Father's Day

The Role of Fathers

To love and care for their children

Psalm 103:13 CSB

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.

Deuteronomy 1:31 CSB

And you saw in the wilderness how the Lord your God carried you as a man carries his son all along the way you traveled until you reached this place.

Matthew 7:9–11 CSB

Who among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him.

Luke 11:11–13 CSB

What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

Colossians 3:21 CSB

Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they won’t become discouraged.

Ephesians 6:4 CSB

Fathers, don’t stir up anger in your children, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

To discipline their children

Proverbs 13:24 CSB

The one who will not use the rod hates his son, but the one who loves him disciplines him diligently.

Deuteronomy 8:5 CSB

Keep in mind that the Lord your God has been disciplining you just as a man disciplines his son.

Proverbs 3:11–12 CSB

Do not despise the Lord’s instruction, my son, and do not loathe his discipline; for the Lord disciplines the one he loves, just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.

Proverbs 15:5 CSB

A fool despises his father’s discipline, but a person who accepts correction is sensible.

Proverbs 19:18 CSB

Discipline your son while there is hope; don’t set your heart on being the cause of his death.

Proverbs 22:15 CSB

Foolishness is bound to the heart of a youth; a rod of discipline will separate it from him.

Proverbs 23:13 CSB

Don’t withhold discipline from a youth; if you punish him with a rod, he will not die.

Proverbs 29:15 CSB

A rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a youth left to himself is a disgrace to his mother.

1 Timothy 3:2–5 CSB

An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not an excessive drinker, not a bully but gentle, not quarrelsome, not greedy. He must manage his own household competently and have his children under control with all dignity. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of God’s church?)

1 Timothy 3:12 CSB

Deacons are to be husbands of one wife, managing their children and their own households competently.

Hebrews 12:7–11 CSB

Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline—which all receive—then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had human fathers discipline us, and we respected them. Shouldn’t we submit even more to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them, but he does it for our benefit, so that we can share his holiness. No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

To instruct their children

Psalm 78:2–8 CSB

I will declare wise sayings; I will speak mysteries from the past— things we have heard and known and that our ancestors have passed down to us. We will not hide them from their children, but will tell a future generation the praiseworthy acts of the Lord, his might, and the wondrous works he has performed. He established a testimony in Jacob and set up a law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach to their children so that a future generation— children yet to be born—might know. They were to rise and tell their children so that they might put their confidence in God and not forget God’s works, but keep his commands. Then they would not be like their ancestors, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not loyal and whose spirit was not faithful to God.

Deuteronomy 4:9 CSB

“Only be on your guard and diligently watch yourselves, so that you don’t forget the things your eyes have seen and so that they don’t slip from your mind as long as you live. Teach them to your children and your grandchildren.

Deuteronomy 6:6–7 CSB

These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Deuteronomy 6:20–24 CSB

“When your son asks you in the future, ‘What is the meaning of the decrees, statutes, and ordinances that the Lord our God has commanded you?’ tell him, ‘We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand. Before our eyes the Lord inflicted great and devastating signs and wonders on Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on all his household, but he brought us from there in order to lead us in and give us the land that he swore to our ancestors. The Lord commanded us to follow all these statutes and to fear the Lord our God for our prosperity always and for our preservation, as it is today.

Deuteronomy 11:18–21 CSB

“Imprint these words of mine on your hearts and minds, bind them as a sign on your hands, and let them be a symbol on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your city gates, so that as long as the heavens are above the earth, your days and those of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors.

Deuteronomy 31:13 CSB

Then their children who do not know the law will listen and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”

Proverbs 13:1 CSB

A wise son responds to his father’s discipline, but a mocker doesn’t listen to rebuke.

Proverbs 22:6 CSB

Start a youth out on his way; even when he grows old he will not depart from it.

Ephesians 6:4 CSB

Fathers, don’t stir up anger in your children, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Psalm 127:3–5 CSB

Sons are indeed a heritage from the Lord, offspring, a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the sons born in one’s youth. Happy is the man who has filled his quiver with them. They will never be put to shame when they speak with their enemies at the city gate.