In the Gospels, Jesus gives this prayer as a model when His disciples ask how to pray.
Matthew 6:9–13 (Sermon on the Mount)
“This, then, is how you should pray:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name…”
Luke 11:1–4 (when the disciples directly ask Him)
“When you pray, say:
Father, hallowed be your name…”
Why this mattered
Calling God “Father” was radical in first-century Judaism. Jesus emphasized a personal, relational approach to God, not distant or purely ritual.
Saying “Our” Father, not “my” Father, teaches community, humility, and shared dependence, not individual spiritual pride.
Jesus consistently referred to God as Father in His own prayers and invited His followers into that same relationship.
What Jesus was teaching
God is approachable, not just sovereign.
Prayer is about relationship, not performance.
Believers are part of a family, not spiritual lone wolves.
So yes — teaching “Our Father” wasn’t incidental. It was central to how Jesus taught people to relate to God.
No comments:
Post a Comment