Call No Man Father (Again)

[Fuerza]

I see a few people have already made the Doctor-Teacher connection. Someone may have already said this as well, but “mister”(Mr.) is merely a form of “master”.

 

[Michael_Francis]

Thanks to all who contributed to this thread.
It is now closed.

 

[Texan_in_DC]

Mt 23:8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.

He is obviously not speaking of our biological fathers but the very practice of the Catholic Church in giving a TITLE of Father.

Bowing down to the Pope (The “Holy Father”) is another thing and takes this whole thing to a new level.

Acts 10:25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.

I suppose that is a new thread.

Linkowski,

Take the entire chapter 23 into context and stop building your doctrine on one verse.

2 "The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses 3 Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,

This shows their authority given to them and they hold a special place in God’s plan “seat of Moses” which foreshadows something, hmm maybe the seat of Peter?

but do not follow their example

Linkowski, if Jesus is telling us that the scribes and Pharisees have a certain authority and we are to honor and uphold their teaching and at the back end of the same verse 3 says but do not follow their example, is this a contradiction?

Or is Jesus saying yes they have the authority and as lay people you must do what they say, but just dont follow their example of how they do it? I would say yes!

The rest of the chapter moves forward with the idea that these men that have been given the authoirty have taken it for granted, they have exalted themselves to this new level, and have been preaching the message but not doing the work, (talk the talk but dont walk the walk)

This is what Jesus is upset about, He feel that these Rabbi’s have taken their office or authoritve seat for granted. Although they remain (infallible) or correct in their teaching they are not themselves practicing it.

Jesus is is calling them (the Rabbi’s) out on this look at verse 6 - 8 very closely

"They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor, in synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and the salutation “Rabbi.” As for you (the appointed person or person in the authoritve position) do not be called “Rabbi.” You have but one teacher, and your all brothers. Call no one on earth your father, you have but one father in heaven.

Again Jesus is not condeming the usage of Rabbi, or Father but is saying look at yourself, look at your pride, stop holding yourself in such high regards, your authority is not for you to exalt yourself above the lay people, you are all brothers and each serve a special purpose (whether Pope, Bishop, Priest, or even a doctor or lawyer) we all serve a roll in God’s plan. By saying call no one on earth Father, Jesus is saying this in respect of this exatled state they felt they had, be humble.

Jesus is not saying that we cant call our priest fathers our of respect for their unique role. And its not required as you have suggested.

“He is obviously not speaking of our biological fathers but the very practice of the Catholic Church in giving a TITLE of Father.” Hmm now at this point in time the Catholic Church had not yet been put into play, this happens on Pentacost Sunday, which is funny because your baptist faith now claims that the early church was not Catholic, yet here you are saying that this is a direct statement to the Catholic Church? Now the roots of your faith do claim to be Catholic or from the early church, the ana baptist, or the “friends” from the waldeneese back goround yet they bring in and use and quote things from severl non christian and hertical groups.

Just as you stated that Jesus is not speaking about our biological fathers which you admit, he also is not speaking againts calling a rabbi a rabbi, a teacher a teach, a Preist a Preist,…or a Catholic Priest - father.

He was telling them to correct their sin of pride, and their assumed exalted state, he was telling them and in way even all of us, to remain humble.

One of the hardest things for all of us Linkowski is remaining humble, full of charity and love, because all of us, both you and me, feel very strongly and passionate about our faith and personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and even us, all of us seem to get pride in the way, you are here in this thread to be an apologetic of your faith and I am hear to defend my faith. We too must stay humble and not exalt ourselves over one another.