Why call priests fathers, when no one should be called Father (Matthew 23:9)?

We do not understand this verse literally, because the Lord also told us to hate our fathers and mothers.

He said these verses to show us how much more love and honor we should have for God.

Christ gave us an illustration of calling someone on earth “father” in the story of the Prodigal Son. Paul often mentions himself as a father to many of his spiritual children in theNew Testament.