, I have begotten you.'' (I Cor. 4:15). The title of ``Father'' is entirely proper for an ordained priest of Jesus Christ.

Edit: We have at least 2 Priests on line, one is Father K, do you call him Father K or just K,?

Answer 6

very good question........

Jesus criticized Jewish leaders who love "the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues, and salutations in the market places, and being called ‘rabbi’ by men" (Matt. 23:6–7). His admonition here is a response to the Pharisees’ proud hearts and their grasping after marks of status and prestige.

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). We are all subject to "the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life" (1 John 2:16).

Since Jesus is demonstrably using hyperbole when he says not to call anyone our father—else we would not be able to refer to our earthly fathers as such—we must read his words carefully and with sensitivity to the presence of hyperbole if we wish to understand what he is saying.

Jesus is not forbidding us to call men "fathers" who actually are such—either literally or spiritually. To refer to such people as fathers is only to acknowledge the truth, and Jesus is not against that. He is warning people against inaccurately attributing fatherhood—or a particular kind or degree of fatherhood—to those who do not have it.

some individuals genuinely do have a spiritual fatherhood, meaning that they can be referred to as spiritual fathers. What must not be done is to confuse their form of spiritual paternity with that of God. Ultimately, God is our supreme protector, provider, and instructor. Correspondingly, it is wrong to view any individual other than God as having these roles.

Throughout the world, some people have been tempted to look upon religious leaders who are mere mortals as if they were an individual’s supreme source of spiritual instruction, nourishment, and protection. The tendency to turn mere men into "gurus" is worldwide.

This was also a temptation in the Jewish world of Jesus’ day, when famous rabbinical leaders, especially those who founded important schools, such as Hillel and Shammai, were highly exalted by their disciples. It is this elevation of an individual man—the formation of a "cult of personality" around him—of which Jesus is speaking when he warns against attributing to someone an undue role as master, father, or teacher.

He is not forbidding the perfunctory use of honorifics nor forbidding us to recognize that the person does have a role as a spiritual father and teacher. The example of his own apostles shows us that.

Answer 7

Well, what do you call your dad then? If Jesus meant this literally, we'd all be in a bit of a conundrum.

Jesus was talking about not putting anyone in authority over themselves higher than God, or putting their faith in anyone other than God.

Catholics call priests "Father" because the priest is their spiritual leader on earth. But definitely not considered higher than God.

Answer 8

No where in the bible does Jesus Christ call any man his father. There is no account of Jesus calling Joseph his father. When ever Jesus refers to his and our father he is only ever referring to God. In the same sense as Jesus Christ did not call any earthly man father. It is my understanding that we should follow his example and not call any earthly man your father. Jesus Christ gives a reason why we shouldn't call anyone on earth your father and that is because we have only one Father, and he is in heaven. We can refer to men as having fathered us or to other men as being a father and we can refer to ourselves as having fathered others or that we are a father to others but to call anyone on earth your father goes against the teachings of Jesus. We have only one Father, and he is in heaven.

Answer 9

Well, in that case I guess you should be addressing your own father by HIS name, and that fathers shouldn't be called fathers at all. As a matter of fact, the word shouldn't even exist, since we aren't aloud to call anyone by it, according to the bible.

Answer 10

Could be because this religion is NOT of the one Lord in heaven, Jesus called FATHER. There are many Gods but only one LORD in heaven. If you haven't seen the Catholic religions and Christian religions called their superior entity GOD or a mix of confusion when they state Lord. Their Lord is not my Lord for their Lord goes against everything Jesus taught his disciples and THESE are not part of them, for they use his words but do not practice what he taught.