Understanding The Lord’s Prayer

A Pattern

Superseding the Synagogue type, this “Pearl of Prayers” anticipated the need of scattered disciples and Gentile converts and provided a bond between believers in its “manner” of approach to God. Offered daily in the spirit of its Teacher, it would transform the life.

“Teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”1 Jesus responded by abridgment 2 of part of his Sermon3 wherein he4 framed a sample such as would please his Father, in six petitions : are Thy Name, Kingdom, Will; our bread, sins, trials; suited to all circumstances.5

God first,”comprehensive, brief,6 the formula is a vital model : “a monument of matchless ministry.” Pious performance was hateful; vain repetitions not “heard.”7 “After this manner therefore pray ye: ‘Father of us, Thou in the heavens, The Son, “in the bosom of 8 the Father,” shows affectionate children9 how to draw near, with direct simplicity praying ” Father.”10 Suppressing self, we come, family-conscious (“us”),11 setting our affection on things above,12 knowing “the High and Lofty One, Whose Name is ‘Holy’, “even He, is our “Heavenly Father”and “careth for” us; for the reins of the Universe are in the Hands of Love .13

[Hallowed be Thy Name.] “Hallowed be Thou.” This is no appellation. He is Holy : to be revered and worshipped. “Them that honour Me, I will honour.” 14 Be Thou sanctified (1) in our hearts; (2) in all the world. Each an “epistle ” which can be read, if a little ” beauty of holiness ” can be seen.15

[Thy Kingdom Come.] God’s “universal sway” is complete in the heavens. On earth, Sin reigns; His Kingdom still to come. The people of His Name: ” children of the Kingdom,” will ” receive the Kingdom,” ” shine forth” in it, and reign with “Christ” on Earth “when” the time “comes.16 God now (over)rules in “the kingdom of men,” guiding toward “the Age to come ” and the Kingdom of Christ, in whom God will “take His great power and reign.”17

[Thy Will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.] Term oft reserved for anguished hours of reluctant resignation. Our wills would easier align18 with His, if oft we prayed that it be done (1) by us, now; (2) by all . . . “in love, as angels quick . . above,” “do His pleasure.” “He that doeth the Will abideth ever.”  “I delight to do Thy Will.” “A doer is blessed.”19 Made “perfect to do His Will.” “By all ” : when the Kingdom comes ,20

[Give us day by day our sustaining bread;] The L.P. ascended daily from early believers.21 Each praying for all (“us”), knowing all praying for him. The Father feeds the birds; of more value, children. Their needs He knows before they ask; they are “added” to Kingdom-seekers.22

[And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.] A petition barred to the unreconciled offender; futile for the unforgiving offended. “Blessed is the man whose sin is covered.” 23 Jesus puts “our debts”/those suffered, as 1,000,000/1.24 Jews per­ceived allusion to remission in ” The Lord’s Release ” each Sabbatical Year.25 ” Release, and ye shall be released.”26

Also pray for others sins,27 [And bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”] Trial or proving, as of Abraham and Jesus, we fear we may not endure; hence, pray this in our weakness, as Jesus (face with his supreme trial) sympathetically urged.28 God entices no man. We “fall into manifold trials,” and, if we “endure,” on approval “receive the Crown of Life.”If one fail: ours to succour.29 He knows “how to deliver out of trial” and makes “the way of escape” to render it bearable.30 The “evil”31 is Sin rampant in the world, and ready to erupt in saints. But He is able to guard us from stumbling, and to set us before the Presence of His glory without blemish in exceeding joy. 32

References

  1. Lk. 11 ; 1. Jews prayed much. Call was for epitome. Custom was for a Rabbi to teach a Fountain p. to students.
  2. Lk. 11 : 2-4.
  3. . Mt. 6 : 9. Who ep:tomised Law and P. in two sentences.
  4. Mt. 22 : 37.
  5. Thanks, praise, etc. omitted.
  6. Lk. 18 : 13.
  7. Mt. 6:5, 7. Jewish was vain “as Gentile”; must be read to be credited ! Ignoring denunciation, a graded efficacy is alloted to amounts of repetition by R.C:s. of this very p.
  8. State of loving fellowship, close and tender. Jno. 1 : 18; 13 : 23.
  9. Mt. 11 : 25: (Du. 32:6 Is. 63 : 16; 64 : 8; Je. 3 : 4, 19; 31 : 9; MI. 1:6: 2 : 10, are national).
  10. Jesus uses ” F ” 17 times in Sermon. First word, Abba, became the p’s title. Rm. 8 : 15; Ga. 4 : 6.
  11. No alphabetic (Aleph to Tau) compositions, or acrostic feats of repetition; just one-in Aleph! ” Call none on earth, father ‘ : One is your Hvnly. F.” Name jealously reserved. R.C. use of Pope (Lat. papa) and father for priests, etc. is a terrifying violation of Mt. 23 : 9.” ” The only begotten Son ” uses the form, ” the F. of me.” Mt. 16 : 17.
  12. Col. 3 : 1, 2.
  13. Is. 57 : 15: Mt. 6 : 32: 1 Ps. 5 : 7; 1 Jno. 4 : 8; Ps. 103:13.
  14. 1 S. 2 : 30.
  15. 2 Co. 3:2: Is. 8 : 13; 29 : 23; 52 : 6; Je. 31 : 34.
  16.  Ac. 15 : 14; Mt. 13 : 38; Dn. 7:18; Lk. 12 : 32; Mt. 13 : 43; 2 Tim. 2 : 12; Rv. 5 : 10; Dn. 7 : 22. 17 4 : 17; He. 6 . 5: Rv. 11 : 15, 17; 5 : 13; type and prophecy of 1 Ch. 29 : 11 then absolute. Those holding Church=Kingdom, and themselves rulers : soon disillusioned and dispossessed. Even Jesus waits ” until the Km. shall come.
  17.  Lk. 22: 18: 1 Co. 11 : 26.
  18. Hard, even so, as Christ knows, Lk. 22 : 42.
  19. Ps. 103:21;  Jno. 2 : 17: P. 40 : 8: Jno. 4 : 34; Jas. I : 25.
  20. He. 13 : 21; Ps. 110 : 3; Is. 2 : 3.
  21. 3 times if Jews. No tautology (day, daily) in (prob. Heb.) orig.: ” bd. of our existence.” Thirtle. Amer. pref. RV: ” needful bd.”
  22. Mt. 6 : 26, 8, 33.
  23. Mt. 5 : 23; Mk. 11 : 25; Ps. 32: I.
  24. Mt. 18 : 24.
  25. Du. 15 : 2.
  26. Lk. 6 : 37 RV; Ep. 4:32.
  27. Jno. 5 : 14-16: Lk. 23 : 34; Ac. 7 : 60.
  28. Gn. 22 : 1: Mt. 4 : 1: He. 4 : 15; 2 : 18; Mt. 26:41.
  29. Jas. 1 : 2, 12-14; Ga. 6 : 1.
  30. 2 P. 2 : 9; 1 Co. 10: 13. ” Re RV’s “evil one”: Grammar does not demand the (predilected) italicized addition.
  31. The doxology, after “evil,” is an agreed 2nd or 3rd cen. intrusion.
  32. Jno. 2 : 14 and 5:5: also Jno. 17 : 15, 16 and Jas. 1:27. Jude 24 RV; 1 Tim. 1 : 17.