What comes to mind when you think of Father’s Day scriptures? The Bible talks a lot about the importance of fathers and their position and function in the home.
Is your father loving support for you, leading you to God’s truth, or is your father a man of the world, leading you to seek your Heavenly Father in need of comfort and security? Perhaps your father falls into neither of these categories because who really falls into a category anyway?
No matter what has brought you here, I am thankful to have the opportunity to study these Father’s Day Bible verses with you!
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What is the True Meaning of Father’s Day
Father’s Day is a day set aside to honor and celebrate dads. It is a day to reflect on the sacrifices they make for their families, and let them know just how much we love and appreciate them for all they do.
What Does the Bible Say about Being a Good Father?
Why are fathers so important? What is the biblical definition of a father?
A father is someone who is the spiritual leader of the home. He is to be a leader and protector for the family and to give an example of Christ’s love by being loving towards the children’s mother.
In a nutshell, he is to set the spiritual tone for the home and model the behavior for his children to learn from.
Our best example of a good father is found when we study God as our Heavenly Father.
We know that:
- He is father to the fatherless (Psalm 68:5)
- He shows compassion (Psalm 103:13)
- He loves us (John 3:16)
- He comforts us (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
- He disciplines us (Proverbs 3:11-12)
- He provides for us (Matthew 6:25-29)
What better way for us to study these Father’s Day Scriptures than to first dwell on our creator who while we were separated from him due to sin, sent his son to die on the cross and bring us back into right standing with him that we might call him Abba father (Romans 8:14-17)?
Related: 31 Encouraging Mother’s Day Scripture to Celebrate Moms
Scriptures for Father’s Day
We should celebrate dads all year long, but Father’s Day is a day set aside for us to truly reflect on all the characteristics that make him a good father in God’s eyes.
If you are looking for a Bible verse for Father’s Day that provides characteristics of a good father according to the Bible, check out the following verses of scripture :
- Brings his children up in the Lord (Ephesians 6:4)
- Does not provoke his children (Colossians 3:21)
- Chooses to serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15)
- Instructs his children in the ways of the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)
- Forgives his children (Luke 15:11-32)
Bible Verses about Being a Good Father
The Bible is full of excellent examples of good fathers:
- Joseph, taking Mary to wife and raising Jesus as his own son.
- The father in the parable of the prodigal son, forgiving and embracing his wayward child.
- King David begging his army not to kill the son that had betrayed him and risen up to take away his kingdom.
And an equal number of sinful fathers:
- Jacob loved and doted on Joseph more than his other sons leading them to raging jealousy.
- The High Priest Eli, while a godly man, did not discipline his sons the way he should’ve leading to their death.
When Jesus speaks about fathers it is often to lead our thoughts toward our Heavenly Father.
“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:11-12
Paul also runs with this train of thought.
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.
Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:5-11
Bible Verses about Father’s Love
Father’s Day is a time to reflect the unending love our dads have for us.
We know that our heavenly father loves us by the way he has poured that love upon us. His love is unending and nothing we say or do can ever disappoint Him!
As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; Psalm 103:13
Bible Verses about Father’s Responsibility
Father’s Day is a time to reflect on the many responsibilities that dads have.
While we expect fathers to provide for the financial and emotional needs of his children, the greatest responsibility we have to our children is to lead them in God’s truth. Although we like to think of fathers in a playful sort of way, wrestling, playing football, or taking time with children to go fishing or hiking, teaching our kids how to get to heaven outweighs all other responsibilities.
These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:6-9)
The father sets the spiritual condition of the home. Joshua’s challenge comes to mind.
- But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)
- Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. (Proverbs 22:6)
- Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)
Bible Verses about Father’s Legacy
Father’s Day is a time to celebrate a father’s legacy.
A father’s legacy is something he passes down to his children. Whether it is a strong work ethic, his patient character, or his love and devotion to Christ, it remains when he is no longer walking this earth.
I learned the value of hard work from my father. Excuses did not exist in my house and it was an honour to help the family out by doing chores and working on projects. This ambition has gotten me far in life and I will always appreciate (although at the time I was grumbling) the legacy he passed down to me.
The Bible has a few verses about a Father’s legacy as well.
- Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for their children, it will be a refuge. (Proverbs 14:26)
- Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. (Psalm 127:3-5)
- The righteous lead blameless lives; blessed are their children after them. (Proverbs 20:7)
Billy Graham once said that “a good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society.”
I pray you have been blessed with a wonderful father or that you are seeking to be one yourself. May you leave a legacy of your own.
Which of these Bible verses for Father’s Day spoke to you? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
