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Jesus did not say, "''Call no man on earth, 'father' ''". See the [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/matthew/23-9.htm interlinear English and Greek text] and [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/matthew/23-9.htm ''multiple commentaries on'' Matthew 23:9]. Jesus does not say, "Do not be '''called''' fathers"—in verse 10, he says, "''Neither be '''called''' masters''".  

Jesus did not say, "''Call no man on earth, 'father' ''". See the [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/matthew/23-9.htm interlinear English and Greek text] and [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/matthew/23-9.htm ''multiple commentaries on'' Matthew 23:9]. Jesus does not say, "Do not be '''called''' fathers"—in verse 10, he says, "''Neither be '''called''' masters''".  

The meaning of this text within the historical and cultural context of first century Judea is that no male parent is to be regarded as the true father of any son or daughter naturally sired by him, as middle eastern cultural tradition taught each child to regard him—with an absolute claim to personal loyalty and obedience, above and apart from any other consideration of affection, respect, duty and reverence they might owe to another, to mother or sibling or spouse or children or friend or comrade-in-arms or teacher or commander or king or country, or even life itself.  

The meaning of this text within the historical and cultural context of first century Judea is that no male parent is to be regarded as the true father of any son or daughter naturally sired by him, as middle eastern cultural tradition taught each child to regard him—with an absolute claim to personal loyalty and obedience, above and apart from any other consideration of affection, respect, duty and reverence they might owe to another, to mother or sibling or spouse or children or friend or comrade-in-arms or teacher or commander or king or country, or even life itself. Tradition demanded absolute allegiance, respect and obedience.

Students who came to regard their teachers and rabbis with reverent affection and loyalty, even awe, for imparting the knowledge of [[Torah]] to them, were traditionally encouraged to address them as "my father" and to regard them as their spiritual fathers. Jesus is setting them free of the tradition of unquestioning imitation of those abusers of legitimate Jewish authority, who set aside the substance of the teaching of Moses and the scriptures for the sake of their own self-promoting customs and ritual traditions.

Students who came to regard their teachers and rabbis with reverent affection and loyalty, even awe, for imparting the knowledge of [[Torah]] to them, were traditionally encouraged to address them as "my father" and to regard them as their spiritual fathers. Jesus is setting them free of the tradition of unquestioning imitation of those abusers of legitimate Jewish authority, who set aside the substance of the teaching of Moses and the scriptures for the sake of their own self-promoting customs and ritual traditions.

This text in Matthew has been cited as condemning any use of the word "father" as an address or title of respect to any man, as if it said, "''Call no man on earth, 'father'...''". However, against this defective reading of the meaning of the text, and apart from the fact that a word has been ''removed'' by such a reading (interpretation) of the text, multiple passages in sacred scripture itself demonstrate that the apostles and disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ themselves addressed others as "''father''" and were called "''father''".  

This text in Matthew has been cited as condemning any use of the word "father" as an address or title of respect to any man, as if it said, "''Call no man on earth, 'father'...''". However, against this defective reading of the meaning of the text, and apart from the fact that a word has been ''removed'' by such a reading (interpretation) of the text, multiple passages in sacred scripture itself demonstrate that the apostles and disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ themselves addressed others as "''father''" and were called "''father''".  

St. Paul told the Corinthians that though they had many guides, he was their father through the gospel, and he also said he was a father to Timothy. [[Stephen|St. Stephen]] addressed the high priest and members of the council as fathers, and John explicitly addresses the leaders of the Christian community as "fathers". In the same way, for example, no Catholic says to a priest, "my father, ... ", but says instead, "Father", as a title of respect. There is a substantial difference in saying "my father" and simply saying "Father". See Acts 7:2, 22:1; 1 John 2:12-14; 1 Corinthians 4:14-15; Philippians 2:22; 1 Thessalonians 2:11; Hebrews 13:17.  

St. Paul told the Corinthians that though they had many guides, he was their father through the gospel, and he also said he was a father to Timothy. [[Stephen|St. Stephen]] addressed the high priest and members of the council as fathers, and John explicitly addresses the leaders of the Christian community as "fathers". In the same way, for example, no Catholic says to a priest, "my father, — (''insert name'') ", but says instead, "Father", as a title of respect. There is a substantial difference in saying "my father" and simply saying "Father". See Acts 7:2, 22:1; 1 John 2:12-14; 1 Corinthians 4:14-15; Philippians 2:22; 1 Thessalonians 2:11; Hebrews 13:17.  

Most translations of Matthew 23:9 faithfully say "''your father''"; but others explicitly omit the word '''ὑμῶν''' "''your''" in translation as an anti-Catholic reading which has no grammatical basis and cannot be justified according to the New Testament Greek text of Matthew 23:9

Most translations of Matthew 23:9 faithfully say "''your father''"; but others explicitly omit the word '''ὑμῶν''' "''your''" in translation as an anti-Catholic reading ([[polemic]]) which has no grammatical basis and cannot be justified according to the New Testament Greek text of Matthew 23:9

::9 καὶ πατέρα μὴ καλέσητε ὑμῶν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς· εἷς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ πατήρ '''ὑμῶν''', ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς.  

::9 καὶ πατέρα μὴ καλέσητε ὑμῶν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς· εἷς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ πατήρ '''ὑμῶν''', ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς.  

Omitting to include in translation a word that is present in every extant manuscript of this verse in Matthew is a deliberate act involving substantial alteration of the meaning of the scriptural text, an act which every Bible-believing Christian condemns. <br>See [http://www.biblehub.com/commentaries/jeremiah/8-8.htm Jeremiah 8:8] and [http://www.biblehub.com/commentaries/revelation/22-18.htm Revelation 22:18].  

Omitting to include in translation a word that is present in every extant manuscript of this verse in Matthew is a deliberate act involving substantial alteration of the meaning of the scriptural text, an act which every Bible-believing Christian condemns. <br>See [http://www.biblehub.com/commentaries/jeremiah/8-8.htm Jeremiah 8:8] and [http://www.biblehub.com/commentaries/revelation/22-18.htm Revelation 22:18].