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Call No Man on Earth Father.

Matthew 23:7-10   they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called 'Rabbi' by others "But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. And don't let anyone call you 'Teacher,' for you have only one teacher, the Messiah.

If one were to follow this biblical verses literally, then we should also not be calling our biological father "father" nor should we be using the word "teacher."  Did Jesus meant this literally?  The answer is no because Christ himself used it in reference to men on earth. 

John 8:56  Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw, and was glad. 

Jesus also called one of the Pharisees (Nicodemus) "teacher."  

John 3:10  You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things?"

Christ is not a hypocrite.  He is not going to instruct His Apostles not to use the words "father"and "teacher" and then turn around and use them Himself. Did the Apostles understood that Jesus words were not to be taken literally when He said this? Yes, they did for they also used the words "father" and "teacher" in referring to men.  In fact, St. Paul even called himself a father and a teacher.  

1 Corinthians 4:15  Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.  

2 Timothy 1:11  And of this gospel, I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher.  

The Apostles understood that Christ was not speaking literally when he said "do not call any man on earth 'father.'  They were there and understood it.  They also called Abraham their father, and even addressed the Jewish high priest and rabbis "father"  

Acts 7:2  To this he replied, "Brothers and fathers, listen to me!  The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Harran. 

James 2:21  Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?  

It's clear from these passages that the words "father" and "teacher" can be used, so what did Christ mean when he said that we are not to call anyone on earth 'father' or 'teacher?'"  These titles are allowed to be used, but not misused arrogantly like the Pharisees who love to be called "Rabbi" as Jesus pointed out.  As Jesus said afterwards, he who put himself first shall be last and he who put himself last shall be first.  

God allows His Church to have similar titles as His own.  It is His way to show that He is intimately bonded and one with His Church.  For example, Christ is called "the Good Shepherd."(John 10:11, and 10:14)  Bishops are also called "Shepherds".  (Acts 20:28).  Christ is called the rock (1 Corinthians 10:4). Peter is also called rock (Matthew 16:18).