leaning into the Lord’s Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer, a central prayer in Christian tradition, appears in both Matthew and Luke. It is very special to me, so I would like to explore it together.

A look at the biblical context leading up to the Lord’s Prayer:

In Matthew, the Lord’s Prayer is part of the “Sermon on the Mount.” This sermon is a foundational teaching by Jesus. He addresses various aspects of righteous living and the nature of God’s kingdom. Leading up to the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus critiques the superficial religious practices of the time, particularly those of the Pharisees and other religious leaders. He emphasizes that authentic spirituality is not about public displays of piety but about genuine, private devotion to God. Jesus warns against practicing righteousness to be seen by others and highlights the importance of sincerity in prayer.

In Matthew 6:5-8, Jesus instructs his followers on how not to pray—by making a spectacle of oneself or using meaningless repetitions. Instead, he offers a model for prayer that is both intimate and profound. The Lord’s Prayer is presented as a concise, structured way for believers to address God, acknowledging God’s holiness, seeking God’s will, and requesting daily needs and forgiveness. It underscores a personal relationship with God, emphasizes harmony with others, and embraces the coming of God’s Kingdom.

In Luke, the context is somewhat different. The Lord’s Prayer is introduced in Luke 11:1-4 after one of Jesus’ disciples asks him to teach them to pray. Here, the prayer is slightly shorter and more focused on basic requests. This interaction highlights Jesus’ role as a teacher and emphasizes the prayer’s function as a guide for followers to cultivate a deeper relationship with God.

The big picture

Overall, the context leading up to the Lord’s Prayer reflects a shift from public displays of religiosity to a more personal approach to spiritual practices. The prayer itself serves as a model for communicating with God, balancing reverence and intimacy. It addresses both individual needs and broader spiritual concerns.

Let’s consider the Lord’s Prayer in different versions of the Bible.

First we have the King James and New King James versions. The latter has updated language, and both of these include the closing statement offering power and glory forever.

Next are the Common English Bible and New Living Translation. Neither of these contain the final blessing seen in the others, and the language has other subtle differences.

My thoughts going line by line

Like many things we memorize, it’s easy to check out mentally while reciting the words. But this prayer is so personal. I like to pray it slowly and reflect on each line. Here I’ll share my thoughts. I will use the lines from the Common English Bible, but I will add the final blessing from the New King James version.

Our Father who is in heaven, uphold the holiness of your name.

There are many things I notice here. The use of the word “our,” for instance, gives a unifying tone to the prayer. We’re all together in this. I like that. Moreover, the word “Father” is deeply personal. I don’t think of God as having a gender, but I do think of God as a parental figure. This conjures images of love, concern, relationship, care, and so much more. It’s amazing that we can be in an intimate relationship with God, like family.

Notice the different versions of the phrase about holiness: hallowed be thy name, hallowed be your name, uphold the holiness of your name, and may your name be kept holy. There are subtle differences between these sentiments, but they all convey a sense of reverence and honor. Since the Lord’s Prayer is a model for prayer, this impresses on me the rightness of beginning a prayer with an acknowledgement of who God is and that God deserves our praise. The wording “may your name be kept holy” makes me think of the many times when I hear God’s name spoken in a way that does not keep it holy. Food for thought.

Bring in your kingdom so that your will is done on earth as it’s done in heaven.

This line begins with a request for God’s kingdom to be realized. It’s a desire for the world to be in alignment with God’s purposes. The following words, “so that your will is done on earth as it’s done in heaven,” is the part of the prayer that resonates with me the most. Part of what I’m praying is that God’s will be done in ME as it’s done in heaven. Praying with this in mind is an act of choosing God’s priorities. Ultimately, I want my thoughts, actions, attitudes, and goals to please God.

Give us the bread we need for today.

Notice that the concern here is just for today. There is no stress about tomorrow or further down the road. In addition, the request is for bread, the most basic need. The focus is not on extras. It puts me in mind of Jesus’ description of himself as the bread of life. Perhaps we can also think of this as being a request for spiritual nourishment.

Forgive us for the ways we have wronged you, just as we also forgive those who have wronged us.

Walking in forgiveness is a key part of the Christian life. Forgiving others. Forgiving ourselves. Asking for forgiveness. These ideas all work together. Forgiveness in every sense is essential in order to feel whole and healthy. When we hold on to guilt or bitterness, it takes our focus away from God. It adds to our stress and affects us emotionally and physically. The Lord’s Prayer offers a good reminder that spiritual life involves both the receiving and offering of grace.

And don’t lead us into temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.

I see this as a request for God’s guidance in navigating life’s challenges. It reflects a trust in God’s wisdom and perspective. The concept of “rescue” can involve providing foresight, giving strength, offering deliverance, etc. We are vulnerable, and being intentional about asking for God’s direction is important.

I don’t believe that God intentionally leads us into situations where we are likely to fail. However, I definitely acknowledge that I need God’s strength and guidance. In this part of the prayer, we’re inviting God’s presence as we balance difficult circumstances and choices. Ultimately, we want our lives to reflect God’s love, justice, and compassion.

For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

I realize that the earliest translations of the Bible do not include this final phrase. It may have been added later as a way of closing off the prayer with words of praise and blessing. Regardless, it’s a beautiful way of leaving our prayer session with our focus on God.

Would you like to go more in depth with the Lord’s Prayer?

I have an excellent book to recommend: Adam Hamilton’s The Lord’s Prayer: The Meaning and Power of the Prayer Jesus Taught. He explains concepts clearly and concisely. I made a point of writing this post before reading his book.

Think about making the Lord’s Prayer a regular part of your prayer time. Let me know your thoughts!

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• a journey with prayer beads
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• name brands versus store brands

Fondly,

Crysti