Call No Man Father
Have you ever heard the charge from non-Catholics that it is an unbiblical practice for us to refer to our priests, “Father” (Matt. 23:9)
What they don’t mention is that Jesus is using hyperbole (exaggeration) to make a point and does so many times in Scripture. In the verse that precedes this (Matt 23:8), Jesus tells us not to call people “Teachers”. Is Jesus telling us that we can’t call certain people "fathers" or “teachers” when they may actually be fathers or teachers? The answer is a resounding, “No.”
He is telling us that no man is to be considered father above our Father in heaven and no person is to be considered teacher above our Teacher in heaven.
Jesus was speaking about the Scribes and Pharisees who exalted themselves before all: “They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation 'Rabbi.”(Matt 23:6-7)
Consider the following passages:
St. Stephen refers to "our father Abraham," (Acts 7:2)
St. Paul speaks of "our father Isaac” (Romans 9:10)
For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel" (1 Cor. 4:14–15)
"For this I was appointed a preacher and apostle . . . a teacherof the Gentiles in faith and truth" (1 Tim. 2:7)
"For this gospel I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher" (2 Tim. 1:11)
"God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers" (1 Cor. 12:28)
There are but a few of many examples of these words in Scripture.
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