"After this manner, therefore, pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen."
Matthew 6:9-13
Part 2
Yesterday: We Learned God’s Pattern for Prayer
“After this manner, therefore, pray ye.”
We call the “Lord’s Prayer” His model prayer to teach us how to pray. There is no record in the Bible that Jesus or His disciples ever prayed these words. However, we can read several other prayers prayed in the New Testament.
Today: We learn to Pray to God Our Father, Who is Holy.
(Matthew 6:9)
“Our Father which art in heaven.”
Our prayer is directed to “our Father in heaven.” It is only God who is our Heavenly Father; no one else qualifies. Jesus cautioned believers about using the name “father” that belongs to God for any religious leaders regardless of their rank or popularity.
“And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven” (Matthew 23:9).
And we take note that Jesus did not tell His men to say, “my Father,” but “our Father.” As our Father, we love Him and hold Him in the most profound respect as any child should feel about his/her earthly father. And then we are confident that as His children, our Father loves us and will meet our needs, like a father who loves his children does. He is undoubtedly our Heavenly Father.
“Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?” (Isaiah 66:1).
In Matthew six, we learn from Jesus that in our giving, prayer, and forgiving, pleasing God is the crucial thing. Trying to make people happy is a big mistake. We do these things as He directs, for His way is the best!
“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 6:1).
“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly” (Matthew 6:6).
“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (Matthew 6:14).
“Hallowed be thy name.”
God’s name is special. It is Holy. As such, we dare not misuse His name.
“Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain” (Deuteronomy 5:11; and see Numbers 5:31).
What has God told His people about His name?
“He sent redemption unto His people: He hath commanded His covenant forever: holy, and reverend is His name” (Psalm 111:9).
“And one cried unto another [the seraphim], and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory” (Isaiah 6:3).
“And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes” (Ezekiel 36:23).
“For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts” (Malachi 1:11).
Indeed the name of the LORD is great among the Gentiles today. We revere His Holy Name.
“…When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name…” (Luke 11:2b).
We have learned that the “Lord’s Prayer” is not to be memorized and repeated. Still, it teaches us the elements that our prayers should contain. We are praying to our Father in heaven, and His name is Holy.
Come back tomorrow when we will pray for His Kingdom and His will. See you then.
Quote: The words “Our Father” show our family closeness to Him, and this phrase, “Hallowed be thy Name,” displays our deep reverence for our Heavenly Father.