The Lord’s Prayer

#4. Jan. 26, 2015

2015 Devotional. These passages are taken from: “100 Verses Every Christian Needs to Know” by Freeman-Smith.  All Passages are from the NIV.

Matthew 6:9-13 ⁹ “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
¹⁰ your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give us today our daily bread.
¹² And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³ And lead us not into temptation,^[a]
but deliver us from the evil one.^[b]

The larger context of this passage is Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount”.  Jesus is teaching his disciples but it appears there is a large crowd as well.  Jesus is teaching about the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom is here (Mt. 4:17) and it dwells in our hearts, but it includes all of creation. The church is not the Kingdom but reflects the Kingdom, therefor the “Sermon on the Mount” is about practice, a way to live. In this passage Jesus is teaching his disciples and us how to pray.

Take note of the context: when you give vs.2, when you pray vs.9, when you forgive vs.14, when you fast vs.16, when you store up treasure vs.19 and when you worry vs. 25.  (Chap 6)   It is all about practicing your faith and what you believe! Take note also of the immediate context: vs. 8. “Do not be like them (v 2-7 hypocrites, and those of many words) for your Father knows what you need before you asked him”. Also vs. 9 “Thus therefore pray ye” (Greek text). “Therefore” always sends us back to the previous verses.  God knows our needs so we pray this short prayer in faith.  Prayer however is not limited to this prayer, we pray and fast so that we know our needs and know our inability to meet those needs.  We approach God in the way Jesus teaches us to pray as the Spirit guides us.

This prayer in Matthew is a short but not a simple prayer.  “Our Father in heaven”, we approach God directly, He is available 24/7. He never sleeps (Ps. 121:3-4). Hallowed be your name”, we glorify Him for His mighty works (Rev. 5:12-13). “Your kingdom come and your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven”. Many of us pray this request without much thought but we are asking for the end of the world, as we know it (Rev. 6: 9-10; 11:15; 21:1-4).

The prayer now focuses on ourselves, our physical and spiritual needs: “Give us this day our daily bread.” What are asking for and what are we expecting? (Read Pr. 30: 7-9). It also means thanking God daily for our physical needs. And forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors”. Forgiving others brings forgiveness into our lives and drives out bitterness (Mk 11:25). Forgive always!   “And lead us not into temptation”  (Jas. 1:13-14). What we are asking here is not to be tested more than we are able to resist.  “But deliver us from the evil one”. Do not be deceived; many people do not believe that there actually is an evil one but 1 Pet 5:8 makes clear that there is: “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”  God will not only rescue us (I Cor.10: 13) but also forgives us when we fall if we turn to Jesus! Praise be to God!