And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, who is in heaven.
All Commentaries on Matthew 23:9 Go To Matthew 23
George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
Call none your father . Neither be ye called masters The meaning is, that our Father in heaven is incomparably more to be regarded, than any father upon earth: and no master is to be followed, who would lead us away from Christ. But this does not hinder but that we are by the law of God to have a due respect both for our parents and spiritual fathers, (1 Corinthians iv. 15,) and for our masters and teachers. (Challoner)
This name was a title of dignity: the presidents of the assembly of twenty-three judges where so called; the second judge of the sanhedrim (Bible de Vence)
Nothing is here forbidden but the contentious divisions, and self-assumed authority, of such as make themselves leaders and favourers of schisms and sects; as Donatus, Arius, Luther, Calvin, and innumerable others of very modern date. But by no means the title of father, attributed by the faith, piety, and confidence of good people, to their directors; for, St. Paul tells the Corinthians, that he is their only spiritual Father: If you have 10,000 instructors in Christ, yet not many Fathers. (1 Corinthians iv. 15.)
