{Call no man your father} (patera m(8820)kales(8874)e h(966d)(936e)).
Jesus meant the full sense of this noble word for our heavenly
Father. "Abba was not commonly a mode of address to a living
person, but a title of honour for Rabbis and great men of the
past" (McNeile). In Gethsemane Jesus said: "Abba, Father" ( Mr
14:36 ). Certainly the ascription of "Father" to pope and priest
seems out of harmony with what Jesus here says. He should not be
understood to be condemning the title to one's real earthly
father. Jesus often leaves the exceptions to be supplied.