RUSSELL SANDERS
8-3-2020
THE DISCIPLES PRAYER – OUR FATHER
MATT 6:9-15 AND LUKE 11:2-4
PART 1
Matthew and Luke record Jesus’ prayer in which He was teaching His disciples. It was mislabeled by the church as “The Lord’s Prayer.” It was not His prayer. It was the disciples’ prayer. Yes, “The Disciples Prayer” was for them to use as a pattern. (The true “Lord’s Prayer” is found in John 17. This was Jesus’ prayer to His Father.)
The Disciples’ Prayer is sometimes referred to as the “Our Father” prayer and is recited by many Christians. Let us look at it, line by line.
“Our Father…”
(Matt. 6:9; Luke 11:2). Jesus had revealed to His followers a loving Father who cares about them. He even used the “familiar” term of “Abba” which would be our equivalent of “dad” or “daddy.” This was a concept not familiar to them based on their concepts of God from the Old Testament (the only scripture that they had at that time).
“…which art in heaven.”
That clearly states from where it is that He watches over us, and later on, to where Jesus shall return.
“Hallowed by Thy name.”
(Mat. 6:9; Luke 11:2). “Hallowed” is from the Greek word
“hagiazō”
meaning to “make (or be) holy.”
“Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done in
(the
) earth
, (the same)
as it is
(done)
in heaven.”
Matt 6:10; Luke 11:11:2). Jesus came preaching and teaching that the “kingdom of heaven” is at hand. That is because He, our king of kings, the messiah, was now with them and He was revealing heaven’s kingdom principles to them. His soon coming sacrifice at Calvary would bring the kingdom into their hearts.
“…Thy will be done…”.
We learn God’s will of how we should live and how we should relate to Him in two significant ways. The first is from the written Word of God, the Holy Bible. Reading it and studying it is by far the best way. However, most Christians rely on what they hear being preached or taught from other people. The second way is from Holy Spirit. He is the revealer of the Word (Jesus) to us and as we read the written word, He enlightens our understanding of it. He is our best teacher.
As we pray and read and study, Holy Spirit teaches us God’s will and brings heaven to earth within us.
We will continue with the Disciples’ Prayer tomorrow.
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