The Bible has a lot to say about caring for and supporting fatherless children. In Biblical times, fatherless children were extremely vulnerable – without the support and protection of a father, they could easily end up destitute, exploited or enslaved. God calls his people to look after and advocate for fatherless children repeatedly throughout Scripture. Looking after widows and orphans is even described as “pure religion” (James 1:27).
Old Testament instructions to care for the fatherless
Here are some key passages in the Old Testament about caring for the fatherless:
Exodus 22:22-24
“You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry, and my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.”
This severe warning not to mistreat or exploit fatherless children shows how seriously God takes the matter. Mistreating the vulnerable invokes God’s wrath.
Deuteronomy 10:17-18
“For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.”
Here we see that caring for the fatherless is tied directly to God’s character – he “executes justice” for them.
Deuteronomy 14:28-29
“At the end of every three years you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in the same year and lay it up within your towns. And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance with you, and the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your towns, shall come and eat and be filled, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands that you do.”
God commanded tithes to be set aside to feed and provide for the fatherless and vulnerable. This ensured they were cared for.
Deuteronomy 24:17
“You shall not pervert the justice due to the sojourner, or to the fatherless, or take a widow’s garment in pledge.”
Here Moses commands the Israelites not to deny justice to fatherless children.
Deuteronomy 26:12-13
“When you have finished paying all the tithe of your produce in the third year, which is the year of tithing, giving it to the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, so that they may eat within your towns and be filled, then you shall say before the Lord your God, ‘I have removed the sacred portion out of my house, and moreover, I have given it to the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, according to all your commandment that you have commanded me. I have not transgressed any of your commandments, nor have I forgotten them.'”
Bringing tithes for the vulnerable is again commanded and caring for fatherless children is tied to obeying God’s commands.
Psalm 10:17-18
“O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.”
God hears the cries of the fatherless and administers justice for them.
Psalm 68:4-5
“Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts; his name is the Lord; exult before him! Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.”
God is described as a father to the fatherless – he cares for them and protects them.
Psalm 146:9
“The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.”
Again, God cares for and upholds the fatherless.
New Testament instructions to care for the fatherless
The New Testament continues the strong theme of caring for the vulnerable, emphasizing care for widows and orphans:
James 1:27
“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”
Here, James defines “pure religion” as caring for widows and orphans – their care is an essential obligation for God’s people.
Galatians 2:9-10
“James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.”
The early church leadership made care for the poor, including fatherless children, a high priority.
Jesus’ care for the fatherless and vulnerable
Jesus personally modeled compassion and care for the poor, outcast and vulnerable throughout his ministry:
Mark 9:33-37
“And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.””
Jesus uses a child as an illustration of the humility and lowliness required in the Kingdom of God. Welcoming children equates to welcoming Jesus.
Matthew 18:1-5
“At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me.”
Once again, Jesus uses a child to illustrate servanthood and humility. He makes it clear that serving and welcoming children is directly connected to following him.
Matthew 19:13-15
“Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away.”
Here Jesus welcomes and blesses little children, despite the disciples trying to shoo them away.
Luke 18:15-17
“Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
Again, Jesus insists on welcoming and blessing the vulnerable children and infants brought to them, using them as an example of how to receive the Kingdom.
Biblical promises to the fatherless
As well as commanding care for the fatherless, the Bible also contains many promises of God’s own protection and care over them:
Deuteronomy 10:18
“He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.”
God himself executes justice and provides for the fatherless.
Psalm 10:14
“But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation, that you may take it into your hands; to you the helpless commits himself; you have been the helper of the fatherless.”
God sees the hardship of the fatherless and acts as their helper.
Psalm 27:10
“For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in.”
Even if abandoned by parents, God will take in the child.
Psalm 68:5
“Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.”
God is a father to the fatherless.
Psalm 146:9
“The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.”
The Lord upholds and watches over the fatherless.
Adoption in the Bible
Many Christians believe that adoption mirrors God’s grace in redemption. When God “adopts” us as his children, he brings us into his family out of gracious love.
The classic New Testament adoption passage is:
Romans 8:15
“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
Those adopted by God can call him “Abba, Father” and are no longer slaves to fear.
Another key adoption passage is:
Ephesians 1:3-6
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.”
God predestined and purposed our adoption into his family.
So adopting orphaned or abandoned children reflects God’s heart to bring children without families into the security of a loving home.
Conclusion
To summarize the key points:
- God commands his people repeatedly in Scripture to care for, support, uphold justice for, and defend fatherless children.
- Caring for widows and orphans is defined as pure, undefiled religion.
- God promises repeatedly to act as a father to the fatherless.
- Jesus modeled care and concern for vulnerable children in his ministry.
- Followers of Christ are all adopted into God’s family by grace.
- So Christians should lead the way in adoption and foster care for children without fathers.
The massive volume of Biblical instruction about the fatherless makes it clear that caring for and advocating for children without parents should be a critical priority for Christians. Defending the vulnerable and fatherless honors God and reflects his heart as a compassionate Father to the fatherless.