Often, the prayer recorded in Matthew 6:9-15 is referred to as the "Lord's Prayer." Many believe it to be a word-for-word prayer to be recited by the Lord's disciples. But, is this a correct understanding of these passages? Jesus and His disciples prayed often, but in the scriptures, we never read of their repeating this exact prayer. Doesn't that seem odd if it really is a prayer the Lord intended us to pray over and over? In this part of His great Sermon on the Mount, Jesus was giving a format, a model, an outline upon which to build our prayers.
Is God more concerned with the format, the number of words, or the number of hours spent in prayer? Where are the passages that deal with this? Jesus had just given the command: "Therefore do not be like them..." (Matthew 6:8). In the first seven verses of Matthew 6, He taught that mechanical prayer, vain repetitions, and lack of humility were unacceptable. Prayer must come from the heart, and there must be meaning behind the words offered. Prayer is the only way we have to communicate with God. Since there are dangers to be avoided when we pray, God, through His Son, gave us instructions. Let us examine this prayer carefully.
Our Father. We pray to our spiritual Father in heaven. Our prayers are very different from the pagans' prayers. We pray to the only true and living God, and ours are not prayers made up in men's minds. Because we are talking to God, the creator of the heavens and the earth, He deserves more than mere words. His very character demands that His children who call out to Him exhibit respect, humility, and honesty.
Who can rightfully claim to be God's child? Being God's child is an honor and privilege, one that can be bestowed by no one but the Son. "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." {John 1:12,13} Only Christians can pray to the Father. We are members of His family, and that gives us the right to pray to Him. It is important that we understand the meaning of the word "OUR." He is not the exclusive possession of any one person. Our Father loves and cares for all His children.
Who Art in Heaven. Heaven is His eternal abode. "God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things." {Acts 17:24,25} He alone has all power and all authority. Knowing this, what kinds of attitudes ought we to have? The one who addresses God in prayer must remember in whose presence he stands. "God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few." {Ecclesiastes 5:2} We must respect God for who He is, and for His position and grandeur; and we must remember who we are. Are you using God as a whipping post? Are you His child or His greatest critic? If my attitude is: "why should I pray to God; He can't help me," I lack respect and humility, and God will not help me -- even if I am a member of His family!
Hallowed Be Thy Name. The word hallowed denotes awe and respect. We must treat God as holy. His name is an expression of His holy character. When Jesus prayed, He always revealed God's power, compassion, mercy, righteousness, holiness, and power. (John 1:18)
Do we appreciate God's goodness? He shepherds us. He gives light where there is darkness. He is kind, and He provides for our needs. He will never leave or forsake us. "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' " {Hebrews 13:5} Do we understand how great and wonderful God is? To be sure, He treats us better than we treat Him. Listen to the prayers of Ezra (Ezra 9:6-10) and Nehemiah (Nehemiah 9:5-38). Where did they place the blame for their troubles? Where did their power and strength lie? When we reject God by neglecting to teach His word, we cannot say we hallow His name.
Thy Kingdom Come. This part of the prayer has been answered -- He did come. "And He said to them, Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power." {Mark 9:1} His kingdom came on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4). The Lord adds to that kingdom those who obey the gospel preached by Peter on that day (Colossians 1:13,14; Revelation 1:5,6). Today, if we truly hallow His name we will not pray for the coming of a kingdom that has already come. We certainly should pray for that kingdom -- that its borders will broaden, that men's hearts will receive the gospel, and that opportunity's doors will open, enabling us to plant the seed. But praying "for the kingdom to come" exhibits failure to understand that this part of God's eternal plan has been fulfilled.
Thy Will Be Done. God's will deserves to be done, and all men need to do it. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." {Romans 12:1,2} How can we be sure we're doing His will? God expresses His will through His word. "If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord." {1 Corinthians 14:37} Only by examining God's word can we be sure we are obeying Him.
To pray effectively, one must be sold on God's will -- on His way of doing things. "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making the wise the simple; the statues of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes." {Psalm 19:7,8} God's will is for everyone, and they who follow it are traveling in the right direction. Notice that the verse also says "on earth as it is in heaven." This tells us it is possible for us to keep God's commandments, that even frail human beings can make choices that please Him. Failure to obey God while we're here will bring terrible consequences in eternity. Then, it will be too late to change.
Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread. Does it strike you as odd that this prayer moves from the greatest of man's pursuits -- God's will -- to the basic, ordinary need for sustenance? I cannot present His gospel if the physical body with which He blessed me doesn't have what it needs to sustain itself. We must make good use of each day God allows us to live. "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going." {Ecclesiastes 9:10}
In this passage, bread symbolizes everything necessary to preserve life. The word daily reminds us of our constant need for God's blessings.
Christians should not forget where they get their true strength. "Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit;' whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.' But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil." {James 4:13-16} Because we who live in this country are so richly blessed, we sometimes forget who makes these blessings possible. Yet, as many of us know, middle-class folks -- most of those reading these articles -- are rarely more than one or two paychecks away from poverty. Could you survive for a month without a paycheck? Possibly, we are not as self-sufficient as we feel. As God's children, we need to understand our utter dependence on Him for our very existence. Sometimes, Christians have to experience the loss of some or all of their material wealth before they realize why they have what they have, and who makes it possible.
Forgive Us Our Debts. Christians do sin. "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." {1 John 1:8} It is humbling to admit that we are sinful creatures who continually need God's forgiveness. Many do not understand their true spiritual conditions. Sadly, the world has convinced many of us that sin is a disease about which we can do nothing -- an inevitable occurrence in one's life, a human weakness we all have. Some even go so far as to blame God for the problem and say that we need not worry too much about it. Such thinking is from the devil! We sin when we choose to transgress God's law (1 John 3:4; James 1:13-15; Romans 7:23-25). When we choose unwisely, we fall, and we need God's forgiveness. Each of us accumulates a sin "bill" that he/she must settle personally by praying for His forgiveness.
As We Forgive Our Debtors. If I desire God's forgiveness, I must be willing to forgive those who sin against me. If I want God's mercy, I must be merciful to others (Matthew 5:7). My show of mercy expresses to God a proper attitude, and He, in turn, will be willing to forgive my transgressions. This is a condition of maintaining one's salvation. God extends to us the same measure of forgiveness we display toward others. It is a tragedy for a man to lose his soul because he is unwilling to forgive his brother who sins against him. How could one rationalize that "holding a grudge" is worth losing his soul?
Do Not Lead Us Into Temptation But Deliver Us From the Evil One. God does not entice men to sin (James 1:13,14). This is a prayer that expresses our fleshly weakness. If I try to run the course alone -- defeat is inevitable (Jeremiah 10:23; Proverbs 14:12). We ask for divine help so we will not succumb to the devil's tricks. God answers this prayer by providing a means for escape from the devil's trap. "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." {1 Corinthians 10:13} The way of escape is not a way of escape if we refuse to follow it. Stay out of the devil's backyard and don't play by his rules!
Yes, Jesus left us a powerful example of how we ought to pray. Let's use it to learn the principles and the attitudes we need to approach God in prayer. This is a "pattern" for prayer -- not a model prayer to be repeated over and over as an exercise in offering thanks and making requests!