When Jesus’ disciples asked him to teach them how to pray he replied by saying, Pray ‘Our Father’

Many people place the emphasis on the word father and the parent child relationship. We are used to thinking about the prayer in that way. Perhaps in part because of Matthew 23:9 where Jesus says don’t call anyone ‘your father on earth, for you have one Father – the one in heaven.’

I would like to share with you that for me the emphasis is on the word ‘Our.’ I think the ‘Our’ part of relationship is very important to Jesus. He called people from a variety of backgrounds and families into one family. I believe when Jesus stated we have one Father – the one in heaven, he was (and is) placing less emphasis on earthly heritage, which was (and still is for some people) a really huge deal. In the ancient times, if you did not have the correct parentage you did not have access to certain places in the temple or in the community.

Jesus, however, worked to break down barriers and divisions. Jesus opened up the Scriptures to everyone and the gates of heaven as well. No person is better than another no matter who their earthly parents were or are. Through Jesus, we have learned that we all have access to God and that God loves everyone equally.

Some Christians say, Father God, which in some ways explains who Our Father is – God – and many Christians imagine God as a male figure. But there are some who imagine God differently. It’s important for us to understand that in the Hebrew language God is not defined by gender. God is described or defined as the Almighty or Supreme Deity.

When Jesus talked about God, he used a male description that people on earth were familiar with, to help widen their understanding about who Jesus, himself was, the Son of God (in heaven and on earth) and Jesus then taught his disciples that they too, were sons of God.

Jesus also taught his followers that everyone who did the will of his father in heaven was Jesus’ mother, brother and sister.(Matthew 12:50)

Jesus has made us all children of God and that is a beautiful gift. We are all brothers and sisters of Jesus and children of God, gathered into one family.

Let us pray,

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven
our debtors.
And do not bring us to the
time of trial,
but rescue us from the
evil one. (Matthew 6:9-13 NRSV)