On the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew:
Matthew 23
Ver. 8 - 12. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Christ does not prohibit one from being called "teacher", but rather He prohibits the passionate desire to be so called, and the eager pursuit of every possible means to aquire the name. For the dignity of the office of "teacher" belongs chiefly to God alone. In saying "Call no man your father," He is not prohibiting the honor given to parents, since He desires that we should honor our parents and especially our spiritual fathers; rather He is inducing us to acknowlidge the true Father, namely God, for He is cheifly and essentially our Father. Fathers in the flesh are not the authors of procreation, but rather, servants and assessories. Showing them what is to be gained by humility, He says that he who is great among you should be your servant and the least. For he who exalts himself, presuming to be something, shall be humbled and abandoned by God.
The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew.
Ver. 8 - 12. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Christ does not prohibit one from being called "teacher", but rather He prohibits the passionate desire to be so called, and the eager pursuit of every possible means to aquire the name. For the dignity of the office of "teacher" belongs chiefly to God alone. In saying "Call no man your father," He is not prohibiting the honor given to parents, since He desires that we should honor our parents and especially our spiritual fathers; rather He is inducing us to acknowlidge the true Father, namely God, for He is cheifly and essentially our Father. Fathers in the flesh are not the authors of procreation, but rather, servants and assessories. Showing them what is to be gained by humility, He says that he who is great among you should be your servant and the least. For he who exalts himself, presuming to be something, shall be humbled and abandoned by God.
The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew.
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