Tag Archives: Matthew 23:9

Christian

A Smothering

I have heard various preachers say that you need a covering. You need to be under a preacher or teacher. I’ve also heard people describe someone as their spiritual father. What’s wrong with either or both of these?

Under a covering? When I hear someone teach on this, this is what usually comes to mind: Matthew 23:15 KJV says Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

What should come to mind is 1 Timothy 2:5-6 KJV which says, For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; [6] Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

We don’t need a covering. Thanks to Jesus’ actions in becoming the sole sacrifice for sins and our High Priest there is no intermediary between man and God other than him.

A spiritual father? Jesus said call none Father but God. Matthew 23:9 KJV says
And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

Through Jesus you can go directly to your Father for wisdom. James 1:5 KJV says If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

It’s okay in my opinion to have spiritual influences here on Earth, the Bible does say iron sharpeneth iron. But remember who your spiritual Father should be: Jehovah himself.

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Christian, Inspirational

The Talk

Long before a parent needs to have “the talk” with their child they need to discuss God with them.

A father should tell his son(s) and daughter(s), we have one Father, even God in Heaven, and ask the children to call himself by his first name, rather than father or dad. Matthew 23:9 KJV.

As soon as a child can comprehend who God is, tell him or her about Jesus, the only begotten Son of God who died on the cross for our sins and lived to show us how to live by following his Holy Father, our Father.

Conversations with children should include informing them of the Ten Commandments and the statutes and precepts of the Lord. I don’t necessarily think you need to go into detail about what adultery is, but a careful conversation on adultery might make “the talk” easier at a later date.

Keep in mind “the talk” probably needs to take place earlier than you think. Kids pick up a lot from what’s on television and at school.

When your child is ready, let them repent of their sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus. Mark 16:16

Only by frequent conversations with your children will they be able to make it to Heaven. Remember that children key off what they see. If you live righteously you can teach your children to live likewise!

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Christian, Inspirational

Identity

I have quoted Matthew 23:9 KJV a few times in my blog; And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

What does this look like in application? I don’t have any children, but when I do I’d like to think I will ask them to call me by my first name, Dean. I can imagine an appropriate time, early in their childhood, when I will explain to them how I am their biological dad, but we all have one Heavenly Father, the Lord God Almighty, Jehovah.

So when is this done? My dad never asked me to call him by his first name and I don’t know of anyone where this has been the case. But if this little known command were put into practice – teaching our children early that they are sons or daughters of God, would it solve problems of gender identity?

I believe identity found in God is truly a strong foundation. 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 KJV Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing ; and I will receive you, [18] And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

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Christian, Inspirational

Aptitude

I recently saw a sign inside a Catholic Church on EWTN that said, Jesus is My Teacher. It caused me to think to myself – for how many people is that really true. How many people are truly learners?

Matthew 7:24-25 KJV
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: [25] And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

How many people hear his words and how many follow them? Not being a slow student but a quick learner. And not just a quick learner, but a doer.

Have you heard his saying and do you keep it?

Keep the Commandments. Matthew 19:17

A list of rarely followed commands:

Matthew 19:17 KJV … there is none good but one, that is, God: …

Matthew 23:9 KJV And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

Matthew 23:10 KJV
Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.

1 Corinthians 11:14 KJV Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?

1 Corinthians 11:4 KJV
Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 KJV
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, [10] Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 11:5 KJV
But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.

Don’t seek the least you can do which is to avoid fornication and food offered to idols Acts 21:25, but as a Christian hear all Jesus’ teachings. Hear him when he teaches through Moses and the prophets. Hear him when he teaches through Job. Hear him when he teaches through Paul. Hear him in all the other New and Old Testament authors. Hear him when its Red Letter in your Holy Bible.

The Teacher is Perfect. What’s left? The aptitude of the learner!

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Christian

Bones

I have two more bones to pick with the Catholic Church.

Those are:

Calling men Father. Matthew 23:9 KJV
And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

Penance. No where in the Bible does it tell us to do penance for sin or that penance is even accepted by the Lord. It does however tell us to confess. 1 John 1:9 KJV If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

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Christian

Reserved

1 Timothy 2:11-12 KJV
Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. [12] But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

When a woman preaches in a church and says she has a calling from God, I think to myself, No. I tell you many teachers who are men will go to Hell because of poor or false teaching. Yet God has reserved for men the pulpit and the role of Head of the Household.

So when I see women preaching on television I turn the channel. Like the man that calls himself Father or Rabbi, I know they have chosen their own desires over the word of God. Matthew 23:8, Matthew 23:9.

I think in one respect God is trying to make the path to Heaven easier for women. He has reserved to men the role of teacher. Make no mistake teachers of the Word will be judged by the Word, a high standard. Some men would be wise to take a seat and exercise their own right to remain silent.

Habakkuk 2:20 KJV
But the Lord is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.

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