LESSON 35 The Lord's Prayer Luke 11:1- 13

Teach us to pray 11:1- 4

King James Version (Chapter 11)

And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. 2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. 3 Give us day by day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.”

It seems as though the Lord spent a great deal of time in prayer that was not within ear shot of the disciples. The Lord later asks them in the garden, “could you not watch with me one hour?” It is at this juncture, before the cross, that the disciples feel the urgency to get instruction on how to pray. After all, John the Baptist taught his disciples to pray. So Jesus simply said, “this is how you do it (my translation).” It is also pointed out by many commentaries that Luke himself includes these prayer moments because he has a keen interest in prayer also. I believe we may see a shorter version in Luke because, let’s not make it too complicated that we get people discouraged about prayer. It is not hard. It is short, to the point, focused,and easily used as a guide. This is much like a lot of Scripture, it is easy to pray this back and form your own words and conversations with God.

The Lord’s Prayer in long form is in Matthew 6:9-13. This version in Luke leaves out “For thine is the kingdom, and power, and the glory, forever, and ever, Amen.” Is is easily explained as the difference being that it was taught on more than one occasion. Also, the Lord wanted them to use it as a model, and not so much as a rigid word for word prayer. Another way of looking at it. If you have the long version memorized, you also have the short version memorized. Boom! You are quoting Scripture! How about that. You can never be able to quote too much Scripture. I would go so far as to say, I believe the Lord’s prayer to be more of a personal prayer than than one for a mass gathering. Personal opinion.

As we proceed, let’s just remember that brevity is the key when praying in public. Otherwise, think Matthew 6:6 “ but thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet and when thou has shut thy door, pray to thy Father in secret, and thy father which seeth in secret will reward thee openly.” Personal prayer is a more valid promise to deliver the goods better than most of what we do as believers. Does not the Bible say, “ask and you shall receive”? When someone is openly blessed, you can safely muse to yourself, “ they have been to the prayer closet. It might be an interesting revelation to find out how many people have prayer closets/rooms/gardens/grottos/or the like.

Reformation theologian, Matthew Henry, said this about a man and his prayer time: “Prayer is one of the great laws of natural religion. That man is a brute, is a monster, that never prays, that never gives glory to his Maker, nor feels his favour, nor owns his dependence upon him. One great design therefore of Christianity is to assist us in prayer, to enforce the duty upon us, to instruct us in it, and encourage us to expect advantage by it.”

Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994), 1860.

That may seem a little harsh by Mr. Henry, but the expectation of all men to pray in previous generations, lay heavily on all people.

The disciples are asking in zeal on how to pray, but, if they have been listening, and we know they have been, there is also a sense of urgency because He has foretold His death on more than one occasion. As time runs out each day in God’s plan, the Savior still lives today, but His kingdom is going to look very different to those who fail to also sense the urgency of the prophetic hour.

What to pray

Be confident to address any one of the Trinity- As in our Father in heaven, dear Lord Jesus, or Holy Spirit, I need to know how to be full of you! Usually we think of the Father and the Son in heaven and the Holy spirit here on earth with us. But since He is God also, he can be in more than one place at once. He can be anywhere. The Trinity can be anywhere.

2. God’s names are set apart as special: they are “hallowed” or dedicated to teaching us about Him. Magnify His names in prayer.

3. Be sure to say somehow, some way “Get me into God’s plan”- thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Do you have a passion for souls? Then you will pray about this many times.

4. Surely ask God for your needs: “Give us this day our daily bread.” Food is Biblical. Pray about it. Personal needs are prayed about so that we do not worry. We truly do live in a state of dependence on God.

5. Pray to be cleansed: “Forgive us our sins as we forgive others.” Why? because every believer needs a clear conscience.

6. Pray protection and deliverance for your pathway before you- lead us not into Temptation but deliver us from evil. There are traps all over that the enemy has laid.

7. Be yourself with God. You don’t have to sound like someone else. You can learn to be familiar with what God is pleased to hear. Isn’t that what faith is all about? It is asking, in faith believing!

The Example 11:5- 13.

King James Version (Chapter 11)

5 And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? 7 And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.

8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. 9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?

12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Jesus not only gave them a form for prayer but actual situations that shows how the heavenly Father loves to give good things to His children. If you have an urgent need, a door to be opened, or children who need gifts for life and ministry, feel free to ask and seek the touch of the Holy Spirit on yours and their lives. Take great joy and pleasure in praying for those around you and yourself. We all, need the daily touch of God and His care many times arrives right on time because someone prayed.