Why do Catholics call their priest father when…?

Question

Jesus said in Matthew 23:9 “And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.”

On page 54 the Catechism For Adults says, "Does everyone have to obey the Catholic Church? Yes, because she alone has the authority of Jesus to rule and to teach." It is easy to see that Catholics have the authority in the wrong place. The authority is not in the body, but in the Head (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18). The ruling is not in the kingdom, but in the King (Heb. 7:1-2; Rev. 1:5-6). The authority is in not in the church, but in Christ (Matt. 28:18; 1 Pet. 3:22). The church is not the Savior, but simply the body of the saved (Acts 2:47; Eph. 5:22-24).

Catholics claim that the Pope is the visible head of the church. The Catholic book Answer Wisely, by Martin J. Scott says on p. 49, "The pope, therefore, as vicar of Christ, is the visible head of Christ's kingdom on earth, the Church, of which Christ Himself is the invisible head." The book Father Smith Instructs Jackson, by John F. Noll and Lester J. Fallon, on page 42 says, "According to the will of Christ, all its members profess the same faith, have the same worship and Sacraments, and are united under the one and same visible head, the Pope." Catholic officials always use the word "visible" no doubt thinking that it removes the thought of the Pope standing in opposition to the headship of Christ, and removes the apparent problem of having a church with two heads. Nonetheless, the Bible Scriptures nowhere teach the idea of a visible and invisible head. Jesus said, "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.." (Matt. 28:18;

(The Carmelite) Sorry I didn’t mention the Orthodox, and Episcopalians; however they are one in the same, they are the daughters of the Catholic Church.

Answer 1

Probably because they don't read and know the Bible.

Answer 2

This is because Catholicism has a history of "cut and paste" (and "misinterpretation"). They add in their own man made beliefs and they take out some restrictions so that they could have more 'fun' (This is why so many Catholics sin all week long and wait for Sunday so that they can 'confess' their sins to their so called fathers). When the curtain was ripped as it is stated in the Bible (and you can see this in "The Passion of the Christ"), we no longer needed someone to talk to God for us. We as individuals are free to talk with Him whenever, and this gives us the ability to ask for forgiveness.

As for the misinterpretations, you can see one for yourself on this YA: The second responder misinterprets what Jesus said. It's obvious that we call our biological father "father", but "In a Handbasket" wants to somehow prove that you are wrong and that's why he astrays from the point. Jesus meant, in Matthew 23:9, that you should not call anyone on earth your Heavenly Father.

It's kind of similar to what the Jehovah's Witnesses do. "Abstain from blood." (Acts 15:29). This, again, is a misinterpretation. JW's think that it is a sin to accept blood transfusions.

Why some people take some scriptures literally, I do not know. I do know that they should stop doing it.

Answer 3

This has been said many times to Catholics. First of all read it in context. You must read the entire chapter to understand what Jesus is talking about. He didn't just come out of the blue and say "call no man father" there is meaning behind this.

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.

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.

Perhaps the most pointed New Testament reference to the theology of the spiritual fatherhood of priests is Paul’s statement, "I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel" (1 Cor. 4:14–15).

The point is, that taking one verse and deciding it's a very literal meaning, limits the value of that verse. There is so much more to what Jesus is telling us here...it is very small minded to think he really means to limit the use of the word father in such a manner.

Answer 4

Why do clergymen and their followers disobey this command from the Lord Jesus Christ?

Is the religious title “father” correct? It is used widely by Roman Catholics and Anglicans. “Padre,” meaning “father,” is also widely used. But Jesus taught his disciples: “You must call no one on earth your father, since you have only one Father, and he is in heaven.” (Matthew 23:9, NJB) The New English Bible reads similarly: “Do not call any man on earth ‘father.’”

Please read and note the context of Matthew 23:1-12. Jesus begins speaking about the Pharisees, who were a prominent sect of Judaism. They were legalists, sticklers for observance of every detail of the Mosaic Law. They liked to dress and act in such a way as to call attention to themselves. Their religion was one of ostentation—their style of clothing, their principal places at meals, their front seats in the synagogues, and their titles of honor. They even claimed greater respect than that which was given parents. They wanted to be called father. However, Jesus shows that all his followers are equal as God’s children. Any title that suggests the opposite is a haughty usurpation of something that belongs to God. Thus, Jesus forbids the use of the word “father” as a title of honor in a religious sense. Jesus insists that his followers have only one Father in the faith, Jehovah.

Jesus then denounced the Pharisees as “hypocrites.” He especially showed how their selfish, exalted thinking was detestable to God—something that should never be permitted among Christian brothers and sisters. But wrong attitudes will infiltrate the congregation if its members do not have love among themselves. Also, in giving full recognition to Jehovah, the Christian brothers must always be careful not to underemphasize the active role that Christ now has in the congregation.

Contrary to what Mr. K says, there is NO verse in the Bible where any of Jesus' followers were called by ANY religious titles. Nowhere in the Bible is Paul called "Father Paul." Nowhere is Peter called "Rabbi Peter."

Jesus taught his followers: “All you are brothers.” And he strictly forbade using such titles as “Rabbi,” “Father,” or “Leader.” Matthew 23:8-10.

The Bible does not authorize the setting up of a clergy class distinct from those with a so-called laity status.

Answer 5

Do you really think that Jesus was making a legal prohibition of the word "pater," or he was telling his disciples not to follow some other master? Which seems more likely to you? If he just didn't want people to say "pater," then why does Paul frequently refer to the Hebrew "fathers," or "Abraham our father"?

Answer 6

that is something different for the Bible The way it has been written and interpreted . Father means the one who is leading in any where like your father in your house , church, ...
for the Bible this is another level not for everyone to understand intellectually but inspiritually .. O>>>>>K !!!!!
Im not catholics even religious ........

Answer 7

Ummmmmmmmm.....you're kind of showing your ignorance by focusing on Catholics with this question....even though ALL Orthodox Christian priests are also called "Father" and Episcopalians priests are called "Father" as well. I mean, NO-ONE ever questions their rationale.

OK...enough lecturing. Catholics call their priests "father" because Paul proclaimed himself as such when he said of himself, "in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel" (1 COR 4:15). Only a father can beget.

Read Paul's letter to the Romans while you are at it. Several times he makes reference to our "Father Abraham" and to our "Father Isaac". No-one ever questions that.

Last of all, in that same Scripture passage that you quote, it also says to call no-one "teacher". Who do you think works with our kids in school and Sunday school?

Answer 8

Matthew 23:6-9 reads, "They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation 'Rabbi.' As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi.' You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven."

Are we also not to call anyone "teacher" or "doctor" which is how "rabbi' would translate? I think not.

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 of a lack of humility as the pharisees of Jesus' day.

The Apostle Paul writes:

I am writing you this not to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. Even if you should have countless guides to Christ, yet you do not have many fathers, for I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. (1 Corinthians 4:14-15)

And:

As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his children, exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you conduct yourselves as worthy of the God who calls you into his kingdom and glory. (1 Thessalonians 2:11-12)

And:

I urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment, who was once useless to you but is now useful to (both) you and me. (Philemon 10-11)

And finally, Peter calls himself the "father" of Mark:

The chosen one at Babylon sends you greeting, as does Mark, my son. (1 Peter 5:13)

With love in Christ.

Answer 9

Your father, Catholics call him father in general

Answer 10

I have often asked myself that very same question, I never even allowed my own children to call me father. I also would like to know why no one seems to take seriously Mat 6:1 ¶ Take heed that ye do NOT your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. And then ask to be reimbursed by listing what they gave on their tax returns too. And yet again in Mat 6:2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. And give their tithes openly in their individual clubhouses they call churches. Because in Mat 6:3 it say’s; But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: that thine alms may be in SECRET: and thy Father which seeth in SECRET himself shall reward thee openly. However no one seems to pay attention to that directive either. And as for prayer, they make so big a thing about praying in public when Jesus say’s in Mat 6:5 ¶ And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in SECRET; and thy Father which seeth in SECRET shall reward thee openly. So I guess I didn’t answer your question to well but rather expounded upon it. :o( I hope you get an answer worthy of reading my friend as I would like to be privy to your answers as well… nice question.

Answer 11

This question has been answered many many many times. So often I already have a copy and paste answer for it.

"Jesus is saying that there is only one Father, One Creator, and all fatherhood comes from Him. "For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named." (Ephesians 3:14-15)
We are all members of God's family. We call Him "Our Father."
What does Paul say about this?
"As you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children." (1 Thessalonians 2:11)
"I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. For though you may have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Therefore I urge you, imitate me. For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church." (1 Corinthians 4:14-17)
"To Timothy, a true son in the faith..." (1 Timothy 1:2)
"This charge I commit to you, son Timothy" (1 Timothy 1:18)
"To Timothy, a beloved son..." (2 Timothy 1:2)
"You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 2:1)
"To Titus, a true son in our common faith..." (Titus 1:4)
"I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains." (Philemon 1:10)
In the above passages Paul considers himself a spiritual father. The priest is a spiritual father in the same way - he gives spiritual life to his people, that is, when he baptizes them, forgives their sins, preaches the Gospel to them, etc.
If we take Jesus' statement exactly as it is, "Do not call anyone on earth your father", then we cannot call our biological father by the name of father either. On an application form for a job or credit, etc., we do not put down "God" in the space which says "Father's name?".
Jesus also tells us that we should not be called teachers. But we have all heard the terms "Sunday School Teachers," and we accept that. When we ask a child, "Who is your teacher?", we do not expect the child to reply, "I have only one teacher, the Messiah."
In Acts 7:2-53 Stephen addressed the council. He used the word "father(s)" 17 times. Stephen knew what Jesus had said about "father," and yet he used the word. Stephen knew what Jesus meant.
What does history tell us?
From earliest times, bishops were called "father" because they ordained priests, thus they "beget fathers to the Church." (Ephiphanius: d.403). St. Jerome (A.D. 331-402) says that bishops should be content that they are "father" and not "lord."
The heads of monasteries were called "father" - the word "Abbot" coming from "Abba" which is a familiar word for "father."
The title "Father" was reserved for priests of religious orders, e.g., Franciscans, Dominicans, etc. Before the Reformation, the parish clergy were called "Sir." This title continued to be used by the ministers in the Protestant churches.
The custom, especially in countries where English is spoken, of addressing ALL priests as "Father" seems to have been an Irish custom which was spread by Irish emigration."