✝️ “Call No Man Father?” — The Truth Behind Matthew 23:9

One of the most common objections raised against the Catholic Church is based on Matthew 23:9:

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

Critics argue that Catholics disobey Christ by calling priests “Father.” But is this what Jesus really meant?

Let us examine this deeply—through Scripture, early Christianity, and official Catholic teaching.

---

📖 1. Understanding the Context of Matthew 23

The key to interpreting Scripture correctly is context.

In Matthew 23, Jesus is condemning the hypocrisy of the Pharisees:

“They do all their deeds to be seen by others… they love the place of honor…” (Matthew 23:5–6)

Jesus also says in the same passage:

• “Call no man your teacher” (Matthew 23:10)

• “You are all brothers” (Matthew 23:8)

❗ Important Question:
If taken literally, should Christians also stop calling anyone “teacher”? Or stop acknowledging biological fathers?

Clearly, Jesus is not banning titles, but condemning pride, abuse of authority, and self-exaltation.

---

📖 2. The Bible Uses “Father” for Men

If Jesus absolutely forbade calling men “father,” the rest of Scripture would not use it. Yet it does—many times.

✅ Biological Fathers

“Honor your father and your mother” — Exodus 20:12

✅ Spiritual Fathers

Paul the Apostle writes:

“For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” — 1 Corinthians 4:15

“To Timothy, my true child in the faith.” — 1 Timothy 1:2

👉 St. Paul explicitly calls himself a spiritual father.

✅ Other Examples

• Abraham is called “our father” (Romans 4:16)

• Stephen says: “Brothers and fathers, hear me…” (Acts 7:2)

❗ If calling men “father” were sinful, the apostles themselves would be guilty.

---

📜 3. Early Church Fathers Confirm Spiritual Fatherhood

From the earliest centuries, Christians understood spiritual fatherhood as biblical and necessary.

🧾 Ignatius of Antioch (c. AD 107)

“Let everyone respect the bishop as Jesus Christ… and the presbyters as the council of God.”¹

👉 Authority in the Church implies spiritual fatherhood, not mere titles.

---

🧾 Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180)

“We should obey those presbyters who have succession from the apostles…”²

👉 These leaders were seen as spiritual guides and fathers of the faithful.

---

🧾 Jerome (c. AD 400)

“A bishop and presbyter are the same… they are called fathers.”³

👉 The title “Father” was already in use in early Christianity.

---

📘 4. Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) Teaching

The Catholic Church does not replace God as Father—but reflects His fatherhood.

📖 Catechism of the Catholic Church

“The ministerial priesthood… is at the service of the common priesthood… acting in the person of Christ.” (CCC 1547)⁴

“The priest… is configured to Christ the Head.” (CCC 1581)⁵

👉 Priests are called “Father” because they participate in God’s spiritual fatherhood, not compete with it.

---

🧠 5. The Real Meaning of Jesus’ Command

Jesus is using a Hebraic teaching style—a form of exaggeration to emphasize a point.

He is saying:

❌ Do not seek titles for pride
❌ Do not replace God as the ultimate authority
❌ Do not abuse spiritual leadership

But He is NOT saying:

❌ Never use the word “father”
❌ Deny human or spiritual fatherhood

---

⚖️ 6. Logical Conclusion

If we interpret Matthew 23:9 literally, we would have to:

• Stop calling our biological dads “father” ❌

• Reject St. Paul’s teachings ❌

• Ignore the entire early Church ❌

👉 This leads to contradiction.

But when understood properly:

✅ God is the ultimate Father
✅ Earthly fathers reflect His authority
✅ Priests are spiritual fathers in Christ

---

🔥 Final Apologetic Conclusion

The Catholic use of “Father” is:

✔ Biblical — used by apostles
✔ Historical — practiced by early Christians
✔ Theological — rooted in God’s fatherhood

Therefore:

👉 Calling priests “Father” is not disobedience to Christ
👉 It is actually obedience to the fullness of Scripture and Tradition

📊 Protestant Objections vs Catholic Rebuttals

(Bonus Apologetics Section for “Call No Man Father” — Matthew 23:9)

This table is designed for quick debate use—clear, biblical, and historically grounded responses to common objections.

---

❗ Protestant Objection	✝️ Catholic Rebuttal (Biblical, Historical, Logical)
1. “Jesus clearly said call no man father (Matthew 23:9).”	Jesus also said “call no man teacher” (Matt 23:10), yet Scripture uses “teacher” (Eph 4:11). Christ is condemning pride and self-exaltation, not the use of titles.
2. “Calling priests ‘Father’ disobeys Jesus.”	Paul the Apostle calls himself a spiritual father: “I became your father in Christ” (1 Cor 4:15). If it were sinful, the apostles would not do it.
3. “Only God is Father, so no one else should be called father.”	God is the ultimate Father, but Scripture applies the title in participation: biological fathers (Eph 6:2), spiritual fathers (1 Cor 4:15), and patriarchs like Abraham (Rom 4:16).
4. “Catholics elevate priests to God’s level.”	The Church teaches priests act in Christ’s service, not as replacements for God. See Catechism of the Catholic Church §1547: priesthood serves, not rivals, God’s authority.
5. “The early Church never used ‘Father’ as a title.”	Early Christians clearly recognized spiritual authority. Ignatius of Antioch (AD 107) emphasized obedience to bishops, implying spiritual fatherhood in leadership.
6. “This is a man-made Catholic tradition.”	The practice is rooted in Scripture + Apostolic Tradition. Irenaeus of Lyons (AD 180) affirmed apostolic succession—leaders guiding believers like fathers.
7. “Using titles like ‘Father’ promotes pride.”	Titles can be abused—but Jesus condemns abuse, not proper use. Even “Pastor,” “Doctor,” or “Reverend” can be misused. The issue is the heart, not the word.
8. “We are all brothers, so no one is above another.”	True, but God still establishes roles. Paul the Apostle calls Timothy his “son” (1 Tim 1:2), showing spiritual hierarchy within unity.
9. “This practice leads to idolatry.”	Calling someone “Father” is not worship. It is respect for spiritual guidance, just as calling someone “teacher” is not idolatry. Worship belongs to God alone (Matt 4:10).
10. “Catholics ignore the plain meaning of Scripture.”	Catholics interpret Scripture in full context, not isolated verses. Even Peter the Apostle warns that Scripture can be misinterpreted (2 Peter 3:16).

---

🔥 Debate Power Conclusion

👉 The Protestant argument relies on isolating one verse
👉 The Catholic response stands on:

• 📖 The whole Bible (not one verse)

• 📜 Early Church history

• 📘 Consistent theology of authority and humility

💥 Final Blow:
If “call no man father” is taken literally, then:

• You must stop calling your dad “father”

• Reject Paul the Apostle’s teachings

• Deny early Christianity

👉 Which leads to contradiction.

✔ But the Catholic interpretation remains biblical, historical, and logically consistent.

📚 Footnotes (Chicago Style)

1. Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Smyrnaeans, 8.1.

2. Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies, 4.26.2.

3. Jerome, Letter 146.

4. Catechism of the Catholic Church, §1547.

5. Ibid., §1581.

IF YOU ARE A DEVOTED CATHOLIC AND HAPPY TO DEFEND YOUR CATHOLIC FAITH, YOUR SUPPORT TO CONTINUE OUR MISSION TO DEFEND THE CATHOLIC FAITH, REALLY MATTERS AND WILL ALWAYS BE VALUED AND REMEMBERED!

(Even though this blog comes with Free Domain and Free Hosting plans, there are still costs involve to sustain it, like the reliable internet connection that comes with premium plan, so your $1.00 one-time support for this endeavor means a lot to me.  Thank you very much.  God Bless).

  <== "Give only as your heart leads you."

Short Prayer for the Digital Mission

Through the Intercession of Carlo Acutis

 

In the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Blessed Carlo Acutis,
apostle of the Eucharist and evangelizer of the digital world,

please pray for this mission and for all who read this blog.

May those who come here searching for truth
discover Jesus Christ,
and may the light of the Gospel
lead them to the fullness of faith in His Church.

Help this humble work become
a doorway for the lost,
a light in the digital world,
and a guide that leads many souls
into one flock under one Shepherd
(Gospel of John 10:16).

Blessed Carlo Acutis,
pray that every reader may grow
in truth, faith, and love for the Eucharist.

Amen.

READ ALSO:

1. Why Catholics Call Priests “Father”: A Biblical, Historical, and Theological Explanation

2. 𝗪𝗛𝗬 𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗢𝗡𝗟𝗬 𝗚𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗘𝗨𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗖 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗗𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗡?

3. Mary as the New Ark of the Covenant: Biblical Parallels and Catholic Teaching

4. 🔍 "Facts About the Roman Catholic Church That Many Protestants Don’t Want You to Know"

5. The True Church Founded by Jesus Christ: Biblical Proof, Church Fathers, and the Collapse of Protestant Objections

6. The Evolution of the Roman Catholic Church from the 1st Century Until Today - A Historical and Apologetic Examination