This month we are going to continue and complete our study of the meaning of the Lord’s Prayer. The Lord’s Prayer is found in Matthew 6:9-13 and in Luke 11:2-4.
Many people can quote the Lord’s Prayer and that is great. However, Jesus did not tell his disciples or us that we were to simply memorize it.
Last month we looked at the first part of the Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.
Now if you want to look at what Jesus was teaching in the first part of the prayer, go back and look at September’s newsletter. I am not going into a lot of detail in explaining it. I just want you to see what Jesus meant when He taught us how to pray.
Now let’s move on to the rest of the prayer.
“And Forgive Us Our Debts, As We Forgive Our Debtors”
Jesus is teaching us about forgiveness. We need to understand that our forgiveness is based on what Christ has done for us.
Through Jesus, we can receive forgiveness and cleansing from sin.
1 John 1:9 (NKJV)
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
But Jesus also teaches us that we are to forgive others. Forgiveness does not mean that what someone did was right. It means that we choose not to hold on to the offense or seek revenge. Because we have received God’s forgiveness, we should be willing to extend forgiveness to others.
Ephesians 4:32 (NASB)
32 And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
“And Lead Us Not Into Temptation”
This statement is not saying that God wants to tempt us to sin.
James 1:13 makes that clear:
13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.
Jesus is teaching us to recognize our need for God’s help when we face temptation and testing.
We should not knowingly put ourselves in situations that make it easier for us to fall into sin. Instead, we should ask God for wisdom and strength to stand.
“But Deliver Us From Evil”
We have an enemy, and Jesus taught us to recognize our need for God’s protection and deliverance.
1 Peter 5:8 (NLT)
8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
But we do not have to live in fear.
James 4:7 tells us:
“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
We can trust God and stand firmly on His Word.
What Is the Lord’s Prayer Teaching Us?
When we put all of this together, we can see that Jesus was giving His disciples and us a pattern for prayer.
We begin by recognizing who God is—our Father.
We honor His name.
We seek His kingdom and His will.
We bring our needs to Him.
We receive and extend forgiveness.
We ask for help when we face temptation.
And we trust God for deliverance and protection from evil.
The Lord’s Prayer teaches us that prayer is much more than simply asking God for things. Prayer is about relationship, worship, dependence, trust, forgiveness, guidance, and fellowship with our Father.
Making the Lord’s Prayer Personal
We can use Jesus’ pattern as a guide for our own prayers.
Here is a prayer that you might pray following the example of the Lord’s Prayer and how Jesus taught us to pray:
Father, thank You that I can come to You. I honor Your name and recognize that You are holy. I want Your kingdom and Your purposes to be established in my life.
Help me to know Your will and to walk in it. Thank You for providing everything I need today.
Thank You for forgiving me, and help me to forgive others. Give me wisdom and strength when I am tempted. Help me recognize the enemy’s attacks and stand firmly on Your Word. Thank You for being my Father and for always being with me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer gives us a wonderful foundation for developing a strong prayer life. It teaches us not only what to say, but how to approach God and what our hearts should be focused on when we pray.