The Prayer Jesus Taught
When Jesus' disciples asked Him, "Lord, teach us to pray," He responded with what is now known as The Lord's Prayer. This prayer is a model, a pattern for prayer that reflects the heart of a follower of Christ.
Matthew 6:9 (CSB) “Therefore, you should pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, your name be honored as holy.
Jesus begins by setting the foundation of prayer. God is our Father. The word "our" reminds us that prayer is not just about the individual, but about the community of believers. We pray as a family. "Father" reveals the closeness we each have with God through Christ.
Matthew 6:10 (CSB) Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Prayer aligns us with God's plan. God's will and purpose for your life is far greater than anything you could imagine. When you pray these words, you are telling God that you want what He wants. As Robert Law said, "Prayer is a mighty instrument, not for getting man's will done in heaven, but for getting God's will done on earth."
Matthew 6:11 (CSB) Give us today our daily bread.
Here, Jesus invites us to express our dependence and seek Him. Just as God provided manna in the wilderness, He continues to provide for our daily needs. Jesus, the Bread of Life, is our true sustenance, but He desires that we come before Him. "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you" (Matthew 7:7).
Matthew 6:12 (CSB) And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
We are all sinners, which means we all need forgiveness. As L.A. Barbieri said, one cannot walk in fellowship with God if he refuses to forgive others. Therefore, because we have been forgiven, we must also extend that forgiveness to those around us. Although it can be difficult at times, if we want God's forgiveness to flow into our lives, it must flow through us onto others (Matthew 6:14-15).
Matthew 6:13 (CSB) And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’”
Prayer is also our spiritual protection. When we pray this, we admit our weaknesses and ask God to keep us in line with His will. Jesus Himself prayed during times of great temptation. This reminds us that prayer is powerful and freeing.
Later manuscripts add “For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
This ending is a praise to God. This reminds us that everything belongs to God and that He is sovereign over all things.
Overall, this model of prayer is not meant for performance but for genuine connection with God. We should not pray to impress people (Matthew 6:5), ramble on with empty words (v.7), or fast just to get noticed (v.16). Real prayer is personal. It is just between you and God. He wants us to come to Him in private, where only He can see, and that is where He will meet us (v.6, 18).
In our fast-paced and noisy world, Jesus calls us to slow down and remove distractions. He encourages us to find a quiet space, to pray with sincerity and in relationship with Him. The Lord’s Prayer is not just something to recite; it is a guide, leading us into deeper connection with God.
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To watch the full message from Dr. Stephen Trammell, click here.