The Meaning of Matthew 23:9 Explained

Matthew 23:9

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

YLT: and ye may not call any your father on the earth, for one is your Father, who is in the heavens,

Darby: And call not any one your father upon the earth; for one is your Father, he who is in the heavens.

ASV: And call no man your father on the earth: for one is your Father, even he who is in heaven.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Matthew 23:9 Mean?

Context Summary

Matthew 23:1-12 - Humbling The Self-Exalted
These words were addressed to the disciples and the crowds that had gathered around. The Jewish religious leaders divorced morality and religion, and insisted that men should respect their office, whatever might be their personal character. The craving for this has been the temptation and bane of Christ's ministers in every age.
But how evidently our Lord condemns clerical and priestly assumption! With the two-edged sword, which pierces to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, He cuts between the professions and performances of these men. No more awful words were ever spoken! How true is Matthew 23:4! The hypocrite always spares himself, but is merciless in his demands on others. The true servant of God never exacts these titles as a rightful homage, or as indicating either superiority or special sanctity. We all have one Master and one Father; and, though our talents greatly differ, we stand on an absolute equality so far as saving grace is concerned. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 23

1  Jesus admonishes the people to follow good doctrine, not bad examples
5  His disciples must beware of their ambition
13  He denounces eight woes against their hypocrisy and blindness,
34  and prophesies of the destruction of Jerusalem

Greek Commentary for Matthew 23:9

Call no man your father [πατερα μη καλεσητε μων]
Jesus meant the full sense of this noble word for our heavenly Father. “Abba was not commonly a mode of address to a living person, but a title of honour for Rabbis and great men of the past” (McNeile). In Gethsemane Jesus said: “Abba, Father” (Mark 14:36). Certainly the ascription of “Father” to pope and priest seems out of harmony with what Jesus here says. He should not be understood to be condemning the title to one‘s real earthly father. Jesus often leaves the exceptions to be supplied. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 23:9

Romans 4:17 Calleth [καλοῦντος]
The verb is used in the following senses: 1. To give a name, with ὄνομα name Matthew 1:21, Matthew 1:22, Matthew 1:25; Luke 1:13, Luke 1:31; without ὄνομα Luke 1:59, Luke 1:60. To salute by a name, Matthew 23:9; Matthew 22:43, Matthew 22:45. -DIVIDER-
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2. Passive. To bear a name or title among men, Luke 1:35; Luke 22:25; 1 Corinthians 15:9. To be acknowledged or to pass as, Matthew 5:9, Matthew 5:19; James 2:23. -DIVIDER-
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3. To invite, Matthew 22:3, Matthew 22:9; John 2:2; 1 Corinthians 10:27. To summon, Matthew 4:21; Acts 4:18; Acts 24:2. To call out from, Matthew 2:15; Hebrews 11:8; 1 Peter 2:9. -DIVIDER-
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4. To appoint. Select for an office, Galatians 1:15; Hebrews 5:4; to salvation, Romans 9:11; Romans 8:30. -DIVIDER-
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5. Of God's creative decree. To call forth from nothing, Isaiah 41:4; 2 Kings 8:1. -DIVIDER-
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In this last sense some explain the word here; but it can scarcely be said that God creates things that are not as actually existing. Others explain, God's disposing decree. He disposes of things that are not as though existing. The simplest explanation appears to be to give καλεῖν the sense of nameth, speaketh of. Compare Romans 9:7; Acts 7:5. The seed of Abraham “which were at present in the category of things which were not, and the nations which should spring physically or spiritually from him, God spoke of as having an existence, which word Abraham believed” (Alford). In this case there may properly be added the idea of the summons to the high destiny ordained for Abraham's seed. -DIVIDER-
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[source]

What do the individual words in Matthew 23:9 mean?

And father no [one] call of you on the earth One for is the Father who [is] in heaven
καὶ πατέρα μὴ καλέσητε ὑμῶν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς εἷς γάρ ἐστιν Πατὴρ οὐράνιος

πατέρα  father 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: προπάτωρ 
Sense: generator or male ancestor.
μὴ  no  [one] 
Parse: Adverb
Root: μή 
Sense: no, not lest.
καλέσητε  call 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: καλέω  
Sense: to call.
ὑμῶν  of  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
γῆς  earth 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: γῆ  
Sense: arable land.
εἷς  One 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: εἷς  
Sense: one.
Πατὴρ  Father 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: προπάτωρ 
Sense: generator or male ancestor.
  who  [is] 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
οὐράνιος  in  heaven 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: οὐράνιος  
Sense: heavenly.