Matthew 23:9 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

And do not call any man on earth ‘father,’ [i.e., in a religious sense], for the [only] one who is your Father is in heaven.

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

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

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

And do not call anyone [in the church] on earth father, for you have one Father, Who is in heaven.

American Standard Version (1901)

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

Common English Bible

Don’t call anybody on earth your father, because you have one Father, who is heavenly.

Catholic Public Domain Version

And do not choose to call anyone on earth your father. For One is your Father, who is in heaven.

Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version

And call none your father upon earth; for one is your father, who is in heaven.

Matthew 23:9 Cross References

Matthew 23:10

Neither assume the title ‘Master’ [i.e., teacher], for [only] one is your Master, the Christ [i.e., God’s specially chosen one].

Matthew 6:32

For these are the things that the [unconverted] Gentiles keep trying to get. But your heavenly Father [already] knows you need these things.

Matthew 7:11

If then you know how to give good gifts to your children, even though you are sinful [human beings], how much more [likely] is it that your Father in heaven will give good things to those who ask Him?

Acts 22:1

“Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense I want to make to you.”

1 Corinthians 4:15

For although you have ten thousand guardians [Note: This word means someone who transported a child to his teacher] in [the fellowship of] Christ, you do not have many [spiritual] fathers. For I [spiritually] conceived you people through [preaching to you] the good news [about Christ]. [Note: Paul here refers to his work in establishing the church at Corinth].

2 Corinthians 6:18

The Lord Almighty [also] said [Hos. 1:10], “I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me.”

Hebrews 12:9

Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us and we respected them [for it]; should we not much rather submit to the Father of our spirits [i.e., God], so we can live [spiritually]?

1 John 3:1

Look at how much love the Father has shown to us [Christians], that we should be called His children! But, that is what we [really] are! The reason the people of the world do not know who we are is because they do not know who God [really] is.