Why are priest called "Father?"

[Randy_Carson]

While reading my devotions today, I read from Matthew 23. In verse 9 it says “Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.” Priests have the “title” of “father.” Why is that?

Just curious.

Call No Man Your Father

Matthew 23:8-10
8"But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ (Gr. rabbi) for you have only one Master (Gr. didaskalos, kathegetes) and you are all brothers. 9And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ (Gr. patera) for you have one Father (Gr. pater), and he is in heaven. 10Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ (Gr. kathegetai) for you have one Teacher (Gr. kathegetes), the Christ.” (NIV)

Matthew 23:8-10
8”But be not ye called Rabbi (Gr. rabbi): for one is your Master (Gr. didaskalos, kathegetes), even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9And call no man your father (Gr. patera) upon the earth: for one is your Father (Gr. pater), which is in heaven. 10Neither be ye called masters (Gr. kathegetai) : for one is your Master (Gr. kathegetes), even Christ.” (KJV)

Based on the preceding passage, many non-Catholics claim that the Catholic Church violates the scriptural prohibition against calling anyone “father” since its priests are commonly called “father” and the pope is referred to as the “Holy Father.” Is this really what the Bible teaches? Let’s take a closer look at other verses to see whether this is really what the Bible tells us.

Jesus Violates This Command

Luke 16:24
24So he called to him, “Father (Gr. pater) Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.”

Jesus tells a parable in which He has one of the characters speak to “Father Abraham” which would obviously be a bad example for His audience. Does Jesus contradict Himself?

Paul Violates This Command

Romans 4:1-18
1What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter?

In this passage, Paul refers to Abraham as a spiritual father eight times. This is a terrible precedent to establish if Jesus has prohibited us from using the term “father.”

1 Corinthians 4:14-15
14I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children. 15Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers (Gr. pateras), for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.

In this passage, Paul refers to himself as the spiritual father of the Corinthians. This is a terrible precedent to establish if Jesus has prohibited us from using the term “father.”

Ephesians 4:11-13
11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers (Gr. didaskalovs), 12to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, says that God has established some people as “teachers” in the Church; this appears to be a direct violation of Jesus’ prohibition against calling anyone “teacher”. Does God contradict Himself?

James Violates This Command

James 3:1
1Not many of you should presume to be teachers (Gr. didaskaloi), my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

James, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, says that not many believers should presume to be “teachers.” This implies that a few (though not many) should and would rightfully have that position. Does God contradict Himself?

James 2:21
21Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

James, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, refers to the spiritual fatherhood of Abraham. This is a terrible precedent to establish if Jesus has prohibited us from using the term “father.”

Stephen Violates This Command

Acts 7:2
2To this he replied: "Brothers and fathers, listen to me!

 

[MartinJordan]

Jesus called Abraham “Father Abraham”. Case closed.

MJ

 

[jlhargus]

I left the Catholic Church in my late teens when I accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, that He paid the penalty for my sins. Yes, pretty much what many Catholics believe, but it was then when it became real to me. Before that it was rituals without relationship. I started reading the Bible on my own and was told that was not right and I should just listen to the priest and Pope, etc. I have since met many Catholics who I believe do have a real relationship with Jesus and do (as I was told was wrong, read the Bible on their own.) I do question the doctrine of Mary being without sin, the doctrine of purgatory as well as a few other Catholic doctrines that I do not believe line up with Scripture.

All Catholic doctrine line up with scripture if you give me the faith group I could point out where some of their teachings not only don’t line up with scripture but actually contradict scripture, such as faith alone, bible alone. I will give you what I have on Mary and then on purgatory. I am going away Friday so may not pot purgatory till Monday.

 

[jlhargus]

[Lk1:48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, **from henceforth ALL generations shall call me blessed. 49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.] Catholic’s, thru all generations, have called Mary blessed because of the great things, plural,]

Mary Ark of the Covenant: [2Maccabees2:4 It was also contained in the same writing, how the prophet, being warned by God, commanded that the tabernacle and the ark should accompany him, till he came forth to the mountain " where Moses went up, and saw the inheritance of God. 5 And when Jeremias came thither he found a hollow cave: and he carried in thither the tabernacle, and the ark, and the altar of incense, and so stopped the door. 6 Then some of them that followed him, came up to mark the place: but they could not find it. 7 And when Jeremias perceived it, he blamed them, saying: **The place shall be unknown, till God gather together the congregation of the people, and receive them to mercy. 8 And then the Lord will shew these things, and the majesty of the Lord shall appear, and there shall be a cloud as it was also shewed to Moses, "and he shewed it when Solomon prayed that the place might be sanctified to the great God.] DRA Bible, public domain, biblegateway.com. All other scriptures used are KJV, public domain bible gateway.com.

It is Christ who came to gather His people unto mercy, fulfilling the Law. The cloud of glory is the Holy Spirit, which overshadowed Mary the ark. Just as the glory of the Lord in Moses’ time, overshadowing the tabernacle, and Solomon’s time when dedicating the temple.

[Hb9:3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; 4 Which had the golden censer, and **the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;]

Mary the ark of the new covenant, not made by hands, contained in her womb. The real manna, the living Bread of Life, Christ. The real High Priest, Christ, and the written tables, the real living Word of God, Christ. Not just symbols, as the ark made by hands contained, but the actual realities.

[EX 40:34 Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle 35 And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation because the cloud abode thereon and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle]

[LK 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God]

[CCC 2676 ……… the Lord your God is in your midst." Mary, in whom the Lord himself has just made his dwelling, is the daughter of Zion in person, the ark of the covenant, the place where the glory of the Lord dwells. She is “the dwelling of God . . . with men.” Full of grace, Mary is wholly given over to him who has come to dwell in her and whom she is about to give to the world. …….] The above is in the last part of the third paragraph of 2676 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, CCC. The following are parallel OT & NT scriptures. The scriptures are inspired so It isn’t likely it was only coincidence. The early Church fathers recognized the parallel.

[2 Sam6:2 **And David arose and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah to bring up from thence the ark of God whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims]

[LK 1:39 **And Mary arose in those days **and went **into the hill country with haste into a city of Juda]

[2 SAM 6:9 **And David was afraid of the LORD that day and said How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?]

[LK 1:30 And the angel said unto her **Fear not Mary for thou hast found favour with God]

[2 SAM 6:9 And David was afraid of the LORD that day and said **How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?]

[LK 1:43 And **whence is this to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?]

[2 SAM 6:16 And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David Michal Saul’s daughter looked through a window and saw king **David leaping and dancing before the LORD and she despised him in her heart]

[LK 1:44 For lo as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears **the babe leaped in my womb for joy]

[2 SAM 6:18 And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings **he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts]

[LK 1:45 And **blessed is she that believed for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord]

[2 SAM 6:11 **And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom and all his household]

[LK 1:40 And entered into **the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. 41-55 … 56 And Mary abode with her about three months and returned to her own house]

[Lk1:48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, **from henceforth ALL generations shall call me blessed. 49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.]

Catholic’s, thru all generations, have called Mary blessed because of the great things, plural, God has done to her. The following would be some of those great things God has done for Mary.

 

[jlhargus]

Immaculate Conception. [Gn 3:14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent Because thou hast done this thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: 15 And I will put **enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed it shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel]

God said, he would put enmity [hostility, opposition] between thee=Satan and the woman=Mary. Her seed (Christ) would be born after her. Yet God put enmity between Satan and Mary before Christ was born. Had Mary, at anytime, been under sin, even original sin, she would not have been at enmity with Satan but satan’s seed.

[Ex25:8 And let them **make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. 9 according to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it. 10 And they shall make an ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof. 11 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about.]

If the Lord commanded the ark of the old covenant, made by hands, to be made to perfect specifications and detail. Covered, inside and out, with pure gold so He might dwell among His people. How much more would he cover, in pure holiness, the body and soul of the living ark of the new covenant, not made by hands, with the purity of the Holy Spirit inside and out. The ark in which God himself would be made flesh and, bodily dwell, in order to meet with His people.

Believing in the Immaculate Conception is not a great leap of faith at all. We see John the Baptist was born without sin. Being sanctified, not at conception, but in his mother’s womb, probably at Mary’s salutation. [Lk1:41 And it came to pass, that, **when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:]

Luke Speaking of John the Baptist [Lk1:15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and **he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.]

The same God who sanctified and saved John the Baptist in the womb. Could certainly, just as easily, sanctify and save the mother of God, at conception. With God nothing is impossible. [Lk1:46 And Mary said, My soul doth **magnify the Lord, 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.]

For those who do not baptize infants, because they reject original sin, saying infants have no sin. How can you then object to Mary conceived without sin? If infants have no sin they must have been conceived without sin. For the OSAS, if infants have no sin and are saved, how can they lose their salvation when they sin knowing right from wrong?

 

[jlhargus]

Mary mother of God. Jesus is one person with two natures, the nature of God and the nature of man, they are united in the one person of Jesus, the Word=God made flesh=man. Theologians call this, union of two natures, the hypostatic union. Jesus is both God AND by this union of God and flesh (one person the God Man).

[John1:1 **In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. … 2-13 … 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.]

John tells us, the Word was with God and the Word was GOD and the Word became flesh. Now if the Word was God and that Word became flesh and Mary gave birth to that flesh of God. Then Mary is mother of God made man. Mary is not mother of the Father nor the Holy Spirit as they did not become man. Only the Son the Word=God became flesh=man. As God the Word has existed from all eternity, Mary is not the the Mother of the Word from all eternity. But Mary is mother of God, the Word=God made flesh=man in time.

[1Jn4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2 **Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.]

If Jesus was God, before he came in the flesh, then He is still God in the flesh=man. God didn’t just inhabit a body but God became flesh=man.

[1Cor2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for **had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.]

When you deny Mary as mother of God, you deny God became flesh. [2Jn1:7 Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge **Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.]

Perpetual Virgin. [Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel]

MT 1:23 Behold a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a son and they shall call his name Emmanuel which being interpreted is God with us

[Ezek 44:1 Then the man brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, the one facing east, and it was shut. 2 **The LORD said to me, This gate is to remain shut. It must not be opened; no one may enter through it. It is to remain shut because the LORD, the God of Israel, has entered through it.]

The Lord God has entered through Mary, the gate, no one is to enter thru that gate. Just as no one was to enter into the old Testament Ark of the Covenant. Because it was HOLY, where the presents of God met with His people. No one is to enter Mary, the Ark of the New Covenant. Because the Lord, the God of Israel, has entered thru her. The Fathers called Mary the gate of heaven and the ark of the covenant.

[Lk1:34 Then said Mary unto the angel How shall this be seeing I know not a man?]

Mary was espoused to Joseph, before the annunciation, it would be natural to expect to conceive and bare children especially for a Jewish woman. The Church has always seen this as Mary having a vow of virginity. Otherwise why would she ask the angel, “How shall this be seeing I know not Man”. Numbers 30 tells us Jewish women did at times make vows.

[Nbrs30:6 And if she had at all an husband when she vowed or uttered ought out of her lips wherewith she bound her soul 7 And her husband heard it and held his peace at her in the day that he heard it then her vows shall stand and her bonds wherewith she bound her soul shall stand 8 But if her husband disallowed her on the day that he heard it then he shall make her vow which she vowed, and that which she uttered with her lips wherewith she bound her soul of none effect: and the LORD shall forgive her]

[Hb9:3 And **after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; 4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;]

 

[jlhargus]

Assuption of Mary. [1Tm2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the **man Christ Jesus;]

[Rv12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a **woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:]

[1Tm2:5& Rv12:1, implies there are at least **two Human Beings bodily in heaven.] A human being is both body and soul (spirit). A body alone is a corps not a human being. A spirit or soul alone is a disembodied spirit and isn’t a human being.

[1Tm3:15 reveals a **man=human being body and soul Christ whom we know ascended body and soul into heaven. Rv12:1 reveals a woman=human being which would be body and soul. All other scriptures mention only spirits or souls of human beings in heaven.

[Rv6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the **souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:]

The following scriptures tell us of the souls (spirits) of human beings in heaven.

[Hb12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the **spirits of just men made perfect,]

Mary was assumed into heaven she didn’t ascend, as some mistakenly think. Only Christ ascended, of his own power into heaven. Mary being assumed, body and soul, by our Lord, into heaven is not unique. Scripture tells us Enoch and Elijah were taken bodily from the earth. Mary’s assumption is not explicit, but is implicit in scripture, just as the Trinity is implicit and not explicit.

[Rv11:19 And **the temple of God was opened in heaven and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament and there were lightnings and voices and thunderings and an earthquake and great hail. [Rv12:1 **And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: 2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.]

John first sees, in heaven, the ark then he describes it, as a woman clothed with the sun, moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars.]

Mary’s glorified body is described from head to feet, in heaven. We see, when the temple was opened in heaven, the woman, the Ark of the New Covenant, clothed with the sun, moon under her feet and a crown on her head. The Temple of God is the Church in heaven which is opened and John saw the Ark of the Covenant. After the lightnings, voices, thunder, earthquaks and hail. John saw a great wonder a woman. the woman of Gn3:15, Rev12:1 the one Christ always addresses as woman, Mary.

According to scripture Elijah and Enoch were taken up.

[2Kgs2:11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and **Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.]

[Hb11:5 **By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.]

[MT 27:50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 52 And the **graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.]

I find it hard to believe these saints, who were bodily raised after Christ’s resurrection, would not have been raised with glorified bodies. And assumed into heaven, when Christ ascended. Would the Lord have raised them only to send their bodies back to the grave to decay again? There is no evidence of them living, dying and being buried again.

 

[jlhargus]

Mary Queen Mother, Gebirah=Hebrew. [Is9:6 For **unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.]

[1Kgs1:32 And king David said, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king. 33 The king also said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon: 34 And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and blow ye with the trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon. 35 Then ye shall come up after him, that he may come and sit upon my throne; for he shall be king in my stead: and I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.]

[1Chron29:23 Then **Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him. 24 And all the princes, and the mighty men, and all the sons likewise of king David, submitted themselves unto Solomon the king.]

[1Kgs2:19 Bathsheba therefore went unto king Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah. And **the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king’s mother, and she sat on his right hand.] Soloman the son of David set a throne for his mother as did all those who were of the Davidic dynasty.

[Jer 52:1 **Zedikiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. his mother’s name was Hamutal, daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.]

[2 Kgs 21:1 **Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. his mother’s name was Hephzibah.]

[2 Kgs 8:26 Two and twenty years old was **Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Athaliah, the daughter of Omri king of Israel.]

[Jer 44:9 9 Have you forgotten the wickedness committed by your fathers and by **the kings and queens of Judah and the wickedness committed by you and your wives in the land of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem?]

[Jer 13:18 Say to **the king and to the queen mother, Come down from your thrones, for your glorious crowns will fall from your heads. 19 The cities in the Negev will be shut up, and there will be no one to open them. All Judah will be carried into exile, carried completely away.] see also 2Kings25:1-26.

 

[jlhargus]

Despite the wickedness of some of the kings and queens. Jeremiah calls both the king and queen mother’s crowns glorious. No prophet ever spoke against the office of Queen Mother.

Mk10:40 But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.

[1Kgs8:20 And the Lord hath performed his word that he spake, and **I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, and have built an house for the name of the Lord God of Israel. 21 And b]I have set there a place for the ark, wherein is the covenant of the LORD, which he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.] Christ the king and Son of David sets a place for the Ark, Mary. His mother, queen mother, in the new regenerated spiritual kingdom of David, spiritual Israel.

[Rev 11:19 And **the temple of God was opened in heaven and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament and there were lightnings and voices and thunderings and an earthquake and great hail. Rv12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven a woman clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet and upon her head a crown of twelve stars 2 And she being with child cried travailing in birth and pained to be delivered] The woman is a person=Mary, symbolic of the Church, Old and New Covenant people of God. Twelve stars, universal queen, queen of heaven and earth.

[Rv12:3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great **red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.] The red dragon is a person and symbolic of governments and orgainizations that persecute the Church throughout the ages.

[Rv12:5 And **she brought forth a man child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron and her child was caught up unto God and to his throne] To rule all nations, universal king, the child is a person=Christ. [Symbolic of all persons. JPII The Gospel of Life. Chapter 104.]

David didn’t elevate his mother, who was dead, to a throne. It was the son of David, King Solomon who did so. Solomon, the Son of David, instituted the office of queen mother. Solomon, the Son of David, who would build a house for the Lord (Temple). As God’s anointed king Soloman had complete authority to institute any office he saw fit for the kingdom. Christ, the Son of David, is now king who is building a habitation for God (Temple of living stones) and of His kingdom there will be no end.

If Mary’s son is the Son of David and King in David’s line. Then Mary is Gebirah=Queen Mother in the regenerated spiritual Kingdom of David, spiritual Israel.

[Lk1:31 And, behold, **thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the son of the highest: and **the the Lord God shall give unto him the throne, of his father David: 33 he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, his kingdom will have no end.] Jesus is King in the line of David, Mary is Queen Mother. Queen Mother was an office in the Davidic Kingdom, form Solomon, the son of David, till the last earthly king in David’s line.]

[1Kgs8:18 And** the LORD said unto David my father**, Whereas it was in thine heart to build an house unto my name, thou didst well that it was in thine heart. 19 Nevertheless thou shalt not build the house, but thy son that shall **come forth our of thy loins, he shall build the house unto my name.]

[2Sam 7:13 He shall build a house for my name and I will establish the throne of **his kingdom for ever]/b].]

Christ the Son of David is building an everlasting universal spiritual kingdom. Christ builds with living stones. Regenerating the old earthly Davidic kingdom of God into the new spiritual Israel.

[Mt19:27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? 28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.]

[Lk22:28 Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. 29 And ** I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; 30 That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 31 And the Lord said, Simon,Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.]

The kingdom, the Church, where we eat and drink at the Lord’s table, Mass. Peter is First Minister as he is given the keys to that kingdom. Peter, who’s faith Christ prayed would not fail is to strengthen his brethren and all the sheep and lambs, Jn21:15-17. That would be all the brethren including the other apostles. Peter is universal pastor and his faith is guaranteed by Christ. Christ the king, holds the keys by right, and delegates his authority, with those keys, to his First Minister, [Isa 22:19-22& Mt 16:13-19]. That Kingdom is for all people in all places and all times. Christ is universal, catholic, King and his mother is universal catholic, Gebirah=Queen Mother in the regenerated spiritual, universal=catholic, Davidic Kingdom.

 

[jlhargus]

Co-Redemtrics Mediatrix Advocate. In giving birth to Christ, all grace comes thorough her, because Christ the source of all grace came through her. Mary could have said no. Yet she said, behold the handmaid of the Lord let it be done to me according to thy word. Mary co-operated (co-redeemed) freely, willingly and fully, without self interest, submitting totally to God. All the people of God are co-redeemers, mediators, and advocates, thru witnessing, correcting, praying or offering our sufferings in union with Christ, for those who are in need of grace. When we suffer, witness, pray or live for Christ we co-redeem, mediate and advocate (co=with Christ redeem).

God uses Mary to touch all humanity thru her mediation of intercession thereby co-redeeming in union with Christ. Our co-redeeming touches maybe one or two or even thousands, depending on the person and the grace God gives to our co-redeeming acts. If we do nothing with our gift we may lose our own soul as the man who didn’t even get interest on the talent given him by the Lord, Mt 25:24-30. This does not take away from Christ the one redeemer, mediator and advocate. Christ shares his mediatorship and all he has, and is, with his people. He shares his priesthood, kingship and being prophet with all his people. Christ makes us a royal priesthood, kings and prophets sending us to be witnesses thereby co=with Christ redeemers.

Col 1:24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions ** for the sake of his body that is the church** Just as Paul we too uniting with Christ our sufferings, joys, prayers and works become co-redeemers with Christ. Christ’s afflictions lack nothing but he wants us to share in his work, which is our priestly duty.]

[Rm15:16 for my being a servant of Jesus Christ to the nations, **acting as priest in the good news of God, that the offering up of the nations may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.] YLT Bible, public domain, biblegateway.com

1COR3:9 For we are labourers together with God ye are God’s husbandry ye are God’s building

[3JN1:8 We therefore ought to receive such that we might be **fellowhelpers to the truth.]

[Jms 5:19 Brethren if any of you do err from the truth and one convert him 20 Let him know that **he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death and shall hide a multitude of sins.]

[1Tm4:15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. 16 Take heed unto thyself, **and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.]

Mary is unique, as the OT ark of the covenant was unique and honored because of the special presents of God. Mary alone among all the billions of human beings was chosen by God to conceive in her womb, God made flesh. Mother of God is only one of the great things God has done to her and the reason All generation will call her blessed.

[Lk1:48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, **from henceforth ALL generations shall call me blessed. 49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.] Catholic’s, thru all generations, have called Mary blessed because of the great things, plural,

Are you one of the generations that call her blessed? Or of the generations that call her dead and forgotten except at Christmas. What great things (plural) has God done to Mary, can you name any?

 

[signed_one]

They are our spiritual fathers.
Read 1 Cor.4:14-21
14 I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children. 15 Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17 For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.
18 Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. 20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. 21 What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline, or shall I come in love and with a gentle spirit?

Think about your spiritual father, who was it that led you to Jesus Christ? That’s your spiritual father, that’s what Paul is talking about.

Also perhaps you did not know this bit of knowledge…but, St. Paul was a Catholic Priest. Wow. That is beautiful!

Where do you get this from?

Acts 23:6
But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

 

[Randy_Carson]

Also perhaps you did not know this bit of knowledge…but, St. Paul was a Catholic Priest. Wow. That is beautiful!

Where do you get this from?

Acts 23:6
But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

Paul was an Apostle. That is not the same thing as being a priest.

 

[adamhovey1988]

While reading my devotions today, I read from Matthew 23. In verse 9 it says “Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.” Priests have the “title” of “father.” Why is that?

Just curious.

It also says not to call anyone “Rabbi” which means teacher (as does doctor)! So, I am curious. What do you call your physician or your educators?

 

[rinnie]

Agreed. In verse 10 it says 10 "Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ.11 “But the greatest among you shall be your servant.”
Perhaps that is why many Protestant churches call the head of their churches “pastor” which means herdsman or shepherd.

Just wondering, what do the Children in the congregation their Dad’s? Do they deny him the role of a Father?

 

[Isaiah45_9]

Matthew 23:8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren. 9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.[c] 10 Neither be called masters, for you have one master, the Christ.

How many people are called teachers as a title?

There is one teacher, is there not?

How many people call their biological and adoptive male parent - father?

There is one father, is there not?

How many titles have “Master” in them (Master of Ceremonies, Master’s degree, etc)?

There is one master, is there not?

So there has to be something we are missing that Jesus is trying to convey.

In Matthew 28, Jesus specifically orders the disciples to go and “teach” all that He has taught them. Making them, therefore, teachers.

Paul refers to himself as “father”, not only to Timothy but to congregations as well.

How about an Abbot in a monastery? Abbot is a reference to Abba (Father).

So the title of Father is to serve as a functional equivalent of what the One True Father of All Is, under His guidance.

It is no different than Pastor, which is used as a shepherd. Jesus is THE good shepherd. Not one of the good shepherd but THE good shepherd. Meaning all others are not good shepherds. Does that mean that the other “Pastors” are not the functional equivalent of what Christ commands? I don’t think so.

I think it is silly to nit pick words and not look at the bigger picture and the actual practice and history and context of what is being said. But that’s just me

 

[rcwitness]

But that’s just me

I disagree with this!

 

[KjetilK]

You might want to look at the incredibly huge Hispanic Catholic population which refers to its priests as “Padre”, which is the English equivalent of “Father”. What do you think “Pope” or “Papa” means in Italian?

And in Norway, Roman Catholic priests are often referred to as either Pater or Fader.