This is an important question that many Christians ponder when reading Matthew 23:9, where Jesus says, “Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.” At first glance, this verse seems to prohibit referring to our earthly fathers as “father.” However, looking at the context and the rest of Scripture provides insight into what Jesus meant.
The Context of Matthew 23
In Matthew 23, Jesus was addressing the scribes and Pharisees and condemning their hypocrisy and pride. In verses 1-7, Jesus instructed the people to respect the teaching authority of the scribes and Pharisees but not to imitate their hypocrisy. In verses 8-12, Jesus went on to warn against longing for human titles and seeking glory from others. The titles “Rabbi” and “father” were often misused by the religious leaders to seek prestige and authority for themselves rather than to humbly serve God. This misuse of respected titles led the religious leaders into hypocrisy and pride.
It is in this context that Jesus says in verse 9, “Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.” Jesus was prohibiting the misuse of the title “father” as a means to seek glory and prestige for oneself. He was condemning the arrogance of those who would demand the title and the hypocrisy of those who would use it to seek fame and status.
The Meaning of “Father” in Scripture
While Jesus prohibits the improper use of the title “father,” He affirms there is only one who is the true Father, and that is God the Father in heaven. Earthly fathers derive their fatherhood from God, but they are flawed and sinful. God alone is the perfect Father. When Jesus prohibits calling anyone “father,” He means that ultimately God the Father alone deserves our honor, love, and obedience.
However, other parts of Scripture show that the normal use of “father” is acceptable. For example, Stephen refers to the Jewish leaders as “brothers and fathers” in Acts 7:2. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “I do not write these things to shame you, but to warn 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). He refers to Timothy as “my true child in the faith” (1 Tim. 1:2) and to Titus as “my true child in a common faith” (Titus 1:4).
These examples show that while God alone is the perfect Father, it is permissible to use family terms like “father” to describe spiritual relationships and ancestral relationships here on earth.
Jesus Himself Refers to Joseph as His Father
Another piece of evidence that Jesus was not prohibiting the normal use of “father” is that Jesus himself referred to Joseph as His earthly father. When Mary and Joseph found Jesus in the temple at age 12, the Bible says, “His mother said to Him, ‘Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You'” (Luke 2:48). Jesus was not sinning by having Mary refer to Joseph as His earthly father.
Likewise, the people of Nazareth referred to Joseph as Jesus’ father, and Jesus did not correct or rebuke them for it (Luke 4:22). Jesus himself called the rich man in His parable “father” (Luke 16:24,27,30). Over and over, we see the normal use of family terms like “father” being perfectly acceptable.
The Proper Understanding
When understood in its context, Jesus was condemning the improper use of “father” as a title to seek glory and prestige for oneself instead of honoring God. He was not condemning normal family relationships or ancestral terms. The religious leaders had set themselves up as ultimate authorities instead of pointing people to God, the true Father. Jesus reminded them that only God the Father ultimately deserves their obedience, honor, and reverence.
While we should avoid using “father” arrogantly as a title demanding undue honor and obedience, it is perfectly biblical to use family terms for our earthly family relationships. God designed the father-child relationship, and God Himself uses relational terms like Father to describe His relationship with us. When used humbly and properly, calling our male parent “father” honors both our earthly father and our Heavenly Father.
Other Bible Verses About Calling Someone “Father”
There are a few other verses in Scripture that shed light on how the term “father” is used.
- Ephesians 3:14-15 – “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named”
- 1 Corinthians 4:15 – “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.”
- 2 Kings 2:12 – “And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!”
- Isaiah 22:21 – “and I will clothe him with your robe, and will bind your sash on him, and will commit your authority to his hand. And he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.”
These verses show “father” being used appropriately for ancestral, spiritual, and metaphorical relationships on earth, while recognizing God as the ultimate Father.
Principles for Applying Matthew 23:9
When applying Matthew 23:9, here are some principles to keep in mind:
- Avoid using “father” arrogantly as a title to demand glory and prestige.
- Remember that only God the Father deserves total honor, reverence, and obedience.
- Use family terms humbly to describe earthly family relationships.
- Make sure your use of “father” points people to God, not yourself.
- Don’t require others to use “father” as a special title for you.
- Be careful not to let “father” feed pride in your heart.
The key is the motivation and purpose behind the use of the term. Is it being used humbly to affirm relationships and point to God? Or is it being demanded out of pride and arrogance? Keeping our hearts right before God is essential.
Conclusion
In summary, Jesus was prohibiting the religious leaders from demanding the title “father” out of pride and arrogance. His words in Matthew 23:9 remind us that only God the Father ultimately deserves all honor and obedience. However, this does not rule out humbly using family terms like “father” to describe earthly relationships – in fact, the rest of Scripture shows this to be perfectly acceptable. The key is keeping our motivations pure, avoiding pride, and ensuring our use of “father” points people toward our perfect Heavenly Father.