Part 2: “Call No Man Father”: What Did Jesus Actually Mean?
Ministry, Honor, and Status in the Church
Few things Jesus said about religious titles have sparked as much discussion as these words:
“Do not call anyone on earth your father, because you have one Father, who is in heaven.”
— Matthew 23:9 CSB
Some believers think the meaning is clear:
Christians should never call a spiritual leader “Father.”
Others note that Scripture uses the word ‘father’ for both biological fathers and spiritual relationships.
Paul called himself a father to believers.
Stephen spoke of “brothers and fathers.”
John repeatedly called believers his “little children.”
So what was Jesus actually forbidding?
Was Jesus setting a rule that certain words should never be used?
Or was he addressing a deeper issue among the religious leaders of his time?
To answer this well, we need to look at Matthew 23:9 in the context of the whole chapter.
We need to consider everything Jesus said in this passage.
When we do, we see that his warning goes far beyond just using the word ‘Father’ as a title.
Jesus was challenging a religious culture focused on status, recognition, hierarchy, and spiritual superiority.
This warning applies to every generation of the Church.
Start With the Context
Matthew 23 begins with Jesus addressing the crowds and His disciples concerning the scribes and Pharisees.
Jesus said:
“The scribes and the Pharisees are seated in the chair of Moses. Therefore do whatever they tell you, and observe it. But don’t do what they do, because they don’t practice what they teach.”
— Matthew 23:2–3 CSB
Pay attention to this key point.
Jesus recognized their position while confronting their character.
That alone teaches us something about biblical authority.
A position can be valid even if the person in it acts wrongly.
Jesus did not value position by itself.
He cared if a person’s life matched what they taught.
Then He identified several problems.
They put heavy burdens on people.
They wanted their religious devotion noticed.
They wanted prominent positions.
They wanted public recognition.
And they loved prestigious religious titles.
Jesus said:
“They do everything to be seen by others.”
— Matthew 23:5 CSB
That sentence helps interpret everything that follows.
The issue is not merely vocabulary.
The issue is religious self-exaltation.
They Loved Being Recognized
Jesus continued:
“They love the place of honor at banquets, the front seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by people.”
— Matthew 23:6–7 CSB
Notice the repeated emphasis.
They loved the place of honor.
They loved the front seats.
They loved the public greetings.
They loved being called Rabbi.
There is something appealing about being seen as spiritually important.
This is the setting for Jesus’ next words.
“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ because you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters.”
— Matthew 23:8 CSB
Then:
“Do not call anyone on earth your father, because you have one Father, who is in heaven.”
— Matthew 23:9 CSB
And then:
“You are not to be called instructors either, because you have one Instructor, the Messiah.”
— Matthew 23:10 CSB
We should not separate verse 9 from verses 8 and 10.
Jesus mentions three categories:
Teacher.
Father.
Instructor.
Then he makes a bold statement:
“You are all brothers and sisters.”
This is the main point of the passage.
Jesus Was Dismantling Spiritual Elitism
Jesus wasn’t denying leadership.
He Himself appointed apostles.
The New Testament later recognizes elders, overseers, deacons, pastors, teachers, prophets, and evangelists.
The Church clearly has leadership.
But leadership does not make anyone a better Christian than others.
Before God, we all stand as equals.
Pastors need the same blood of Jesus as everyone else.
Prophets need the same grace.
Bishops need the same Savior.
Teachers need the same Holy Spirit.
Apostles need the same forgiveness.
Both the preacher and the person in the last row enter God’s Kingdom through Christ.
They may have different roles, but everyone has the same access to God.
That’s why Jesus says:
“You are all brothers and sisters.”
The Kingdom has leadership.
But in God’s Kingdom, no one takes the Father’s place or becomes a spiritual celebrity.
But Didn’t Paul Call Himself a Father?
Here, we need to let Scripture explain itself.
Paul told the Corinthians:
“For you may have countless instructors in Christ, but you don’t have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”
— 1 Corinthians 4:15 CSB
That’s significant.
If Jesus meant that ‘father’ could never describe a spiritual relationship, then Paul would seem to go against Jesus’ teaching.
But Paul was not asking the Corinthians to call him ‘Father Paul’ as a title.
He is describing his relationship to them.
He had brought the Gospel to them.
He had cared for them.
He had invested in their spiritual development.
He was speaking in family terms.
Paul similarly told Timothy:
“To Timothy, my true son in the faith.”
— 1 Timothy 1:2 CSB
If Timothy could be called Paul’s son in the faith, then Paul could also be seen as a spiritual father.
The relationship isn’t the problem.
The problem is putting someone on a pedestal.
Scripture Uses “Father” in Several Ways
The Bible clearly uses ‘father’ for biological fathers.
The fifth commandment says:
“Honor your father and your mother.”
— Exodus 20:12 CSB
Jesus Himself quoted this command.
So Matthew 23:9 cannot mean Christians are forbidden from saying, “That’s my father.”
Scripture also uses father-language historically.
Stephen addressed Israel’s leaders:
“Brothers and fathers, listen.”
— Acts 7:2 CSB
Paul similarly addressed a crowd:
“Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.”
— Acts 22:1 CSB
Clearly, the word itself is not wrong.
Jesus was challenging people who used their religious status to lift themselves above others.
The Real Danger: Replacing God’s Position
Jesus’ warning includes another important point.
He says:
“You have one Father, who is in heaven.”
This protects something very important.
No spiritual leader should take God’s place.
A pastor can guide you.
A teacher can instruct you.
A mentor can counsel you.
A mature believer can disciple you.
Someone may even function like a spiritual father or mother in your life.
But no one else stands between you and God.
Paul writes:
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and humanity, the man Christ Jesus.”
— 1 Timothy 2:5 CSB
That position belongs to Jesus alone.
This is where spiritual leadership can go wrong.
When someone begins implying:
“You need me to hear God.”
“You cannot fulfill your calling without my approval.”
“You cannot leave my spiritual covering.”
“God speaks to you through me.”
“Your blessing depends upon your connection to me.”
At that point, we have left healthy discipleship behind.
A godly leader helps people depend more deeply upon Jesus.
An unhealthy leader makes people depend more and more on the leader.
That difference is important.
Spiritual Fathers Can Exist Without Becoming Spiritual Lords
Some believers have genuinely played father-like roles in people’s lives.
They discipled them.
Encouraged them.
Corrected them.
Prayed for them.
Helped them mature.
Celebrated their victories.
Walked with them through failures.
That kind of relationship is special.
Paul modeled it.
But Paul never asked for blind loyalty.
In fact, he told believers:
“Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.”
— 1 Corinthians 11:1 CSB
Notice the condition Paul gives, as I am following Jesus.
Paul was not the goal.
Christ was the goal.
Healthy spiritual leadership always points people to Jesus, not to itself.
Another reason to be careful about reading Matthew 23 as a total ban on certain words is that Jesus says:
“You have one Teacher.”
Yet Ephesians says:
“And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers.”
— Ephesians 4:11 CSB
God clearly gives teachers to the Church.
So Jesus was not saying that no one could ever teach; he was showing who the true source of authority is.
Christ is our supreme Teacher.
Human teachers serve under Christ’s authority.
The same idea helps us understand how ‘father’ is used.
God is our ultimate Father.
Any earthly or spiritual fatherhood is under God’s authority and can never take His place.
Be Careful When Titles Demand Allegiance
Changing words alone does not solve the problem.
Someone could refuse every religious title and still become controlling.
Another person could be respectfully called “Pastor” without ever seeking status.
What matters most is the heart.
But sometimes, titles show what is really going on inside.
We should become concerned whenever a spiritual title begins demanding:
special treatment,
automatic obedience,
unquestioned loyalty,
financial privilege,
exclusive access,
personal allegiance,
or immunity from correction.
Jesus did not create a group of untouchable religious leaders.
He called for leaders who serve others.
“You Are All Brothers and Sisters”
Perhaps the most overlooked statement in this entire passage is Matthew 23:8:
“You are all brothers and sisters.”
Take a moment to reflect on that.
The person preaching is your brother.
The person leading worship is your sister.
The elder is your brother.
The missionary is your sister.
The evangelist is your brother.
The prophet is your sister.
They might have different responsibilities.
They might have different gifts.
They might have real authority within the right biblical limits.
But they are still part of the same family.
No title can change that.
The Greatest Still Serves
Jesus finishes this section by saying:
“The greatest among you will be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
— Matthew 23:11–12 CSB
This is how leadership is measured in God’s Kingdom. Not:
How impressive is your title?
But:
How faithfully do you serve?
Not:
How many people recognize your authority?
But:
How closely do you resemble Jesus?
Not:
How important is your position?
But:
How willing are you to take the lowest position?
Some people in the Church have no title at all but show great spiritual maturity. Others may have impressive titles, but their character does not match their position. Jesus tells us where greatness is found.
Serving others.
So Should We Call Someone “Father”?
Christians will continue to disagree about whether “Father” should be used as a formal religious title.
Some believers avoid it completely because they believe Matthew 23 requires that conclusion.
Others understand Jesus’ words primarily as a prohibition against spiritual status and recognize biblical uses of father-language.
We should be careful not to judge faithful believers on either side of this issue.
But one thing should be clear:
No spiritual leader should ever occupy the place in someone’s life that belongs to God alone.
Someone can mentor you without owning you.
Someone can disciple you without controlling you.
Someone can correct you without becoming your mediator.
Someone can function like a spiritual father without replacing your heavenly Father.
Every true spiritual leader should help you depend more on Jesus, not on themselves.
The goal of ministry isn’t to gather spiritual sons and daughters around ourselves.
The goal is to help God’s sons and daughters grow into maturity in Christ.
That is a big difference.
We can honor people without putting them on a pedestal.
We can accept leadership without giving up Christ’s authority in our lives.
We can value spiritual relationships without turning people into spiritual royalty.
Because Jesus has already told us who we truly are:
Brothers and sisters under one Father, following one Messiah.
Coming Next — Part 3
Pastor Is a Function Before It Is a Title
Is “Pastor” actually a biblical title?
We will examine the Greek word poimēn, the relationship between pastors, elders, and overseers, and something that may surprise many Christians:
The New Testament says far more about what a pastor does than what people should call one.
Thoughts from Pastor Toney 