'Do Not Call Anyone on Earth Father'

Q: Matthew 23:9 specifically states that we are not to call any spiritual leader on earth Father, but there is a religious denomination, which claims to be Christian, that contradicts this teaching. How, then, should Christians address and relate to their Pastors and teachers? What does the Bible say?

A: By Pastor Ken Burisek,
The Ole Country Church, Medford, Wisconsin
Email:
kburisek@Jesusanswers.com

First of all, in order to properly address this question, we need to look at this verse within all the context surrounding it. Sometimes we Christians like to take a Bible verse out of context and bash it over the head of brothers and sisters in Christ who might look at things a little differently than we do.

This chapter is directed toward the Scribes and Pharisees of Jesus day. They were the reee-lig-ous high muckety mucks at the time. Lets see what Jesus had to say using the verse in its full context...

Matthew 23:1-14, Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to His disciples, saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on mens shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of the ...