The Lord’s Prayer

The “Lord’s Prayer” or “Our Father” (Pater Noster) is a model prayer or a prototype that Jesus taught his disciples (Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4) when they asked him to teach them how to pray.  It is not meant to be words that are recited to receive a blessing.  It is good to intentionally pray it with sincerity and meaning, or to use it to fashion your own prayer.

In my praying of the Lord’s Prayer, I am going to use the version of the Lord’s Prayer that is commonly used in LCMS churches.  It is based on the Matthew passage.  This prayer was taken from the Book of Common Prayer (either the 1892 version or the 1928 version) when the LCMS was producing the 1941 hymnal which was in English and not German.  I believe this English version of this Lord’s Prayer actually dates back to before the King James Bible, perhaps all the way back to Tyndale.  

Our Father, who art in heaven.  Heavenly Father, we thank you that because of Jesus, our high priest, you allow us to approach you and come before you (Hebrews 4:14-16).  You are not a distant God but one who wants to be in relationship with us.  Thank you!

Hallowed be thy name. Lord, you are holy and we are not.  We sin.  We ask that by our thoughts, actions and words we may live holy and pure lives for you (1 Thessalonians 4:3-8). Make your name be holy in our lives and throughout the world. Strengthen us, because you alone are worthy of praise.  May our lives exhibit that praise.

Thy kingdom come.  Father, we ask that by your Spirit your kingdom would come to us and among us.  You are reigning now (Psalm 103:19).  Help us to see your reign.  We wait for Jesus’ return when the fullness of the kingdom will be ushered in (1 Timothy 6:14-16).

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Lord, your good and gracious will is being done, but we ask that it would be done among us also.  Hinder the devil, the influences of the world, and our own sinful nature so that we may live our lives for you.  Help us to know your will (Romans 12:1-2).

Give us this day our daily bread.  Father God, we thank you for your provision.  We thank you for allowing us to come to you with our needs and with our wants.  In your gracious provision, you do supply everything we need (Psalm 145:15-16).    We thank you!  We ask that you continue to supply our needs, the food, the shelter, the peaceful environment, our faith, family, and so much more.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.  Lord God, we sin daily.  We are broken and corrupt and do not realize how thoroughly broken we are (Psalm 130:3-4). In your mercy, forgive us, renew us, and restore us, so that we may delight in you and walk in your ways.  Remind us how so very much we have been forgiven so to help us to forgive others.  We thank you, Jesus, for your death and resurrection so that by the Spirit we may have this new life.

And lead us not into temptation.  Lord, we are asking that you would hinder the devil, the influences of the world, and our own sinful nature from leading us into sin, harmful behavior, false beliefs, and the like (1 Corinthians 10:12-13).  Lord, you have freed us and so out of gratitude we desire to live life for you.

But deliver us from evil.  Save  us, Lord, from the evil in this world, especially protect us “against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.  Amen.  Praise to you, Triune God, for your great love!  You reign!  You are above all.  No one can even closely compare to you.  So all honor and glory and blessing are yours (Psalm 145:1-3; Revelation 5:12). It is all yours! (This last phrase of the Lord’s Prayer is not found in many manuscripts.)

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