Salvation Summaries

This is the first of several posts I plan to write on the Lord’s Prayer.

As you know from my recent posts, I’m on a quest to pray better, and I want to share what I learn with you so you can pray better too (if that is something you want to do). I began by reading six books on prayer and writing summary posts on four, but these books did little to improve my prayer life.  As a result, I decided to turn to the book I should have started with – the Bible – and focus on what it says about prayer, starting with the Lord’s Prayer (See my post Review of Prayer Book #4 and Change of Plans for details on how I plan to pray more effectively). It’s my belief that a good understanding of the Lord’s Prayer (and other important prayers in the Bible) is essential for anyone who wants to pray biblically and more effectively. Do you agree? 

How well do you really know it?

If you’re like me, you memorized the Lord’s Prayer when you were young and have recited it many times since then, but how well do you really know it?  For example, when I recently read the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew and Luke, the following questions came to my mind (and which I do not have the answers to):

• When we pray “Our Father,” why do we call God “Father” and why does Jesus say “Our?”

• What does “hallowed” really mean?

• When we pray “thy kingdom come, thy will be done,” what is God’s kingdom, and what is His will?  Is this something we are to help bring about (and if so, how)?

• When we ask “give us this day, our daily bread,” does this refer to food only?

• Should we use the Lord’s Prayer as a model for our other prayers?

• How often should we pray it?

• Wouldn’t the “Lord’s Prayer” be better described as the “Disciples’ Prayer,” with the real Lord’s Prayer found in John 17:1-26? (this question did not come to my mind from reading the verses, but from a commentary I read and I think it’s a valid one so included it here). 

Over the next few posts, I plan to answer these and other questions on the Lord’s Prayer.  But before diving into details, let’s take a step back and look at this prayer from a big picture standpoint.

Big picture view of the Lord’s Prayer

Where it’s located – The Lord’s Prayer can be found in two places in the Bible.  The first is Matthew 6:9-13, which is in the middle of Jesus’ sermon on the mount, and the second is Luke 11:2-4.

Versions – The Lord’s Prayers in Matthew and Luke are not identical. Matthew’s version is longer than Luke’s.

• Matthew 6:9-13 9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

• Luke 11:2-4 2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: “‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation. ‘”

Petitions and Parts – Although some Bible commentators divide the Lord’s Prayer into six or seven petitions, I think it makes more sense to view the prayer as having two parts.  The first part is directed at God (Hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, and in Matthew thy will be done also), and the second points to us (give us this day our daily bread, forgive our debts, lead us not into temptation).

Order – The order of the parts is similar to many other prayers in the Bible, where the author describes or thanks or praises God first, and then makes a request (see 2 Kings 19:15-19; 1 Chronicles 29:10-19; 2 2 Chronicles 20:6-12; Nehemiah 1:5-11; Daniel 9:1-9; John 11:41-43; and Acts 4:24-30 for examples).  As such, we can use the structure or order of this prayer as a model for our other prayers.

Omission – While the Lord’s Prayer addresses important aspects about God and what we should ask for, there are many things it does not mention, such as loving others, serving others, bearing fruit, avoiding worldliness, walking in faith, living by the Holy Spirit, seeking to save others, etc.  These are issues we should address in our other prayers.

Possible Jewish (and non-biblical) Sources – The Lord’s Prayer shares some similarities with two well known Jewish prayers called Shemoney Esrei (also known as the Amidah) and the Kaddish.  According to a few Jewish sites I visited, some Jews believe that Jesus simply took portions of existing Jewish prayers to form the Lord’s Prayer.  While it’s true there are some similarities between these Jewish prayers and the Lord’s Prayer,  all components of the Lord’s Prayer (e.g., the holiness of God, God’s kingdom, God’s will, bread, forgiveness, temptation, evil one, etc.). are found in the Bible.  Further, I believe the content, brevity and rhythm of this prayer make it unique.

Shemoney Esrei 

This prayer was written in the 5th century BC, and includes 18 – 19 petitions and blessings.  One Jewish source (https://hebrews4christians.com) believes that the Lord’s Prayer is a concise restatement of the Amidah (though I don’t see that).

Below are two petitions (3 and 6) from this prayer, and I’ve colored the text that relates to the Lord’s Prayer (most of the other petitions do not contain information found in the Lord’s Prayer).

We shall sanctify Your Name in this world, just as they sanctify it in heaven above, as it is written by the hand of Your prophet, “And one will call another and say: ‘Holy, holy, holy is YHVH, Master of Legions, the whole world is filled with His glory.’” Those facing them say, “Blessed”: “Blessed is the glory of YHVH from His place.” And in Your holy Writings the following is written: “YHVH shall reign forever – your God, O Zion – from generation to generation: Praise YHVH! You are holy and Your Name is holy, and holy ones praise You, every day, forever. Blessed are You, YHVH, the holy God.”

Forgive us, our Father, for we have sinned; pardon us, our King, for we have willfully transgressed; for You pardon and forgive. Blessed are You, YHVH, the gracious One Who forgives a multitude of transgressions.

Kaddish

It is not clear to me when this prayer originated.  According to Jewish and non-Jewish websites, the Kaddish was either written shortly after the destruction of the first Beit Hamikdash (~586 BC), the same time as the Lord’s Prayer, 132-135 AD, or 900 AD.  And, according to one site, “we don’t really know” (when the prayer was written).

Per the Jewish Virtual Library, the Kaddish is a prayer that praises God and expresses a yearning for the establishment of God’s kingdom on earth.  It adds that the word Kaddish means sanctification, and thus the prayer is a sanctification of God’s name. There are different versions of the Kaddish, including the half, complete, mourner’s and rabbi’s kaddish. A copy of the half Kaddish prayer is below, and I’ve colored the text that relates to the Lord’s Prayer:

May His great name be exalted and sanctified. In the world which He created according to His will! May He establish His kingdom during your lifetime and during your days and during the lifetimes of all the House of Israel, speedily and very soon! And say, Amen.
May His great name be blessed for ever, and to all eternity!  Blessed and praised, glorified and exalted, extolled and honored, adored and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be He, above and beyond all the blessings, hymns, praises and consolations that are uttered in the world! And say, Amen. May the prayers and supplications of all Israel be accepted by their Father who is in Heaven; And say, Amen. May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life upon us and upon all Israel; And say, Amen. May He who makes peace in His high places grant peace upon us and upon all Israel; And say, Amen.

Review of the Lord’s Prayer

Going forward, I plan to divide my review of the Lord’s Prayer into the following six parts and write a short post on each.

• Part 1 – Our Father
• Part 2 – which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name
• Part 3 – thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven
• Part 4 – give us this day our daily bread
• Part 5 – and forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven our debtors
• Part 6 – and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil

Based upon a recommendation from one of my followers, I hope to shorten each post so that it’s no more than a 3 – 5 minute read (for everyone seems to be busy, including me!).