Our Father

This then is how you should pray -

Our Father...

But what does the word "Father" really mean?

It's a common enough word.  But does it have the "common" meaning in this context?

You may ask - why is this important?  The words that Jesus spoke regarding how we are to pray start with "Our Father".  How could it be anything other than of utmost importance to understand who this "Father" is - and what is His relationship to Jesus and to us?

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Our Father is article #3 in the series: The Lord's Prayer. Click button to view titles for entire series

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Christians think we know what this word "Father" means.  But have we looked any deeper?

Muslims think they know what this word "Father" means.  But have you looked any deeper?

The difference between the two is amazingly important.

And even without that difference - just for us as Christians - understanding what "Father" means in very, very important!

For Christians - the Father is a member of what we call the Holy Trinity - made up of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

For Muslims, they hold that there is no Trinity.  For them the concept of The Father having a Son is unthinkable.  It goes against their beliefs. So in Islam, there is no Father.  In Islam there is no Son.  In Islam there is no Holy Spirit.

So, you see - it is critical for all of us to understand what this means - before getting into the rest of the words that Jesus spoke.

As an example of what Muslims believe - let's look at Sura 4 -

[4:171] O people of the scripture, do not transgress the limits of your religion, and do not say about GOD except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was a messenger of GOD, and His word that He had sent to Mary, and a revelation from Him. Therefore, you shall believe in GOD and His messengers. You shall not say, "Trinity." You shall refrain from this for your own good. GOD is only one god. Be He glorified; He is much too glorious to have a son. To Him belongs everything in the heavens and everything on earth. GOD suffices as Lord and Master.

You can begin to see a problem here.  That Jesus is The Messiah is not questioned in this verse.  That Jesus is the son of Mary is also not questioned.  The issue is whether GOD can have a son.

And that then begs the question of who exactly are the Father and the Son - and what are the relationships between them?

As we go through this, it's important to notice the difference between when a word is capitalized and when it is not - as in "Father" versus "father".

The Father

First, let's talk about The Father.

In the Enhanced Strong's Lexicon - looking at the word Jesus used for Father - we read -