Pray Then Like This

GUEST ELDERS BLOG

by Clif Baumer

Pray Then Like This

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-15, “Pray then like this: 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 evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Observations: Today’s scripture is familiar to us all. Perhaps it is too familiar. I say this because it is very easy to speak the words while our minds are elsewhere. If Jesus is telling his disciples (and us) to “pray then like this,” then we should study this prayer carefully.

Christ’s instruction on prayer is part of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). The focus of the Lord’s Prayer is first on God and his kingdom; then on us and our needs. This principle is also displayed in Matthew 6:33 where Jesus instructs us to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Luther’s Small Catechism divides the Lord’s Prayer into an introduction followed by seven petitions. Let’s briefly consider what each of these divisions say.

In the introduction we address God as, “Our Father in heaven.” First, we see that it’s our Father. By “our,” we acknowledge that we are members of the body of Christ; not “lone rangers.” Jesus could have instructed us to address the Father as Almighty God or some other lofty title but instead instructs us to address his Father as our Father and to come before his Father as dear children.

In the first petition we pray, “hallowed be your name.” God’s name is holy (set apart) and we are to treat it with reverence. God revealed his special, personal name to Moses (and to us) at the burning bush (Exodus 3:14-15). God told Moses to remove his shoes because he was standing on holy ground. God’s personal name means “I AM” or I AM WHO I AM.” In the introduction we see the intimacy of God as Father and in the first petition the transcendent holiness of God as the great I AM.

In the second petition we pray, “Your kingdom come.” Romans 14:17 tells us the Kingdom of God is “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Righteousness (right standing with God) is imparted to us by grace through faith in Jesus. It is not something we are able to earn. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus describes what the kingdom looks like as his followers are salt and light to the world. We pray God’s kingdom will come to all who live in this world.

In the third petition we pray, “your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” This is difficult for some to pray because they feel that they know the preferred outcome and may not fully trust God if his direction is different. Yet God’s understanding is unsearchable and his ways inscrutable (Isaiah 40:28; Romans 11:33). His good and gracious will is done whether we ask for it or not. Prayer for God’s will to be done reminds us that we are his servants and not vice versa. The heartfelt sincerity of our prayer serves to gauge our level of trust in him.

In the fourth petition we pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Whether your tastes lean toward whole grain wheat or Wonder white, we intuitively recognize that this petition refers to more than a baked fermented mixture of flour and water. We ask God to provide this day all that we need for our bodies and lives. People have a tendency to worry about the future. This petition reminds us to take one day at a time; be thankful for what we have today, and trust God for tomorrow. In a parallel interpretation, Jesus said, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35). Jesus is the “bread that came down from heaven” (John 6:51). He was born in Bethlehem which means “house of bread.” We all need more of Jesus every day of our lives.

In the fifth petition we pray, “and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” This is difficult for some to pray because they have suffered terrible wrongdoing at some point and carry hatred and unforgiveness in their hearts for the perpetrator(s). Jesus offers no exceptions to this rule. In fact, he underscores its importance in verses 14 and 15 by declaring plainly, “if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). As we have received grace, we are to show grace to others. If you struggle with unforgiveness, there is hope. Contact Pastor Tim or an elder for help.

In the sixth petition we pray, “And lead us not into temptation.” God temps no one to sin. He does however test our faith to develop our “steadfastness” (James 1:2-3). He is able to keep us from stumbling when we are tempted by the devil, the world, or our own sinful nature (Jude 1:24).

In the seventh petition we pray, “but deliver us from evil.” Our spiritual enemies will attempt to lure us away from God and his ways. We ask God to deliver us from evil (or the evil one) so that we would not be led away from God nor be harmed by the devil.

Application: Am I actually praying the Lord’s Prayer or am I just saying the words?

Prayer: Let’s pray:

Dear Father in Heaven, thank you for sending your dear son, Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, to suffer and die in our place that we might walk in right standing with you. Thank you that Jesus taught us how to pray. Help us to pray the Lord’s Prayer; not just say the Lord’s Prayer. In Jesus Name we ask. Amen.