His Word Today

⁹ Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. ¹⁰ Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. ¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread, ¹² and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ¹³ And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (Matthew 6:9–13 ESV)

Perhaps with the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17), the Lord’s Prayer is one of the most recited and remembered portions of Scripture. Wall hangings in many homes display it, children memorize it, and gifted singers regale audiences when they sing it. For the next several days, our attention is occupied with studying and understanding it.

However, rightly understood this familiar text is not so much the Lord’s Prayer as it is the prayer of the Lord’s disciples. Additionally, it is not to be unconsciously repeated. Rather, it is to be a guide for prayer. Jesus instructed His disciples about the proper order and contents of biblical prayer.

The prayer consists of six petitions. The first three focus on the glory of God. The remaining three pertain to our relationship with the One, True, and Glorious God. Its structure is similar to the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:1-17). The first petition is Hallowed be your name. The second is Your kingdom come. The third is Your will be done. The fourth is Give us this day our daily bread. The fifth is forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. The sixth is “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

Not only are believers in Christ to pray that the Lord would not lead us into temptation, but also we are to pray that He would deliver us from evil.

Deliver (ῥύομαι; rhyomai) means to personally rescue ((Matt. 6:13; 27:43; Luke 1:74; Rom. 7:24; 11:26; 2 Cor. 1:10; Col. 1:13; 1Thess. 1:10; 2 Thess. 3:2; 2 Peter 2:7). It is a prayer request believers strongly ask God to do.

What, or from whom, are believers in Christ needing rescue? The text says evil (πονηρός; poneros). This refers to wickedness or worthlessness. The word may also be accurately translated evil one. He is the individual who is possessed by evil and wickedness and seeks to entrap others in the same (Romans 1:18-32).

“We have no way of knowing whether it is ὁ πονηρος [ho ponēros] (the evil one) or το πονηρον [to ponēron] (the evil thing). And if it is masculine, it can either refer to the devil as the Evil One par excellence or the evil man whoever he may be who seeks to do us ill. The word πονηρος [ponēros] has a curious history coming from πονος [ponos] (toil) and πονεω [poneō] (to work). It reflects the idea either that work is bad or that this particular work is bad and so the bad idea drives out the good in work or toil, an example of human depravity surely,” explains A.T. Robertson.

Make your fervent prayer today that the Lord would keep you from trials that could become temptations by the evil one. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

⁹ Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. ¹⁰ Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. ¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread, ¹² and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ¹³ And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (Matthew 6:9–13 ESV)

Perhaps with the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17), the Lord’s Prayer is one of the most recited and remembered portions of Scripture. Wall hangings in many homes display it, children memorize it, and gifted singers regale audiences when they sing it. For the next several days, our attention is occupied with studying and understanding it.

However, rightly understood this familiar text is not so much the Lord’s Prayer as it is the prayer of the Lord’s disciples. Additionally, it is not to be unconsciously repeated. Rather, it is to be a guide for prayer. Jesus instructed His disciples about the proper order and contents of biblical prayer.

The prayer consists of six petitions. The first three focus on the glory of God. The remaining three pertain to our relationship with the One, True, and Glorious God. Its structure is similar to the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:1-17). The first petition is Hallowed be your name. The second is Your kingdom come. The third is Your will be done. The fourth is Give us this day our daily bread. The fifth is forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. The sixth is “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

Lead (εἰσφέρω; eisphero) is an active verb of probability. It concerns the certainty of God’s actions in the future. To lead means to bring about. It also means to cause something to occur. What is the leading for which believers pray to God? That He would not lead us into temptation.

Temptation (πειρασμός; periasmos) may mean a trap or a solicitation to evil. It may also mean a test or trial. The immediate context indicates the former meaning and not the latter.

The principle of Scripture interpreting Scripture is very important with any text’s interpretation. That principle is certainly important regarding todays. Scripture explicitly teaches that God does not tempt anyone. James 1:13-15 says, “¹³ Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. ¹⁴ But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. ¹⁵ Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”

“God does not tempt men (James 1:13), but he will subject them to trials that may expose them to Satan’s assaults, as in the case of Job (Job 1-2) and Peter (Luke 22:31–32). This petition reflects the believing one’s desire to avoid the dangers of sin altogether. God knows what one’s need is before one asks (Matt. 6:8), and he promises that no one will be subjected to testing beyond what can be endured. He also promises a way of escape—often through endurance (1 Cor. 10:13). But still, the proper attitude for the believer is the one expressed in this petition,” explains Dr. John MacArthur.

Make your fervent prayer today that the Lord would keep you from trials that could become temptations. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

⁹ Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. ¹⁰ Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. ¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread, ¹² and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ¹³ And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (Matthew 6:9–13 ESV)

Perhaps with the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17), the Lord’s Prayer is one of the most recited and remembered portions of Scripture. Wall hangings in many homes display it, children memorize it, and gifted singers regale audiences when they sing it. For the next several days, our attention is occupied with studying and understanding it.

However, rightly understood this familiar text is not so much the Lord’s Prayer as it is the prayer of the Lord’s disciples. Additionally, it is not to be unconsciously repeated. Rather, it is to be a guide for prayer. Jesus instructed His disciples about the proper order and contents of biblical prayer.

The prayer consists of six petitions. The first three focus on the glory of God. The remaining three pertain to our relationship with the One, True, and Glorious God. Its structure is similar to the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:1-17). The first petition is Hallowed be your name. The second is Your kingdom come. The third is Your will be done. The fourth is Give us this day our daily bread. The fifth is forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Forgive (ἀφίημι; aphiemi) is an imperative verb. It is a plea by believers for God to pardon them from the power of sin having previously pardoned them from the penalty of sin. Eventually, the Lord will deliver each believer in Christ from the very presence of sin.

“Jesus calls Himself the bread of life (John 6:35), revealing how He satisfies our spiritual needs as well. This is also evident in our asking God to forgive us our sins (Luke 11:4a). Though Jesus’ once-for-all sacrifice has destroyed the power of sin and paid for our transgressions (Rom. 6:11), they still disrupt our fellowship with God. Thus, we are in continual need of forgiveness. Asking the Father to cleanse us from sin reminds us of our need and His fidelity (1 John 1:8–9),” states Dr. R. C. Sproul.

“Our request to be forgiven assumes that we are forgiving others (Luke 11:4a). If we do not pardon those who have wronged us, we cannot expect God to forgive us (Matt. 18:21–35). This does not mean our forgiveness is some good work that earns us favor with the Lord. Rather, when we imitate God and forgive others, just as He absolves those who repent and turn to Christ (Col. 3:12–13), we show that the Spirit has moved in our hearts to give us faith,” concludes Dr. Sproul.

Have a God-centered day today as you hallow His name, acknowledge His rightful reign as King, obey His will, ask Him to meet your needs and forgive your sins as you forgive others. Blessings!

Soli deo Gloria!

⁹ Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. ¹⁰ Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. ¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread, ¹² and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ¹³ And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (Matthew 6:9–13 ESV)

Perhaps with the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17), the Lord’s Prayer is one of the most recited and remembered portions of Scripture. Wall hangings in many homes display it, children memorize it, and gifted singers regale audiences when they sing it. For the next several days, our attention is occupied with studying and understanding it.

However, rightly understood this familiar text is not so much the Lord’s Prayer as it is the prayer of the Lord’s disciples. Additionally, it is not to be unconsciously repeated. Rather, it is to be a guide for prayer. Jesus instructed His disciples about the proper order and contents of biblical prayer. “Christ does not enjoin His people to pray in a prepared form of words, but only points out what ought to be the object of all our wishes and prayers,” explains John Calvin.

The prayer consists of six petitions. The first three focus on the glory of God. The remaining three pertain to our relationship with the One, True, and Glorious God. Its structure is similar to the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:1-17). The first petition is Hallowed be your name. The second is Your kingdom come. The third is Your will be done. The fourth is Give us this day our daily bread.

Kingdom focused prayer begins by focusing on hallowing God’s name, acknowledging His rule and reign in our lives, and seeking and doing His will. All three of these disciplines are perfectly done in heaven. Believers in Christ are to pursue them during their sojourn on earth (I Perter 2:11-12).

Kingdom focused prayer does not ignore one’s daily, physical needs. If our needs were important enough for Jesus to mention them, then it should be important enough for believers to pray for them.

Most of us grocery shop on average once a week; perhaps more and sometimes less. In America, we possess large refrigerators with a freezer. Some even have additional freezers in their garage or basement. Food spoilage today is rare. This was not the case 2,000 years ago.  

“The fourth petition of the Lord’s Prayer has us asking the Father to “give us each day our daily bread” (Luke 11:3). Refrigeration has largely eliminated the threat of spoilage and the need to make everything we eat fresh on a daily basis. Most of the West does not worry about food scarcity and shortages. Consequently, we often fail to remember our utter dependence on the Creator to provide for all our needs,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.

“We are to pray for our survival. God pledges to meet our basic needs (Ps. 37:25), not to provide luxuries at all times. Bread was a staple of the diet in biblical times and was served at nearly every meal. To have bread was to have life, concludes Dr. Sproul.

Have a God-centered day today as you hallow His name, acknowledge His rightful reign as King, obey His will and ask Him to meet your needs. Blessings!

Soli deo Gloria!

⁹ Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. ¹⁰ Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. ¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread, ¹² and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ¹³ And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (Matthew 6:9–13 ESV)

Perhaps with the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17), the Lord’s Prayer is one of the most recited and remembered portions of Scripture. Wall hangings in many homes display it, children memorize it, and gifted singers regale audiences when they sing it. For the next several days, our attention is occupied with studying and understanding it.

However, rightly understood this familiar text is not so much the Lord’s Prayer as it is the prayer of the Lord’s disciples. Additionally, it is not to be unconsciously repeated. Rather, it is to be a guide for prayer. Jesus instructed His disciples about the proper order and contents of biblical prayer. “Christ does not enjoin His people to pray in a prepared form of words, but only points out what ought to be the object of all our wishes and prayers,” explains John Calvin.

The prayer consists of six petitions. The first three focus on the glory of God. The remaining three pertain to our relationship with the One, True, and Glorious God. Its structure is similar to the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:1-17). The first petition is Hallowed be your name. The second is Your kingdom come. The third is Your will be done.

Will (θέλημα; thelema) refers to the Lord’s purpose, intent and plans. Ephesians 1:5 (ESV) teaches God the Father predestined elect sinners for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.

This request bridges two aspects of God’s will. To begin with, believers should seek to know God’s personal and moral will for their lives. Second, believers are to pray that God’s decreed will be known and obeyed. We should not only pray to know God’s plans and intentions in our lives, but also pray for the strength to obey Him and submit to the plans He has for our lives.

“The Lord’s hidden, or decretive will, contains his secret decrees and foreordains all things. It is this will that results in the final manifestation of His mercy and justice, and thus brings Him His sovereign glory. This will can never be thwarted,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul. “On the other hand, the Lord’s revealed, or preceptive will, is clearly found in Scripture and contains those things in which He delights or hates insofar as they conform to His standards. This will can be violated and can therefore incur God’s displeasure.”

It is likely that the last phrase “on earth as it is in heaven” applies not only to the Lord’s will being done, but also to His name being hallowed and His rule and reign recognized and obeyed. Our lives on earth are to be as God-centered as is life in heaven.

Have a God-centered day today as you hallow His name, acknowledge His rightful reign as King and obey His will. Blessings!

Soli deo Gloria!

⁹ Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. ¹⁰ Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. ¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread, ¹² and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ¹³ And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (Matthew 6:9–13 ESV)

Perhaps with the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17), the Lord’s Prayer is one of the most recited and remembered portions of Scripture. Wall hangings in many homes display it, children memorize it, and gifted singers regale audiences when they sing it. For the next several days, our attention is occupied with studying and understanding it.

However, rightly understood this familiar text is not so much the Lord’s Prayer as it is the prayer of the Lord’s disciples. Additionally, it is not to be unconsciously repeated. Rather, it is to be a guide for prayer. Jesus instructed His disciples about the proper order and contents of biblical prayer. “Christ does not enjoin His people to pray in a prepared form of words, but only points out what ought to be the object of all our wishes and prayers,” explains John Calvin.

The prayer consists of six petitions. The first three focus on the glory of God. The remaining three pertain to our relationship with the One, True, and Glorious God. Its structure is similar to the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:1-17). The first petition is Hallowed be your name. The second is Your kingdom come.

Kingdom (βασιλεία; basileia) means to rule. It is the reign of a king. Believers in Christ are to hallow His name because He is King of kings and Lord of lords. The angel Gabriel told Mary, “³¹ And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, ³³ and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:31–33 ESV)

“Jewish prayers recognized that God’s name would be “hallowed,” or “sanctified,” “shown holy,” in the time of the end, when his kingdom would come, as the Bible also said (Is 5:16; 29:23; Ezek. 36:23; 38:23; 39:7, 27; cf. Zech. 14:9). In the present God’s people could hallow his name by living rightly; if they lived wrongly, they would “profane” his name, or bring it into disrepute among the nations (cf. also Ex. 20:7; Jer. 34:16; 44:25–26; Ezek. 13:19; 20:14; Amos 2:7),” explains commentator Craig S. Keener.  

How may each of us obey King Jesus today? By obeying His Word we acknowledge He is the King of kings; and ours. May this be seen by us today.

Soli deo Gloria! ow may

⁹ Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. ¹⁰ Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. ¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread, ¹² and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ¹³ And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (Matthew 6:9–13 ESV)

Perhaps with the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17), the Lord’s Prayer is one of the most recited and remembered portions of Scripture. Wall hangings in many homes display it, children memorize it, and gifted singers regale audiences when they sing it. For the next several days, our attention is occupied with studying and understanding it.

However, rightly understood this familiar text is not so much the Lord’s Prayer as it is the prayer of the Lord’s disciples. Additionally, it is not to be unconsciously repeated. Rather, it is to be a guide for prayer. Jesus instructed His disciples about the proper order and contents of biblical prayer. “Christ does not enjoin His people to pray in a prepared form of words, but only points out what ought to be the object of all our wishes and prayers,” explains John Calvin.

The prayer consists of six petitions. The first three focus on the glory of God. The remaining three pertain to our relationship with the One, True, and Glorious God. Its structure is similar to the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:1-17). The fist petition is Hallowed be your name.

Hollowed (ἁγιάζω; hagiazo) is an imperative verb. The action is to be done by believers in Christ toward God. The Lord receives the action from us. Believers are to reverence God’s name. It means that the Lord’s name is to be treated as holy. To be holy, and holiness, means different, separate from sin and morally pure.

This is more than just an acknowledgement and recognition that God’s name is holy and reflects His character, attributes and work. It is an aspiration for believers to reverence God’s name. To hallow God’s name is something believers are to do; especially in prayer.

“What does it mean to say that God is holy? It means that He is different from anything that we experience or find in the material universe that God the Creator differs from all creatures. The primary way in which God differs from all creatures is that He is uncreated and eternal, whereas each of us is created and finite. We are not eternal but temporal. If nothing else separates the Creator from the creature, it is that high, transcendent element of God’s own being, so marvelous, so majestic that He is worthy of the adoration of every creature,” states Dr. R. C. Sproul.

“I can’t emphasize too much how important it is that we grasp that this line of the Lord’s Prayer is not just a part of the address but a petition. We must see this if we are to understand what Jesus is teaching us about prayer. Jesus is not saying, “Father, Your name is holy,” but, “Father, may Your name be hallowed.” That is, He is teaching us to ask that God’s name would be regarded as sacred, that it would be treated with reverence, and that it would be seen as holy. We must see this if we are to pray according to the pattern Jesus set for us,” concludes Dr. Sproul.

How may each of us hallow the Lord today? By regarding His name as holy, we are regarding Him as holy. May this be seen by us today.

Soli deo Gloria! ow may

⁹ Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. ¹⁰ Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. ¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread, ¹² and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ¹³ And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (Matthew 6:9–13 ESV)

Perhaps with the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17), the Lord’s Prayer is one of the most recited and remembered portions of Scripture. Wall hangings in many homes display it, children memorize it, and gifted singers regale audiences when they sing it. For the next several days, our attention is occupied with studying and understanding it.

However, rightly understood this familiar text is not so much the Lord’s Prayer as it is the prayer of the Lord’s disciples. Additionally, it is not to be unconsciously repeated. Rather, it is to be a guide for prayer. Jesus instructed His disciples about the proper order and contents of biblical prayer. “Christ does not enjoin His people to pray in a prepared form of words, but only points out what ought to be the object of all our wishes and prayers,” explains John Calvin.

The prayer consists of six petitions. The first three focus on the glory of God. The remaining three pertain to our relationship with the One, True, and Glorious God. Its structure is similar to the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:1-17).  

However, the phrase considered today is not a petition. It is not a request. Rather, it is an address to the Lord who is the object of the believer’s prayer.

One time during lunch, an elderly professor once asked a student of theology whether God was either transcendent or intimate in relationship with His creation. After several silent moments, the student responded that the Bible taught that God was both; transcendent and intimate. The professor responded in wholehearted agreement. Today’s text affirms that conclusion.

Our Father. The phrase (ἐγώ πατήρ; ego pater) can be addressed solely by sinners who God has justified by grace alone, through faith alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone. This statement reflects the intimate relationship we have with God. It is solely within this covenant relationship that any believer in Christ can call God their heavenly Father (Romans 8:12-15; Gal. 4:1-5). The Bible does not teach the universal fatherhood of God and the universal brotherhood of man.

In Heaven. Here is the counterweight. Our Father is sovereign and rules heaven and earth. All things are subject to His dominion; including ourselves. Therefore, He alone is worthy of our worship and ultimate obedience.

“This prayer, which is repeated by many Christians, contains elements that are important for all praying. Prayer is to begin with worship. God is addressed as Our Father in heaven. Worship is the essence of all prayer. In Matt. 6:1–18, Jesus used the word “Father” 10 times! Only those who have true inner righteousness can address God in that way in worship,” explains Louis A. Barbieri.

“When we engage in prayer, there are two things to be considered; both that we may have access to God and that we may rely on Him with full and unshaken confidence. He (God) has both a fatherly love toward us but also boundless power,” states Calvin.

Therefore, let us never doubt the Lord’s love for us, His children. He not only listens to our prayers, but is also powerful to answer them. Have a blessed day in prayer to Our Father, in Heaven.

Soli deo Gloria!

⁹ Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. ¹⁰ Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. ¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread, ¹² and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ¹³ And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (Matthew 6:9–13 ESV)

Perhaps with the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17), the Lord’s Prayer is one of the most recited and remembered portions of Scripture. Wall hangings in many homes display it, children memorize it, and gifted singers regale audiences when they sing it.

However, rightly understood this familiar text is not so much the Lord’s Prayer as it is the prayer of the Lord’s disciples. Additionally, it is not to be unconsciously repeated. Rather, it is to be a guide for prayer. Jesus instructed His disciples about the proper order and contents of biblical prayer. “In matters of faith and practice, it is equally important to know how not to do something as it is to know how to do it. Jesus understood that when He taught His disciples to pray,” states one commentator.  

Like learning an instrument or some other skill, we desire and need people to teach us how to do something. This is what Jesus did when He said, “Pray then like this.” Luke records Jesus’ disciples saying to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1-4). The times Jesus spent in prayer were often intense (Luke 22:39-46). The disciples must have observed this. Jesus then taught His disciples the skill and discipline of prayer.

In church history, those times of special renewal involved the heightened devotional life of the people of God. This was most likely because of a moving by the Holy Spirit. One way this was done was by immersing oneself in the Psalms. In effect, the Psalms are prayers by the Old Testament saints.

Jesus’ instructions for prayer follow in the immediate aftermath of His teaching on avoiding empty phrases and empty repetition when praying. It is ironic that today’s text is often recited but the words are rarely understood as to their content. Believers, and non-believers, know the words but do not comprehend the meaning of the words.

Additionally, Jesus taught His disciples how “not” to pray. Believers in Christ are not to pray in a hypocritical way. A hypocrite was an actor in the first century Greek theater. An actor played a role that had no impact in their lives. Jesus did not want prayer to be a sham or a fake. This was how the Pharisees prayed.

It is a dangerous thing when believers publically pray. It is easy to be swept up in the moment and to inadvertently seek to impress people with our gifted speech. However, the purpose of prayer is not to be seen by others. Prayer is to be something intensely private.

How then are believers to pray in private? That is what Jesus’ instructions are all about. Prayer is a means to the goal of godliness. That is the ultimate purpose of prayer; to be godlier in our relationship with God, in Christ and by the Holy Spirit.

Have a blessed day in Christ.

Soli deo Gloria!