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THE
LORD'S PRAYER
MATTHEW 6:9-13
This teaching by Jesus is a MODEL or EXAMPLE prayer and not designed to be
ritually recited. If Jesus had intended for it to be a ritual prayer to be
recited word for word, then God would have preserved it word for word in
Luke's account at Luke 11:2-4.
But the principles stated in the prayer are what should be expressed in the
believer's prayer life.
And the example is for all believers, not only for those to whom Jesus was
speaking, but for all past and future believers as well.
The imperative mood is used six times for the verbs to express a desire on
the part of the one who prays.
The subjunctive mood at verse 13 is used with the negative (ma) for "lead us
not." It expresses a negative entreaty and has the same force as the
imperatives.
1. We are to pray TO the Father. NOT to Jesus or to the Holy Spirit. There
are no NT examples of praying to Jesus or the Spirit. And that includes
Stephen's dismissal of his physical life at Acts 7:59. Verse 7:60 is
probably addressed to God the Father.
2. The one who is in the heavens: The official location of God the Father.
The term "heavenly Father" (patār ho ouranos) is used six times only by
Jesus and not in any examples of prayer. Mat. 5:48; 6:14, 26,32; 15:13;
18:35.
But "Father who is in heaven" at Mat. 5:16, 45; 6:1; 7:21; 10:32-33; 12:50;
16:17; 18:10, 14, 19; 23:9; Mark 11:26; Col. 4:1, "Master in heaven."
2. Hallowed be Your name: the verb is hagiadzō as an aorist passive
imperative. It means to set apart as special and unique; holy. Let your name
receive sanctification (be recognized as holy). We should include an
expression of praise; recognition of His holiness and thankfulness.
SEE TOPIC: God: the holiness of God
3. Your kingdom come (aorist act. imperative) is explained by the next
phrase: "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (aorist passive
imp).
This is not talking about the millennial kingdom.
This is expressing the DESIRE that God's authority and viewpoint; His TRUTH
be spread abroad on the earth.
This is praying for success in spiritual and moral teaching through the
ambassadorship activity of believers. We are exhorted to "seek first the
kingdom and His righteousness" at Matthew 6:33.
ALL OF US should be praying this way.
As Jesus ministered, the "kingdom of God" was among them - represented by
His works and His teaching.
After the resurrection the SAME thing is a reality as the church promotes
the viewpoint and authority of the kingdom of God by teaching and living
God's truth here on earth. "For the kingdom of God is not eating and
drinking, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." Rom. 14:17.
Acts 28:31, "proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord
Jesus Christ."
SEE TOPIC: Kingdom of God
4. Give us today our daily food: (aorist active imp).
A. our necessary food: The word is epiousios and does
not mean "daily." It means what is necessary for our
daily sustenance and therefore survival.
B. This is a prayer of faith-dependence on God for supplying
our daily sustenance so that we don't WORRY about it, as
at Mat. 6:25, "don't worry." Phil. 4:6, "be worrying
about nothing, but in everything by prayer and
supplication with thanks, let your requests be made known
to God."
SEE TOPIC: Faith rest
5. Forgive us our sins (aorist active imperative):
A. This is talking about experiential forgiveness after
salvation; NOT salvation forgiveness. It is as per
1John 1:9, a prayer that acknowledges our sins to God
based on our discontinuance of any sins we may have
committed against others.
B. "as we also have forgiven:"
If we still hold on to a sinful attitude toward someone,
we are STILL sinning, and of course any confession of
sin will be meaningless. We have to "confess and
forsake" any sins we have committed. And that certainly
makes it conditional in order to experience rapport and
fellowship with God during our life here on earth.
SEE TOPIC: Confession of Sin
6. And lead us not into temptation: Recognition of divine provision for
resisting temptation.
A. This is a faith prayer for guidance in order to have
the "weapons" to resist temptation. 2 Cor. 10:13, God
will provide the way of escape. That way of escape is
found in His word. As we learn the truths and principles
of divine viewpoint, we will have what we need to see
and flee from the temptation. 1 Peter 5:6-9, "but resist
him firm in THE FAITH." James 4:7; Eph. 6:10-18
B. And the prayer, "lead us not" (aorist active
subjunctive) is a prayer for wisdom.
We trust God to lead us into the paths of righteousness
and wisdom by providing us with His word. But it is our
responsibility to learn and USE it in order to resist
temptation. If the believer does not learn the
principles and truths of God's character and viewpoint,
he will be ill equipped to handle the many and varied
temptations that are encountered every day.
C. But deliver us from evil: (aorist middle imperative)
God provides the way of escape through His word, but the
believer has the responsibility to learn and use The
Word to avoid sin.
SEE TOPIC: Temptation
Verse 13, "For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever.
Amen."
This phrase does not occur in the earliest manuscripts.
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