Matthew 23:9, "And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in Heaven." Notice, however, that this makes no distinction between spiritual fathers, which is what our priests are to us, and biological fathers. In other words, if you interpret this passage to say, absolutely, that no man is to be called father, you cannot distinguish between calling a priest, father, and calling the man who is married to your mother, father.

But, is that actually what this passage is saying? Or is Jesus warning us against trying to usurp the fatherhood of God? Which, in many ways, is what the Pharisees and Scribes were doing. They wanted all attention focused on them...they were leaving God, the Father, out of the equation. Which is why Jesus goes on to call them hypocrites, liars, and whitewashed tombs.

If you interpret this passage from Matthew 23 as an absolute ban against calling anyone your spiritual father, then there are some problems for you in the rest of Scripture. For example, Jesus, in the story of Lazarus and the rich man in Luke 16, has the rich man referring to Abraham as "father" several times. Paul, in Romans chapter 4, refers to Abraham as the "father" of the uncircumcised, the Gentiles. That's referring to spiritual fatherhood, not biological fatherhood.

In Acts 7:1-2, the first Christian martyr, Stephen, referred to the Jewish authorities and elders who were about to stone him as brothers and "fathers," as does Paul in Acts, chapter 22. This is referring to spiritual fatherhood. So, if you interpret Matthew 23 as saying we cannot call anyone our spiritual father, then you have a problem with Jesus, Paul, Stephen, and the Holy Spirit...they must have all gotten it wrong.

It is okay to call priests "father", just as it was okay for Jesus and Paul to call Abraham "father" and for Stephen and Paul to call the Jewish elders "father." As long as we remember that our true Father is God the Father and that all aspects of fatherhood, biological and spiritual, are derived from Him. And as long as we do not allow anyone else to usurp that role in any way, shape, or form, as the Pharisees and Scribes were prone to do.

Source http://www.biblechristiansociety.com/apologetics/two_minute

There's nothing wrong calling spiritual authority 'father'. Don't people call their biological father, 'father'? There's also a context of 'spiritual' father. I did expound on this in the past, last month or so, if I could still find that thread, I will post it. Christ never meant don't call 'spiritual' authorities 'father'.

Goshen360: There's nothing wrong calling spiritual authority 'father'. Don't people call their biological father, 'father'? There's also a context of 'spiritual' father. I did expound on this in the past, last month or so, if I could still find that thread, I will post it. Christ never meant don't call 'spiritual' authorities 'father'.

Goshen360 Honestly, you are sounding Catholic this afternoon. let just wait until frosbel and his brothers see this your COMMENT, because I will "bet" they DISAGREE with you.

But you can call them DADDY.

Lovethywilbedon: Goshen360 Honestly, you are sounding Catholic this afternoon. let just wait until frosbel and his brothers see this your COMMENT, because I will "bet" they DISAGREE with you.

Well, we or people will ALWAYS disagree. Don't let that bother you. Frosbel & I disagree on couple of topics, few though but that doesn't separate us from the love of Christ. Lemme look for the link. Brb.

mumumugu: But you can call them DADDY.

DADDY should rather fall into the context of biological 'father' in our modern tongue. FATHER, in scriptures carry different meanings, context as used tells the difference.

https://www.nairaland.com/1206247/why-call-pastors-father-when/1

That's the link I did expounded in details. Kindly read it.

Then what exactly did Jesus mean??.......

1....Talking about abraham.....it is true that he was rightly called Father..........abraham is the fore-Father of all Jews....so he is there Father......no long talks..........abraham been called Father was more from a geneological point of view........there is no way in the world the Jews could refer to abraham as there brother.......

2.....Talking about the Jewish leaders that were refered to as Fathers.......... the isrealites were a RACE.......and in that case ancestry was very important........there is no way a Jewish leader did not seir one or two of those who were like paul............

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One good reason why Jesus made that statement was because soon God wouldn't be dealing with a race anymore but with the whole world at large.......so calling anyone Father would be baseless.........

That Is why Jesus said call no one Father,but Yahweh........

The title" Father" should not be attached to no man(in the spirituÀl context).........never ever........the same with the titles ""LEADER"".........


People can act as leaders and as spiritual mentors(or Fathers) but that should not make us arrogate the titles ""Father"" and ""Leader" to any man


We all are BROTHERS....except you guys have chosen to believe God still deals with a race and not with the world...............