Jesus was addressing the use of religious titles for religious leaders.
There’s a world of difference between *John is my father* and the title of address of *Father John*.
But I realize that will never stop Catholics from seeking to justify disobeying Jesus clear, concise command to not use that word as a title.
What He said was:
Matthew 23:8-10I notice on BibleHub that various translators, trying to convey the intended breadth of this command, have rendered the words in these verses as:
But as for you, do not be called "Teacher" because you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. Do not call anyone on earth your father, because you have one Father, who is in heaven. And do not be called masters either, because you have one Master, the Messiah.
There's nothing there limited or confined to "forms of address" or "titles", meaning an appellative on one's name showing rank.
It's broader and deeper than that. It's a question of, when you come right to the moment of decision, the turning point, whom do you really consider your father, teacher, master, instructor, rabbi, leader, director: an earthly guide, or God Himself?
Protestants/Evangelicals don't fault themselves, for calling their pastor "Doctor" (because he has perhaps a Doctor's degree in Divinity) even though Doctor is the Latin word for Teacher.
Martin Luther was referred to, and referred to himself, as "Doctor Luther," since he had an academic degree as professor of theology. "Teacher Luther," The same was true of "Doctor (Teacher) John Calvin" and many other Fathers ---Fathers!---- of the Reformation.
Elisha cries, “My father, my father!” (2 Kgs. 2:12) to Elijah as he's is carried up to heaven in a fiery chariot, and Elisha himself is called "father" by the king of Israel (2 Kgs. 6:21). Notice Acts 7:2, where Stephen refers to “our father Abraham,” and Romans 9:10, where Paul speaks of “our father Isaac.”
As for teacher, Paul uses this word repeatedly for himself, and stresses to the Corinthians and the Ephesians that God has appointed teachers. At this point, he's calling his trained men teachers!
As for masters: Paul has plenty of references to masters, even telling masters and servants to remember that the masters themselves have a Master in Heaven.
If it were merely a question of protocol, of banning "titles" or "forms of address," we'd have to ban Mr. and Mrs., which are based on Master and Mistress. Call no man mastar.
So this NT practice of calling men fathers (or doctors, teachers, trainers, instructors, leaders, directors, masters) is apparently not prohibited at all, if you get Jesus' point.
Which is? That your ultimate father, teacher, master, leader, must be God and His Christ. There can be no rivalry with God, A man cannot be an alternative to God, or a competitor with God.
God is always the Supreme father. Supreme teacher. Supreme judge. Supreme King.
This is not a protocol question about titles. THis is a much bigger point: God's supremacy over all.