Whether it’s Father’s Day or any other day of the year, seeing what the Bible says about a father’s love is important. These Bible Verses about a father’s love include how a dad should love and parent his children, and how the children should respond, but also how Christians have God as a heavenly Father.
Father’s Day Bible verses
These Bible verses about father’s love can help show what it should look like in a loving family.
How a parent should raise their children in the Lord
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6
This proverb encourages parents to raise their children according to God’s word, that they would be equipped to live godly lives.
As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
Psalm 103:13 ESV
As parents, we can reflect what kind of parent God is to us. Parenting with compassion and understanding reflects God back to our children.
How children should respond to their parents
“Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with a promise.
Ephesians 6:2
This commandment from God was so important, it was included in the Ten Commandments. Honoring your parents is a way to reflect the Father/child relationship we have with God as Christians.
My son, listen to your father’s instruction, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching: for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck.
Proverbs 1:8-9
What parents teach their children should ideally honor God. This proverb encourages children to listen to what their parents teach, and not discard those principles.
Knowing God as a Loving Father Bible Verses
These Bible verses about Father’s love can help us understand God as our Father.
God as our Dad
In the New Testament, there are a few verses which refer to God as Father which use the word “Abba.” The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: New Testament, explains the use of the word Abba. “‘Abba’ is the Aramaic word for ‘Father,’ suggesting an intimate relationship with God. “Father” was the word Jesus habitually used in his prayers to God…and which he passed on to those who through him became God’s children.”
We see Jesus use “Abba” in prayer to God in Mark 14:36. “He said, ‘Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Please remove this cup from me. However, not what I desire, but what you desire.’”
In Galatians 4:6, Paul tells us that the Holy Spirit identifies God to us as our father. “And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, ‘Abba, Father!’”
By great mercy in God’s salvation for us, we have been adopted into the family of God. “For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’” Romans 8:15
God acts as a loving Father to us
But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name.
John 1:12
When we accept Jesus into our heart, God makes us His child! What a privilege to be called one of God’s children.
A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
Psalm 68:5
The Lord provides what we need, and will be a father to the fatherless.
A note if you are struggling on seeing God as a father. It’s been said that some struggle with the concept of God as our Father because of their negative or absentee experiences with their own dad. If this is you, let God redeem what being a good father means. Study these Bible verses and more to learn the characteristics of God as a father.
Scriptures to Pray for Fathers
These Bible verses can be helpful scriptures to pray for dads.
To be worthy of honor
Children’s children are the crown of old men; the glory of children are their parents.
Proverbs 17:6
Pray that the older and younger generations will bring honor to one another.
To be a thoughtful, godly father
You fathers, don’t provoke your children to wrath, but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Ephesians 6:4
Pray that fathers would not make it harder for their children to obey or show honor, but that they would thoughtfully and considerately be a good dad to their children.
To repair an estranged relationship
But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand, and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let’s eat, and celebrate; for this, my son, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’ Then they began to celebrate.
Luke 15:22-24
Pray for families who have children who are no longer walking with the Lord. Pray that the children will come back to the Lord. Pray that the parents will know the best ways to love and encourage their children in this season.
To show love to one another
For this is the message which you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
1 John 3:11
Pray for fathers and their children to be loving and kind to one another.
For those who need healing from a difficult relationship with their father
He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds.
Psalm 147:3
Pray for those who have been hurt in some way by their fathers. Pray that God would be their Father and would bring healing to their hearts.
For fathers to teach their children about God
For he established a covenant in Jacob, and appointed a teaching in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children; that the generation to come might know, even the children who should be born; who should arise and tell their children, that they might set their hope in God, and not forget God’s deeds, but keep his commandments.
Psalm 78:5-7
Pray that fathers will pass on their knowledge of God and how to walk with Him to future generations.
A godly, kind father can leave a legacy that lasts beyond his years. May these Bible verses about father’s love, from our dads here and our heavenly Father, inspire both father and child to live a life that reflects God’s love and righteousness.
If you liked reading Bible Verses about Father’s love, you may enjoy reading Short Prayers for Mothers and Valentine’s Day Bible Verses.
