Matthew 23 · Verse 9

Matthew 23:9

And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
Matthew 23:9, King James Version

Matthew 23:9 in other translations

BSBAnd do not call anyone on earth your father, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.
WEBCall no man on the earth your father, for one is your Father, he who is in heaven.
ASVAnd call no man your father on the earth: for one is your Father, even he who is in heaven.
YLTand ye may not call any your father on the earth, for one is your Father, who is in the heavens,
DARBYAnd call not any one your father upon the earth; for one is your Father, he who is in the heavens.
BBEAnd give no man the name of father on earth: because one is your Father, who is in heaven.
WebsterAnd call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father who is in heaven.

What does Matthew 23:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
9. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven, &c.--To construe these injunctions into a condemnation of every title by which Church rulers may be distinguished from the flock which they rule, is virtually to condemn that rule itself; and accordingly the same persons do both--but against the whole strain of the New Testament and sound Christian judgment. But when we have guarded ourselves against these extremes, let us see to it that we retain the full spirit of this warning against that itch for ecclesiastical superiority which has been the bane and the scandal of Christ's ministers in every age. (On the use of the word "Christ" here, see on Mt 1:1).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 9. And call no man your father, etc. This does not of course forbid us to apply the term to our real father. Religion requires all proper honour to be shown to him, Ex 20:12, Mt 15:4, Eph 6:1-3. But the word father also denotes authority, eminence, superiority, a right to command, and a claim to particular respect. In this sense it is used here. In this sense it belongs eminently to God, and it is not right to give it to men. Christian brethren are equal. God only has supreme authority. He only has a right to give laws, to declare doctrines to bind the conscience, to punish disobedience. The Jewish teachers affected that title because they seem to have supposed that a teacher formed the man, or gave him real life, and sought therefore to be called father. Christ taught them that the source of all life and truth was God; and they ought not to seek or receive a title which properly belongs to him.

(y) "your Father" Mt 6:9

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 Call no man your Father - Our Lord probably alludes to the Ab, or father of the Sanhedrin, who was the next after the nasi, or president. See on Mat 20:21 (note). By which he gives his disciples to understand that he would have no Second, after himself, established in his Church, of which he alone was the head; and that perfect equality must subsist among them.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 23:1-12

The scribes and Pharisees explained the law of Moses, and enforced obedience to it. They are charged with hypocrisy in religion. We can only judge according to outward appearance; but God searches the heart. They made phylacteries. These were scrolls of paper or parchment, wherein were written four paragraphs of the law, to be worn on their foreheads and left arms, Ex 13:2-10; 13:11-16; De 6:4-9; 11:13-21. They made…

Read the full comment on Matthew 23:1-12 →

Matthew 23:9 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΚαὶKaiAndG2532
πατέραpaterafatherG3962
μὴmēno [one]G3361
καλέσητεkalesētemay callG2564
ὑμῶνhumōnof youG4771
ἐπὶepionG1909
τῆςtēstheG3588
γῆς·gēsearth;G1093
εἷςheisOneG1520
γάρgarforG1063
ἐστινestinisG1510
ὑμῶνhumōnof youG4771
ὁhotheG3588
πατὴρpatērFatherG3962
ὁhowho [is]G3588
οὐράνιος.ouraniosin heaven.G3770

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 23:9

  • 1 John 3:1

    Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

  • Hebrews 12:9

    Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

  • Malachi 1:6

    A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the Lord of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?

  • Job 32:21-22

    Let me not, I pray you, accept any man’s person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man. For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away.

  • Romans 8:14-17

    For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

  • Matthew 7:11

    If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

  • Matthew 6:8-9

    Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

  • 1 Timothy 5:1-2

    Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.

  • 1 Corinthians 4:15

    For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

  • Acts 22:1

    Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.

  • 2 Kings 2:12

    And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.

  • 2 Corinthians 6:18

    And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
call.
2Ki 2:12; 6:21; 13:14; Job 32:21,22; Ac 22:1; 1Co 4:15; 1Ti 5:1,2
Heb 12:9
for.
6:8,9,32; Mal 1:6; Ro 8:14-17; 2Co 6:18; 1Jo 3:1

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 23:8

    But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

  • Matthew 23:9

    And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

  • Matthew 23:10

    Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.

Read all of Matthew 23

Matthew 23:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y vuestro padre no llaméis á nadie en la tierra; porque uno es vuestro Padre, el cual está en los cielos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et n’appelez personne sur la terre votre père; car un seul est votre père, celui qui est dans les cieux.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ihr sollt auch nicht jemand auf der Erde euren Vater nennen; denn einer ist euer Vater, der in den Himmeln ist.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et patrem nolite vocare vobis super terram: unus est enim pater vester qui in cælis est.