The Lord's Prayer, also known as the "Our Father," is a central prayer in Christian liturgy and theology, taught by Jesus Christ to His disciples. It is recorded in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, providing a model for how believers should pray. This prayer encapsulates key elements of Christian faith, including reverence for God, submission to His will, and dependence on His provision and forgiveness.

Scriptural References:

1. Matthew 6:9-13 :
"So then, this is how you should pray:
'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.'"

This passage is part of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus instructs His followers on various aspects of righteous living. The prayer emphasizes the holiness of God, the coming of His kingdom, and the importance of daily reliance on Him.

2. Luke 11:2-4 :
"So He said to them, 'When you pray, say:
'Father,
hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.'"

In this account, Jesus responds to a disciple's request to teach them to pray, as John taught his disciples. The prayer in Luke is slightly shorter but maintains the core elements of reverence, provision, forgiveness, and guidance.

Theological Themes:

· Fatherhood of God: The prayer begins with addressing God as "Father," highlighting the intimate relationship between God and believers. This reflects the new covenant relationship established through Christ, where believers are adopted as children of God (Romans 8:15).

· Holiness and Reverence: The phrase "hallowed be Your name" underscores the sanctity and reverence due to God. It calls believers to honor God's name in their lives and actions.

· Kingdom and Will of God: The petition for God's kingdom to come and His will to be done reflects a desire for God's sovereign rule to be established on earth. This aligns with the eschatological hope of God's ultimate reign (Revelation 11:15).

· Daily Provision: The request for "daily bread" signifies reliance on God for physical and spiritual sustenance. It echoes the Israelites' dependence on manna in the wilderness (Exodus 16:4).

· Forgiveness: The prayer links receiving forgiveness from God with the necessity of forgiving others. This reflects the teaching of Jesus on the importance of mercy and reconciliation (Matthew 18:21-35).

· Spiritual Guidance and Protection: The plea to "lead us not into temptation" and "deliver us from the evil one" acknowledges human vulnerability and the need for divine protection against sin and evil influences.

Related Scriptures:

· Philippians 4:6 : "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." This verse encourages believers to bring all concerns to God in prayer, reflecting the comprehensive nature of the Lord's Prayer.

· James 5:16 : "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail." This passage highlights the power of prayer and the importance of confession and forgiveness, themes central to the Lord's Prayer.

· 1 Thessalonians 5:17 : "Pray without ceasing." This exhortation to continual prayer aligns with the Lord's Prayer as a model for regular and persistent communication with God.

The Lord's Prayer remains a foundational element of Christian worship and personal devotion, encapsulating the essence of a life oriented towards God and His purposes.Matthew 6:9-13
After this manner therefore pray you: Our Father which are in heaven, Hallowed be your name.
Nave's Topical Index

Luke 11:2-4
And he said to them, When you pray, say, Our Father which are in heaven, Hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
Nave's Topical Index

Concerning the Lord's Supper
... I know that neither he, nor even a general council, has ... the traitor Judas did in
the supper of the Lord. ... these two things, the mass and prayer, sacrament and ...
/.../luther/first principles of the reformation/concerning the lords supper.htm

Introduction
... Wittenberg congregation, but for the Christian layman in general. ... mass and of preaching,
common prayer, bodily discipline ... of the Law, which the Lord had given ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/a treatise on good works/introduction.htm

The Apostles' Creed.
... since they are taught in the Scriptures, but they ... of the Apostles' Creed, which came
into general use in ... traces the Creed, like the Lord's Prayer, to Christ ...
/.../ 7 the apostles creed.htm

The Orthodox Confession of Mogilas, AD 1643.
... and contains an exposition of the Lord's Prayer and the ... the three cardinal virtues
of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, and the four general virtues which ...
/.../ 16 the orthodox confession.htm

The Second Helvetic Confession, AD 1566.
... be ordained of the elders by public prayer and the ... services, mindful of the words
of the Lord: 'He who ... We do not disapprove general or oecumenical councils if ...
/.../ 55 the second helvetic.htm

The Articles of the Reformed Episcopal Church. AD 1875.
... prayer, accepts the Book of Common Prayer, as it ... the book the words 'minister' and
'Lord's table' were ... amended and adopted at the Third General Council, held ...
/.../creeds of christendom with a history and critical notes/ 86 the articles of.htm

Whether the Third Precept of the Decalogue, Concerning the ...
... For this, understood spiritually, is a general precept: since ... to pay interior worship,
consisting in prayer and devotion ... For in six days the Lord made heaven ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the third precept of.htm

Eusebius: Constantine. General Index.
... faithlessness; as son, husband, father, friend, as general, legislator, statesman ...
545; form of prayer given, [3472]545; zeal in prayer, 545; calls ... Lord's Day. ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/eusebius constantine general index.htm

The Lord's Day --The Worship of the Apostolic Church --Its ...
... congregation, either by giving a general exposition of ... light of His countenance in
prayer, in meditation ... Whilst, in the Lord's Supper, believers hold fellowship ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter i the lords daythe.htm

Concerning Worship.
... yet can we not therefore approve of their way in the general, or not go ... a sentence
of exhortation or praise, or to breathe to the Lord in prayer, then all ...
/.../proposition xi concerning worship.htm

What is the spiritual presence view of the Lord's Supper? | GotQuestions.org

Who is authorized to oversee the Lord's Supper? | GotQuestions.org

Why is the real presence of Christ in the Lord's Supper such a controversial issue? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus