The Lord’s Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer is the prayer Jesus Himself taught His disciples. It is recited in Christianity all over the world, regardless of the type of church. It is regarded as an exemplary prayer by Christians because it clearly shows the object, content, and order of prayer.
Significance of the Lord’s Prayer
Prayer is a ritual to ask God for His blessings and help. Therefore, prayer is indispensable to those who believe in God. Jesus taught His disciples the power of prayer[1] and set an example on how to pray.[2] He criticized those who deliberately stand in the synagogues and street corners to be seen by others, as hypocrites,[3] and taught His disciples not to babble when they prayed.[4][5] He showed them how to pray to God. That prayer is the Lord’s Prayer.
Composition of the Lord’s Prayer
Jesus taught His disciples how to pray on two occasions in the New Testament. The first one was the prayer given during the Sermon on the Mount recorded in Matthew 6:9–13, and the other was given at the request of His disciples, as recorded in Luke 11:2–4.
“This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. (KJV: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.)’ ”
One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’ ”
Today, the prayer in the Gospel of Matthew is commonly used. Its composition is as follows.
| Class. | Prayer | Content | Meaning |
| Preface | Calling | “Our Father in heaven | This shows that we should pray to God, and that the relationship between God and us is like a father and his children. |
| Prayers About God | First Petition | hallowed be your name, | Ask for God’s name to be praised |
| Second Petition | your kingdom come, | Ask for the swift coming of the kingdom of God | |
| Third Petition | your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. | Ask for God’s justice to be fulfilled on the earth as well. | |
| Prayers About Humans | Fourth Petition | Give us today our daily bread. | Ask for peace in life |
| Fifth Petition | Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. | Ask for forgiveness of sins by acknowledging that we are sinners before God | |
| Sixth Petition | And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. | Ask God to keep us away from temptation | |
| Ending | Reciting[6] | (KJV: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.)”[7][8] | Ask for our prayers to be answered |
The Lord’s Prayer and “Our Father”
Jesus taught His people to call God “Father” through the Lord’s Prayer.
“This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, . . .’ ”
A father refers to a man who has children; it is a title his children call him.[9] Children call the man who gives them life father. God is the Father of our spirits.[10][11] Through the title Father, Jesus made known that God and us are a spiritual family and that He gives life to our spirits.
See also
References
- ↑ "Luke 11:9–13".
- ↑ "Mark 1:35".
- ↑ "Matthew 6:5–6".
- ↑ babble, Dictionary.com
- ↑ "Matthew 6:7–8".
- ↑ doxology, Merriam-Webster Dictionary
- ↑ Matthew 6:13.
- ↑ Lord's Prayer, the, Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology
- ↑ father, Merriam-Webster Dictionary
- ↑ "Hebrews 12:9".
- ↑ "2 Corinthians 6:18".