The Lord's Prayer, found in Matthew 6:9-13, is perhaps the most recited prayer in Christianity. Jesus gave this prayer to His disciples as a model for how to approach God. Let us examine each part of this beautiful prayer.
"Our Father which art in heaven"
Jesus begins by teaching us to address God as "Our Father." This establishes the intimate relationship believers have with God. He is not a distant deity but a loving Father who cares for His children.
The phrase "which art in heaven" reminds us of God's transcendence and majesty. While He is near to us, He is also the sovereign Lord of all creation.
"Hallowed be thy name"
Before making any requests, we are to worship and honor God. "Hallowed" means to make holy or to reverence. We acknowledge that God's name—His very nature and character—is set apart and worthy of our highest praise.
"Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven"
This petition aligns our hearts with God's purposes. We pray for His rule to be established on earth, for His will to be accomplished perfectly here as it is in heaven where angels obey Him without hesitation.
"Give us this day our daily bread"
Here Jesus teaches us to depend on God for our daily needs. Not monthly or yearly bread, but daily—teaching us constant dependence on our Provider. This echoes Israel's experience with manna in the wilderness.
"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger." — John 6:35
"And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors"
We acknowledge our need for forgiveness while committing to extend forgiveness to others. This is the only petition Jesus elaborates on after the prayer, emphasizing its importance:
"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you." — Matthew 6:14
"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil"
We pray for God's protection and guidance. Recognizing our weakness, we ask God to guard us from situations that would cause us to stumble and to deliver us from the evil one.
"For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever"
The prayer ends as it began—with worship. We acknowledge that all authority belongs to God, all power is His, and all glory is due to His name forever.
Applying the Lord's Prayer
- Begin with worship before making requests
- Align your will with God's purposes
- Trust God for daily provision
- Practice forgiveness as you receive it
- Seek protection through humble dependence
- End with praise acknowledging God's sovereignty
The Lord's Prayer is not merely words to recite but a pattern for all our prayers, teaching us to approach our Heavenly Father with reverence, trust, and surrender.