Matthew 23 9

Matthew 23:9 kjv

And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

Matthew 23:9 nkjv

Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.

Matthew 23:9 niv

And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.

Matthew 23:9 esv

And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.

Matthew 23:9 nlt

And don't address anyone here on earth as 'Father,' for only God in heaven is your Father.

Matthew 23 verses

Matthew 23 9 Meaning

Matthew 23:9 teaches that disciples of Christ should recognize only God as their ultimate spiritual Father, the unique source of all truth, life, and authority. The command warns against giving any human spiritual leader the title or reverence that belongs solely to God. It highlights the uniqueness of God's role as the Heavenly Father, who is the origin and sustainer of spiritual life for His children.

Matthew 23 9 Context

Matthew chapter 23 contains Jesus' strong denunciations and seven woes against the scribes and Pharisees, the religious leaders of His day. This discourse exposes their hypocrisy, their love for prominent positions, elaborate garments, public recognition, and honorable titles. Verses 8-12 specifically address the disciples directly, instructing them not to seek or accept such titles (Rabbi, Father, Master) because it places them in a position of spiritual authority that properly belongs to Christ alone (as Master/Teacher) and to God alone (as Father). Jesus aims to correct a religious system where human honor obscured divine glory, fostering spiritual pride and elitism.

Matthew 23 9 Word Analysis

• And call (καλέω - kaleo): This verb means "to name," "to address by name," or "to acknowledge as." Here, it carries the force of intentionally bestowing or accepting an honorific title or acknowledging someone as a spiritual origin. It implies reverence and a spiritual bond usually reserved for God.
• no man (μηδένα - mēdena): This is a strong negative prohibition, emphasizing that this command applies universally among people. It's a complete rejection of such practices.
• your father (ὑμῶν πατέρα - hymōn patera): The Greek word patēr (pater) means "father." While it obviously refers to a biological father, in the context of Jewish rabbinic tradition, "father" was a title of immense spiritual authority given to a revered teacher or a founder of a religious school. Such a "father" was seen as a source of authoritative interpretation and spiritual life. Jesus forbids attributing this kind of originating, foundational, and ultimately worship-like reverence to any human.
• upon the earth (ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς - epi tēs gēs): This phrase clarifies the scope. It distinguishes earthly, human claims to ultimate spiritual fatherhood from God's transcendent, heavenly fatherhood. It limits the prohibition to humans, who are merely physical and temporary, emphasizing their fallibility and inability to truly be the ultimate spiritual origin.
• for one (εἷς - heis): This word emphasizes singularity and uniqueness. There is only one true ultimate spiritual Father. It highlights the exclusivity of God's role.
• is your Father (ὑμῶν ἐστιν ὁ πατήρ - hymōn estin ho patēr): This statement unequivocally declares God as the only proper "Father" in the ultimate spiritual sense. It confirms God's unique paternity over His children in Christ.
• which is in heaven (ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς - ho en tois ouranois): This refers directly to God, whose dwelling place and authority are heavenly and transcendent. It reinforces His supreme, unique, and divine authority, distinguishing Him from any earthly being.

Words-group Analysis:

• "And call no man your father upon the earth": This imperative command is not against calling one's biological father "father." Nor is it a prohibition against spiritual mentorship or the acknowledgment of those who have "begotten" others in the faith (e.g., Paul referring to Timothy or Onesimus as his "son" in a relational sense, or "begotten through the Gospel" to the Corinthians). The prohibition is against bestowing or accepting the title of "father" in a spiritual sense that implies ultimate, originating authority or a position of ultimate reverence and loyalty that rightly belongs to God alone. It speaks against a hierarchical spiritual system where human leaders command ultimate allegiance or serve as the supreme fount of doctrine or spiritual life.
• "for one is your Father, which is in heaven": This second part provides the crucial reason for the prohibition. Because God alone holds the singular, unique position of the Heavenly Father, no human should usurp or be granted that divine prerogative. He is the ultimate source, the final authority, and the only perfect spiritual parent for all believers. Believers are brothers and sisters under this one Divine Father, implying a flattened spiritual hierarchy and a direct relationship with God through Christ.

Matthew 23 9 Bonus Section

• Hyperbole and Interpretation: Jesus often used hyperbole to make a strong point. While some might take this verse literally to forbid even acknowledging a biological father, the context and other biblical passages (e.g., Eph 6:2-3 about honoring parents) make it clear that the focus is on spiritual authority and undue reverence. It's about rejecting titles that create spiritual castes or claim the divine prerogative of generating spiritual life/doctrine.
• Spiritual Paternity vs. Mentorship: The Apostle Paul himself speaks of being a "father" to those he converted (1 Cor 4:15, Philem 1:10). This does not contradict Jesus' teaching here. Paul’s "fatherhood" was one of evangelistic initiation and loving guidance, where he delivered the gospel. He never claimed to be the source of truth or to have ultimate authority above Christ, but rather to pass on what he received from the Heavenly Father and Christ. This distinction is crucial: fostering, guiding, and mentoring is biblical, but accepting a title that usurps God's unique position is not.
• Counter-cultural Command: In a world where honorific titles and established hierarchies were paramount, Jesus' command was radical. It dismantled the religious class system by placing all believers on an equal footing as children of the same Father, with direct access to Him.

Matthew 23 9 Commentary

Matthew 23:9 is a core teaching from Jesus against the corrupting influence of pride and hierarchy within religious leadership. It's a clear statement that no human being should occupy a position of ultimate spiritual authority or reverence that rightfully belongs only to God. Jesus is not nullifying natural familial relationships; believers should continue to honor their biological parents. Rather, the injunction targets the custom among the Pharisees and scribes of seeking honorific spiritual titles like "Father" (similar to "Rabbi" or "Master" in verses 8 and 10), which fostered a system where human mediation and tradition overshadowed a direct relationship with God.

The verse emphasizes God's unique paternity. All true spiritual life, authority, and ultimate teaching originate from Him. When believers attribute ultimate spiritual fatherhood to any human, they detract from God's supreme glory and subtly place a human intermediary in His unique position. This fosters an unhealthy dependency on human leaders rather than cultivating a direct, personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. The underlying principle is profound humility for all believers and leaders: all are children of one Heavenly Father, making them spiritual siblings who are equals under God.

Practical usage:

• Christians should evaluate any religious title or system that demands the same reverence, obedience, or ultimate allegiance typically reserved for God.
• It reminds spiritual leaders that their authority is always derived from and subordinate to God, and they are called to be humble servants, not ultimate spiritual fathers.
• It encourages believers to seek ultimate guidance and spiritual sustenance directly from God's Word and through the Holy Spirit, rather than placing undue, unquestioning trust in human figures.