Question on Matthew 23:9

[Athaleyah]

Mat 23:9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.

I may be being too literal, but this verse has made me wonder if I should call my earthly father "father." Was this referring to calling someone "father" like RCs call their priests? I notice that the previous verse mentions that the disciples are not to be called "rabbi." This is probably the answer, but I just want to be sure. I mean if I need to call my dad "hey you," I will.

Thanks.

 

[VirginiaHuguenot]

This passage is indeed referring to the practice of referring to someone as a "father" in a spiritual sense, as in making them lord of your conscience, rather than referring to the natural bonds of family relationships. So it condemns the RC practice, but not the way a child may refer to the male parent. Thus, it does not contradict the Fifth Commandment duty to honor your "father" and "mother," but relates more properly to the First Commandment (see Westminster Larger Catechism 105 which uses this verse as a proof text), or perhaps the Third.

William Gouge, Domestical Duties:

Section 5.5. Of a Child's Reverend Framing His Speech to His Parent.

A Child's Reverence in Speech is Manifested:

A child's reverence in well framing his speech to his parents may many ways be manifested, as—

By Reverend Titles

1. By giving unto them reverent and honourable titles. No title can be more honourable than that which is most proper and usual, father to the one parent, and mother to the other. God takes the title father unto himself, as a title of great dignity. [Jer 31:9; Gal 4:6]

Objection. This title is so proper to God, as We are to call none on earth father. [Matt 23:9]

Answer. This is not simply to be taken of the title itself, but of the mind of him that gives or affects that title.

It if be affected or given to obscure God's Fatherhood, or to make a man a Father of himself without dependence on God, or reference to him, who is properly the father of all, it is an impious and sacrilegious title. But otherwise lawful and warrantable.

In scripture the title father is given to all degrees of dignities among men, as to kings, [1 Sam 24:12] captains, and other chief governors, [2 Kings 5:13] to priests, [Judg 18:19] prophets, [2 Kings 6:21] apostles, [1 Cor 4:15] and other ministers. [1 Tim 5:1] In the fifth commandment all superiors are comprized under it, therefore father is a title of great honor: and by the rule of relation mother is a title of as great honor to the female sex. Religious and dutiful children have ever used to give these titles to their parents. My father says Isaac to Abraham, [Gen 22:7] Jacob to Isaac, [Gen 27:18] My mother, says Solomon to Bathsheba. [1 Kings 2:20] I find also the title of sir or lord used: [Matt 21:30] a title of honor.

 

[Leslie]

This is an interesting question and one that has bugged me for a long time. In a community about 10 miles away, there is a Catholic mission, with several priests. I had a passing friendship of sorts with one of these guys--a flamboyant Ethiopian who was into eastern mysticism. He and I had a running battle for several years with his wanting me to refer to him as "Abba" (father in Amharic which is a Semitic language) and my refusing to do so because of this passage. Now he's gone and the feud came up once again with his successor who introduced himself to me as "Abba" and I choked on it. Is this a battle worth pursuing?

 

[kalawine]

This passage is indeed referring to the practice of referring to someone as a "father" in a spiritual sense, as in making them lord of your conscience, rather than referring to the natural bonds of family relationships. So it condemns the RC practice, but not the way a child may refer to the male parent. Thus, it does not contradict the Fifth Commandment duty to honor your "father" and "mother," but relates more properly to the First Commandment (see Westminster Larger Catechism 105 which uses this verse as a proof text), or perhaps the Third.

William Gouge, Domestical Duties:

Section 5.5. Of a Child's Reverend Framing His Speech to His Parent.

A Child's Reverence in Speech is Manifested:

A child's reverence in well framing his speech to his parents may many ways be manifested, as—

By Reverend Titles

1. By giving unto them reverent and honourable titles. No title can be more honourable than that which is most proper and usual, father to the one parent, and mother to the other. God takes the title father unto himself, as a title of great dignity. [Jer 31:9; Gal 4:6]

Objection. This title is so proper to God, as We are to call none on earth father. [Matt 23:9]

Answer. This is not simply to be taken of the title itself, but of the mind of him that gives or affects that title.

It if be affected or given to obscure God's Fatherhood, or to make a man a Father of himself without dependence on God, or reference to him, who is properly the father of all, it is an impious and sacrilegious title. But otherwise lawful and warrantable.

In scripture the title father is given to all degrees of dignities among men, as to kings, [1 Sam 24:12] captains, and other chief governors, [2 Kings 5:13] to priests, [Judg 18:19] prophets, [2 Kings 6:21] apostles, [1 Cor 4:15] and other ministers. [1 Tim 5:1] In the fifth commandment all superiors are comprized under it, therefore father is a title of great honor: and by the rule of relation mother is a title of as great honor to the female sex. Religious and dutiful children have ever used to give these titles to their parents. My father says Isaac to Abraham, [Gen 22:7] Jacob to Isaac, [Gen 27:18] My mother, says Solomon to Bathsheba. [1 Kings 2:20] I find also the title of sir or lord used: [Matt 21:30] a title of honor.

 

[Athaleyah]

Thanks for the responses! That's one nagging question I can mark off my list.