The Lord’s Prayer

Matthew 6:9–13 NIV

9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

Matt 6:9

The Pattern for Prayer

This prayer, often called the “Lord’s Prayer,” when it could more accurately be titled the “Disciples’ Prayer,” is not a set group of words to repeat.

John F. MacArthur Jr., Alone with God, MacArthur Study Series (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1995), 45.

To believe that God is really like some genie, waiting to grant our every desire, flies in the face of Scripture’s clear teaching.

When Christ said to “pray, then, in this way,” He didn’t mean pray with these exact words.

John F. MacArthur Jr., Alone with God, MacArthur Study Series (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1995), 44.

His intention was to give them a pattern for the structure of their own prayers, especially since He had just warned them of the dangers of meaningless repetition.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t recite it, as we do with so many passages in Scripture.

Memorizing it is actually helpful so you can meditate on its truths as you formulate your own thoughts.

The prayer is mainly a model we can use to give direction to our own praise, adoration, and petitions.

It is not a substitute for our own prayers but a guide for them.

The first three requests of the prayer call our attention towards God and the last three speak to our needs.

Our Father

“Father” is probably the most common term we use in prayer, and rightly so, for that is the pattern Jesus set. Prayer should always begin with the recognition that God is our Father, the One who gave us life and who loves, cares for, provides for, and protects us.

John F. MacArthur Jr., Alone with God, MacArthur Study Series (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1995), 46–47.

Prayer begins and ends not with the needs of man but with the glory of God (). It should be concerned primarily with who God is, what He wants, and how He can be glorified.

Spiritually, unbelievers have another father. In His severest condemnation of the Jewish leaders who opposed Him, Jesus said, “You are of your father the devil” (). clearly characterizes two families: the children of God and the children of the devil.

Alone with God "Our Father"

To believe that God is really like some genie, waiting to grant our every desire, flies in the face of Scripture’s clear teaching.

Hallowed Be Your Name

Spiritually, unbelievers have another father. In His severest condemnation of the Jewish leaders who opposed Him, Jesus said, “You are of your father the devil” (). clearly characterizes two families: the children of God and the children of the devil.

“Hallow” means “to make holy.”

To hallow God’s name is to revere, honor, glorify, and obey Him as the one and only completely perfect God. When we do, we remind ourselves of the important difference between us and Him. God lives in a different sphere than we do. He is holy and undefiled, but we are sinners.

To hallow God’s name is to revere, honor, glorify, and obey Him as the one and only completely perfect God. When we do, we remind ourselves of the important difference between us and Him. God lives in a different sphere than we do. He is holy and undefiled, but we are sinners.

How to hallow God’s name

Acknowledge God exists: “He who comes to God must believe that He is” ().

Know the truth about God

Taking God’s name in vain is more than cursing or swearing.

Disbelief, doubt, and saying things about God that are not true is also taking his name in vain.

Be aware of His presence—live every day with a conscious reflection upon God,

Don’t stop thinking of Him at the close of Sunday night’s service.

Draw near him daily in word, thought, activity, prayer, etc.

Live in obedience—conform our lives to His will.

Thy Kingdom Come

Our greatest desire as believers should be to see the Lord reigning as King in His kingdom, having the honor and authority that have always been His but that He has not yet come to claim

Our greatest desire as believers should be to see the Lord reigning as King in His kingdom, having the honor and authority that have always been His but that He has not yet come to claim

That leads to the second petition in our pattern of prayer from . To pray “Thy kingdom come” is to pray for God’s program to be fulfilled—for Christ to come and reign.

That leads to the second petition in our pattern of prayer from . To pray “Thy kingdom come” is to pray for God’s program to be fulfilled—for Christ to come and reign.

When I pray, “Thy kingdom come,” I am saying to God’s Holy Spirit, “Spirit of Christ within me, take control and do what You will for Your glory.” A true child of God won’t be preoccupied with his own plans and desires, but with the determinate program of God, revealed in the person of Jesus Christ.

When I pray, “Thy kingdom come,” I am saying to God’s Holy Spirit, “Spirit of Christ within me, take control and do what You will for Your glory.” A true child of God won’t be preoccupied with his own plans and desires, but with the determinate program of God, revealed in the person of Jesus Christ.

It is our responsibility to pray for our families, pastors, missionaries, national and other leaders, and for many other people and things. But in every case our prayers should be for God to accomplish His will in and through those people—that they would think, speak, and act in accordance with His will.

It is our responsibility to pray for our families, pastors, missionaries, national and other leaders, and for many other people and things. But in every case our prayers should be for God to accomplish His will in and through those people—that they would think, speak, and act in accordance with His will.

The kingdom must be at the heart of our prayers. Before we go bursting into His presence with all our petitions, we need to stop long enough to consider His cause and His kingdom. We must affirm our yearning that He be glorified in His purposes.

The kingdom must be at the heart of our prayers. Before we go bursting into His presence with all our petitions, we need to stop long enough to consider His cause and His kingdom. We must affirm our yearning that He be glorified in His purposes.

The essence of Satan’s kingdom has always been opposition to God’s kingdom and God’s people. Satan will challenge every believer’s effort to live a hallowed life.

John F. MacArthur Jr., Alone with God, MacArthur Study Series (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1995), 69.

The essence of Satan’s kingdom has always been opposition to God’s kingdom and God’s people. Satan will challenge every believer’s effort to live a hallowed life.

The best way to translate the phrase “Thy kingdom come” is: “Let Your kingdom come now.”

The best way to translate the phrase “Thy kingdom come” is: “Let Your kingdom come now.”

Conversion of unbelievers to Christ.

In the future Christ will establish a visible kingdom on earth.

Today, His kingdom exists in the hearts and minds of believers.

This is an evangelistic prayer

Commitment of believers—we allow the Lord to rule and reign in our lives.

The commencement of Christ’s earthly rule.

One day the heavens will split open and Jesus will descend onto the Mount of Olives to establish His kingdom (). He will reign for a thousand years () and rule with a rod of iron (). At that time the prayer “Thy kingdom come” will be answered. Christ will reign in righteousness, justice, truth, and peace. He will rule on the earth on the throne of David in the city of Jerusalem and will set right the curses that have plagued this earth.

Thy Will Be Done

When we pray, we are to pray in accord with God’s will. His will is to become our will. We are also praying for His will to prevail all over the earth, just as it does in heaven.

Pray His will be done and pray that our will conforms to His will.

Romans 12:1–2 NIV

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

To pray for God’s will to be done is to pray for Satan’s will to be undone. It is to cry with David, “Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered; and let those who hate Him flee before Him” ().

To pray for God’s will to be done is to pray for Satan’s will to be undone. It is to cry with David, “Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered; and let those who hate Him flee before Him” ().

Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread

Prayer for our needs in the world.

Prayer for physical needs.

Praying for bread means the necessities of life.

It recognizes that God, not ourselves, is the source of provision for our lives.

Our life, breath, health, possessions, talents, and opportunities all originate from resources God has created and made available to man. Everything we have is from God: It is He who brings the rain to make things grow, causes the seasons to change, produces the minerals that make the soil fertile, provides the natural resources we use to propel ourselves around, and provides the animals and plants from which we make our clothing and food. Our daily bread—the necessities of physical life—are all from God.

Our life, breath, health, possessions, talents, and opportunities all originate from resources God has created and made available to man. Everything we have is from God: It is He who brings the rain to make things grow, causes the seasons to change, produces the minerals that make the soil fertile, provides the natural resources we use to propel ourselves around, and provides the animals and plants from which we make our clothing and food. Our daily bread—the necessities of physical life—are all from God.

It is “this day” that we ask God to supply our needs. We are to rely on the Lord one day at a time. To accept the Lord’s provision for the present day, without concern for our needs or welfare tomorrow, is a testimony of our contentment in His goodness and faithfulness.

It is “this day” that we ask God to supply our needs. We are to rely on the Lord one day at a time. To accept the Lord’s provision for the present day, without concern for our needs or welfare tomorrow, is a testimony of our contentment in His goodness and faithfulness.

Forgive us our Debts

Forgiveness of sin is the greatest need of the human heart because sin has a twofold effect: it promises to damn men forever while at the same time robbing them of the fullness of life by burdening the conscience with unrelenting guilt. Ultimately sin separates man from God, thus it is unquestionably the principal enemy and greatest problem of man.

Forgiveness of sin is the greatest need of the human heart because sin has a twofold effect: it promises to damn men forever while at the same time robbing them of the fullness of life by burdening the conscience with unrelenting guilt. Ultimately sin separates man from God, thus it is unquestionably the principal enemy and greatest problem of man.

Forgiveness at salvation.

Ongoing forgiveness of sin in the life of a believer.

Since man’s severest problem is sin, his greatest need is forgiveness—and that is exactly what God provides. Though we have been forgiven the ultimate penalty of sin through salvation in Christ, we need to experience God’s regular forgiveness for the sins we continue to commit.

Since man’s severest problem is sin, his greatest need is forgiveness—and that is exactly what God provides. Though we have been forgiven the ultimate penalty of sin through salvation in Christ, we need to experience God’s regular forgiveness for the sins we continue to commit.

Deliver Us From Evil

We live in a fallen world that continually bombards us with the reality of sin and its consequences.

We live in a fallen world that continually bombards us with the reality of sin and its consequences.

In a cursed world where we are continually battered by wickedness all around us, we confess our inadequacy to deal with such evil. We confess the weakness of our flesh and the absolute impotency of human resources to combat sin and rescue us from its clutches. Above all we confess our need for the protection and deliverance of our loving Heavenly Father.

In a cursed world where we are continually battered by wickedness all around us, we confess our inadequacy to deal with such evil. We confess the weakness of our flesh and the absolute impotency of human resources to combat sin and rescue us from its clutches. Above all we confess our need for the protection and deliverance of our loving Heavenly Father.

Will God honor the petition in ? According to He will. God will never allow you to experience a trial that is more than you can handle. That is seen in in the phrase “deliver us from evil.” God will never let us be tempted above what we are able to endure. That’s His promise, and if we meet the condition of that promise, we can claim it. What is the condition? Submit yourself to the Lord and resist the devil.

Will God honor the petition in ? According to He will. God will never allow you to experience a trial that is more than you can handle. That is seen in in the phrase “deliver us from evil.” God will never let us be tempted above what we are able to endure. That’s His promise, and if we meet the condition of that promise, we can claim it. What is the condition? Submit yourself to the Lord and resist the devil.

John F. MacArthur Jr., Alone with God, MacArthur Study Series (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1995), 116.