The Lord’s Prayer

5 Aspects of the Lord’s Prayer

A recognition of God as Father and Lord

Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology Lord’s Prayer, The

The opening line of the prayer is a declarative statement; it affirms that God is (implied), that he is in heaven (distant and sovereign), and that he is also our Father (near, familial, and personal).

The first thing Jesus points out is that we are to recognize God first.

The words Father and heaven together demonstrate the loving closeness and awesome transcendence of God to his children.

The last thing to look at in this verse is “Hallowed be your name.” which means to sanctify, make holy.

We must come before God with an attitude of reverence for God’s perfection, His wisdom, His power, and His love. God’s holiness is everything that sets Him apart from us and all the rest of His creation. While addressing God should never be done casually or with out any reverence.

Matthew 6:9 HCSB

“Therefore, you should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, Your name be honored as holy.

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A desire for God’s perfect will to be done

We see here in “Your kingdom come”, this prayer is not only for the future coming of Christ, but it is also for the spreading of God’s kingdom around the world through his kingdom servants.

We see here in the last part of this verse we can see that Jesus points to the point that we would should ask for Gods will do be done here on earth just like it is in Heaven.

The angles in heaven don’t have a choice to rebel and not listen to God. Here on earth God has given man free will to choice Gods way or our own way.

When we pray for Gods will to be done we should except His will do be done and not take back control.

It is a prayer that we, his servants, would be faithfully obedient and effective in living His kingdom principles in our own lives and then spreading the kingdom through our actions and words. Our prayers are to be a continual reminders to ourselves to get with the kingdom program and not our own. Sadly, too many believers live for the weekend and not for Christ’s kingdom.

Matthew 6:10 HCSB

Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

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Asking for physical provision

While we look at this verse here it reminds me of a name of a God that I love, Jehovah-Jireh, God provides.

We can take this verse for face value as a request for daily needs for food.

We have to remember during this time, most people lived hand-to-mouth. There was no, lets store our left overs for tomorrow. They had to rely on God providing there every physical need when it is needed.

This verse reminds me of the story in the Old Testament where God provided manna for the Israelite’s for forty years while in the wilderness. They where not to keep any for the next day cause it would spoil. They were always just one day away from starvation, we can see in that lesson that God always answers our prayers when we are in need, God is there for us every day.

Matthew 6:11 HCSB

Give us today our daily bread.

Give us our daily bread.

Matthew 6:11 HCSB

Give us today our daily bread.

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The Holman Christian Standard Bible Chapter 6

11 Give us today our daily bread.

Asking for forgiveness

We look at this verse and it doesn’t mean money debts, Jesus means our sins.

The words Jesus uses her shows us that all sins place us in dept to God. But how wonderful for those that have trusted in Jesus Christ that Jesus has paid the price for our debts, we are redeemed.

This type of forgiveness that Jesus is talking about here is “family forgiveness not Judicial forgiveness. What does this mean in our terms is this. As God’s children, we are commanded to be forgiving. When we fail to forgive, we reap the consequences of spiritual and moral defeat.

The fact that we have received Gods forgiveness not from our own doing but from Christ dying on the cross for this should motivate us to forgive others.

Jesus expects us to replace this specific petition with more personal request for forgiveness of specific sins in our life. Jesus intention might be better reflected if our bibles printed his words of petition followed by a large white space, leaving room for us to fill in the blanks with our own personal sins. Jesus expects us to personalize these principles in our lives.

Matthew 6:12 HCSB

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

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Asking for spiritual protection

We see in the previous verse that forgiveness is the spiritual medicine that we need to stay in better communication with God. This verse is the preventative medicine.

When we have unannounced sins in our life, satan is able to us the guilt/shame that we have accumulated over a curtain amount of time.

We look at “But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

We see in 1 John that, we can not say we are without sin. says the same. We must stay vigilant knowing that sin is powerful and we must stay in pure communication with God.

The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.

“Deliver us from the evil one” turn to “10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil. 12 For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.”

We will follow the Lord’s example in prayer if we pray regularly for specific spiritual dangers of which are aware. Perhaps there is a particular area of temptation to avoid, or a particular person who is a stumbling block, or a trial looming in our future. God is interested in the details, and we will recognize His answers more clearly if we have made specific requests.

The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.

Matthew 6:13 HCSB

And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]

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NIV footnote.