41.01 The Lord's Prayer

This is a sub page on the Lord's Prayer, which is broken off of the main prayer page, which can be found here, 41 Prayer. Both of these pages are resource and study pages listing general summaries on different topics and parts of Prayer, along with a complete and extensive listing of books, sermons, and other reference material on the subject.

41.01 The Lord's Prayer
41.01.00 General Literature		41.01.04 Purpose and Teaching
41.01.01 Bible Dictionary Entries (newpage)
41.01.02 General Issues
41.01.01.01 Why would Jesus even pray?
41.01.01.02 Like John's Disciples
41.01.03 Individual Elements
41.01.03.01 Hallowed be thy Name.
41.01.03.02 Thy Kingdom Come.
41.01.03.03 Thy Will be Done.
41.01.03.04 Give us our Daily Bread.
41.01.03.05 Forgive us our Sins.
41.01.03.06 Lead us not into Temptation.

41.01.00 General Works on the Lord's Prayer

Books

Donations

The disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, and Jesus gave them what we call "the Lord's Prayer", although we should not mindlessly repeat this making it a "vain repetition" (Mat 6:7) which is prohibited. Jesus didn't say, "repeat after me" but "after this manner."

There is a very close parallel or relationship between the prayer life of Jesus Christ and the prayer habits of the New Testament church, the apostles, and the disciples. They learned prayer from Christ. This is very important to see.

Sermons on the Lord's Prayer

Sunday - Teach us to Pray (s)

Go here to see 41.01.01 Bible Dictionary Entries

41.01.02 General Issues with the Lord's Pray

41.01.02.01 Why would Jesus even pray?

The entire question of Jesus praying is in itself a mystery. Jesus being God should not have to ask anyone for anything. But the mystery is revealed in the fact that God desired Jesus (being God also) to come to earth in the form of a servant, and to "experience life as a human being." His life becomes the pattern for us to live our lives, and even though Jesus could of his own power do any normal or impossible deed, the order of the day was that Jesus live victoriously by means of the same medium and help that all Christians would have, that being the power of the Holy Spirit, and the guidance of the will of God the Father.

These two central pieces in the framework of Christianity were highly visible and exemplary in the life of Christ. This should not go without our notice and our diligent meditation.

Therefore Jesus prayed not because that was the only way he would get his petition answered or his will done, but Jesus prayed in order to show us how to fulfill the will of the Father, how to live victoriously with spiritual power from the Holy Spirit, and how to survive our life since we are not gods.

41.01.02.02 Teach us to pray like John taught his disciples

Luke 11:1.

John the Baptist taught his disciples about the coming kingdom of God, and part of this kingdom was prayer. A kingdom is not a place but a people, a ruler and his subjects. This was the emphasis of John the Baptist, submission by the believer to the King Messiah. The whole point of being a subject in the kingdom of God is to submit to the authority, direction, laws and commands of the King.

Cheyne - Encyclopaedia Biblica - Entry "Lord's Prayer"

According to Luke, the disciple asked 'Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.' That the disciples of John were addicted not only to much fasting (Mat 9:14; Mark 2:18), but to much praying, Luke alone tells us (Luke 5:33). To add fresh petitions on particular subjects to received forms of prayer, is but natural in all times; certain rabbis (R. Eliezer and R. Johanan) are especially mentioned as having done this. In this way the Baptist may have added to the prayers then in use among the Jews some special prayer, and may have taught it his disciples. Such an apocryphal prayer is found in Syriac MSS, whether also in Greek and Latin the present writer does not know.

41.01.03 Individual Elements of the Lord's Prayer

Mat 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Mat 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Luke 11:2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. 3 Give us day by day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

For the differences in the two prayers, see ISBE Sources.

The Lord's Prayer is arranged in 6 petitions in 3 equal parts:
(1) 2 directed towards God and His great purposes.
(2) 2 directed towards our physical condition and wants.
(3) 2 directed towards our spiritual condition and spiritual needs.

41.01.03.01 Hallowed be thy name.

41.01.03.02 Thy Kingdom come.

Part of our earnest prayers to God should center on the fulfillment of God's kingdom on earth. We should strive to make God's reign extend to earth. This is done by our own drawing of God's kingdom by the way we live our life, and by our promotion of God's kingdom among other human beings.

41.01.03.03 Thy will be done, as it is in heaven.

41.01.03.04 Give us our daily bread.

41.01.03.05 Forgive us our sins as we forgive our debtors.

41.01.03.06 Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

41.01.04 Purpose and Teaching of Lord's Prayer

Jesus gives this in response to "teach us to pray". It is a simple model prayer for the disciples to use in learning how to pray. It has all the right elements and presentation that pleases God. It suggests the proper objects of prayer for the child of God.

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