Matthew 23:9 (WEB)
Call no man on the earth your father, for one is your Father, he who is in heaven.
Catechism · 1
“Called to give life, spouses share in the creative power and fatherhood of God.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Eph 3:14; Mt 23:9.
Fathers and councils · 47
Augustine of Hippo
“…had fathers on earth; since He gave them an injunction in these terms: “Call no man your father upon the earth; for one is your Father, which is in heaven.”” — editor's note: Matt. xxiii. 9
Read the whole comment“The Lord teaches us in truth that His disciples do become orphans, to whom He saith, “Call no man father on earth.”” — editor's note: Matt. xxiii. 9.
Read the whole comment“…I am admonishing you:” though he knew of a truth that it had been said by the Lord, “Call ye no man your father on earth, for One is your Father, even God.”” — editor's note: Matt. xxiii. 9.
Read the whole comment“Therefore saith He also Himself in the Gospel: “Call no man your master upon earth; One is your Master, even Christ.”” — editor's note: Matt. xxiii. 8, 9.
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Gregory of Nyssa
“And in the same way He enjoined that the Father should be called Father by them, saying, “Call no man master upon earth: for one is your Master, even Christ: and call no man father upon earth, for one is your Father, Which is in heaven.”” — editor's note: Cf. S. Matt. xxiii. 8–10.
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Irenaeus of Lyons
“Jesus, therefore, will be to them the author and teacher of such transgression, inasmuch as He commanded that one Being should be called Father, thus imposing upon them the necessity of confessing the Creator as their Father, as has been pointed out.” — editor's note: Matt. xxiii. 9.
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Cyprian of Carthage
“For martyrs who witness themselves as the sons of God in suffering are now no more counted as of any father but God, as in the Gospel the Lord teaches, saying, “Call no man your father upon earth; for one is your Father, which is in heaven.”” — editor's note: Matt. xxiii. 9.
Read the whole comment“Also the Lord in His Gospel has bidden us to call “no man our father upon earth, because there is to us one Father, who is in heaven.”” — editor's note: Matt. xxiii. 9.
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Catena Aurea on Matthew
- Hilary of PoitiersCatena Aurea on Matthew
“…Father, which art in heaven;” and since this disciple represents the believing people; he is here reminded that he has one only Father in heaven [margin note: Matt 23:9], and that between a believing son and an unbelieving father the filial relation does not hold good.” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
“He is also Abias, that is, ‘the Lord Father,’ according to that, “One is your Father who is in heaven.” [Matt 23:9] And again, “Ye call me Master and Lord.” [John 13:13]” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
The Lord bad charged the Scribes and Pharisees with harshness and neglect; He now brings forward their vain-glory, which made them depart from God.
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Every substance breeds in itself that which destroys it, as wood the worm, and garments the moth so the Devil strives to corrupt the ministry of the Priests, who are ordained for the edification of holiness,…
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Matthew
And their works likewise they do to be seen of men, using outward circumcision, taking away actual leaven out of their houses, and doing such like things. But Christ’s disciples fulfil the Law in things secret, being…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Note the intensive force of the words of His reproofs. He says not merely that they do their works to be seen of men, but added, “all their works.” And not only in great things but in some things trivial they were…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
For the Lord, when He had given the commandments of the Law through Moses, added at the end, “And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be ever before thine eyes;” [Deut. 6:8] the meaning of…
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
But after their example do many invent Hebrew names of Angels, and write them, and bind them on themselves, and they seem dreadful to such as are without understanding. Others again wear round their neck a portion of…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
Seeing they thus make broad their phylacteries, and make them broad fringes, desiring to have glory of men, they are convicted also in other things; “For they love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats…
Read the whole comment - Rabanus MaurusCatena Aurea on Matthew
It should be noted, that He does not forbid those to whom this belongs by right of rank to be saluted in the forum, or to sit or recline in the highest room; but those who unduly desire these things, whether they…
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
For He rebukes not those who recline in the highest place, but those who love such places, blaming the will not the deed. For to no purpose does he humble himself in place who exalts himself in heart. For some vain…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Observe where vain glory governed them, to wit, in the synagogues, whither they entered to guide others. It had been tolerable to have felt thus at feasts, notwithstanding that a doctor ought to be had in honour in…
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
They love the first salutations, first, that is, not in time only, before others; but in tone, that we should say with a loud voice, Hail, Rabbi; and in body that we should bow low our bead; and in place, that the…
Read the whole comment - Rabanus MaurusCatena Aurea on Matthew
And herein they are not without fault, that the same men should be concerned in the litigations of the forum, who in the synagogue in Moses’ seat, seek to be called Rabbi by men.
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
That is, they wish to be called, not to be such; they desire the name, and neglect the duties.
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Matthew
And in the Church of Christ are found some who take to themselves the uppermost places, that is, become deacons; next they aspire to the chief seats of those that are called presbyters; and some intrigue to be styled…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or otherwise; Of the foregoing things with which He had charged the Pharisees, He now passes over many as of no weight, and such as His disciples needed not to be instructed in; but that which was the cause of all…
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
“Be not ye called Rabbi,” that ye take not to yourselves what belongs to God. And call not others Rabbi, that ye pay not to men a divine honour. For One is the Master of all, who instructs all men by nature. For if…
Read the whole comment - Hilary of PoitiersCatena Aurea on Matthew
And that the disciples may ever remember that they are the children of one parent, and that by their new birth they have passed the limits of their earthly origin.
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
All men may be called brethren in affection, which is of two kinds, general and particular. Particular, by which all Christians are brethren; general, by which all men being born of one Father are bound together by…
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
“And call no man your Father upon earth;” because in this world though man begets man, yet there is one Father who created all men. For we have not beginning of life from our parents, but we have our life transmitted…
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Matthew
But who calls no man father upon earth? He who in every action done as before God, says, “Our Father, which art in Heaven.”
Read the whole comment - Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Matthew
Because it was clear who was the Father of all, by this which was said, “Which art in Heaven,” He would teach them who was the Master of all, and therefore repeats the same command concerning a master, “Neither be ye…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Not that when Christ is here said to be our Master, the Father is excluded, as neither when God is said to be our Father, is Christ excluded, Who is the Father of men.
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
It is a difficulty that the Apostle against this command calls himself the teacher of the Gentiles; and that in monasteries in their common conversation, they call one another, Father. It is to be cleared thus. It is…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Not only does the Lord forbid us to seek supremacy, but would lead His hearer to the very opposite; “He that is greatest among you shall be your servant.”
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or otherwise; And if one minister the divine word, knowing that it is Christ that makes it to be fruitful, such a one professes himself a minister and not a master; whence it follows, “He that is greatest among you,…
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
Which means that every one who thinks highly of his own deserts, shall be humbled before God; and every one who humbles himself concerning his good deeds, shall be exalted with God.
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John Chrysostom
“As He saith, “Call no man master on earth, for One is your guide” ( Matt. xxiii. 8, 9 ), so also, “And call no man father upon earth.”” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“See at all events both her self-confidenceand theirs.” — editor's note: “It seems to me that the person bringing the message was not simply doing so on occasion given, but was laying a snare for our Saviour, to see whether he would…
Read the whole comment“Even so neither hath God committed His gift to angels, but Himself is present, commanding and saying, “Call no man Father on earth;”not that thou shouldest dishonor them that gave thee birth, but that thou shouldest prefer to all those Him that made thee, and enrolled thee amongst His own children.” — editor's note: Matt. xxiii. 9.
Read the whole comment“And again, “Call not, father,”not that they should not call, but they may know whom they ought to call Father, in the highest sense.” — editor's note: Matt. xxiii. 9.
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Tertullian
“To Abraham, in fine, they appeal; prohibited though they are to acknowledge any other father than God.” — editor's note: See Matt. xxiii. 9.
Read the whole comment“However, our Lord very frequently proclaimed God as a Father to us; nay, even gave a precept “that we call no one on earth father, but the Father whom we have in the heavens:” and so, in thus praying, we are likewise obeying the precept.” — editor's note: Matt. xxiii. 9.
Read the whole comment“God, surely: no one is so truly a Father; no one so rich in paternal love.” — editor's note: Cf. Matt. xxiii. 9; and Eph. iii. 14, 15, in the Greek.
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Aphrahat
“Let us not call anyone our father in the earth, that we may be the children of the Father which is in heaven.” — editor's note: Matt. xxiii. 9.
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Clement of Alexandria
““Unus est ergo Pater noster, qui est in cœlis:” sed is ipse quoque Pater est omnium per creationera.” — editor's note: Matt. xxiii. 9.
Read the whole comment“Wherefore also the Word says, “Call no man master on earth.”” — editor's note: Matt. xxiii. 9.
Read the whole comment“This is He who is the Teacher of all created beings, the Fellow-counsellor of God, who foreknew all things; and He from above, from the first foundation of the world, “in many ways and many times,” trains and perfects; whence it is rightly said, “Call no man your teacher on earth.”” — editor's note: Matt. xxiii. 8–10.
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Cross-references · 28
Cited together in Origen on Matthew 23:5–12 (4) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in On Prayer Chapter 2.
Cited together in Remigius of Auxerre on Matthew 1:8–11 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Remigius of Auxerre on Matthew 1:8–11 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Remigius of Auxerre on Matthew 1:8–11 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in On Prayer Chapter 2.
Cited together in Remigius of Auxerre on Matthew 1:8–11 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Against Heresies IV.1.
Cited together in Remigius of Auxerre on Matthew 1:8–11 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Catechism §2367 and 1 other place.
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies II.4.
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies II.4.
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies II.4.
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies II.4.
Cited together in Jerome on Matthew 23:5–12 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Jerome on Matthew 23:5–12 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Remigius of Auxerre on Matthew 1:8–11 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies VI.7.
Cited together in On Prayer Chapter 2.
Cited together in Remigius of Auxerre on Matthew 1:8–11 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Remigius of Auxerre on Matthew 1:8–11 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Remigius of Auxerre on Matthew 1:8–11 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Remigius of Auxerre on Matthew 1:8–11 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Remigius of Auxerre on Matthew 1:8–11 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Hilary of Poitiers on Matthew 8:18–22 (4) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Hilary of Poitiers on Matthew 8:18–22 (4) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Hilary of Poitiers on Matthew 8:18–22 (4) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies II.4.