Matthew 6:7—15
Jesus urged his followers to pray to God as “Our Father.” He frequently referred to God as his Father. This way of thinking about God, however, did not begin with Jesus. As early as Third Isaiah (Is. 63:16) this image was used as one metaphor among many to describe God. The author of the books of Chronicles presents King David as referring to God this way (1 Chr. 29:10).
Jesus, however, made this metaphor much more prominent and embedded it as essential in the minds of his followers.
How does this way of referring to God function for people who have not known a loving, nurturing father? What assumptions does it bring to our way of thinking about God?
God as Father
Books you may find helpful
The painting at the top of this page is a detail from Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini’s, “The Return of Jephtha” (1700—1725).
Artist: Raffaello Sanzio Raphael
Location: Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria Perugia Italy
