This post was last updated on October 18, 2025

Day 264, Year 1

Only One Father

… “Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.” (Matthew 23:9 NASB)

It is possible that the Pharisees, etc., in New Testament times adopted the Old Testament prophetic tradition, referring to the teacher of disciples as their “father” (2 Kings 2:12). This is also how a follower called his master in a prophetic community. Jesus deliberately put an end to this human-centered practice and directed the disciples’ focus toward the Father God in heaven. In short, as the disciples regarded one another as brothers and sisters, we are all to look up to the Father in heaven. Since we had left everything behind, we should no longer regard our biological fathers as having the authority of a father, or accept the influence that parents have conventionally over their children. Thus, we have only one Father. In my opinion, Jesus hereby invites us to ponder how to change the core values of our lives and even reverse all negative influences brought about by generations and family upbringings.

The experience of Adam and his descendants might tell us why we should not call anyone on earth “Father.” Adam and Eve ate the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Later, their son Cain killed his brother out of jealousy. It is possible that the primogenitors accepted the heart of jealousy of the devil and then disobeyed God’s commandments. This jealousy went to Cain and became the motive for his murder. Biological parents, to some extent, have been passing down bad seeds to their children, which then bear bad fruit in their descendants. This is the main reason why many people cannot obey God’s Word.

Jesus’ invitation is for believers to reject all sinful nature from our fathers of the flesh and to call only God of heaven as our Father. That is to say, we should ask the Father God in heaven to remove all the evil things that are born of our biological parents. Meanwhile, for all that we receive from our biological parents and consider good from a human perspective, we should ask the Father to enhance and use them. In addition to transforming the good things, God may also remove them to prevent us from becoming proud due to these good inheritances. This process of asking the heavenly Father to rebuild our lives is crucial for the new life in Christ. To rebuild our life is to look upon and affirm the Father as our only source, and to be centered on the Spirit of God instead of in the human flesh.

Reflection questions:

1) Would you like to rely on the Lord Jesus to leave behind all the negative influences from your parents and replace them with the goodness of the heavenly Father? If so, which aspect or issue would you first pray to Him for changing?

2) Would you like to transform into living a life that is centered on the Father God, and rebuild your life by His Spirit’s renewal? Why?