Why does Jesus tell people not to call anyone "father" (Matthew 23:9), yet the Bible refers to Abraham as "our father" (Romans 4:16)?

Background and Context

Matthew 23 presents a series of warnings spoken by Jesus against the Pharisees and scribes. In this discourse, Jesus cautions His listeners regarding excessive honorific titles and hypocritical religious leadership. One of His directives reads: “And do not call anyone on earth your father, for you have one Father, who is in heaven” (Matthew 23:9).

Yet elsewhere, Scripture itself uses “father” in various respects, most notably describing Abraham as “our father” (Romans 4:16). This entry explores why Jesus would forbid calling anyone “father,” while the Apostle Paul would call Abraham “our father.”

Immediate Context of Matthew 23

Matthew 23 records Jesus’s critique of religious leaders who loved prestige and titles, acting with spiritual arrogance (Matthew 23:5–7). In verse 9, He admonishes: “Do not call anyone on earth your father.”

The broader context (Matthew 23:1–12) focuses on warning against elevating human leaders to a place of divine authority. Jesus underscores that God alone has ultimate primacy. In essence, He rebukes the scribes and Pharisees for usurping honor that belongs only to God.

Meaning of “Father” in Scripture

1. Biological or Ancestor Reference

Scripture often employs “father” to describe biological parentage (e.g., “Honor your father and mother,” Exodus 20:12), as well as to identify ancestry (e.g., “Your father Abraham rejoiced,” John 8:56). Such usage is not prohibited.

2. Spiritual Fatherhood

In some passages, believers reference spiritual mentors or lineage. For example, Paul describes himself in a fatherly role: “For in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel” (1 Corinthians 4:15). This is metaphorical. The context aims to clarify spiritual guidance rather than replacing God’s ultimate fatherhood.

3. Honorary Titles

In Matthew 23:9, the Lord rebukes the assumption of a religious title implying a source of spiritual authority that belongs to God alone. The instruction was aimed at preventing the faithful from inserting a human being in the place of God.

Why Jesus’s Command Does Not Contradict Scripture

1. Nature of Jesus’s Prohibition

Jesus targets the pride and self-importance of leaders who sought worldly admiration by adopting lofty titles. The parallel verses highlight the overarching principle: “Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Christ” (Matthew 23:10). The prohibition is set against the backdrop of human tradition elevating religious leaders to divine status.

2. Legitimate Use of “Father”

Calling Abraham “our father” (Romans 4:16) reflects a genealogical and faith-based connection. It does not replace the authority or fatherhood of God; instead, it illustrates how believers inherit the promises given to Abraham. This is not an honorific designed to elevate Abraham to a divine plane but a recognition of God’s faithfulness in history.

3. Consistent Scriptural Principle

Jesus’s teaching aligns with the entire biblical narrative, which repeatedly exalts God as the sole worthy recipient of ultimate reverence and authority. Scriptures that reference human “fathers” do so in the context of lineage, basic respect, or mentorship—a categorically distinct context from the worshipful or adoring sense Jesus condemns.

Comparison with “Our Father Abraham”

1. Romans 4:16 Citation

Paul states, “Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring … He is the father of us all” (Romans 4:16). The intent is to highlight Abraham as the prototype of faith: those who believe partake in the same promise God gave him (Genesis 15:6).

2. Faith Lineage vs. Spiritual Divinity

When believers or the apostle Paul call Abraham “father,” the reference is to a lineage of faith. It does not assign a divine or worshipful position to Abraham. Instead, it illustrates membership in the family of faith.

3. Consistent Use in Scripture

Isaiah 51:2 also points believers back to Abraham, saying, “Look to Abraham your father and Sarah who bore you.” Here, “father” is a relational-patriarchal term, demonstrating continuity with God’s covenant, yet without equating Abraham’s status with God’s.

Principles for Understanding Jesus’s Teaching

1. Rejecting Prideful Titles

Within Matthew 23, Jesus condemns reliance on elevated titles that undermine God’s role as the supreme authority. Titles such as “father” or “teacher,” when used to exalt human leaders in a prideful or spiritually manipulative way, violate the intent of Christ’s warning.

2. Holistic Reading of Scripture

By reading Matthew 23 alongside other passages (e.g., Romans 4, 1 Corinthians 4), one sees that referencing “fathers” in the sense of ancestry, mentorship, or historical faith legacy is appropriate. The wrong arises when titles are adopted to place a person in the position of God or portray them as having powers or authority only God exercises.

3. Proper Reverence and Honor

Christians are instructed: “Honor your father and mother” (Ephesians 6:2). This remains valid and in no way contradicts Jesus’s teaching. The command to honor earthly parents connects to family structure, whereas the Fatherly position Jesus forbid attributing to others in Matthew 23 involves a unique spiritual authority that belongs to God alone.

Conclusion

Jesus’s directive in Matthew 23:9 speaks against granting spiritual authority or reverence to human beings in a way that usurps the Fatherhood of God. Meanwhile, calling Abraham “our father” (Romans 4:16) remains biblically consistent, as it recognizes Abraham’s position as the ancestral figure of faith rather than conferring upon him the supreme authority held by God. The context of both passages clarifies that one may use “father” for ancestral, biological, or familial references without violating Christ’s command.

Ultimately, it is the heart posture that matters: believers must ensure all honor and glory belong to God, the one true Father, while still acknowledging appropriate relationships within family and the community of faith.