Prayer II

This next portion of Scripture is often misnamed as "The Lord's Prayer". The fact of the matter is, this is not the Lord's prayer at all. The Lord prayed in the Garden at Gethsemane, this is the only prayer that we have on record (unless of course you include the words spoken from the cross), then there are a total of eight prayers recorded in the Bible. All these will be covered in later studies.

Back to the matter at hand. This portion of Scripture is not appropriately named. Jesus covered how not to pray in the beginning portion now He is showing His disciples how to pray. This is not meant to be a liturgical prayer, it is a model.

"In this manner, therefore, pray:" Matthew 6:9a, NKJV

Jesus stated "in this manner". When we teach our children how to do something, we give them an example to follow. The Lord is doing the same thing here: teaching.

"Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name."

Matthew 6:9b, NKJV

First of all, prayer begins with praise. We must acknowledge who we are speaking to as well as acknowledge His holiness. This is not the first time that we have seen this model used. Do you realize that Nehemiah prayed in the same fashion? In Nehemiah chapter 1, Nehemiah prays for his people. He began his prayer with praise. "I pray, Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe You commandments." (Nehemiah 1:5, NKJV)

"Your kingdom come.

Your will be done

One earth as it is in heaven."

Matthew 6:10, NKJV

Our prayer is to also have purpose. The purpose of prayer is to understand and know that the Lord's will us to be done in everything. The purpose of the prayer is to invite the Lord into our situation with the acknowledgment that His will is to be done. Again, Nehemiah had the same idea. "Please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before you now, day and night..." (Nehemiah 1:6a, NKJV) Nehemiah knows and understands that the Lord needs to be invited and it is within His control.

"Give us this day our daily bread."

Matthew 6:11, NKJV

Next is to ask for provision. This provision asked for can be for a multitude of things. This daily bread can also mean any type of food as well as anything on a spiritual plane. There is a popular series of books known as "Our Daily Bread" which is a collection of Scriptural devotions. Jesus even likened the Word of God to bread. "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4, NKJV) The provision that Nehemiah acknowledges the need for forgiveness. "...[I pray] for the the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both my father's house and I have sinned." (Nehemiah 1:6b, NKJV)

"And forgive us our debts,

As we forgive our debtors."

Matthew 6:12, NKJV

Some translations use the word sin to replace debt. Metaphorically, debt can be used to describe sin. Either way we look at it, we are in debt. We are in debt to Satan as we continue to live a life of sin, or we can be in debt to God for the death of His Son. Daily we need to ask for His forgiveness because daily we fall short. "We have acted very corruptly against You, and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, nor the ordinances which you commanded You servant Moses." (Nehemiah 1:7, NKJV) Nehemiah first acknowledged the need for forgiveness, then he gets specific with the Lord. The Lord knows that we have sinned, but He wishes for us to confess to Him what we have done, to be accountable.

"And lead us not into temptation

But deliver us from the evil one."

Matthew 6:13a, NKJV

Deliverance. We all need deliverance. Who better to ask for deliverance than the Lord Himself? "Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations; but if you return to Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though some of you were cast out tot he farthest part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and bring them to a place I have chosen as a dwelling place for My name.'" (Nehemiah 1:8-9, NKJV) Deuteronomy 33:27, "The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are His everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you, and will say, 'Destroy!'" Deliverance only comes from the Lord.

"For Yours is the kingdom

And the power

And the glory

Forever. Amen."

Matthew 6:13b, NKJV

Lastly, we end with praise. We acknowledge, again, the power and glory that is the Lord's alone. What began in adoration also ends in adoration. "Now these are Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power, and by Your strong hand. O lord, I pray, please let your ear be attentive tot he prayer of Your servant, and the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name; and let Your servant prosper this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man." (Nehemiah 1:10-11, NKJV) Notice how Nehemiah acknowledges the kingdom and power and glory of God. Jesus wasn't just throwing up a random model for the disciples to follow, He was giving them a method which was already in use. Nehemiah prayed the prayer long before Jesus ever taught it. Remember, however, that it is only a model not to be out into a repetitious liturgy.

"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Father in heaven will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Matthew 6:14-15, NKJV

Jesus ends this portion with a spiritual truth. It is a truth of forgiveness. You must give in order to receive. "Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy."