Week 3: The Lord's Prayer
This last Sunday, we watched episode 6, Warnings About Religious Practices, which focused on doing right by God and others in religious practices such as giving, prayer, and fasting. Today, we’ll look at the simple yet profound prayer that Jesus teaches his disciples: the Lord's Prayer.
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Matthew 6:9-13
9Therefore, when you pray, do it this way:
Our Father who is in the skies, may your name be recognized as holy.
10May your kingdom come, and may your will be done, as it is in the skies so also on the land.
11Our daily provision of bread, give to us today.
12And forgive us our debts, just as we also have forgiven those indebted to us.
13And don’t lead us to be tested, but deliver us from the evil one.
Scripture Orientation
In the simple prayer Jesus teaches his followers, the first half focuses on God’s purposes in the world, and the second half on our daily concerns. “Our Father in the skies,” highlights God’s universal power and presence, as well as our status as his beloved children. “May your name be recognized as holy” signifies God’s unique, one and only status. Jesus invites his followers to partner with him in restoring the reputation of Yahweh, the one true God. “May your kingdom come, and may your will be done” invites us to bring God's Kingdom to Earth through love, justice, and generosity.
“Give us today our daily bread” asks for provision, recalling Israel’s reliance on God for manna in the wilderness. “Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive those indebted to us” emphasizes the importance of forgiveness to break cycles of pain and vengeance. To truly receive God’s forgiveness, we also must practice extending forgiveness. “Don’t lead us into the test, but deliver us from the evil one” seeks protection from trials and the lies of the evil one.
Discussion Questions
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Why does Jesus tell his followers to address God as “our Father”?
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Why would someone pray for God’s name to be recognized as holy?
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When Jesus prays, "Your Kingdom come, and your will be done," what is he asking for?
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What does praying “give us today our daily bread” remind us about from the Old Testament, and what might it instill within us?
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Why does Jesus so closely connect God’s forgiveness of us to our forgiveness of others?
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Jesus prays about temptation, or “testing,” and then prays about deliverance from the evil one. How do these concepts or ideas relate?
Personal Reflection
One of the benefits of the shortness of The Lord’s Prayer is that it can serve as a template for our prayers every day. Take a few moments to slowly pray this prayer. Recite each line and pause to reflect on how it might connect to your current relationships or circumstances. If any additional desires or requests come to the surface, bring them to God in prayer.
