What Prayer Did Jesus Teach Us

Jesus Taught Us How to Pray With the Lord’s Prayer

“Lord, teach us to pray,” one of Jesus’ disciples requests in the Gospel of Luke 11:1-4, and as a result of this request, Jesus teaches them the Lord’s Prayer. This prayer has become very well known and even memorized among Christians. The Our Father is the name given by Catholics to the Lord’s Prayer. When people of all Christian faiths come together in public or private worship, it is one of the most often said prayers in both public and private worship.

The Lord’s Prayer

  • Known as the Lord’s Prayer, it is the model of prayer that Jesus taught his disciples. Both Matthew 6:9-15 and Luke 11:1-4 have variants of the prayer that may be found in the Bible. While Matthew’s version is a part of the Sermon on the Mount, Luke’s version comes in response to a disciple’s plea that Jesus teach them how to pray. Catholics refer to the Lord’s Prayer as the Our Father, which means “Our Father.” The prayer is intended for the entire community, including the Christian family.

The Lord’s Prayer in the Bible

In their respective Gospels, Matthew and Luke give the Lord’s Prayer in slightly different ways. In Matthew, Jesus is presenting his Sermon on the Mount, in which he explains that God’s righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, and that this is the case even today. He cautions his disciples against engaging in false piety just for the sake of being observed by others. During his way to Jerusalem, Jesus teaches the Lord’s prayer, according to the Gospel of Luke. As their rabbi, the disciples looked to Jesus as a model of a man who was devoted to prayer.

The complete text of The Lord’s Prayer may be found in Matthew 6:9-15, which reads: So, here’s what you should say in your prayers:” “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Please provide us with our daily bread today.

‘And do not lead us into temptation, but preserve us from the wicked one,’ says the Lord.

However, if you do not forgive men for their crimes, your Father will not forgive you for your sins as well.

Jesus Teaches the Pattern for Prayer

Jesus Christ provided us with a template or model for prayer in the form of the Lord’s Prayer. He was demonstrating how to pray to his followers. There’s nothing mystical about the words you’re reading. The prayer is not a set of instructions. We are not have to pray the lines exactly as they are written. As a substitute, we might utilize this prayer to educate ourselves, instructing us on how to approach God in prayer. In order to assist you in developing a complete grasp of the Lord’s Prayer, the following is a simplified explanation of each section:

Our Father in Heaven

We offer our prayers to God, our heavenly Father. He is our heavenly Father, and we are his obedient sons and daughters. We have a strong friendship. We may put our faith in him because he is a heavenly, perfect Father who loves us and will listen to our petitions. The usage of the pronoun “our” reminds us that we (his followers) are all members of the same God-given family.

Hallowed Be Your Name

“To make holy” is the definition of the word “hallowed.” When we pray, we acknowledge the sanctity of our heavenly Father. He is near to us and shows concern, yet he is neither our friend nor our equal.

He is the All-Powerful God. Not with a sense of impending doom and dread, but rather with awe for his purity and an acknowledgement of his righteousness and perfection, we approach him. We are awestruck by the fact that we are his children even in his holiness.

Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done, on Earth As It Is in Heaven

Prayers are offered for God’s omnipotent dominion in our lives as well as on our planet. He is the ruler of our kingdom. We acknowledge that he has complete control over the situation, and we submit to his authority. Furthermore, we wish that God’s Kingdom and dominion be extended to those in our immediate environment. a. As Christians, we pray for the salvation of souls because we are aware of God’s desire for all men to be saved.

Give Us Today Our Daily Bread

When we pray, we put our faith in God to provide for our needs. He is going to take care of us. At the same time, we have no reason to be concerned about the future. We rely on God, our heavenly Father, to give us with all we require today. We shall renew our reliance on him by returning to him in prayer once more the next day.

Forgive Us Our Debts, As We Also Forgive Our Debtors

When we pray, we beg God to forgive us of our sins. We examine our hearts, acknowledge that we are in need of his forgiveness, and confess our transgressions. In the same way that our Father kindly forgives us, we must also forgive one another for our failings. If we want to be forgiven, we must be willing to provide the same forgiveness to others around us.

Lead Us Not Into Temptation, But Deliver Us From the Evil One

Our prayers are addressed to God, who we implore to pardon us. We examine our hearts, admit that we are in need of his forgiveness, and confess our transgressions to him. We must forgive one another for our failings, just as our Father kindly forgives us. Those who wish to be forgiven must first forgive those who do not deserve it.

The Lord’s Prayer in the Book of Common Prayer (1928)

When we pray, we are pleading with God to forgive us of our sins. We examine our hearts, admit that we are in need of his forgiveness, and confess our transgressions. In the same way that our Father kindly forgives us, we must also forgive one another’s failings. If we want to be forgiven, we must first forgive those who have wronged us.

What Jesus Christ Taught About Prayer

If you want to deepen your grasp of what the Bible teaches about prayer, there is no better place to begin than with an examination of Jesus’ teaching on prayer in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. This blog normally explains and uses Scripture to help you develop in Christ, but I urge readers of this piece to take up the words of our Savior and allow them to propel you into prayer. Another piece will discuss the prayers of Jesus, as well as how the Bible explains His approach to prayer. Pick up a copy of Herbert Lockyear’s All the Prayers of the Bible if you’re looking for a full list of what the Bible says about prayer.

Jesus’ Teaching on Prayer | Complete List of Bible Verses in the Gospels

Matthew 5:44–45a (King James Version) (also see Luke 6:28) Rather, I urge you to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be adopted as sons of your heavenly Father. Matthew 6:5-15 is a Bible verse that describes the life of Jesus. “And when you pray, you must avoid acting in a hypocritical manner. Because they enjoy standing and praying at synagogues and on street corners so that they may be seen by others, they have become quite popular. True to my word, I can assure you that they have earned their recompense.

Then you will be rewarded by your heavenly Father who sees in secret.” And when you pray, don’t fill your prayers with meaningless language as the Gentiles do, who believe that their many words will be heard because they are many.

“Our Father in heaven, may your name be sanctified,” you should pray at that point.

We beg you to grant us our daily food today, and please forgive us our debts, just as we have forgiven our debtors.

In other words, if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; nevertheless, if you do not forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will not forgive you for your trespasses.” 7-11 (Matthew 7:7-11) Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and it will be found; knock, and it will be opened to you; this is the way of the universe.

  • Or which of you will give his kid a stone if he asks him for bread when he begs for it?
  • If you, who are wicked, can figure out how to give good gifts to your children, imagine how much more your heavenly Father will do the same for those who come to him with a good request.
  • Matthew 18:19-20 is a passage of scripture that teaches that And once again, I say to you, if two of you can come to an agreement on earth about whatever they ask, my Father in heaven will fulfill their request.
  • Matthew 21:13 (KJV) (also see Mark 11:17; Luke 19:46) ‘My house shall be called a place of prayer,’ according to the scriptures, but you have turned it into a den of thieves.
  • And anything you ask for in prayer will be granted to you if you have confidence in God.

Mark 11:23-26 (KJV) It is true, I say to you, whomever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and who does not have any doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, will have his wish fulfilled.’ In order to ensure that you obtain anything you ask for in prayer, I advise you to think that you have already been granted it.

  1. Jesus said this in Mark 12:38–40 (also see Luke 20:45–47).
  2. They prey on widows’ homes and recite long prayers under the appearance of being religious.
  3. 13:33 (Matthew 13:33) Keep your guard up and your eyes open.
  4. Luke 6:46 (NIV) Why do you address me as ‘Lord, Lord,’ but refuse to follow my instructions?
  5. Praise the Lord of the harvest, therefore, and entreat him diligently to send out laborers into his crop.
  6. We beg you to grant us our daily bread and to forgive us our sins, just as we forgive everyone who is owing us money.
  7. I assure you that, though he will not get up and offer him anything because he is his buddy, he will rise and give him anything he requires as a result of his impudence.
  8. Everyone who asks receives, and everyone who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened for him or her.
  9. If you, who are bad, can figure out how to provide excellent gifts to your children, imagine how much more the heavenly Father will do for those who ask for the Holy Spirit!
  10. Luke 18:1–14 |
  11. “There was a judge in a specific city who was neither fearful of God nor respectful of man,” he said.

For a time, he refused, but then he said to himself, “Even though I have no fear of God or regard for man, because this widow keeps nagging me, I will grant her justice so that she will not beat me down by her constant coming.” “Listen to what the unjust judge has to say,” the Lord instructed.

Will he take a long time to deal with them?

Is it possible, though, that when the Son of Man arrives, there will be trust on earth?” The following parable was also given by Jesus to people who were self-righteous and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one of them a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.” ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, who are extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector,’ the Pharisee said as he stood alone in prayer.

Every week, I fast twice a week and donate tithes of all I earn.’ Although he was a long distance away, the tax collector refused to raise his eyes to heaven, instead beating his breast and pleading with God, ‘God, be gracious to me, a sinner!’ I swear to you, this man went down to his house feeling justified, rather than the other way around.

Luke 21:36 (NIV) Nevertheless, keep your eyes open at all times, hoping for the strength to escape all of the events that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 22:40 (NIV) And when he arrived at the location, he addressed them by saying, “Pray that you will not fall prey to temptation.” 4:23–24 (John 4:23–24) However, the hour is approaching, and it is already here, when real worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him in this manner.

God exists in the realm of spirit, and those who worship him must do so in spirit and in truth.” 14:12–14 (John 14:12–14) Because I am going to the Father, I promise you that whomever believes in me will also do the works that I perform; and greater works than these will he do because I am going to the Father.

  • Anything you want me to do in my name, I will gladly oblige.
  • 15:16 in the Gospel of John However, you did not choose me; rather I chose you and appointed you, so that you would go out and bear fruit and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name may be granted to your request.
  • What I truly believe is that whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will grant you.
  • You haven’t asked any questions in my name up until this point.
  • These are the things I’ve said to you in figurative language.
  • That day, you will ask in my name; but please understand that I am not saying to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I am a prophet sent from God.

I have come from the Father and have entered the world, and now I am leaving the world and returning to the Father, as I said earlier. Three books on Jesus’ teachings on prayer that we recommend.

  • Calvin’s presentation of the Lord’s prayer, The Chief Exercise of Faith (his exposition of the Lord’s prayer)
  • The Prayer that Turned the World Upside Down by Albert Mohler
  • The Prayer that Turned the World Upside Down by Albert Mohler R.C. Sproul’s The Prayer of Our Lord is a classic.
See also:  Where Was Jesus Crucified Present Day

Related Websites:

  • 10 Prayer-Inspirational Books to Read
  • The Prayers and Prayer Life of Jesus in the New Testament (Complete List)
  • A Complete List of the Apostle Paul’s Prayers

Jesus’ teaching on prayer (Matthew 6:5-8) – The teaching of Jesus – CCEA – GCSE Religious Studies Revision – CCEA

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they prefer to pray standing in synagogues and on street corners in order to be seen by men.”, Jesus said. Instead of going outside to pray, go inside your room, lock the door, and pray to your father who is not present.

Understanding the text

It was here that Jesus began his teaching on prayer by describing how not to pray:

  1. Don’t try to be too flashy. Synagogues were places of worship where a large number of people congregated to pray at the same time. Jesus rebuked individuals who prayed loudly just for the purpose of being noticed and applauded by others around them. He referred to such individuals as hypocrites, and he was most likely referring to the Pharisees when he said this. They would even pray aloud in public places
  2. Avoid using a large number of useless phrases in your speech. The prayers of the Gentiles were lengthy because they believed that doing so would impress their various gods. They frequently repeated a word or a god’s name several times in an attempt to draw attention

Prayer, according to Jesus, should be a private moment spent between God and the worshipper. The teachings of Jesus do not imply that it is improper to pray with others, but rather that the prayers should be genuine and for the appropriate reasons.

Bible Gateway passage: Luke 11:1-13 – New International Version

11Once upon a time, Jesus was praying in a certain location C)”>(C). One of his disciples approached him when he finished and said, “Lord, D)”>(D)teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples,” and he agreed. 2He instructed them, saying, “When you pray, say, ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom E)”>(E)come.” 3Please provide us with our daily bread on a daily basis. 4Please forgive us for our transgressions, as we also forgive everyone who commits a sin against us. F)”>(F)And save us from falling prey to temptation.’ ” G)”> ” G)”> (G) 5″Suppose you have a friend and you go to him at midnight and ask him, ‘Friend, give me three loaves of bread;6a friend of mine has come to me on a journey, and I have no food to offer him,” Jesus remarked.

There is nothing I can give you because I am unable to get up.’ 8I promise you that even if he does not get up and give you the bread out of kindness, he will undoubtedly get up and give you as much as you require because of your blatant arrogance.

11 Then who among you dads will give your son, when he begs for a fish, an actual snake instead?

13 Even though you are bad, you know how to offer wonderful gifts to your children.

Footnotes

  1. Luke 11:2 Some versions read, “Our Father in heaven
  2. ” others, “Our Father on earth.” Some manuscripts have arrived for Luke 11:2. Wishing you the fulfillment of your will on earth as it is in heaven
  3. Jesus said in Luke 11:4: “Greekeeveryone who is owing to us.” Luke 11:4Some versions read, “Temptation, but deliver us from the wicked one
  4. ” others read, “Deliver us from the evil one.” Luke 11:8However, in order to maintain his excellent name
  5. The Bible says in Luke 11:11 that some manuscripts for bread would be given to him, but will he give him a stone? Alternatively, if he requests it

New International Version (New International Version) (NIV) NIV® stands for New International Version® of the Holy Bible. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, and 2012 byBiblica, Inc.®Used with permission from the owner. All rights are retained around the world. The New International Version (NIV) Reverse Interlinear Bible provides translations from English to Hebrew and from English to Greek. Zondervan has copyright protection till the year 2019.

Bible Gateway Recommends

“Pray on a consistent basis.” 5:17 in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 in My niece is a senior in high school and I am her aunt. She will earn her diploma in a few short months, when she will walk in procession with the rest of her graduating class. My daughter was a newborn napping in my arms only a few short years ago. She used to like conversing with me when she was a youngster. She started as soon as she spotted me and didn’t stop until I had left the scene. It was she who informed me about her day, who tipped me off about her brother, and who outlined her ambitions for the future.

  1. Although our chats are shorter now that she is a young woman, they are still enjoyable for me since she is so intelligent.
  2. Her eagerness to reach out to me causes me to exclaim with delight.
  3. The writers of the Psalms were well-versed in the art of prayer.
  4. They did it on every occasion.
  5. According to the advice of Paul in 1 Thessalonians, Jesus was in continual communication with the Father.
  6. When Jesus made the decision to come down from the high regions of glory and walk among us, prayer was his lifeline to the Father.

His lessons on prayer provide a great deal of useful information. When Jesus made the decision to leave heaven and walk among us, PRAYER served as His connection to the Father. Jenny Shinsky (@jennyshinsky) To send a tweet, simply click here.

1. Jesus prayed alone.

The phone starts ringing. The television is on full blast. The kids are yelling and screaming. The activities of the day demand our immediate attention and draw us in a variety of ways at the same time. It’s possible that Jesus felt this way. He was always in demand to treat the ill and engage in political dispute with the Pharisees, both of which he did. While these disruptions are present throughout scripture, we frequently witness him taking a break from them. “However, Jesus frequently retreated to isolated spots to pray.” – Luke 5:16 (NIV) He did not wait till the people had dispersed and there was no one remaining to engage in dispute with him.

His devotion to prayer was second nature to him.

2. Jesus prayed with others.

Not only did Jesus teach his followers how to pray, but he also encouraged them to pray as a group. The Bible states in Matthew 18:20, “For when two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” The presence of God in prayer brings us all together. We become more sensitive of the needs of others and are better able to bring comfort to them. Life may be challenging, and there aren’t always satisfactory solutions. Sometimes we are unable to pray because we do not know what to say or because we are unable to pray.

3. Jesus prayed before a meal.

Praying before meals was a typical occurrence in ancient times. In this rite, Jesus reminded his disciples of the blessings that God had granted them via the food that had been set before them. Then, as soon as he sat at the table with them, he took the bread and said thanks before breaking it and distributing the pieces to them.” Luke 24:30 is a Bible verse that describes a relationship between a man and a woman. Praying before each meal serves as a constant reminder that everything comes from God.

4. Jesus prayed for others.

Before he was caught and nailed to the cross, Jesus prayed for his apostles and followers. He was well aware that their task would not be straightforward, and he prayed for their safety. “I say a prayer for them. The people you have given me are not mine; they are yours.” “I am not praying for the world, but for the people you have given me.” John 17:9 (KJV) He prayed that God would reward them with tenacity, unity, and spiritual fulfillment as they shared their testimony with the rest of the world.

5. Jesus prayed for us.

Last but not least, Jesus interceded on our behalf. Yes, you are correct. He prayed for each and every one of us, despite the fact that we would not be born in this world for a very long time (hundreds of years). The prayer isn’t only for them, though. “I pray for people who will come to trust in me as a result of their message.” – The Gospel of John 17:20 And he has never ceased praying for us throughout his life. He is our representative before God’s throne, and he intercedes on our behalf before the Almighty.

It is essential to spend time in prayer on a regular basis.

As I think about it, I wonder whether our Father’s heart performs a little dance when we approach him in prayer, just as mine does when my niece calls. I’m sure he does. And I’m sure he’s looking forward to seeing you right now. You can do it. Today, make an effort to reach out to him in prayer.

Visit WayFM’s Prayer Wall

How to Pray for Jesus (Jesus Prayer)

The prayer that Jesus taught us

“Real life,” says C. S. Lewis in his book The Screwtape Letters, at the end of the first letter, which is a metaphor for the soul-deadening force of “reality.” The familiar events of our lives establish a hard shell around our consciousness, preventing it from expanding. After a certain amount of time has passed, it becomes progressively difficult to trust any observation or intuition that takes our mind outside of its normal assumptions. We get accustomed to the set of events that we refer to as “real life,” and everything else becomes a source of illusion, enchantment, or infantile fiction for us to consider.

  1. Indeed, we might begin to think that this little universe is entirely under our control.
  2. How much more will the Father in heaven make the Holy Spirit available to all who ask for it if you, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children.
  3. The seventeenth Sunday of the Gregorian Calendar (C) Readings Gn 18:20-32, Ps 138, Col 2:11-14, and Lk 11:1-13 are some of the passages to consider.
  4. What kind of grace can you ask the Lord for in order to accomplish your mission?
  5. During his journey to Jerusalem, according to Luke’s Gospel, Jesus imparts these teachings.
  6. To provide an overview of what Jesus wanted his disciples to know about prayer, Luke includes a version of the Lord’s Prayer in his gospel.
  7. A conundrum for many first-century Jews, holiness implied both seclusion and proximity, and hence was a source of consternation.

God remains an awe-inspiring and disruptive mystery, constantly close and at work, but never a part of the human world, with its violence and self-interested motives.

The second petition directs one’s attention away from this enigma and toward the rest of the world.

In effect, we implore the Father that the world around us not be the end of the tale, and that sparks of love and grace herald the beginning of a joyous conclusion to the play of human life.

After then, and only then, can we pray for what we require: a day’s bread, pardon, and deliverance, among other things.

When a disciple prays in the manner taught by Jesus, the boundaries of “real life” dissolve.

The ability to pray in the manner of Jesus brings our attention to the tiny signs of God’s kingdom taking shape.

This piece was also published in print, under the heading “The Door Will Be Opened,” in the July 22, 2019 issue of the magazine, as well as online.

Michael Simone is an American actor and director who is most known for his role in the film The Great Gatsby. Michael R. Simone, S.J., is a professor of Scripture at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry in Boston, Massachusetts.

Jesus Teaches His Disciples to Pray

People were taken aback by what Jesus did and said all around Galilee, and they expressed their surprise to him. A large group of people gathered to hear Jesus speak one day. With His followers, Jesus ascended to the top of a hill. After that, He sat down and proceeded to tell them about God’s blessings on their lives. He said that people with a pure heart will be able to see God. If you are in a bad mood, God will lift you up. Those who are modest, kind, and peacemakers shall get God’s blessings.

  1. “Ye are the light of the world,” Jesus said to His followers in the Gospel of John.
  2. Jesus instructed his followers to “be like a lamp on a candlestick.” Don’t try to disguise your religious beliefs.
  3. Then Jesus warned His disciples not to behave in the manner of those who publicly pray in public places just for the purpose of drawing attention to themselves.
  4. Close the door and then offer a prayer to your heavenly Father.
  5. He demonstrated how to begin in the name of Heavenly Father.
  6. As part of His petition, the Lord requested that Heavenly Father provide enough food for all of us to consume.
  7. In order to avoid being lured into temptation by evil things, he taught people how to pray in this manner.
See also:  Mt Calvary Where Jesus Died

“Ask of God; ask, and it shall be given you,” Jesus instructed his followers.

Jesus responded to their question with a parable.

A good parent offers his son thoughtful presents.

He pays attention to us and understands what we are asking.

Harry Anderson’s Sermon on the Mount is available online.

The Prayer that Jesus Taught

  • 1. The addressee is the family’s patriarch or head of household
  • 1. There should be a care for His name
  • 2. There should be a concern for His kingdom
  • 3. There should be a concern for His will
  • 4. There should be a concern for the interests of the family. It is also mentioned what the family’s requirements are: (1) our bodily requirements
  • (2) our mental requirements
  • And (3) our spiritual requirements. 4. The objectives of the family are included

The “Lord’s Prayer” appears twice in the Bible, with only minor differences between the two versions. As part of the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew included a prayer in his text. The Lord’s Prayer is recorded in the Gospel of Luke in response to a question from one of Jesus’ followers, who asked, “Lord, teach us to pray.” Although the Prayer is truly a prayer for the disciples to pray, it was our Lord who taught it, which is why we refer to it as “the Lord’s Prayer” so frequently. The disciples did not ask Jesus to “teach us to preach” or “teach us to sing,” nor did they ask him to “teach us to pray.” “Lord, show us how to pray,” they prayed.

Prayer accomplishes more than any other kind of ministry, including preaching, since without prayer, even our preaching becomes cold, hollow, and devoid of force.

Our prayers are constantly invoked, but in order to avoid being happy with only repeating them and paying little regard to their true meaning, we wish to attempt to understand their true spirit as well as the deeper meaning of their words.

The Prayer is something I like to think of as a family prayer. Those who have met the requirements for salvation and have been born again are instantly welcomed into God’s family, and it is to members of God’s family that this prayer is addressed. Take note of the following four facts:

1. The Head of the Family Is Addressed

“Our Father who art in Heaven,” we say when we pray. Take note of who He is. He is our heavenly Father. At one point in our lives, we were just as much children of wrath as everyone else, and we couldn’t refer to God as “Our Father.” God, on the other hand, who is abundant in kindness and who has a deep love for us, has made us spiritually alive in order that we may have company with Him in the heavenly realms through Christ Jesus our Lord. “Behold, what sort of love the Father has lavished upon us, that we might be called the sons of God,” says John (1 John 3:1).

  • An earthly father normally wants the best for his children, but he may not always know what is best for them, and even if he does know, he may not always be able to satisfy their wishes because of his physical limitations.
  • His affection is concerned about our well-being.
  • “No good thing will be withheld from those who travel on the righteous path.” Not only that, but His knowledge understands what is best for us at any given time.
  • The fact that you are a part of God’s family, and that you have a Father like that, isn’t a blessing?
  • Throughout our lives, we should be thankful for this Father-son connection, which is a fortunate bond between one who has been saved and the God who has rescued him.

According to John, it is only those who have embraced Jesus Christ who have been granted the authority to call themselves “sons of God.” The devil would be addressed as “our father” by an unbelieving person who prayed, “Our father.” That is why we refer to this prayer as the “family prayer,” since it is only those who have been adopted as God’s children through faith in Jesus Christ who have the authority to address God as “Our Father,” as the Bible teaches.

The words, “Our Father who art in heaven,” are designed to leave an impression on our thoughts of God’s grandeur, magnificence, and all-powerful presence.

Moreover, while our God is everywhere, He has His headquarters in Heaven, from where He has a bird’s eye view of all that occurs on the earth.

See Hebrews 4:16 for further information.

2. The Interests of the Family Are Sought

For all members of God’s family, their major interests and concerns are not their own possessions, but rather the possessions of the Almighty and his kingdom. So frequently, we are preoccupied with ourselves and our own requirements. We pray for our needs, as well as for our family, as well as for our church, as well as for our nation (and, if we have a few minutes left over at the end, we pray for the missionaries)—but Jesus says this is all incorrect. Before we consider ourselves and our requirements, we must first consider our deep care for God, our desire for His honor and glory.

It also serves as a model — “Pray in this manner, then.” In Matthew 6:9, Jesus says In this model prayer, Jesus emphasizes that the first action of praying is not to obtain anything for oneself, but rather to obtain something for the benefit of the other.

(1) There should be a concern for His name.

The term “hallowed” (as used in the phrase “hallowed be thy name”) implies “to render or proclaim holy,” which is what the phrase is trying to do. This is the hope that the very name of God, as well as everything that it symbolizes, would be revered among mankind. A number of names were used by God to reveal Himself to the Children of Israel. He was known to His people during the time of the Old Testament as “Jehovah,” which literally translates as “the self-existent one.” There are several versions of the name mentioned in the Scriptures.

“Jehovah-shalom” is used sometimes (the Lord our peace).

It is our sincere hope that the name of God (together with all of His traits and all He symbolizes) would be deemed holy when we pray “Hallowed be thy name.” Keep in mind that words like “goodness,” “mercy,” and “grace” are traits of the most high God, and a person who honestly prays the Lord’s Prayer will be exceedingly cautious never to use these terms carelessly in his or her everyday speech.

“Hallowed be thy name,” and then use His name and terms defining His traits in passing in everyday discourse, is utter mocking of God.

(2) There should be a concern for His kingdom.

It is our prayer that “Thy kingdom come,” and the Bible forecasts the establishment of a vast kingdom on earth, under the rule of Jesus Christ, as its ruler. The world around us serves as a constant reminder that this promise has not been kept. Instead of being established by popular vote or by a revolution initiated by man, the magnificent appearance of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ will bring about the establishment of this kingdom on the earth. Jesus will reign as King over all of creation, and the knowledge and glory of the Lord will fill the world as completely as the waves cover the sea.

  1. Nations will turn swords into plowshares and spears into pruninghooks as a result of this conflict.
  2. And ruin and poverty will be a thing of the past.
  3. This is the message that the Bible conveys.
  4. The entire message of the Bible leads forward to the day when Jesus will be crowned King of the universe.
  5. The stone fell into the big image of Nebuchadnezzar and brought it crashing down to the ground.

When we pray “Thy kingdom come,” we are expressing our longing for the time when Jesus will return, and the devil will be bound, and the earth will be renewed, and the Antichrist will be defeated, and the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our God and of His Christ, as we have done since the beginning of time.

(3) There should be a concern for His will.

God’s will is to be done “on earth,” according to the next line of the verse. In this case, “in these earthly bodies of ours” could very well mean “on this planet of ours.” And what we are really praying is that “Thy will be done in me as it is in Heaven.” In our bodies the laws of Heaven should be observed. The Bible says (Psalm 103:20) that the supreme desire of all Heaven is to do the will of God, and thereby to praise and to worship Him. And so we pray in the Lord’s Prayer that such a condition will prevail in earth—perhaps over the wide earth, but also in these earthly bodies of ours.

Ask the young father who sits at the bedside of his dying wife, or the aged sister who for thirty years has been confined to her bed as an invalid.

Jesus always came back however, “Nevertheless not my will but thine be done.” The point is this: When you pray “Thy will be done in earth,” you are not necessarily asking for pleasure or fame.

Thy will be done in me, O Lord, as it is in Heaven.

3. The Needs of the Family Are Mentioned

“Give us this day our daily food; forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors; do not lead us into temptation, but free us from harm,” we implore. In only a few words, our Lord has provided for all of our needs for the rest of our lives.

(1) Our physical needs.

Without a doubt, the term “bread” represents all that we truly require for our survival on this planet. In the Greek language, the term “bread” is represented by two different words. The difference between the two words is that one denotes “cornbread” and the other (which Jesus uses here) is a broader term that signifies “meal.” Jesus chose a term that has a broad application across the globe. Essentially, it is a generic term that encompasses everything from Indian rice to Italian macaroni to Scottish oatmeal.

  • The God to whom the nations are but “dust in the wind” and the God who dwells in eternity is willing to consider our needs, even down to the smallest things, such as the food we eat on a daily basis, and to provide for them.
  • After all these years, David could confidently state: “I have not seen the righteous abandoned, nor his descendants begging bread” (Psalm 37:25).
  • And even if one has a lot of money, he or she must still rely on God, for what good is wealth if God does not provide the gift of bread?
  • Having the ability to transform everything he came into contact with into gold was the most important thing to him.
  • However, when he felt hungry (and attempted to put bread in his mouth), the food transformed into gold.
  • He discovered that if God did not provide him with nourishment, all of his wealth was useless.
  • He could prevent the sun from shining and the rain from falling, and the land would become barren, rendering the farmer unable to cultivate a harvest, despite the use of advanced technology and chemical sprays.

The fact is that we are completely in God’s hands, and it would be naive to think that we could ever go a single day without His help.

(2) Our mental needs.

It’s almost as if the phrases “debtor” and “debt” are identical with the words “sin” and “sinner.” In fact, the Gospel of Luke recalls the following phrase: “And forgive us our sins, because we likewise forgive everyone who is owing us something. Just as we are instructed to pray for daily bread, we should also pray for daily forgiveness, according to the scriptures. However, our forgiveness is contingent on our ability to forgive others. It is necessary for me to provide to my brother and sister the same type of unconditional and total forgiveness that God has shown to me.

  1. Nothing is more draining on one’s mental health than the practice of harboring grudges and the inability to forgive one’s enemies.
  2. One of the reasons Paul warned the Christians at Ephesus not to let the sun set on their rage was because of the same reason.
  3. “Unloose your collar and let your body chill down; you’ll sleep better if you’re at peace with everyone,” he advises.
  4. However, someone points out, “There is one guy who has harmed me so severely that rather than make amends with him, I would prefer to die first.” You have a choice, but there is only one of two options available to you.
  5. One can never be at peace with God until he has done everything he can to bring about peace among the nations.
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(3) Our spiritual needs.

When we say, “And lead us not into temptation,” we don’t imply that God is the cause of evil or that He tempts humanity to commit sin. The word “permitting” is used in this context to mean “allowing.” Please do not “suffer us” or “allow us” to be tempted beyond our ability to endure it. That God our Father has command over the devil and that He has the ability to deliver us from the clutches of the devil is implied by the fact that no temptation or difficulty will be permitted to enter the life of a God’s child without the consent of the Almighty.

  • It happens much too frequently that we want to stick our heads into the lion’s jaws and tease his throat in order to see whether he would attack us.
  • We can’t welcome temptation while also praying against it at the same time, since it would be hypocritical.
  • According to the Bible, we should “abhor (withdraw our attention from) that which is wicked and stick to that which is good” (Romans 12:9).
  • You may be certain that the Lord Jesus will turn around and exclude you from his presence.
  • But we also pray, “Deliver us from evil,” in addition to the above.
  • In the words of Jesus, “And then comes the evil one.” The devil is a fierce and cunning adversary.

He is well-versed in his field. In his over six thousand years of dealing with humans, you may rest guaranteed that your name is on his list of those who have crossed paths with him. “Deliver us from the evil one,” we must pray on a regular basis as a result.

4. The Goals of the Family Are Added

The Prayer that Jesus instructed His disciples to recite concludes with the same words that it began: “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever.” This prayer is dedicated to the Heavenly Father, who deserves all praise, honor, and glory. We applaud men far too often, and we thank God far too infrequently. When we recite the Lord’s Prayer, we end with words that speak of God’s strength and grandeur, and as a result, God is elevated once again as we bring the prayer to a close.

  • Through the entirety of this Prayer, not a single use of the word “I” is spoken.
  • We are unable to pray this Prayer on our own.
  • The blessings we seek are not just for ourselves, but also for all of the other members of God’s family with whom we share a common bond.
  • When we say “Our Father,” we are referring to the entire born-again family of God who has come to believe in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord.
  • All of God’s children are included in our group.
  • Even though the words of this Prayer have most likely gone over our lips hundreds of times, have we truly sensed the significance of these words?
  • Is God truly our heavenly Father?
  • Do we truly desire the establishment of the kingdom of God?
  • Do we recognize our need for everyday forgiveness of sins?
  • All of these are significant concerns that ought to be given careful attention.
  • May the Spirit of God use this message to assist us in praying the Lord’s Prayer with greater thought and clarity about what we are asking of God.

Lord, Teach Us to Pray!

I recently made a blog entry for another website about “Jesus’ Prayer Life,” which you can read here. As I was conducting research, I came across the narrative of the disciples who asked Jesus, “Lord, show us how to pray! ” Jesus had been praying in front of the disciples, and when he had finished, they approached him and requested for assistance in their prayer lives.

My spiritual journey has not been without its challenges. I was intrigued by the idea! It is unclear what it was in Jesus’ prayers that prompted the disciples to request that he teach them how to pray.

Teach Us to Pray Scripture

“One day, Jesus was praying in a particular location. Following his conclusion, one of his followers approached him and asked, ‘Lord, teach us how pray.’ Luke 11:1a New International Version The disciples had seen Jesus pray several times and had taken note of it. They could see that prayer was a significant part of his life since he prayed often. They must have observed something odd about his prayer style that they thought was noteworthy. It inspired them to learn how to pray in the same way He did.

As we can see, Jesus was “filled with pleasure through the Holy Spirit” when he prayed, saying, “I praise you, Father, Lord of the heavens and the world.” Luke 10:21a is a passage from the Bible that teaches that God is a kind and forgiving God.

It’s no surprise that the disciples wanted to learn how to pray like Jesus did.

Prayers of Jesus

I forget from time to time that Jesus and the disciples were devout and loyal Jewish men who followed the law of Moses. They would have said a large number of Jewish prayers. Prayer was customarily held at three times during the day: at daybreak, 3 p.m. (to coincide with the daily afternoon sacrifice at the temple), and at dusk. They contained the Jewish creed (derived from Deuteronomy 6:4-7), blessings, and prayers performed as hymns, as well as the Jewish credo and blessings. The traditional Jewish prayers were also uttered before and after each meal, on the Sabbath and at Passover, as well as at religious services.

The disciples had already established a fairly active prayer life for themselves!

They wished to pray in the same way He prayed, with the same intensity, passion, and closeness that they had never experienced before.

What Jesus Taught about Prayer

“When you pray.”, Jesus begins his instructions to the disciples in answer to their request. Luke 11:2 (New International Version). It is important to note that Christ did not say IF you pray, but when you pray. Jesus was well aware of the difficulties that His followers (and us!) would face. He was well aware that they would require a strong relationship with Him and the Father in order to navigate their way through the world. In order to maintain an intimate and continuing personal relationship with Him, they would require a vigorous prayer life.

Bible Verses that Teach us How to Pray

Jesus clarified that He desires pure and modest motivations in our prayers, and that we should pray as He instructs. The New International Version (NIV) of Matthew 6:6a instructs his students to “go into your room, lock the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen.” He was not banning individuals or groups from praying in public. He was referring to the reasons that one has for prayer. Jesus was able to see right through people who preferred to pray in public rather than in private. It exposed their genuine aim in prayer: to be praised by other people.

Our prayer “audience” is comprised of only one person: Jesus.

In verse 7, Jesus instructs us to “when you pray, do not carry on babbling like pagans, for they believe that their many words will be heard because they are numerous.” Long periods of prayer were also not prohibited by Jesus.

We know there were instances when he prayed nonstop all night! To demonstrate to the disciples that “they should constantly pray and never give up,” Jesus gave them a parable from Luke 18 (the Parable of the Persistent Widow). v1.

Why We Pray

His goal, once again, was to avoid useless, impersonal, and time-consuming prayer. It does not increase the genuineness of our prayers in any way. No, we are not praying with the intent of convincing God of anything. God can only be reached via prayer, which must be honest, loving and genuine in nature. It’s important to remember that passionate prayers put at Jesus’ feet are like delicious incense (Revelation 5:8). He wants to hear from us! Make a note of it for later!

Teach Us How to Pray

“This, therefore, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,'” says Matthew 6:9 in the New International Version.

Jesus Calls God “Father”

It appears that nearly all of Jesus’ prayers recorded in the Bible have Him addressing God as “Father.” In response to this new wrinkle in prayer, what did the disciples think? “Father” – Abba – was a term that the Jewish people would never have dared to use to approach God since it meant “Daddy.” It would have been considered insulting by them. It was the same name that the disciples would have given to their own biological dads. The fact that they addressed God as their Father was a revolutionary method for them to pray!

It was seen as blasphemy by them.

He has given us the go-ahead to approach the King of the Universe and address him as our Father in the name of Jesus.

Breaking Down the Lord’s Prayer

I’m using the New International Version of Matthew 6:9-13. It may also be found in Luke 11:2-4, which is a New Testament passage. This model prayer has its origins in the ceremonial Jewish practices of Jesus’ day, which I found to be rather intriguing to learn about. My favorite part of this prayer is how Jesus incorporated this thread of old Jewish prayer into one of the most well-known Christian prayers. The disciples would have noted the parallels between the two passages. Jesus was not instructing his disciples to memorize and mechanically recite this prayer on a regular basis, as some have suggested (as we see from his prior teaching.) The act of praying allows us to connect with God and become closer to Him.

He instructed them to pray the Lord’s prayer as a model or guidance. This is not to imply that this prayer cannot be offered in a Spirit-filled manner. The fact is that this was the only prayer I could offer at some points in my life. Jesus is able to look into our hearts and feelings.

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name”

As you begin your prayer, remember to express your gratitude to our holy and magnificent God, who not only sits on the throne, but also calls us His beloved children and asks us to view him as our “Abba”- our Daddy.

“Your kingdom come”

Upon his arrival on the planet, Jesus took with him a piece of the heavenly kingdom, including the message that anybody who desires it may find redemption; he also raised up the poor and downtrodden, healed those who were sick, and performed miracles that demonstrated his splendor and might. Although he understood his Father’s kingdom plan would not be fully realized until He returned in glory, he was nevertheless hopeful.

“Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”

Pray with complete submission and confidence in the Father’s perfect plan. When Jesus said, “not my will, but yours be done,” he was surrendering and praying this prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. Luke 22:42 (NIV) (NIV).

“Give us today our daily bread”

Pray for a total dependence on God and all of his talents in all circumstances. His daily bread is not just bodily nourishment, but also His love, healing, direction, and calm, all of which provide spiritual nourishment for our spirits.

“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors”

Pray a continual confession of sins and a continual prayer for forgiveness. Despite the fact that our salvation is secured via Jesus’ sacrifice, our daily sins continue to offend God. Having a heart attitude of developing in faith and becoming more and more like Him is shown in repenting and begging for forgiveness. It is our acknowledgement of our understanding of and complete acceptance of God’s forgiveness for our own personal sins that we show forgiveness to others. Refusing to forgive others is equivalent to refusing to acknowledge and acknowledge the sacrifice that God incurred in order to forgive us in the first place.

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”

God does not lead us into temptation; rather, we choose to succumb to it of our own free choice. He does, on the other hand, let temptation and hardships into our life. As a result, we pray that we will be able to detect temptations that cross our paths and that God will provide us the wisdom to avoid them. We pray for deliverance from the clutches of the Evil One. Resist the Devil and He Will Flee is a related article.

We Need to Pray

Prayer can be one of our biggest struggles and our greatest source of comfort and joy. Prayer doesn’t involve learning new “techniques” or “mastering” a script. God doesn’t grade our heartfelt prayers, expect perfection, or brush any prayer away as too trivial! Prayer is simply spending time talking to God, listening for his love and guidance, and growing our relationship. When we struggle with prayer, we can always ask Jesus- as the disciples did-“Lord, teach us to pray! ” Blessings! AnnMarie Photo Credit: Canva

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