Thoughts on the "Our Father..."

What is often spoken of as “The Lord’s Prayer” is found in Matthew 6:9-15 and a shorter version of it in Luke 11:2-4. In both instances it is given by Jesus in response to a request from the disciples that they be taught how to pray.

It is short, easy to be memorized, and an almost universal tool for every Christian. It is used in formal churches where the Anglican Book of Worship uses “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us” is presented. (This is a problem whenever the prayer is used in spoken unison by a group, for the words need to be agreed upon before praying.) But the Bible uses different words in Matthew and Luke, also. The familiar ending “For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen” are also not a part of the original text, but were added later by a scribe and then adopted into the King James Version. It is used as a part of the Roman Catholic rosary as a repetitive part known as the “Our Father” and is often repeated over and over, even when Jesus taught in Matthew 6:7 “And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think they will be heard for their many words.”

Yet, this simple prayer has profound implications which I want to express by some questions about each phrase. You may also have some questions or comments which will help us learn how to pray effectively with this as a “model” prayer as Jesus intended it.

Our Father In the Old Testament prayers usually begin with “O Lord” “O God” or “O Lord of Hosts” or some similar phrase. Jesus emphasized that we call God “Our Father” and remember our relationship to Him. This makes this prayer a Disciples’ prayer -- one that only a follower of Jesus can truly pray.

How else can we address God? What is our true relationship to God? Is “Daddy” a proper concept of our relationship to God?

WHO ART IN HEAVEN We are a part of a heavenly Kingdom and need always to remember it.

What does this say about the Presence of God? Does this locate God? Are we in a hostile world?

HALLOWED BE THY NAME What does “hallowed” mean? What does it mean to invoke the Name of God? How is God “set apart” in our understanding?

THY KINGDOM COME What do we long for? How does God rule now? How will he in his ultimate plan?

THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN Is God’s will really done completely in heaven? What heaven is this speaking of? How can God’s will be accomplished? How do we know what God’s will is?

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD Does God really care how we eat? How far ahead should we plan and ask? Does God expect a daily dependence upon His supply? Why do we forget so often to trust God over periods of time. Is bread all we should ask for? Is Jesus speaking here of himself as the “Bread of Life?”

 

AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS, AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS Luke says “Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive every one who is indebted to us.” The Book of Prayer says “trespasses” instead of “debts” (as Matthew also Jesus doing in his explanation recorded in verse 14.) What is the difference between these various words and concepts? What is the important action required of us? What else has Jesus taught about this vital concept? If we refuse to forgive people who sin against us, are we asking for God’s damnation? Is this personal or collective?

AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION Would God ever lead us into temptation? Do we sometimes think he does? What is the source of temptation in our lives? [See James 1:13-15] How does God lead us?

BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL What is “Evil”? How does God deliver us? Why do we need to ask him for this? Will praying this keep us from troubles? or sickness?

FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM AND THE POWER AND THE GLORY FOREVER, AMEN

We have already mentioned that this is not in the oldest manuscripts and is almost certainly a later addition to the text. Is this wrong to use? Why would someone add this to the Biblical text? What might this mean to the person who prays it?

{This is one of the lesson outlines for our Senior Bible Study} I hope it inspires you a bit. LLL