Do Clerical Titles Contradict the Teaching of Jesus?

Jesus said, "Call no man on earth your father."

Jesus did not mince words when he spoke to his disciples about titles. Specifically, he was addressing the titles that they were to give and receive as future leaders of the Jesus Movement and the Christian Church.

Matthew 23:8-12 “But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

What, exactly, did Jesus mean by this? Is it as straightforward as it seems to be?

For the most part, yes. In predicting what was to come for his disciples, i.e. the formation of the Christian Church and their roles as preeminent leaders within it, Jesus instructed his followers not to give or receive titles that would place themselves between the people they would lead and God.

The purpose of this instruction was twofold. First, Jesus wanted his disciples to avoid becoming like the Pharisees, who, in their religious zeal, had replaced the thrill of being God’s servants with the pride and egotism that comes from being recognized by others as servants of the Most High:

Matthew 23:3-7 “For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others.”

Jesus wanted his disciples to remain humble, not focused on the praise of people, but on living for God and pleasing Him.

The second reason Jesus gave this instruction was so that his followers, not just church leaders but every single person in Christ’s Body, would be aware that their connection to God is direct. Their ability to be seen and heard by Him, to hear His voice, to experience His presence, doesn’t run through a church leader or another third party; it is empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit who God sent to dwell in our hearts.

In Christ’s Church, titles don’t belong to people, but to God. So, what do we make of the fact that many Protestant church leaders today use the title “pastor”? Or that priests in Roman Catholic and Orthodox denominations go by “father”? Is this right? And what about Jesus’ statement, “call no man on earth your father”? Does that mean we shouldn’t refer to our dads as “father”?

When it comes to church leadership, the tradition of giving titles to pastors and priests is one that cuts directly across the words of Jesus. He said not to call anyone “rabbi” or “teacher,” because He should be considered The Teacher of every person who is a member of His Body. The modern English word “pastor,” which is actually a translation of the Greek word “shepherd,”[1] is not much different in modern contexts than the word “rabbi” was for a first-century Jewish person. Both pastors and rabbis are and were responsible for leading people in the ways of God.

Jesus is referred to in the New Testament as “the Chief Shepherd.”

What about those in the Church who have been appointed to certain offices, like overseers and deacons? It should not be difficult to imagine a world where church leaders, while holding official offices in the local church, do so without bestowing titles upon themselves. After all, whether someone is a pastor, an overseer, or an elder, these responsibilities center around service and should be marked by humility. Jesus never intended His Church to be a place where a class system or social hierarchy existed.

What about the title “father”? Is it okay to refer to our earthly dads as “father”? In my opinion, it absolutely is. When Jesus made this statement, he was talking about guidelines for his future Church, not for the family. Referring to one’s own father by this title is not only fitting, but respectful and appropriate. After all, if we were to stop referring to our own fathers in this way, eventually, the Church would cease to ascertain what it means that God is our Heavenly Father.

But referring to Church leaders as “fathers” is another matter. According to Jesus, by doing so, we are placing them directly between ourselves and God, a clear violation of 1 Corinthians 11:3. Yes, it is true that the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church that he was their “spiritual father,” but he did so not as a way of garnering a title for himself, but of testifying to the fact that he was the one who first delivered the Gospel to them.[2]

It can be challenging to break away from traditions that have endured for thousands of years. When it comes to this particular tradition, the Church has been falling short for quite some time. It is especially challenging for church leaders to abandon this tradition, considering that often, the titles they receive from congregants are given out of deep respect and admiration. This is not something churches should be dividing over.

Still, it’s time the Church takes Jesus’ words seriously and does away with the flattering titles for church leaders. While some are indeed called to teach and shepherd, we can do so without receiving flattering titles. After all, the hallmark of a true shepherd, of a genuine leader in Christ’s Church, lies in one's ability to serve others and to point them to the True Shepherd and Teacher of our souls.

[1] The Greek word poimēn, which simply means “shepherd” has been translated as “pastor” in most English Bibles since the time of the Reformation.

[2] 1 Corinthians 4:14-16.

Do Clerical Titles Contradict the Teaching of Jesus?

Blake Barbera is the founder and Lead Teaching Minister at That You May Know Him. He has been teaching the Bible for more than two decades, and has served the Church in various capacities during that time, including as a missionary and pastor. Along with his work for That You May Know Him, he teaches New Testament and hermeneutics at a Bible College and Seminary.

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