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Verse Takeaways
1
God is the Ultimate Father
Commentators unanimously agree that Jesus is not forbidding the use of 'father' for a biological parent. The prohibition is against using it as a religious title that implies ultimate spiritual authority, a right to command, and a claim to bind the conscience, which belongs to God alone.
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Book Overview
Matthew
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Commentaries
8
Albert Barnes
On Matthew 23:9
18th Century
Theologian
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 h…
AT Robertson
On Matthew 23:9
Call no man your father (πατερα μη καλεσητε υμων). Jesus meant the full sense of this noble word for our heavenly Father. "Abba wa…
Charles Spurgeon
On Matthew 23:8–10
19th Century
Preacher
In the Church of Christ, all titles and honors that exalt people and give occasion for pride are forbidden here. In the Christian commonwealth, we …
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Expositor's Bible Commentary
On Matthew 23:9
The “you” (v.8) is emphatic, and Jesus is probably speaking primarily to his disciples here, just as he later addresses the Pharisees directly (vv.…
John Calvin
On Matthew 23:9
16th Century
Theologian
And call no man on earth your Father. He claims for God alone the honor of Father, in nearly the same sense as he recently assert…
John Gill
On Matthew 23:9
17th Century
Pastor
And call no man your father upon the earth
Not but that children may, and should call their natural parents, fathers…
Matthew Henry
On Matthew 23:1–12
17th Century
Minister
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 …
Thomas Aquinas
On Matthew 23:1–12
13th Century
Philosopher
Here, it was shown how the Pharisees and the Scribes were provoked by Christ’s glory, and also by His wisdom, by which He had crushed them; now, ho…