THE LORD'S PRAYER

THE LORD'S PRAYER

The Lord 's prayer: Matt. 6:9-13; Luke 11:1-4. The Lord's prayer is not man's prayer. Heavenly prayer is not earthly prayer. Many have prayed in this world and taught others how to pray. All of them were sinful human beings. But the One who taught this prayer is the Son of God, who is the perfect Man and God.

Who has understood the depth and meaning of this prayer properly? This prayer can be likened to the precious stones of Christian doctrines joined by pure gold. This prayer was first taught by our Lord Jesus Christ in course of His sermon on the mount (Matt. 6:9-13), when His disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray (Luke 11:1-4). These days many who call themselves disciples of the Lord, disregard His teaching and hardened by sin, not only do not say this prayer themselves but ridicule those who say it. The reason for teaching and showing the model was to do likewise (John 13:17).

Prayer:

1. Our Father which art in heaven,

2. Hallowed be thy name.

3. Thy kingdom come.

4. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

5. Give us this day our daily bread.

6. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

7. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

8. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

1. Our Father which art in heaven:

This points to a relationship. Only he who can sincerely say "You are our Father" is qualified to say this prayer. The first verse of the prayer is an acknowledgment that all those who are born of God (John 1:13) are my brothers.

Anyone who has not given up his natural qualities and has not become a new creation (II Cor. 5:17) still holding on to his caste and racial prejudices in his social interactions is not qualified to call God "our Father". If he calls so, he will be held guilty and will be judged on the judgment-day. Jesus Christ came, revealed God as the Father of mankind and taught so. This noble and true teaching can be found only in Christianity. Other religions show God as a terrible judge and an autocratic ruler who is very distant and indifferent to the people. The Lord came and taught to call God, a loving Father! Compare: Matt. 5:45,48-6:1,4,6,8,14-15,26,32 and Heb. 12:5-10. Therefore with an experience of being born-again by Him, let us sincerely call God, our Father! (Gal.4:6).

2. Hallowed be thy name:

This is a praise. We are to praise God's name. When we pray and worship Him, we should praise Him remembering His love. No prayer or supplication without thanksgiving will find His favor (Phil. 4:6). We praise Him remembering the holiness of His name (Luke 1:49). He is the most holy God residing in the most holy place. We who pray to Him must leave aside all sins that bring disreputeto His name and live for the glory of His name (I Cor. 10:31). By teaching His words truthfully and by following His words, His name is glorified. Let us live to the glory of His name and pray (II Cor. 5:9; Gal. 2:20).

3.Thy kingdom come:

The kingdom of God signifies the rule of God. This indicates being ruled by God, being led by the Spirit of God (Rom. 8:14) and living a new life for God (Gal. 2:20). In the dream of Nebuchadnezzar, as explained in the book of Daniel, a rock not hewn by human hands struck a statue made of gold, silver, brass and a mixture of iron and clay. The statue was broken into pieces and became like a chaff. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth (Dan. 2:31-45). We should know that the kingdom of God will be established on the earth for 1000 years and all of us (saved people) will be appointed rulers (Matt. 25:14-23; Luke 19:12-19). We pray and expect that the kingdom of God would first come inside us and then on this earth. Jesus Christ proved by action that in the kingdom of God there is no misery, sorrow, disease or death (for the children of God) (Matt. 12:22-28).

May each one of us who expect the establishment of kingdom of God, work hard for its coming and let us utilize our talents towards that purpose. Let us gather people for the kingdom of God. What are we doing for spreading the kingdom of God (Church) ? Let us seek His kingdom and His righteousness and pray "Thy kingdom come". However hard we try, the kingdom of God will be brought about only by God (Dan. 2:34,44).

However we shall get reward and position proportionate to our efforts and sacrifice (Matt. 25:14-23).

4. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

In heaven only God's will is being done but not so on the earth (even among believers). Jesus said, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will" (Matt. 26:39). This alone is correct. A believer's prayer should be, 'My Lord, let your will be done first in me and then in this whole earth'. Numerous people though knowing the will of God, pray 'not so my Lord' and stand against it. The will of God will always be for our good (Rom. 8:28). He is good and does good (Psalms. 19:68). His will is our desire. We must pray without fail for the fulfillment of His will first in us and then in the whole world. We must commit ourselves to it. May God fulfill His gracious will in us completely. The above three are supplications regarding the things of God. Therefore Christ teaches us that we must first praise God and pray for the things of God. We may pray for ourselves later.

Generally man gives utmost importance to himself and worries about his own family and his own problems. Let us suppress such tendencies and first pray for the things of God.

5. Give us this day our daily bread.

The word 'bread' does not mean food. God has told us not to worry about nor pray for food (Matt. 6:25-32). Moreover, the prayer of "Give us this day our daily bread" by those who had stored food for the next day or week or month would be hypocritical. Therefore it is only the food (the heavenly bread) for the soul that He asks us to pray. Israelites got up early in the morning to gather manna. That was a perfect bread. It tasted like wafers made with honey and something with fresh olive oil appearing white like bdellium. As the sun grew hot it melted away. They gathered it daily (Ex. 16:14-21,31; Num. 11:7-8).

In New Testament, we see Jesus Christ is a living bread who gives life to our soul (John 6:48-51). This is the bread of wisdom. Our body belongs to this earth and is made of soil and it lives by the food and water of the earth. If it does not get appropriate food and water, it dies of disease. But the scriptures which is the living bread (Luke 4:4) is the food for soul! Similarly the soul that does not get proper food will also grow lean and weak and die of disease. Therefore let us pray for granting us our daily bread (today's living word) today and have the daily intake in the early morning by reading the scriptures. Those who are without food may pray for the food too. Let us pray to God to give us this day our daily bread. Those who pray with fervor will receive truth (John 17:17).

6. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

In the prayer book, it is written "forgive us our sins for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us". Praying for forgiveness of sins: Jesus calls sin, 'a debt'. The mind of one who is under debt is highly disturbed. Whenever he steps out of the house, the thought of coming across the debtor who would hold him answerable for the debt would constantly trouble his mind. He will not be at peace till he settles his debt. Jesus calls sin, 'a debt'. There is a duty to be performed towards everybody. There is a duty to the parents, a duty to brothers and a duty to neighbors. Similarly we receive from God the Father, the life and the breath, the body, air, water and numerous other favors. In turn, we are obliged to walk according to His commandments. We don't have the resources to pay back our debts. All will be held accountable for their failure to walk according to His will despite enjoying His world. Therefore there is only one way to clear our indebtedness (sin). That is asking the forgiveness of God.

Thereafter we should not again get into debt (sin). Read Matt. 18:23-35. A certain king while settling accounts with his servants forgave the debt of one who owed him a large sum of money. As the servant went out, he met another fellow servant who owed him a small debt and caught him by the throat demanding to pay back the debt at once and despite his pleadings put him in prison. When his behavior was brought to the notice of the king, the king called that wicked servant and told him, "You wicked servant! I forgave you all the debt because you begged me. But because you did not show mercy to your fellow servant though you are obliged to forgive his debt, I will also deliver you to the torturers till you pay back all that you owe me". Jesus warned, "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses" (Matt. 18:21-35). Therefore in order to obtain forgiveness of sins, we must forgive others, their trespasses against us.

There is no forgiveness without forgiving. Let us forgive and pray, "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" (Eph. 4:32).

It is not easy to forgive the debt. Suppose a widow who saved her hard earned money by controlling her expenses entrusts it with a man who, after squandering it away were to tell her that he is not in a position to pay her money back and therefore requests her forgiveness. It may be easy for the person who asks forgiveness, but for the one who forgives, it will be very hard and painful.

If your debtor who owes you a substantial sum of money asks you to forgive his debt because of his poverty, you who forgive can not help suffering the loss and distress. How much disgrace, reproach and suffering you may have to undergo to save that money again!

Yes, to grant us redemption of sins, the Son of God had to undergo scourging, beating, shame, reproach, the pain of nails being driven through His body and the pressure of the crown of thorns. Without the suffering at Calvary, there is no redemption of sins. It may be easy for you to ask forgiveness after sinning again and again. Had not God (Lord Jesus Christ) undergone supreme punishment in order to grant us redemption of sins, you and I should receive punishment.

Sin will be written off only by punishment. The wages of sin is death (second death is hell). God is a righteous judge. Either you should receive the punishment for sin (the man who committed sin-Ezek. 18:4) or Christ who came as your Mediator (Job 9:33, 33:24; Matt. 20:28; I Tim. 2:5-6) should receive it. Jesus loved you and because you His child would not be able to bear the pain and as He did not want you to go through the pain and fall in hell for your sins, He voluntarily came forward to accept the punishment you deserved. He went through the pain and was abandoned by God the Father. He went through the agony and was abandoned by God the Father. He died (Is. 53:5-6; Matt. 27:46; II Cor.; I Pet. 2:24-25).

Your sin agonizes Him. Go and sin no more (John 8:11).

Have you ever gone to (meditated on) Calvary? Are you aware of the pain on the cross caused by the nails ? Once I had to cross a small brook. It was full of thorns, mire and water. There was a tree at the other side of the brook. As I jumped over the brook I rested my hands on the tree for balance. A small left-over nail of a removed fence in the tree pierced my palm and blood trickled. I pulled back my hands quickly but an excruciating pain lingered for a full week. Such a small nail and so much pain for so many days! The nails which pierced through the hands and legs of my beloved Lord, the resulting wound and the intense pain, all because of sin. I wept for my sins. How much my sins agonizes my Savior! I told, "My God (Jesus), henceforth it is better not to sin at all rather than sinning for its trifle pleasure."

Brothers, sisters, fathers and mothers! Should you sin again and again and find pleasure in it? Should you kindle the wounds of your Redeemer (Jesus the Savior) like this? Should you make yourself happy like this? No. Don't do that. I beg you. Don't sin any more! If we have sinned unknowingly, He is merciful to forgive us(Psalms. 130:3-4). If you have erred, come with shame and tears, confess and request forgiveness. Make a resolution not to sin any more and abide by it and I believe you will do that. Forgive others and ask forgiveness. Those who do not forgive will not receive forgiveness. "Father, forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors."

7. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

Please save us from evil and the evil one(devil). We live in this world. Though heaven and earth, the earth and its fullness and the people belong to the Lord, presently devil is the ruler of this world (John 12:31, 14:30). He will create situations for tempting the children of God to make them fall. The testing by God is different from the temptation of the devil. God chastens us for our good in order to identify the mature among us, to train us and punish us when we sin(Ex. 16:4-5; I Cor. 10:13; Heb. 12:5-11; James 5:11; II Pet).

But Satan tempts us for causing us to fall out from faith (Luke 22:31). We get temptation through Satan, through wicked, through relatives and through our own flesh. Misery and sorrow may visit us naturally too. We pray to be delivered of them all. As long as we are in this world, we should pray like this (Gen. 48:15-16; I Cor. 10:13; II Tim; II Pet. 2:9).

Temptation will come. It is not suggested to pray so that temptation may never come at all. Temptation came to saints but they did not fail in it. They overcame temptation. Temptation came to our Lord not only in the beginning (Luke 4:1-13) but throughout His life on this earth by His brothers and others, by His relatives and His own disciples (Luke 22:28). But not like us.

Generally temptations come to man by the sin residing in His heart (James 1:12-15). (God does not tempt by sin). Jesus is Holy and without sin (John 8:46). Temptation came to Him from outside. We pray to be delivered from temptation (II Tim 4:18). Father, lead us not into temptation (without falling from faith) and deliver us from evil, from devil and from the wicked. We thus pray for ourselves making these three supplications.

8. Finally we pray "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever" and we finish our prayer. Amen!

This prayer begins with praise and ends with praise. Likewise we must begin any prayer with praise and finish it with praise. Not only in His famed mountain sermon but also when His disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray, He told them to say, "Our Father which art in heaven...."(Luke 11:1-4).

According to Matthew, warning His disciples not to use vain repetitions He told them, "In this manner, therefore, pray: (Matt. 6:5-9). He said to them, "When you pray, say:" (Luke 11:2). We should follow the examples shown by the Lord.

Happy will you be if you do them (John 13:12-17). In the Holy Communion too, we use the same words told by the Lord because they are His (Luke 22:19). (Compare this against I Cor. 11:23-25). This being so, some do not say this prayer. They give the following reasons for it:

1. The Lord only showed an example which is not to be repeated. The disciples who don't say the prayers of their Master should atleast live and pray according to the example given. But in their prayers all the above aspects are not found.

2. Secondly they say that we are repeating the prayer like parrots. Not like parrots, but one should say Lord's prayer meaningfully (we do say).

3. Thirdly they say that it is children's prayer. Will they who refer the early apostles themselves sarcastically as children, leave us alone? But they speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves (Jude 1:10).

4. Some say that this heavenly prayer should not be uttered. Where is the verse supporting this? Reply them that the Lord revealed to us that we should say this prayer and showed us scriptural basis (Matt. 6:9-10; Luke 11:1-4).

Therefore our otherwise imperfect prayer shall become perfect by ending it with Lord's prayer. Let us say, "Our Father which art in heaven....Amen!"

"If you know these things, happy are you if you do them" (John 13:17).

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