And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.”
Matthew 23:9-10 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/mat.23.
9-10.KJV
If you are looking for the famous verse where Jesus says not to call anyone on earth your father, you're thinking of
Matthew 23:9. It states:
"And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven." [
1,
2,
3]
Jesus spoke these words to the crowds and his disciples to warn against religious leaders exalting themselves or seeking titles of prestige. By saying this, he was emphasizing that all true spiritual authority and fatherhood ultimately come from God. [
1,
2]
However, the word "father" is still widely used in the Bible for other contexts: [
1]
- Biological and family relationships: The Bible frequently refers to human parents (e.g., the Ten Commandments to "honor your father and your mother").
- Spiritual mentors: The Apostle Paul refers to himself as a spiritual father to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 4:15. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Did you want to explore the different meanings of this verse, or are you looking for what the Bible says about respecting and honoring your own biological father?
