The Lord's Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer

(Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4)

I. “Our Father in heaven,”

A. “Our Father” - shows the personal relationship which we have with God.

1. Crying out to God as our Father claims our connection to God as His children.
2. This claim goes hand in hand with the text of the previous verse, vs.8, “For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”
3. Jesus here uses this term in a unique way, given His direct Sonship to the Father and the sonship which had yet to be received through Him, a sonship which we now all possess.

B. “in heaven” - suggest a reverence that we are to give to Him.

1. While it is true that we walk before God as we enter into prayer we do so in a position of lowliness.
2. This references His position in comparison to our own reminding us both of God’s immanence and God’s transcendence. (see note on vs.10, V.)

II. “Hallowed be Your name.”

A. “Hallowed” - Sanctified.

1. The holy nature of God’s name should not be uttered lightly but reverently.

B. “Your” - notice that the first three petitions are with respect to God.

1. God is to be put first in all prayer and petition.
2. Only after God is rightfully praised and worshiped are we to move on to self petition.

C. “name” - the holy name of God.

1. Names held great significance to the identity of the individual in biblical times.
2. The name of God was revealed in Exodus 3:13-15 by God and was expressed in correlation with His character.
3. To refer to God’s name as ‘hallowed’ directs each following petition. As those who are given the vocation of God reflection it is our responsibility to live in a way that reflects His holiness.

III. “Your kingdom come.”

A. “Your” - both phrases, “Your kingdom,” and “Your will,” highlight the ultimate control over God’s creation.

1. Both of these petitions are not simply requests but ultimate certainties. God’s Kingdom will come and His will shall be accomplished.
2. While the ultimate result will be the realization of the kingdom and the completed will of God we ask for and long for them because of the ultimate glory that it will bring to God.

B. “kingdom come”

1. God’s kingdom has already been introduced through the coming of Jesus Christ (cf.Mt.12:28).
2. Those who believe in Jesus as the Christ have already been brought into the kingdom from the dominion of the darkness (cf.Col.1:13)
3. The kingdom is not yet complete and is being constantly prepared for us by the Son. (cf. Jn.14:3)
4. We pray for the imminent arrival of the kingdom as an expression of our hearts desire (cf. Acts 1:4-8)

IV. “Your will be done”

A. “will” - the desire of God.

B. “be done” - All honorable prayer, first, willingly submits to God’s purpose, plans and glory.

1. This petition to God is intensely personal and all inclusive. It asks for personal submission as well as the obedience of all to the model set by Christ.
2. Again, the ultimate realization of the completed will of the Father will be realized at the coming of God’s kingdom.

V. “On earth as it is in heaven.”

A. This phrase depicts the omnipresence of God.

1. Although God presence resides on His rightful throne in heaven (vs.9), He is not removed from residing in and with us here on earth.
2. In this petition lies the realization of God’s omnipotence, His power over all things earthly and heavenly.