WHAT DOES IT MEAN "CALL NO MAN FATHER?" 

Hello Father Jhim, 

What does it mean "And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. (‭Matthew‬ ‭23‬:‭9‬)"

To my spiritual children,

Why do you think Jesus called Abraham “father Abraham?” Why do you think the Bible writers use the term “God of our fathers” instead of saying the “God of our ancestors?”

The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus (Acts 3:13).

So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them (Romans 4:11).

Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel (1 Corinthians 4:15).

Moreover, brethren, I want not that you should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea (1 Corinthians 10:1).

But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel (Philippians 2:22)

Christians have to be careful not to take verses out of the Bible and twist them and misinterpret them. In the context of where Jesus says call no one your father, and call no one your teacher, he is rebuking the pride of the pharisees, who liked titles without having the responsibilities that go along with those titles.

Jesus did not mean to abolish the title “father” because we have earthly fathers and we call them father. Jesus did not mean to abolish the title “teacher” because we all have had teachers and we called them teacher. What Jesus wanted to abolish was being called father or teacher just for the sake of having honors.

But when Jesus Himself called Abraham his father, He did that because Abraham truly was a man who exercised spiritual fatherhood. And when St. Paul called himself the father to the Christians at Corinth, or a father to Timothy, it is because he had preached the Gospel to them and baptized them. He truly exercised spiritual fatherhood.

Spiritual fatherhood is a good thing. It means that a man takes responsibility in the Church to preach, to baptize, to mentor, and to love his flock as if they were his own sons and daughters.

It would be a terrible thing to use the words of Jesus to say that Paul was wrong, and no man should be called father. Doing that would rob a lot of sons and daughters of the father-child relationship which they need to feel in the Church. Even in the Old Testament, people called the prophets “father” such as when Elisha did this to Elijah:

Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two (2 Kings 2:12).

Men need to be fathers, and they need to be called father, and reminded of what it means to be a caring and responsible father, even to those who are not their flesh and blood. Too many men have abandoned their children and in the church many godly men have taken the role of being a father to the fatherless. 

Viva Cristo Rey! Ave Maria!

Peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you,

Rev. Fr. Jhimerson Maneclang,SCJ