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Reading through the Gospels 63

Luke 11:2-4; Matthew 6:9-15

 

Luke 11:2-4; Matthew 6:9-15 THE LORD'S PRAYER

I am curious if anyone else does this when they pray The Lord's Prayer. I have been doing this for such a long time that I do not know when I began. The idea came to me when I realized that it was wrong to rotely recite a prayer without really thinking about what I was saying. This mindless prayer is something I want to avoid.  So when I pray with others, in my head I add words in the pauses between the phrases.  This graphic is a sample of what my mind might say in the pauses of the prayer. This keeps my mind focused on talking to God and not wandering while my mouth moves.

I am still trying to read through the Gospels chronologically, but going much slower than I was before.  I have been stuck on the Lord's prayer because there is SOOO much good stuff to ponder in each short phrase.  First I wrote thoughts on my own, then I read some commentaries, and lastly I read through my catechism.

I have not previously put my personal notes up because they are always changing as I revisit passages, but I thought since this was so long, I would put it on a post.  I have been putting them on Facebook and then deleting later.  In these notes I included the basics from my catechism, although it does go in to much more detail, sharing many more verses so that scripture interprets scripture.

FROM MY NOTES:

Luke 11:2-4; Matthew 6:9-15

Jesus gives us an example, a model, of the right way to pray.

THE ADDRESS

Our Father – praying together, personal, intimate, loving (would I say "my Father" if alone?), adopted, His child

Who are in heaven – This is not an earthly Father, but my Father who is holy, who is Lord over all

What does this mean? With these words God tenderly invites us to believe that He is our true Father and that we are His true children, so that with all boldness and confidence we may ask Him as dear children ask their dear father.

PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING; GOD FIRST; FOR HIS WORK IN THE WORLD

Hallowed by Thy name – hallow means to honor; commit to respect His name; using God's name seriously shows respect for His holiness; His name is always Holy, but how I use it is not always holy, God's light shines through me to glorify Him

What does this mean? God’s name is certainly holy in itself, but we pray in this petition that it may be kept holy among us also.

How is God’s name kept holy? God’s name is kept holy when the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity, and we, as the children of God, also lead holy lives according to it. Help us to do this, dear Father in heaven! But anyone who teaches or lives contrary to God’s Word profanes the name of God among us. Protect us from this, heavenly Father!

Thy kingdom come – I pray that God's kingdom grows by more coming to believe, granting faith, and godly life, as well as pray that Christ will return.

God's kingdom is first announced with Abraham in Matthew 8:11, "I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven" and Luke 13:28, " In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out."

God's kingdom is in the believers' hearts as in Luke 17:21, "nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”

God's kingdom will be complete when God establishes the new heaven and earth as in Revelation 21:1, "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more."

God's kingdom will be preached everywhere before the end as in Matthew 24:14, "And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."

What does this mean? The kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also.

How does God’s kingdom come? God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity.

Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven – God's Will can be used interchangeably with "God's Law."  I pray that I am a doer of the Word, just as it is already being done in heaven. God's Will is accomplished through the obedience of His people. I pray that God would strengthen and preserve me steadfast in His Word to do His Will with gladness just as the angels do in heaven.

James 1:22, "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."

What does this mean? The good and gracious will of God is done even without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.

How is God’s will done? God’s will is done when He breaks and hinders every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature, which do not want us to hallow God’s name or let His kingdom come; and when He strengthens and keeps us firm in His Word and faith until we die. This is His good and gracious will.

INTERCESSION; BRING OWN NEEDS TO GO

Give us this day our daily bread – daily provisions; God cares about the mundane; God is my sustainer and provider; trust God daily to provide what He knows I need; not just for me, but for my neighbor (our bread); help me to share; be satisfied with today and do not worry about tomorrow

What does this mean? God certainly gives daily bread to everyone without our prayers, even to all evil people, but we pray in this petition that God would lead us to realize this and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.

What is meant by daily bread? Daily bread includes everything that has to do with the support and needs of the body, such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home, land, animals, money, goods, a devout husband or wife, devout children, devout workers, devout and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, self-control, good reputation, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.

CONFESSION; FORGIVENESS

Forgive us our trespasses – Trespass is defined as, "commit an offense against a person or a set of rules; sin."  My sins offend God.  I know that in me dwelleth no good thing (Romans 7:18) In my unworthiness God is full of grace

As we forgive those who trespass against us – Matthew 6:14-15, "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Mathew 18:22 "seventy times seven" Not only do I want to forgive, but I want to forget the wrongs done against me and love in return.

Verses 6:14-15 explain how forgiving others is not an option. I must forgive others if Jesus is going to forgive me.

What does this mean? We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look at our sins, or deny our prayer because of them. We are neither worthy of the things for which we pray, nor have we deserved them, but we ask that He would give them all to us by grace, for we daily sin much and surely deserve nothing but punishment. So we too will sincerely forgive and gladly do good to those who sin against us.

STRENGTH AGAINST TEMPTATIONS

Lead us not into temptation – Help me do the right thing; Help me to resist the devil and stand firm in faith; guard me from my sinful self

What does this mean? God tempts no one. We pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us so that the devil, the world, and our sinful nature may not deceive us or mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great shame and vice. Although we are attacked by these things, we pray that we may finally overcome them and win the victory.

Deliver us from evil – Protect me from the evil of this world for I am unable to cope with the powers of the devil on my own accord; God is all powerful

What does this mean? We pray in this petition, in summary, that our Father in heaven would rescue us from every evil of body and soul, possessions and reputation, and finally, when our last hour comes, give us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this valley of sorrow to Himself in heaven.