The Lord's Prayer - Lesson 4: Our Father in Heaven

The Lord’s Prayer

Lesson 4: Our Father in Heaven

Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be your name;

Your kingdom come;

Your will be done,

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread;

And forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors;

And do not lead us into temptation,

But deliver us from the evil.

For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.

Amen.

Matthew 6:9a Pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven,

Luke 11:1-2a [1] When he finished praying in a certain place, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.” [2] He said to them, “When you pray, say, ‘Our Father in heaven,

The Main Points for This Lesson:

Pray in this way. The Lord's Prayer comes from God. Jesus taught us to pray in this way (Matthew 6:9), and even to say (Luke 11:2) this prayer. We should know, understand, and use the Lord's Prayer.

Our. One word and concept that is found in this prayer is the “our.”

This “our” reminds us that we are part of a family of believers, with brothers and sisters. Pride and separation, or distancing ourselves (Proverbs 18:1) from fellow disciples, are contrary to God's will. Unity should be sought and maintained by walking in humility and love. God calls us to this.

As we pray this prayer for ourselves, we should pray this prayer for others. We should pray this prayer privately in our closet, and we should pray this prayer with others.

Father. God is the Father of his people, of those who have turned from sin to do the will of God. Such people are born of God by the word of God. When we pray “our Father,” such a prayer should both reflect and call forth actions in us: Love for such a Father; Thanksgiving to such a Father; Holy fear of this Father; Obedience to such a Father.

We should remember who God is to us. He is our Father. As such, he is our creator (both in giving natural life, and in giving us new birth), our provider, our authority, the one who disciplines us, etc. The title “father” speaks of love and compassion. It speaks of relationship. Jesus said that eternal life is to know the Father and the One whom he has sent (John 17:3). This and more should call forth love, thanksgiving, fear and obedience.

We should remember who we are to God, and who we should be to God. God gives birth to children not in name only, but in power as well. Because of God's great love, we may be called sons of God. We may also live and act as children of God. Jesus said that when we love our enemies, and do good to those around us without looking for earthly rewards, then we are children of our Father in heaven. If we call God “Father,” but do not live as God's children should live, we are taking his name in vain (this becomes more clear as we consider that our Father has given us all we need for life and godliness). This and more should call forth love, thanksgiving, fear and obedience.

In heaven. When we call upon God as our Father, we remember that he is in heaven. We learn by such a prayer that we should both live a heavenly life and aim to live a heavenly life. What is meant by a heavenly life? As the saints of old, we too should live as strangers and pilgrims in this world, looking forward to and loving our home in heaven far above this earthly life. As Jesus taught, we should not lay up treasure on earth, by making our goals center on this life, its possessions and rewards. Rather, we should lay up treasure in heaven, by making our goals center on the next life, its eternal possessions and rewards. We should live for the kingdom of heaven, for God's kingdom, and not for this world. That is, we should make choices, and live, in keeping with God's eternal priorities first and foremost.

Suggestions:

Open each lesson with prayer for the teacher and the students and this class time.

Begin by reminding the children that we are learning about the Lord's Prayer.

Read the verses in Matthew 5:9a and Luke 11:1-2. Ask what is meant by “pray like this,” and “when you pray, say.”

Talk about the three main ideas in this first part of the pray itself, “our,” “Father,” and “in heaven.” Use questions to help the children think of these things. When do you usually use the word “our”? Why do you think Jesus taught us to use the word “our” in this prayer? What is a father? How is God our Father? In what way is a Christian a child of God? Where is God according to the Lord's Prayer? Did Jesus teach anything about heaven?

Use the portion from 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 to illustrate the concept of one family, one body, with one Father, and how this should direct our prayers. Questions: Which parts of your body are important? Which parts are not important? How is the church like a body? Which parts of God's body, or family, are important? Which parts can we ignore are mistreat? Who should we pray for? Who should we pray with?

Use the story from Luke 15:11-32 to talk about the idea of God as our Father, and we as his children. Questions: Did the younger son honor his father? How did he dishonor him? Did the younger son understand that he had dishonored his father? Why do you think this? What was the father's response to the son when he repented, that is, when he left his sin to return to serve his father?

Close the lesson with prayer related to the subject and the students. Pray the Lord's Prayer together.

Stories:

1 Corinthians 12:12-26 [12] For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. [13] For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit. [14] For the body is not one member, but many. [15] If the foot would say, “Because I’m not the hand, I’m not part of the body,” it is not therefore not part of the body. [16] If the ear would say, “Because I’m not the eye, I’m not part of the body,” it’s not therefore not part of the body. [17] If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be? [18] But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body, just as he desired. [19] If they were all one member, where would the body be? [20] But now they are many members, but one body. [21] The eye can’t tell the hand, “I have no need for you,” or again the head to the feet, “I have no need for you.” [22] No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. [23] Those parts of the body which we think to be less honorable, on those we bestow more abundant honor; and our unpresentable parts have more abundant propriety; [24] whereas our presentable parts have no such need. But God composed the body together, giving more abundant honor to the inferior part, [25] that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. [26] When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. Or when one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

While this is not really a story, it may still be used to illustrate the thought of the “our” in the Lord's Prayer. It does not use the picture of a family, but the picture of a body with its various parts may help to show the importance of praying this prayer both for and with one another.

Luke 15:11-32 [11] He said, “A certain man had two sons. [12] The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of your property.’ He divided his livelihood between them. [13] Not many days after, the younger son gathered all of this together and traveled into a far country. There he wasted his property with riotous living. [14] When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need. [15] He went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs. [16] He wanted to fill his belly with the husks that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any. [17] But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough to spare, and I’m dying with hunger! [18] I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. [19] I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants.”’ [20] “He arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. [21] The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ [22] “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. [23] Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat, and celebrate; [24] for this, my son, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’ They began to celebrate. [25] “Now his elder son was in the field. As he came near to the house, he heard music and dancing. [26] He called one of the servants to him, and asked what was going on. [27] He said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and healthy.’ [28] But he was angry, and would not go in. Therefore his father came out, and begged him. [29] But he answered his father, ‘Behold, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed a commandment of yours, but you never gave me a goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. [30] But when this, your son, came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’ [31] “He said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. [32] But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’”

This story may help to illustrate both the idea of God as our Father, and the humility of God's children as they come to him, as the prodigal son humbly returned to his father, recognizing that he was no longer worthy to be called his son.

More Stories and Examples:

Genesis 40:14 But remember me when it will be well with you, and please show kindness to me, and make mention of me to Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house. [see Genesis 40:1-23 for full story]

Joseph was is prison. After interpreting the chief cupbearer's dream, he makes the above request or plea to him. As the cupbearer should have remembered Joseph, this is a picture of what should be on the heart of Christian's as we pray to God the prayer taught to us by our Lord. Is it not Jesus' intention that we should remember the weak, the fainting, the persecuted, the hungry, the sick, the tempted, etc., when we pray “give us daily bread,” “forgive us our debts,” “deliver us from the evil”?

Matthew 13:24-30 [24] He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field, [25] but while people slept, his enemy came and sowed darnel weeds also among the wheat, and went away. [26] But when the blade sprang up and produced fruit, then the darnel weeds appeared also. [27] The servants of the householder came and said to him, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where did this darnel come from?’ [28] “He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and gather them up?’ [29] “But he said, ‘No, lest perhaps while you gather up the darnel weeds, you root up the wheat with them. [30] Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the harvest time I will tell the reapers, “First, gather up the darnel weeds, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

Matthew 13:36-43 [36] Then Jesus sent the multitudes away, and went into the house. His disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the darnel weeds of the field.” [37] He answered them, “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, [38] the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the children of the Kingdom; and the darnel weeds are the children of the evil one. [39] The enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. [40] As therefore the darnel weeds are gathered up and burned with fire; so will it be at the end of this age. [41] The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of his Kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and those who do iniquity, [42] and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and the gnashing of teeth. [43] Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

This story may be more fitting for the lesson on “your kingdom come.” That said, it does speak about the children of the kingdom, and the kingdom of their Father. May we learn to seek first and treasure that kingdom above all others.

Other Verses:

OUR

Proverbs 18:1 [ASV] He that separateth himself seeketh his own desire, And rageth against all sound wisdom.

Matthew 18:19 Again, assuredly I tell you, that if two of you will agree on earth concerning anything that they will ask, it will be done for them by my Father who is in heaven.

1 Timothy 2:8 I desire therefore that the men in every place pray, lifting up holy hands without anger and doubting.

James 5:16 Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective.

Galatians 6:10 So then, as we have opportunity, let’s do what is good toward all men, and especially toward those who are of the household of the faith.

Ephesians 2:19-20 [19] So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, [20] being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone;

Ephesians 4:1-6 [1] I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called, [2] with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love; [3] being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. [4] There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you also were called in one hope of your calling; [5] one Lord, one faith, one baptism, [6] one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in us all.

Ephesians 6:18 with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints:

Hebrews 13:3 Remember those who are in bonds, as bound with them; and those who are ill-treated, since you are also in the body.

Jude 20-21 [20] But you, beloved, keep building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit. [21] Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.

FATHER

Genesis 2:7 Yahweh God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Our Father is the creator of all mankind.

Psalm 103:13-14 [13] Like a father has compassion on his children, so Yahweh has compassion on those who fear him. [14] For he knows how we are made. He remembers that we are dust.

Our Father has compassion on those who fear him. He know our condition.

Matthew 6:8 Therefore don’t be like them, for your Father knows what things you need, before you ask him.

Our Father knows what we need, before we ask him.

Matthew 6:14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

Our Father forgives us when we forgive others.

Matthew 7:11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Our Father gives good things to those who ask him.

Matthew 18:12-14 [12] “What do you think? If a man has one hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine, go to the mountains, and seek that which has gone astray? [13] If he finds it, most certainly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. [14] Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

It is not the will of our Father that one of these little ones should perish.

Luke 11:11-13 [11] “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he won’t give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? [12] Or if he asks for an egg, he won’t give him a scorpion, will he? [13] If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

James 1:17-18 [17] Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow. [18] Of his own will he gave birth to us by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

Our Father gives good and perfect gifts. He gave us new birth through his holy word.

James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Our God is our God and Father.

Hebrews 12:4-11 [4] You have not yet resisted to blood, striving against sin; [5] and you have forgotten the exhortation which reasons with you as with children, “My son, don’t take lightly the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by him; [6] For whom the Lord loves, he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives.” [7] It is for discipline that you endure. God deals with you as with children, for what son is there whom his father doesn’t discipline? [8] But if you are without discipline, of which all have been made partakers, then are you illegitimate, and not children. [9] Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live? [10] For they indeed, for a few days, punished us as seemed good to them; but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness. [11] All chastening seems for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been exercised thereby.

Our Father disciplines us and teaches us the right path to life.

1 John 3:1 [1] See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn’t know us, because it didn’t know him.

CHILDREN OF OUR FATHER

Isaiah 1:2 Hear, heavens, and listen, earth; for Yahweh has spoken: “I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.

Malachi 1:6 “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, then where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is the respect due me? Says Yahweh of Armies to you, priests, who despise my name. You say, ‘How have we despised your name?’

Matthew 5:43-48 [43] “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’ [44] But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, [45] that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. [46] For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? [47] If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? [48] Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 12:46-50 [46] While he was yet speaking to the multitudes, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, seeking to speak to him. [47] One said to him, “Behold, your mother and your brothers stand outside, seeking to speak to you.” [48] But he answered him who spoke to him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” [49] He stretched out his hand towards his disciples, and said, “Behold, my mother and my brothers! [50] For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

Matthew 18:1-4 [1] In that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” [2] Jesus called a little child to himself, and set him in their midst, [3] and said, “Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn, and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. [4] Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

We must humble ourselves as little children to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Luke 6:27-36 [27] “But I tell you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, [28] bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you. [29] To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer also the other; and from him who takes away your cloak, don’t withhold your coat also. [30] Give to everyone who asks you, and don’t ask him who takes away your goods to give them back again. [31] “As you would like people to do to you, do exactly so to them. [32] If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. [33] If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. [34] If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive back as much. [35] But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back; and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil. [36] “Therefore be merciful, even as your Father is also merciful.

John 1:10-13 [10] He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn’t recognize him. [11] He came to his own, and those who were his own didn’t receive him. [12] But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name: [13] who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 1:12-13 [KJV] [12] But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: [13] Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Through Jesus Christ, God gave us the “right” to become God's children (v12). He cleared all the legal roadblocks, so that if we turn from sin to follow Jesus, we can become children of God. Becoming and being a child of God is not simply a legal transaction, having no relation to our nature and actions (our thoughts, words and deeds). God, through Christ Jesus, did not just give us the “right,” but also the “power” to become children of God (v12). Jesus taught that if we love our enemies and do good, seeking no earthly reward, we will be children of the Most High (Luke 6:35). We were not given only an impotent “right” to become children of God, while remaining in every other way children of the devil (1 John 3:10). We were given both the “right” and the “power” to become children of God. Hence, God's children are not only able, but expected, to live like their Father in heaven.

Romans 8:13-17 [13] For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. [14] For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God. [15] 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!” [16] The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God; [17] and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him.

Note the conditions given in these verses. The children of God are those who are led by the Spirit of God, that is, those who do not live after the flesh, but put to death the deeds of the body. Such people are the children of God (vv13-14). Further, the apostle Paul writes that the Spirit testifies that we are children of God. To whom does the Spirit testify this? It testifies this to those who suffer with Christ (vv16-17). Those who suffer with Christ may have confidence that they are children of God, as the Spirit of God testifies with our spirit about this.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 [14] Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? [15] What agreement has Christ with Belial? Or what portion has a believer with an unbeliever? [16] What agreement has a temple of God with idols? For you are a temple of the living God. Even as God said, “I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” [17] Therefore “‘Come out from among them, and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you. [18] I will be to you a Father. You will be to me sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty.”

1 Peter 1:13-19 [13] Therefore prepare your minds for action, be sober and set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ— [14] as children of obedience, not conforming yourselves according to your former lusts as in your ignorance, [15] but just as he who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all of your behavior; [16] because it is written, “You shall be holy; for I am holy.” [17] If you call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judges according to each man’s work, pass the time of your living as foreigners here in reverent fear: [18] knowing that you were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from the useless way of life handed down from your fathers, [19] but with precious blood, as of a faultless and pure lamb, the blood of Christ;

If we call God Father, we should walk in the fear of the Lord as strangers in this world. Our Father in not just the one who disciplines us for our eternal good, but he is also the final and impartial judge of all the earth, who will judge each man's work.

1 John 2:15 Don’t love the world, neither the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father’s love isn’t in him.

1 John 3:1-10 [1] See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn’t know us, because it didn’t know him. [2] Beloved, now we are children of God, and it is not yet revealed what we will be. But we know that, when he is revealed, we will be like him; for we will see him just as he is. [3] Everyone who has this hope set on him purifies himself, even as he is pure. [4] Everyone who sins also commits lawlessness. Sin is lawlessness. [5] You know that he was revealed to take away our sins, and in him is no sin. [6] Whoever remains in him doesn’t sin. Whoever sins hasn’t seen him, neither knows him. [7] Little children, let no one lead you astray. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. [8] He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. To this end the Son of God was revealed, that he might destroy the works of the devil. [9] Whoever is born of God doesn’t commit sin, because his seed remains in him; and he can’t sin, because he is born of God. [10] In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the devil. Whoever doesn’t do righteousness is not of God, neither is he who doesn’t love his brother.

Here the apostle John speaks of the great love of God given to us that we should be called children of God. God gave his only son that we may become his children. John goes further, giving us measures by which we may judge ourselves rightly (and perhaps see with clearer discernment the claims of others). Those who do righteousness and love their brother may have some confidence that they are children of God. We are told that those who do not practice righteousness, but continue on in their sin are not children of God. Instead, they belong to the devil.

IN HEAVEN

Matthew 6:19-21 [19] “Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; [20] but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal; [21] for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 10:32-33 [32] Everyone therefore who confesses me before men, him I will also confess before my Father who is in heaven. [33] But whoever denies me before men, him I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven.

Philippians 3:17-21 [17] Brothers, be imitators together of me, and note those who walk this way, even as you have us for an example. [18] For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, as the enemies of the cross of Christ, [19] whose end is destruction, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who think about earthly things. [20] For our citizenship is in heaven, from where we also wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, [21] who will change the body of our humiliation to be conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working by which he is able even to subject all things to himself.

Colossians 3:1-3 [1] If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. [2] Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth. [3] For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Hebrews 11:13-16 [13] These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. [14] For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. [15] If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return. [16] But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.