The Lord's Prayer

Every Sunday, churches all around world recite the Lord's Prayer. We all know it by heart and can recite it without any  problem.  You know the words but do you know what the words mean? That's the goal of this study - to look at the meaning behind the Lord's Prayer. The text for this study is Matthew 6:9-13. Jesus is preaching the 'Sermon on the Mount' and is teaching the crowd how to pray.
 

"In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven,"

As soon as He started to pray, Jesus must have blown the minds of those around Him. Why? Because Jesus addressed God as "Father". The Pharisees never used such a title to address God. But Jesus was showing us that this was the kind of relationship God desires. A relationship so deep and so personal that we can call the Creator of the universe 'Dad'. Someone we can share the good times and the bad, the success' and failures, and the joys and sorrows. When we laugh, the Lord shares our laughter and when we cry, He cries with us. He wants to be with you in every aspect of your life.

"Hallowed be Your Name."

In the Greek, the word 'hallowed' means to be pure, blameless, holy. So you could translate this verse as "Your Name is pure and blameless and holy". Our God is a God that simply spoke the word and the universe burst into existence. He said 'Let there be light," and there was light. The Bible says that the entire universe cannot contain Him yet at the same time He lives within our hearts. He is worthy of our praise and praise is what Jesus is giving the Father in this verse.

"Your kingdom come."

How we long for this prayer to be answered! We're told here to pray for the Lord to establish His everlasting kingdom. Why should we pray for this? Isn't this going to happen regardless of whether we pray for it or not? Well, prayer is God's way of including us in His plan for mankind. By praying we are helping God establish the kingdom. Now don't misunderstand me. God doesn't need us to help Him with anything. But He wants us to take part in His plan because He loves us and wants us to share in His joy. By the way, in Revelation 21 we are given a glimpse into the kingdom:

"And God will wipe away from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There will be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. Then He who sat on the throne said, 'Behold, I make everything new." Revelation 21:4-5

Come quickly Lord Jesus!
 

"Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven"

So often we're afraid to turn our lives over to God because we think that as soon as we do terrible things will happen. Nothing could be farther from the truth! Jesus said that he came to give of life abundant! We need to remember that God also promises us that all things -- not some things but all things -- work together for the good of those who love God. So even things that seem bad at the time ultimately turn out for the better. Even if we don't realize it.

"Give us this day our daily bread."

Did you notice that we were half-way through the prayer before Jesus asks for anything? He first gives praise and makes sure that he is doing the Father's will and goes on from there. We a great example. In this verse we see that we depend on God for every need. So many people don't realize this. They think that because they're rich or healthy that they don't need God. What they fail to understand is that God is the one who provided them with their job and keeps them in good health. He provides for them and He provides for us, too! God knows our every need and cares for each of us.

"And forgive us our debts, As we have forgiven our debtors."

The Bible says that all of us have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. And that sin (which makes us imperfect) separates us from God (who is perfect). But in His love God provided His own son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins and be a sacrifice so that, if we accept Jesus as our Savior, then we could enter fellowship with God. The Bible says that all our sins are forgiven. Think about the things God has forgiven you for. Now with all that forgiven how can you not forgive someone who has sinned against you?

Have you noticed that this prayer is plural? 'OUR Father', 'give US OUR daily bread', 'forgives US OUR debts', the reason is that we are told that all followers of Jesus are part of one family. So when you pray for 'daily bread', you are praying that God will provide for you and Christians in China and Russia and Israel and everywhere else! We are one family united by the love and the blood of Jesus and we should treat one another that way.

"And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."

Now God doesn't tempt us (James 1:13), but He will allow us to be tested. Keep in mind that we will never be tested beyond what we can endure and He will help us through it (1 Cor 10:13). So this verse is asking God to help us avoid sin.

"For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen"

The prayer began with praise and it ends with praise!