Do not call anyone father

[gideon007]

I think that verse is referring to spiritual authority. Let God be your true teacher, master, father and not man.

It's totally okay to call your dad father.

exactly! Jesus is talking about [heavenly] spiritual things/ authority...

For instance,

roman catholics call their priest - Father; their pope - Holy Father...

aren't the priest teaching spiritual things [hypocrites]? Yes they are.
aren't the pope teaching spiritual things [hypocrites]? Yes he is.

If you are a [Born Again] Christian you know about this 'cause you are born of spirit and not by 'human flesh and you know your father is in Heaven... so don't call any one 'father' here on earth if it concern on spiritual things

 

[JaumeJ]

exactly! Jesus is talking about [heavenly] spiritual things/ authority...

For instance,

roman catholics call their priest - Father; their pope - Holy Father...

aren't the priest teaching spiritual things [hypocrites]? Yes they are.
aren't the pope teaching spiritual things [hypocrites]? Yes he is.

If you are a [Born Again] Christian you know about this 'cause you are born of spirit and not by 'human flesh and you know your father is in Heaven... so don't call any one 'father' here on earth if it concern on spiritual things

When Yahweh's Spirit entered into me, I was passing on knowledge I had not yet read because of the glorious infilling of the Holy Spirit, however the Holy Spirit is given how it is given to each according to each's need at the time.
There is always much to be taught and to study, even after having received the Holy Spirit. Now, this most likely was not true for the great prophets of Yahweh, God, but there are none of those special folks around today, not as the prophets of yore. Any believer prophesies, however it is not the same as Moses, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Zecharia, Danial, Job, and the rest. Please, allow for spirit-filled family to learn in peace. This I say to you as one student of the Word to another, in the name of our Lord, Jesus, Yeshua, amen.
Yes, I believe too that Jesus was talking of spiritual matters in this teaching. Do you know of any believer who will not honor his given father in this age by calling him his father? Neither do I...........

 

[gideon007]

Yes, I believe too that Jesus was talking of spiritual matters in this teaching. Do you know of any believer who will not honor his given father in this age by calling him his father? Neither do I...........

concerning biological [human flesh] father, yes it was God's commandment to owner thy father and mother by addressing them father or dad [this is just one on how to honor]

Neither do i know any true "believer" dishonoring his father.


i just don't understand what you mean by "allow for spirit-filled family to learn in peace" [is this for me, if it is], why? did i post something offensive or what?

 

[JaumeJ]

If you are a [Born Again] Christian you know about this 'cause you are born of spirit and not by 'human flesh and you know your father is in Heaven... so don't call any one 'father' here on earth if it concern on spiritual things

We all need to study and show ourselves approved, and some teach, such as you have demonstrated.

 

[Mark51]

Applying “father” to men as a formalistic or religious title was forbidden by Jesus. (Matthew 23:9) Because of Paul’s bringing the good news to certain Christians and nourishing them spiritually he was like a father to them, but in no scripture is “father” applied to him as a religious title. (1Corinthians 4:14,　15) Paul likened himself to both a father and a mother in his relation to the Thessalonian Christians. (1Thessalians 2:7,　11) Whereas reference is made at Luke 16:24,　30 to “father Abraham,” this is basically in the sense of fleshly ancestry.

Please read and note the context of Matthew 23:1-12. Jesus begins speaking about the Pharisees, who were a prominent sect of Judaism. They were legalists, sticklers for observance of every detail of the Mosaic Law. They liked to dress and act in such a way as to call attention to themselves. Their religion was one of ostentation-their style of clothing, their principal places at meals, their front seats in the synagogues, and their titles of honor. They even claimed greater respect than that which was given parents. They wanted to be called father. However, Jesus shows that all his followers are equal as God’s children. Any title that suggests the opposite is a haughty usurpation of something that belongs to God. Thus, Jesus forbids the use of the word “father” as a title of honor in a religious sense.

True Christians today avoid using flattering religious titles, and they avoid the practice of setting men on ecclesiastical pedestals.

 

[onlinebuddy]

The word "father" can be transliterated from the Greek masculine noun as "Pater." meaning physical or natural ancestor or natural father.
However, the context here is not about the usage of the word "father" per se, but about not honoring men and placing them on a pedestal just as the Pharisees wanted men to do.

It is obvious that he was speaking against the haughtiness of the Pharisees, because in the following verses he goes on to deliver his strongest rebuke to the Pharisees.

The message or the point that Jesus was making can be found in verses 11 and 12:
11"But the greatest among you shall be your servant.
12"Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled ; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.

So, Jesus was not referring to any word usage but was addressing a heart issue: Pride

 

[TheAristocat]

check out:
Can we call anyone "father" besides God, including our parents? | Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry

Very interesting. This makes a lot more sense. Thank you.

 

[oracle2world]

I think it means do not call anyone on earth "Father", as in God the Father. I think calling your dad father is okay. Referring to your dad as father is so firmly engrained in English that no one mistakes it for Our Father in Heaven.

Translation between languages always creates some difficulties. Should it be literal? Or should some words be changed to convey the same intent. For example here is the comparison between a literal translation of "Silent Night" from German into English, and the most common English translation used:

Silent night, holy night
All is sleeping, alone watches
Only the close, most holy couple.
Blessed boy in curly hair ...

Silent night, holy night
All is calm all is bright
'Round yon virgin Mother and Child
Holy infant so tender and mild ...


Languages also metamorphose over time. For example, the Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer was written in Middle English, and almost reads like a foreign language nowadays. Even the Lord's Prayer has English constructs we do not use today: "art in Heaven", "be thy name", etc. In English we distinguish Father from father, but in German all the nouns are capitalized.

I believe many of the issues raised in study of scripture, center more around translation rather than the meaning being conveyed. Just my opinion.

So back to your original question, take:

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

and capitalize two letters and you end up with:

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

Since "Father" is often used interchangably with "God" (in English), you end up with:

And do not call anyone on earth God, for you have one God, and He is in heaven.

At this point the meaning of the verse is very clear.

 

[metanoia]

This is hyperbole. You should be familiar with the style, because Jesus loved to use it: cut off your hand, camel and needle, hate your father and mother, I come to bring a sword, etc.

So what is Jesus talking about? He is using hyperbole to criticize the Jewish authorities who cared more about their prestige than the salvation of their charges. If he was banning a word from our vocabulary, the language of spiritual fatherhood would not have been so prevalent in the NT letters and in early Church history.