Christ Commands Not to Be Called Teachers and Fathers
“saying: ‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. <...> But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, “Rabbi, Rabbi.” But you, do not be called “Rabbi” (Greek: Ῥαββί — “Rabbi”, that is, “my teacher”); for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven’” (Matt. 23:2,5-9)
This is said not so literally, just as about cutting off members (Matt. 5:29-30) or that Christ came to divide families, bringing not peace but a sword (Matt. 10:34-35). A lesson of humility is given, so that believers would not strive to be called “Rabbi, Rabbi” (Matt. 23:7), and, having received these titles, would not be proud and exalt themselves, understanding that the highest authority, the true father and teacher, is God.
It is important to understand the meaning correctly, starting from the context; otherwise it would turn out that even a child cannot call his parent father, although God calls them so in the commandment (Deut. 5:16). Likewise no teacher could be called a teacher, although there certainly are teachers in the Church. From Scripture we see that these words were not avoided.
Teachers
Christ Calls the Pharisee Nicodemus the Teacher of Israel
“Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?’” (John. 3:10)
The Apostle Says That He Was Appointed a Teacher
“to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles” (2 Tim. 1:11)
“who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle — I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying — a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth” (1 Tim. 2:6-7)
God Appointed Teachers in the Church
“And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues” (1 Cor. 12:28)
“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers” (Eph. 4:11)
“or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching” (Rom. 12:7)
“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food” (Heb. 5:12)
A Warning About the Responsibility of Teachers
“My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body” (James. 3:1-2)
Fathers
The Apostle Calls Himself a Father, and the Believers Children
“I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. <...> For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church” (1 Cor. 4:14-15,17)
“My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you” (Gal. 4:19)
“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John. 2:1)
“My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth” (1 John. 3:18)
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (3 John. 1:4)
“I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains” (Philem. 1:10)
Abraham Is the Father of Believers
“Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all” (Rom. 4:16)
“Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham” (Gal. 3:7)
“When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. <...> As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations’” (Gen. 17:1,4-5)
“And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised. <...> as it is written, ‘I have made you a father of many nations’ in the presence of Him whom he believed — God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did” (Rom. 4:11-12,17)
God Gives a Commandment Concerning Fathers and Mothers
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you” (Ex. 20:12)
“Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may be well with you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you” (Deut. 5:16)
“You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother’” (Mark. 10:19)
“‘Honor your father and mother,’ which is the first commandment with promise” (Eph. 6:2)
The Apostle Addresses Fathers
“And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4)
“Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged” (Col. 3:21)
“I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, because you have known the Father” (1 John. 2:13)
God Allows Calling Not Only “Teacher” and “Father”, but Even “Gods”, in the Right Sense (Not by Nature, but by Grace)
“I said, ‘You are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High. But you shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes’” (Ps. 82:6-7)
“Jesus answered them, ‘Is it not written in your law, “I said, You are gods”? If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken)’” (John. 10:34-35)
However, Christ gives the commandment to call ourselves servants (Luke. 17:10).
A Related Topic
On the objection against calling Christians servants (slaves) of God: https://bibleox.com/ru/ru/w/христианин-раб-Бога