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It is interesting to study the above verses and the context in which they were given. Most refer to the verses following the request as “The Lord’s Prayer”. And of course it was the Lord Jesus who responded to the request but it is more rightfully explained if we would call it the disciple’s prayer. Jesus was not praying when he gave his reply but simply telling them a short but humble and meaningful prayer that they could recite and it would be pleasing to God.
It is interesting primarily when contrasted with those of many prayers you hear today. It seems that some today would be embarrassed to speak such a brief and understandable prayer as this. Why it has no words with over nine letters in it and only one of them. In a huge public assembly and only nine letter words or less? It only has 67 words in it (Luke’s rendering). What would people think? If most people cannot get a few words in, similar to antidisestablishmentarianism or at least a few which only a sprinkling of people will have command of, then they will make up for it by repetition and time consumption. If you are standing, your legs will ache before you can sit or move about. If you are sitting, you will sleep or go into a stupor that will cause your mate to give you a sharp elbow in the ribs to arouse you. At which point if you are like me, you may automatically stand up with your song book in your hand. Downright embarrassing.
I’m not trying to make fun of people’s prayers except in cases where it is obvious that they are speaking to the crowd instead of our Creator. That is exactly opposite to how it is supposed to be done. It makes one wonder how their private prayers may be worded. If, indeed they do pray privately. But with all seriousness, let’s examine the little prayer that Jesus gave the disciples for their use and see if it doesn’t show us what we should pray for and what we should not.
He begins with a modest but respectful addressing of the Father, and adds an exaltation phrase:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name
. The inference by Jesus here is that this greeting statement is enough, yet not necessarily the only statement that may be made. In Matthew’s account of this same incident, it is said that Jesus remarked before starting the above line, After this manner therefore pray ye: So by saying “this manner” indicates that it is the way to pray, not necessarily word for word. I hear many pray, and I used to do likewise, so I’m not criticizing, starting with simply, “Our heavenly Father…and go directly into our supplications. That might be adequate although after considering the above, “Hallowed be thy name” and after reading many of the Psalms and other books of the Old Testament especially, the praise that men like David for instance showered upon God made me wonder if perhaps we should not also do the same. So I now add some form of exaltation to the addressing of Him such as “All mighty and all wise God” or “Our Creator and our Sustainer” I know this, David was called, “A man after mine own heart” by God. And I sincerely seek to gain such a feeling from Him.
So let’s see what else is said in the example prayer that Jesus gave the disciples:
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
And Matthew’s account adds a little to it:
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And 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.
The phrases following the exaltation are prayers for one’s hope that mankind will do the things that God requires and expects of him:
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Now notice that this prayer was for the disciples of that day. The first 3 word statement was appropriate for that time because His kingdom had not been established at that time. Jesus was here to do that, and it was begun on the first Pentecost following Jesus resurrection, described and recorded in chapters 1 and 2 of Acts. So that statement should be altered to say something like, “May thy kingdom prosper and grow.” His kingdom consists of the true followers of Jesus Christ, His Son.
This brings us to the supplications asked by Jesus. What did he ask for? He asked for food for the day. Luke, and other writers indicate that he said “day by day” which would mean that you were asking for it ahead of time. So, it may be well that we can pray for our blessing in advance, but it should not replace our daily requests. Here is something that most people miss. That is all the physical blessings Jesus specified that we beg for…our daily food. All the other requests are for help in living our Christian lives as He would have us do. He did not, anywhere, indicate that we would be welcome to ask God to help us win the lottery.
Then, Matthew’s account gives us the closing exaltations that are very appropriate I believe. I invariably close my prayers with the plea to, “help us to always do those things that will glorify thee and thy Son, Jesus Christ, and it is in His name that we ask these things.” That is just another way of asking him to help me to be obedient. God is glorified by our obedience.
I constantly hear those who would say that God will protect us if we only ask. Don’t worry, God will not let a nuclear war begin, and on and on. God promises very little physical gifts or those things pertaining to the world. I can find no where that he has promised anyone riches, fame or power in this life. In fact we are assured that we, as His children, will suffer persecution. Everyone should read Fox’s Book of Martyrs. And read of the suffering and torturous deaths they were put through. Some had their eyes plucked from their head, some were thrown to the lions, some had to fight one another to the death, some burned at the stake, many crucified, and on and on. The Apostle Paul went through more abuse and persecution than almost anyone recorded. Then he was beheaded, all in the name of Jesus Christ. And God did not intervene. God would not even remove the “thorn in the flesh” whatever it was, even after he appealed for it three times. And you think God will help you win the lottery? Do you think he will help you pay for that new car, you could not afford?
Some read Matthew 6:33 and say, “There you are right there!”
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
But if you read the entire chapter, you will see that the “all these things” that are mentioned for you in the preceding verses are food and clothing. And this may very well not include evening gowns, tuxedos, filet mignons and peach cobbler. Always try to understand, that God’s (and Jesus’) desires for us are not the comforts and riches of this earthly life, but the destination of our eternal soul. Consider this: “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints” (Psalm 116:15) So, if we are living as we should, death should not be a problem. But if we are not, we do have a problem and we ought to remedy it immediately. If we cannot give up some of our pleasures to do His will. Problem.
Author Biography:
Joel Hendon was born September 20, 1930 near Gadsden Alabama. He attended public schools in Cherokee County, Alabama and after serving a tour of duty in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, attended Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, Alabama majoring in Business Administration. He became a Christian in 1948, and although he followed secular work as a career and retired from Allied Signal Aerospace in 1997, he is an avid student of the Holy Bible and related works as well as biblical history. He formerly produced a bi-weekly ezine. Archives are accessible at: http://www.piedmontcoc.org/archives.html He is also the author of Final Stronghold, published in 2003, available from Amazon.
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