In Luke 11:1, Jesus was asked by one of His disciples the above request. The answer is often referred to today as the Lord’s Prayer, and it is answered in Luke 11:2-4 and Matthew 6:9-13. However, it is improper to refer to this as The Lord’s Prayer. Our Lord Jesus prayed often, but our texts show this is a pattern for prayer and not an actual prayer. These two texts show the importance of proper prayer. If His disciples saw the need of being properly taught how to pray, shouldn’t modern man learn how to pray properly? Many times today, men are asked to lead public prayer, but too often, some give little thought, it seems, to the model Jesus gave. Some even use prayer time as a time to preach instead of praying. Shame on such! [I’m not amused when one leading prayer begins quoting Scripture to God! ~ LER.]
The so-called Lord’s Prayer is not to be recited, but the principles in it are to be followed. The prayer is a pattern! Let’s now note the example given by our Lord. I’ll be using the text in Matthew 6:9-13. “Our Father which art in heaven…” Note prayers are to be addressed to the Father in heaven. They are not to be addressed to Jesus, and our Lord emphasized this in John 16:23, where He said, “And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.” Then, Jesus explained in verse 28, “I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.” The total context reveals that Jesus was speaking of the time when He would be back in Heaven. His whole time upon earth in reference to prayer was that such should be addressed to the Father, and in these latter passages, strong emphasis is given to that. In verse 27 He stated, “For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.” Let those who lead prayer be ever mindful of this, as well as those who serve as song leaders. Yes, some songs are prayers set to music, but a musical prayer addressed to other than the Father is just as unscriptural!
Now for the second main point of the model prayer, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” When Jesus was giving the prayer pattern, the kingdom had not yet come. It now has become a reality; so, that part of the model prayer cannot be followed exactly. Yet, I see nothing improper in praying for the kingdom today.
Let us consider the remainder of that model prayer. “Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen.” Certainly, as Jesus pointed out, our Heavenly Father knows what we need before we ask, but He wants to know that we love and trust Him enough to express our desires for physical nourishment to Him. He also wants us to ask His help in being kept away from temptations. However, God does not send temptations. “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempted he any man. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed” (James 1:13-14).
Finally, note Verses 14-15, which Jesus used following the model prayer. “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Now there is a profound statement and one we need to have ever before us in our relationships. The question was recently, “Are you sure you are going to make it to Heaven?” Well, have you forgiven those who have trespassed against you? Are your sins truly forgiven? Or will some grudge against another keep you away from having your sins forgiven?
Arlis Richardson has preached for decades for the churches of Christ in the USA, and now he is retired.
