What does the Bible mean when it says “call no man father”? Should we obey this Scripture?
“And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven” (Matt. 23:9). One of the obvious conclusions people come to when they read this verse is that we can’t call anyone on earth father.
Let me show you why I don’t agree with this interpretation of the above verse. Jesus, along with others in the New Testament, refers to earthly parents as fathers and mothers. All of the New Testament is the Word of God.
If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
(Luke 14:26)I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
(1 John 2:14)Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise….
(Eph. 6:1-2)
God himself calls our parents fathers and mothers in the Ten Commandments. We have to make a distinction between our earthly fathers and our heavenly Father. We must see our heavenly Father as our spiritual Father and not a man.
“What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God” (Rom. 4:1-2).
We have fathers according to the flesh and can call them that. Jesus had to be referring to us not calling or looking to an earthly person as our spiritual Father. We have just one spiritual Father – God almighty.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Joe Cameneti Sr. is the lead pastor of Believers Church, located in his hometown of Warren, Ohio. Pastor Joe, along with his wife Gina, pioneered Believers Church in 1983 following his graduation from Bible School.
In addition to leading a thriving local church, Pastor Joe is the host of a weekly show called "BCTV." The program is aired locally on WFMJ, the NBC affiliate, reaching thousands weekly.
Pastor Joe is a gifted communicator, skilled in the art of building bridges to unchurched America. Transparent and authentic, you'll walk away challenged and encouraged to connect with God in a deeper way.