Our Father in Heaven
Matthew 6:9-13 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
Jesus taught his disciples to address God as “Father.” This is in contrast to the Old Testament in which the Fatherhood of God is not a central theme. The term is used mainly in the OT by way of analogy and not direct address; e.g., Deuteronomy 32:6 Is this the way you repay the LORD, O foolish and unwise people? Is he not your Father, your Creator, who made you and formed you?
The tendency in Jewish circles was to multiply titles ascribing sovereignty, lordship, glory, grace, and the like to God. To call him Father or “Abba” would be considered way too presumptuous and familiar.
This seems strange to us because this was overwhelmingly the way Jesus addressed God and the way his disciples were taught to approach him. Romans 8:15-16 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
Jesus emphasized the Fatherhood of God precisely because he wanted to emphasize the intimacy of the relationship. Jesus shared a special relationship with the Father as his “one of a kind” Son. While our filial relationship differs from the unique relationship of Jesus, God invites us to call him Father as well.
We enjoy his protection and provision in a way that is not unlike our fathers in the flesh, but on an infinitely greater scale. My lesson Sunday will explore this intimate relationship with our Father in heaven.
Galatians 4:6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”
I’ll say more in the lesson!
Joey
Leave A Comment