(Old) Jesus Teaches the Disciples to Pray

Introduction:

If I were to ask everyone here today, "How important is prayer?" I doubt anyone would say it's not important. Most of us would quickly affirm that prayer matters deeply.

But let me ask you another question—how do you pray? Have you ever paused and truly thought about your prayers?

You see, prayer is one of those things we often assume we already understand. Perhaps we learned certain prayers as children, heard certain phrases repeated, or imitated what we saw others doing in church or at home.

But have we ever stopped to ask: "Is this actually how God wants us to pray?"

The disciples who walked closely with Jesus had this same realization. As they listened to Jesus pray, day after day, they saw something profoundly different from the religious prayers they'd grown up hearing. His prayers weren't empty words or repeated formulas; they were intimate conversations that clearly flowed from a deep relationship.

This led them to approach Jesus and ask something they had never asked Him before. They asked, "Lord, teach us to pray."

Jesus didn't dismiss their question by saying, "Oh, just speak your mind," or "Just say whatever feels right." Instead, He taught them—and through them, He teaches us—exactly how our hearts should approach God in prayer.

Pause

Church, we need to relearn this lesson today. Prayer is critically important.

That’s why at Hutong, we pray during our service, at the close of our services, and three times weekly online. But it’s not enough just to pray. How we pray matters.

Many say, "It doesn’t matter how you pray—just talk to God." But is that what Scripture teaches? When the disciples heard Jesus pray, they recognized His prayers were radically different from the ritualistic, self-serving prayers they'd known growing up. They asked Jesus, "Lord, teach us to pray."

Did Jesus reply, "Just speak to God"? Did He say, "Just pour your heart out"? No. He said, "When you pray, pray like this…"

Yet today, prayers reflecting the model Jesus gave are rare. Most books on prayer aren't biblical; of the top ten bestselling prayer books of the past century, only four reflect biblical teaching. Among the top five, only one does.

Thomas Brooks describes prayer as "the secret key of heaven," not as a way to manipulate God, as some today mistakenly believe, but as humble dependence on our Heavenly Father. Thomas Watson said this prayer model is a safeguard against error in prayer.

So today, let’s not just consider our need to pray but learn from Christ how our hearts and minds must approach God. This model is not a mere script to recite like a Buddhist prayer wheel; it is the pattern by which we align our wills with God’s glory and purposes.

Since God Himself taught us how to pray, let us pray exactly as He taught us.

We can divide up Jesus’ teaching on prayer into four parts.

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I. Dependence on God’s Glory and Kingdom (vv. 1–2)

II. Dependence on God’s Provision (v. 3)

III. Dependence on God’s Forgiveness and Grace (v. 4)

IV. Dependence on God’s Goodness and Faithfulness (vv. 5–13)

As I hope you can see, there is an underlying theme to Jesus’ teaching and modeling of prayer, and that is full dependence on Him.

So let us begin with our Dependence on God’s Glory and Kingdom In Verse 2.

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I. Dependence on God’s Glory and Kingdom (vv. 1–2)

Luke 11:2(ESV)

2 And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.

This one verse has so much for us to learn.

First, we see that Jesus is modeling that we call Him father.

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A. “Father” — A Posture of Humble, Intimate Dependence

Jesus teaches us to address God as “Father.”

That might not sound radical to us today, but to Jesus’ original Jewish audience, this was shocking.

They were used to formal, distant prayers, prayers shaped by ritual and fear.

But Jesus uses a word of warmth and closeness.

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The Greek word in Luke is patēr, but Jesus likely used the Aramaic word Abba—a term young children would use to call their dad.

It was often one of the first words a toddler would say.

Full of intimacy, dependence, and affection, Abba reflects the kind of relationship Jesus is inviting us into.

This opening word shows us that prayer is not a cold ritual, but rather a relationship.

We’re not outsiders trying to get God's attention; we are beloved children speaking to our Father.

To call God “Father” is to come not as beggars or strangers, but as those who are welcomed, loved, and known.

This kind of access is not something we earn.

From the very first word, prayer reminds us to take a posture of humility.

It is not by anything we have done, but purely through the work of Jesus on the cross, that our sins are forgiven and we are adopted into God’s family.

Once enemies, now through Christ, we are sons and daughters of God.

We are invited to come boldly to the throne of grace, not because we are worthy, but because He is merciful.

As John MacArthur said, “The fatherhood of God is the foundation of all prayer.”

So before you say another word in prayer, ask yourself: Am I coming as a child, depending on my Father? Or am I approaching like a stranger, unsure if He really wants to hear from me?

Now, for some, this may be difficult.

For those who have been hurt by their earthly fathers, calling God “Father” can stir up pain instead of comfort.

I had a close friend in college whose father had abandoned her family and only showed up to cause pain. For her, the idea of a loving, protective father felt foreign.

She once told me she struggled to view God as Father because she had never seen that kind of fatherly love modeled in her life.

But here’s the beauty of the gospel: even when our earthly fathers fail us, our heavenly Father never will.

When others fail, He succeeds. When others abandon, He stays. When others lie, He speaks truth.

If you are a Christian, God is the Father you were always meant to have.

He loves you, provides for you, protects you, and delights in you.

And when we come to Him in prayer, we come not to a distant ruler, but to our Abba, our loving heavenly Father.

Does that mean you have to say “Father” every time you pray?

No.

But it does mean that you must pray with the heart and mindset that God is your Father,

that you are approaching the One who knows you, loves you, and desires good for you.

So we begin our prayers with this foundational truth: God is our Father. We come to Him as His children, humbly, dependently, and boldly.

An example of this if we want to pray this specifically could be

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“Father, I come to You not as a stranger, but as Your child. Not because I deserve it, but because Jesus has made the way. You are not distant or cold—you are Abba, near and full of love. Teach me to trust You like a child trusts their dad. Thank You for welcoming me, for knowing me, and for calling me Your own. Let every word I pray begin with the wonder that You are my Father.”

Next, we pray: “Hallowed be Your Name.”

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B. “Hallowed Be Your Name” — Reverence for God's Holiness

The Key idea here: Prayer begins by recognizing God's supreme holiness and worthiness.

Prayer begins not with our needs, but with recognizing who God is.

Jesus teaches us to pray, “Hallowed be Your name.”

This short phrase calls us to pause and focus our hearts, not on our problems, but on God's supreme holiness and worthiness.

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The word “hallowed” comes from the Greek word hagiazō, which means to set apart as holy, to honor as sacred, to prize, glorify, and revere.

It’s not just a word, it’s a posture.

It is a declaration that God alone is holy, and our greatest desire in prayer is to see His name lifted high.

As we have discussed many times at Hutong, In Jewish culture, a person’s name was more than just a way to identify them apart from others, it represented their character and identity.

To “hallow” God’s name, then, is to reverence everything He is: His holiness, sovereignty, mercy, justice, love, and truth.

It’s to say, “God, may You be glorified above all else in my life, in the world, in every request I bring to You.”

This is not just something we say with our lips; it’s a way of life.

We don’t just speak reverence, we live it.

And this is why Jesus teaches us to begin here:

everything else in the prayer flows from this one request.

We ask for daily bread, forgiveness, and protection not simply because we want things, but so that God's name might be honored in how we live and how we trust Him.

As Thomas Brooks said:

“Such prayers never reach the ear of God, nor delight the heart of God, nor shall ever be lodged in the bosom of God, that are not directed to the glory of God.”

To put it as blunt and straight forward as I can…

If God’s glory is not at the center of our prayers, then we are not praying as Jesus taught us.

And maybe this is why many of our prayers feel rushed, shallow, or self-centered, we start with what we want rather than with who God is.

So when you go to pray, after remembering that you come as a child before your loving heavenly Father, take time to worship Him.

If you’ve listened to me pray, I hope you’ve heard this pattern.

I try to begin every prayer from a posture of worship, honoring His name, lifting His greatness, praising who He is.

And I encourage you to do the same.

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If you’re not sure where to start, I recommend A.W. Tozer’s book The Attributes of God.

Meditate on one attribute each day, His holiness, wisdom, love, justice, and let your prayer begin there.

Worship fuels your prayers.

And if you're short on time and can only pray one part, let it be this one.

Don’t skip this to go to your needs.

When we do this, we miss the very heart and purpose of prayer.

Because if we get this wrong, everything that follows gets distorted.

Why do so many prayers sound like shopping lists?

It’s because we’ve skipped the foundation, we forget that we're speaking to the sovereign Lord who knows what we need before we ask.

When we truly see Him for who He is, our prayers begin to shift.

We stop trying to bend His will to ours and start aligning our hearts to His.

This is the heart of true prayer. This is the kind of prayer that honors God. This is the kind of prayer that shapes us.

So what might it sound like to pray this section?

You are holy, set apart in majesty, purity, and power. There is no one like You. Let Your name be lifted high in my heart and honored in my life. May every word I speak and every thought I think reflect how worthy You are. I come to worship, not to ask first, because You are deserving of all glory. Let Your name be treasured above all things in me and in the world.

Next we pray, “Your Kingdom come”.

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C. “Your Kingdom Come” : Submitting to God's Rule and Mission

This part of the prayer shifts us deeper into surrender.

When Jesus teaches us to pray, “Your kingdom come,” He is not giving us permission to ask for our plans to work out.

This is not a prayer for personal success or comfort. It is a declaration of allegiance. It’s a request that God would advance His rule,

His mission,

and His redemptive purposes…

starting with our own hearts.

So what exactly is “God’s kingdom”?

Scripture speaks of the kingdom in three ways:

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The Present Kingdom

God’s kingdom is already here.

Colossians 1:13 says that believers have been “transferred to the kingdom of His beloved Son.”

Everyone who trusts in Christ is already part of this spiritual kingdom.

Right now, Jesus rules in the hearts of His people.

The Progressive Kingdom

God’s kingdom is growing. Every time someone is saved, every time a believer grows in holiness, the kingdom advances.

It is seen in evangelism,

in discipleship,

in missions,

in every small act of obedience and service.

We grow closer to the King through sanctification.

The Future Kingdom

And yet, His kingdom is not yet fully realized.

One day, Jesus will return and reign visibly over all creation.

He will establish justice,

destroy sin,

and dwell with His people forever.

So we pray with longing, “Come, Lord Jesus!”

To pray “Your kingdom come” is to ask for:

As John MacArthur put it:

“To pray for the coming of the kingdom is to pray for the salvation of sinners, the sanctification of believers, and the second coming in glory of the Savior.”

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The salvation of sinners (evangelism)

The sanctification of believers (discipleship)

The second coming of Jesus (our great hope)

This is not a light or casual prayer. It completely reshapes our posture in prayer.

We no longer ask, “God, will You help me achieve my goals?” Instead, we say, “God, align my life to Your mission.”

When we pray this way, it changes everything. It humbles our requests. It purifies our desires. It moves us from self-centered praying to kingdom-focused living.

And once again, I’m not saying that you must say this line word-for-word every time you pray.

But I am saying that this mindset should be present every time we pray.

It should take priority over your personal wishlist.

Because when this is our focus, we approach God not as consumers, but as servants.

When you pray like this, you are not just reciting words, you are participating in God’s mission.

You are declaring that your life belongs to a kingdom not of this world.

So how might we pray this section?

Let Your kingdom come. Rule in my heart, reign in my life, and spread Your rule across the earth. Bring the lost into Your salvation, grow Your people in holiness, and hasten the day when Jesus returns in glory. Align my desires with Your mission. Make my life serve Your purpose. I surrender my plans to You. Show me the people around me who need Your truth and love. And day by day, grow me closer to You as my King.

II. Dependence on God’s Provision (v. 3)

"Give us each day our daily bread" Every day, we depend on God for provision. Prayer acknowledges that all our physical and practical needs come from Him. Trusting God for daily needs cultivates gratitude and contentment.

III. Dependence on God’s Forgiveness and Grace (v. 4)

"And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us" (v. 4a) Prayer expresses dependence on God's grace and forgiveness. Recognizing our need for forgiveness transforms our hearts, enabling us to forgive others. "And lead us not into temptation" (v. 4b) We depend on God’s strength to live holy lives. Prayer admits our vulnerability and dependence on God's guidance away from temptation.

IV. Dependence on God’s Goodness and Faithfulness (vv. 5–13)

Persistent prayer (vv. 5–10) Jesus encourages persistence to remind us of our continual dependence on God. Our persistence doesn't persuade a reluctant God but expresses faith in His character. Trust in the Father's goodness (vv. 11–13) Our dependency rests on the certainty of God's good character. If human fathers give good gifts, how much more will our perfect heavenly Father?