Matthew 6:9-13 So then pray like this, Our Father who is in heaven, yours name is very holy. 10 Yours kingdom come; yours will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily food. 12 Forgive us our debt [of sin], even as we forgive our debtors [of their sins]. 13 Don’t let us be brought into temptation, instead deliver us from the evil. For yourss is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
Similarly, a shorter version is found in Luke 11:2-4.
The differences can be understood by knowing that Jesus taught these prayer points many times.
Jesus is teaching the people what prayer is and how to pray. He gives this as an example of prayer. The Jews have so much interpretation and rules, that the principles of prayer are lost. Jesus highlights the failure of Pharisees who pray in public on busy streets (Matthew 6:5). True prayer is talking to God, our Father in heaven.
B1 We pray to God—He is one God and three persons, so compare Matthew 28:19 and 1 Peter 1:2.
B2 Prayer can be short (Nehemiah 1:4-5) or long (Luke 6:12 and 1 Samuel 15:11).
B3 We pray to praise and thank God first. Secondly, for others especially for our Christian brothers and sisters. Thirdly, for ourselves.
B4 We pray in faith (believing God will answer), yet, we pray for God’s will to be done.
There is no special blessing for memorizing this prayer to receive God’s grace.
There is much meaning. Many people have written on this.
Our Father in heaven:
B1 God is Father to those who have faith in Him for salvation. See Matthew 23:9, John 1:12, and 1 John 3:1-2.
B2 This is our Father who is in heaven. There are 3 heavens—the atmosphere, the rest of the universe, and the location where Yahweh is.
B3 This is a relationship (John 1:12, 1 John 3:1, and Romans 8:14-17).
B4 God is very involved in running and interacting with His universe. This is termed immanence, which is defined by Immanence by Got Questions:
God’s immanence refers to His presence within His creation. (It is not to be confused with imminence, which refers to the timing of Jesus’ return to earth.) A belief in God’s immanence holds that God is present in all of creation, while remaining distinct from it. In other words, there is no place where God is not. His sovereign control extends everywhere simultaneously.
B5 As Father, God is very involved with humanity in salvation. He seeks the lost (Ezekiel 34:16 and Luke 19:10), and initiates salvation (John 16:8-11 and Acts 16:14).
Yours name is very holy:
B1 Holiness is a separation from any sin or taint of sin (Hebrew 4:15 and 1 John 3:5).
B2 Holy (hallowed) is defined by ISBE:
To “hallow the name” includes not only the inward attitude and outward action of profound reverence and active praise, but also that personal godliness, loving obedience and aggressive Christlikeness, which reveal the presence of God in the life, which is His true earthly glory.
B3 Thus, it includes everything about God—His character, His kingdom, His rules, His worldview, His lifestyle, His decisions, His beliefs (doctrine), etc.
B4 People are not to treat God’s name (His person) as unholy by attributing false beliefs, actions, attitudes, etc. We must give Him our greatest respect (Philippians 2:9-11).
B5 Two Quotes about Gods name:
C1 God reveals Himself through His name. The name of the Lord is holy. Don’t play around with His name. When we use His name it should be used with great seriousness.
C2 It is sinful to take the Lord’s name in vain, but sadly this is what the world likes to do. In honor of God’s name walk faithfully with Him and obey Him. Be thankful and continually praise His holy name.
Yours kingdom come:
B1 God’s kingdom is where God reigns.
B2 It is the kingdom that reflects His rulership, His rules, and the character traits He wants for society and individuals.
B3 Jesus will one day sit on His promised throne in Jerusalem and reign as King of all kings and Lord of all lords.
C1 He will come (John 14:1-14 and 1 Corinthians 15)
C2 He will defeat anti-Christ and that kingdom (Revelation 19 and Zechariah 12-14).
B4 Jesus is Lord of the church (believers). See Ephesians 1:22, and Colossians 1:18.
B5 Praying for His kingdom to come includes asking for Jesus to reign in our life and world. Also, it is that all evil removed.
Yours will be done on earth as it is in heaven:
B1 God’s will for believers in found in the New Testament teachings.
B2 God’s will acknowledges God is our Lord and King.
B3 Today we do not see His kingdom on earth, nor His will. It is coming. The Kingdom of God is in the believer’s heart and will be fully implemented when Jesus returns and rules.
B4 We pray for God’s will to be done on earth, in our society, government, education, medicine, families, and our own lives.
B5 God’s will is in wisdom, love, and holiness.
Give us today our daily food:
B1 God created the earth with its soil, water, and environment.
B2 God created the sun to send its life-giving rays.
B3 God blesses us (Acts 14:17).
B4 When we eat food, we must recognize God’s providence (His provision). See Psalms 136:25 and Psalm 145:15-16.
Forgive us our debt [of sin], even as we forgive our debtors [of their sins]
B1 Sin is any attitude or action that breaks God’s law.
C1 It can be in thoughts, desires, words, or deeds.
C2 It is the sin nature of each human.
B2 A classification of God’s laws is the 10 commandments (Exodus 20:1-17).
C1 Each law is the set of laws for a particular area of life.
C2 Every type of sin is included in one of the 10 categories.
B3 Sin must be and will be punished (Romans 6:23 and Psalm 9:17).
C1 The punishment affects body, mind, and soul.
C2 The punishment is death (Hebrews 9:27).
C3 Our minds and souls are dead as far as God is concerned (Romans 5:12 and Ephesians 2:1-3). We are evil (Romans 3:9).
C4 Our bodies die at the end of life (Romans 2:6-8).
C5 There is a physical death and an eternal destruction—not annihilation (Matthew 10:28, Matthew 25:46, and 2 Thessalonians 1:9).
B4 Sin must be punished.
C1 Every human will bear this punishment unless they believe in Jesus—who He is and what He has done (John 3:16).
C2 Jesus’s death is a substitutionary death (Galatians 2:20 and 1 Peter 2:23-25).
C3 Jesus’s death affects and is applied only to those who meet God’s conditions of grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone (Acts 4:12 and John 3:36).
B5 We must forgive others, if we want God to forgive us (Colossians 3:13 and Romans 12:17).
B6 Forgiveness is not seeking revenge and is reconciliation (Romans 12:19-21).
Don’t let us be brought into temptation, instead deliver us from the evil:
B1 Temptation is not sin.
B2 God does not tempt us (James 1:13).
B3 Temptation arises from sinful desires (James 1:14-15).
B4 Temptation can be anything that seeks to destroy our faith and deceive us to sin.
B5 With God’s help, we can resist and not sin (James 1:12 and Ephesians 6:12).
B6 Be alert and pray for help (Matthew 26:41). Also, see Proverbs 4:14-15 and 2 Thessalonians 3:3).
B7 God gives awards for resisting temptation (James 1:12).
For yourss is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever:
B1 Wilbur Pickering PhD notes: About 1% of the Greek manuscripts, of inferior quality, omit the last clause (as in NIV, [NASB], LB, TEV, etc.).
B2 God has a kingdom (Colossians 1:13).
B3 The devil is a usurper.
B4 This passage acknowledges that the kingdom, authority, and glory are God’s and only God’s (John 18:36, Psalm 22:28, Psalm 95:3, and Isaiah 42:8).
B5 Satan is judged and will be destroyed. See Satan Judged.
Let us remember the principles of the Lord’s teaching about prayer.
What have we learned about prayer?
What have we learned about God?
What have we learned about ourselves?
Do we pray?