The Lord’s Prayer
The “Lord’s Prayer” is the prayer that the Lord Jesus Himself taught His disciples. It is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew (Matt. 6:9-13) and the Gospel of Luke (Luke 11:2-4).
The thoughts in the following text about the Lord’s Prayer follow the exposition of the Lord’s Prayer by Dr. Martin Luther (1519).
How We Should Pray
Jesus first warns against praying like the hypocrites, who pray so that people may see how pious they are. Nor should we pray like the unbelievers, who think they will be heard by using many words (Matt. 6:7).
The Lord’s Prayer is the prayer of Christians, that is, of believers. A Christian prays briefly but thinks deeply. To do so, they must understand the meaning of the words they speak and what they are asking for when praying the Lord’s Prayer.
Through the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus shows us what we should ask for. This allows us to pray in a way that pleases God. When we say the Lord’s Prayer or offer a free prayer that aligns with its content, we should believe that God willingly hears us.
What We Should Pray
Text of the Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father,
who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name,
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever.
Amen.
Address:
Our Father, who art in heaven
We call God our Father because He has made us His children (John 1:12). Our Father is in heaven, while we are on earth, strangers in this world, separated from Him, and in our distress, we turn to Him with our petitions. This is our position before God: we come with empty hands, trusting in Him alone.
We say “our Father,” not “my Father,” because in prayer we do not think only of ourselves but pray together with the community of all true believers worldwide. Since He is our Father, we are brothers and sisters, praying for others as we pray for ourselves.
That we ask God shows how needy we are, for we lack everything we request. We pray that God’s name be hallowed because it is misused. We do not obey God’s will, so we pray that His will be done. We ask for His kingdom to come because we do not acknowledge His rule. There is hunger, so we pray for bread. Our character is marked by sin, so we ask for forgiveness and the ability to forgive others. We live in constant danger, and our faith is challenged, so we ask our Father to protect us from temptation. Finally, surrounded by evil, we ask to be delivered from it.
1. Petition:
Hallowed be Thy name
God is holy, but we pray that His name be hallowed in us. As Christians, we bear His name, but because we profess to be Christians yet do not live as Christians should, His name is blasphemed through us. Instead, His name should be honored by us reflecting His character—being kind, just, merciful, honest, friendly, and peaceable. However, if we are malicious, envious, angry, deceitful, or unjust, we cause great harm to His good name and honor.
By praying in the Lord’s Prayer that His name be hallowed through us, we confess that we do not live in a way that hallows His name. We would not need to pray this if we were perfect. That we do not live to God’s glory should not lead us to despair, for He Himself teaches us to pray this way and to express our longing to hallow His name.
In this regard, no one, not even a Christian, should deceive themselves into thinking they are especially pious if they are unaware of their sin. Such a person exalts themselves above others and despises them, which is nothing but hypocrisy and pride. This robs God of the honor due to Him alone and seeks personal glory.
God alone is good and holy; we are all sinners, one as much as another. If God grants that we do not sin, He alone is to be praised.
What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast? (1 Cor. 4:7)
2. Petition:
Thy kingdom come
This petition reveals that God’s kingdom is not yet fully present with us and that even in us Christians, God does not hold the place He deserves.
As the Creator of heaven and earth, God is rightfully the ruler over all. He who created us is our Lord, but since the fall, every person rebels against His rule, and this rebellion is the essence of sin. This world we live in is marked by sin, and Christ calls the devil the ruler of this world (John 12:31), where sin and injustice reign. As Christians and God’s children, we live as strangers in a hostile environment and suffer as long as we must remain in this world.
Thus, we pray that God’s kingdom may come, which is our true home. We recognize, however, that even in us, God’s rule has begun but is not yet complete. As sinners, He does not fully reign in us. We struggle against temptations to think and do evil. Unlike the people of the world, who know no such struggle and live self-determined and self-focused lives, seeking only wealth, power, and pleasure, Christians acknowledge that God does not have the place in us that He deserves. We pray that His kingdom may come to us, meaning that what is perfected in heaven begins here—that we obey Him as our Lord, no longer belong to ourselves, but serve Him. Where Christ reigns in us, God’s kingdom becomes visible through peace, self-control, love, patience, and all virtues.
We pray that His kingdom comes to us, not that we come to His kingdom, expressing that it depends not on our efforts but on God’s mercy. Through His grace, we experience His rule in us, though with much struggle. We do not seek His kingdom for its gifts but for His sake.
3. Petition:
Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven
This petition convicts the one praying, leading them to recognize and condemn their own disobedience and seek God’s help and grace.
We would not need to ask God that His will be done if we lived according to His will. God has shown His will through His commandments. By this petition, we confess that we do not do His will, that we are disobedient to His commands, guilty, and deserving of punishment.
Yet, we should not despair when we accept God’s just judgment over us. By praying that His will be done, we ask Him to deliver us from our disobedience and grant us grace to do His will.
In heaven, there is no self-will; it should be so on earth. But the devil and Adam followed their own will, rebelling against God’s. Since the fall, humanity is inherently rebellious, unwilling to submit to God’s will. Our will is always inclined toward evil because it constantly opposes God’s will. When a Christian prays that God’s will be done, they pray against their own evil-directed will, asking that it be broken and that they desire nothing, knowing their will is always contrary to their Lord’s.
We must understand that our will is never good (even if it seems so). God’s will is good and opposed to ours. Human self-will is not always obviously evil, such as when we lie, cheat, or harm others. Often, it seeks something that appears good but is done with selfish motives, seeking personal gain or honor. If thwarted, it becomes angry.
Sadly, some Christian circles promote programs relying on human willpower, believing good intentions and discipline lead to a holy life. It is God’s grace if we do not succeed in such efforts, as they produce proud, self-willed people who never submit to God or seek His help. These false saints are unaware of their sinfulness and their complete dependence on God’s grace, who alone is good.
Self-will is broken by examining our desires, resisting them, and doing what we have no natural inclination for. Even when our will seems good and pure, it must submit to God’s will, learning to wait on Him.
In the first three petitions, we focus on God; now we pray for our needs. The word “our” reminds us we stand before God not alone but with all who believe in Christ and call upon the Father.
4. Petition:
Give us this day our daily bread
God gives ordinary bread to all people, even those who do not believe in Him or ask for it. But man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from God’s mouth. We ask our heavenly Father for spiritual nourishment.
Just as we eat bread to strengthen our bodies, Christians need God’s Word daily to stand firm in this world. Christians face difficulties and struggles, knowing that everything happens according to God’s will, including suffering and death. God’s Word strengthens and sustains us. Sunday sermons and daily Bible reading are indispensable for comfort and help.
We can only know God when He reveals Himself through preaching or Scripture. God’s Word makes and keeps us Christians, forming the foundation of our faith.
Thus, we pray in the Lord’s Prayer for theologians and preachers who explain God’s Word clearly, sustaining our spiritual life. It is a great grace to have faithful pastors and preachers.
5. Petition:
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us
The word “and” connects this petition for forgiveness, which we need daily. Even Christians sin and require forgiveness. God forgives when we confess our sins to Him. We need forgiveness even when unaware of our guilt, as we often fail to recognize it. We can be certain that the Father forgives us if we believe His Son fully paid for our sins on the cross, even if we do not always feel the peace that often follows.
The Lord’s Prayer makes clear that we receive forgiveness only if we are willing to forgive others. When we recognize our own sinfulness, forgiving others becomes easier. However, people tend to see others’ faults clearly while excusing their own. We should be strict with ourselves but not condemn others. If someone wrongs us, we need not punish them or seek justice ourselves; they, like us, will face God’s just judgment. Condemning, despising, or hating others harms us, blinding us to our own sin and making us proud, as we consider ourselves morally superior. Such an attitude makes us merciless, but we should pray for others to turn to God.
6. Petition:
And lead us not into temptation
Here, Christians ask for God’s help against temptations or trials that inevitably confront us—anything that might lead us to sin. We face such trials constantly as long as we live. A Christian’s life is a continual spiritual battle against sin.
Temptations come from within, through the evil inclinations of our hearts, from the devil’s whispers, or from external sources like images, words, or others’ evil deeds. Yet, no one can excuse their sin by claiming they were led astray by others.
Temptations vary. Some arise from suffering, like illness, poverty, or injustice, which can lead to sinful behaviors such as anger, hatred, bitterness, or impatience.
Others, more dangerous because they are harder to recognize, include wealth, power, honor, or praise, which tempt us to greed, pride, or excess.
We should learn to endure temptations, not asking that they be entirely removed (e.g., that we become healthy if sick or rich if poor). Nor should we rely on our own strength or others to overcome them.
A Christian must stand firm in temptation, not giving in to sin. We need God’s help to resist, praying that we do not become upset or overcome, that God keeps us from sinning, and that temptation does not overpower us.
We do not pray to avoid temptations altogether, as they test and strengthen our faith, build endurance, and assure us we are God’s children. Through temptations, Christians recognize their natural inclination to sin and their inability to resist without God’s grace, fostering humility.
James 1:2
7. Petition:
But deliver us from evil
Finally, we pray for deliverance from the evil that may confront us in life. This is a concern for all, including Christians, but we prioritize praying for God’s will to be done and His name to be hallowed, as His kingdom and righteousness are more important than our earthly well-being. However, evil—such as war, famine, or epidemics—can become so overwhelming that the resulting temptations could overpower us if God does not deliver us.
The Little Word Amen In some Greek manuscripts of the Gospel, a doxology follows, reminding us of God’s greatness and omnipotence, who willingly hears our prayers when we pray as He taught us through His Son, Jesus Christ.