Lord's Prayer

All should pray; even little children.

No, not the impenitent; their hearts are not right with God, and they do not seek Him earnestly.

We must pray in the name of Jesus.

To pray in the name of Jesus is to ask on the strength of what He has done for us, and His intercession with the Father.

We should pray humbly, confidently as a child, and reverently.

The attitude of our hearts should be one of constant prayer, and our communion with God should not be confined to certain times and places, but we should speak with Him whenever we feel the need of it.

We should pray not only for ourselves, but also for others – even our enemies.

First of all we should pray for the spiritual gifts necessary to our salvation; but we may also pray for other gifts, both spiritual and temporal.

When asking such gifts we should always add, "Lord, if Thou wilt".

The Holy Spirit, who is also called the Spirit of prayer.

The most perfect prayer is the Lord's Prayer, which Christ taught His own disciples.

God would hereby tenderly invite us to believe that He is truly our Father, and we are [Pg 70] truly His children, so that we may ask of Him with all cheerfulness and confidence, as dear children ask of their dear father.

God's children alone can call God their Father.

Because He would have us pray with one another and for one another, in spiritual fellowship.

By these words we are reminded of the exalted love and power of our heavenly Father, far above that of any earthly father.

Hallowed be Thy name.

That is...

The name of God is indeed holy in itself; but we pray in this petition that it may be hallowed also among us.

But he that teaches and lives otherwise than the Word of God teaches, profanes the name of God among us. From this preserve us, heavenly Father!

I pray that the name of God may be hallowed among us.

When the Word of God is rightly taught and is received into our hearts.

We hallow the name of God when we freely confess it before men in accordance with the Word, and when we as God's children live holy lives in obedience to the Word.

He that teaches and lives otherwise than the Word of God teaches, profanes the name of God.

Thy kingdom come.

That is...

The kingdom of God comes indeed of itself, without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come also to us.

This is done when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe the Word of God, and live holy and Christ-like lives here in time, and in heaven forever.

I pray that the kingdom of God may come.

1. The kingdom of grace, in which Christ makes every believer a partaker of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit; and

2. The kingdom of glory in heaven, where the chosen live with Christ in perfect happiness.

It means that we become partakers in it.

The kingdom of God comes to us when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe the Word of God.

They live holy and Christ-like lives here in time, and in heaven forever.

Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

That is...

The good and gracious will of God is done indeed without our prayer; but we pray in this petition that it may be done also among us.

This is done when God brings to nothing all evil plans and purposes of the devil, the world, and our own flesh, that would hinder the hallowing of His name and the coming of His kingdom.

I pray that the will of God may be done among us on earth, as it is in heaven.

It is the will of God that all His rational creatures should praise Him forever in perfect holiness and happiness.

In heaven, where the holy angels praise God in undisturbed peace and joy.

When God brings to nothing all evil plans and purposes that would hinder the hallowing of His name and the coming of His kingdom, and when God strengthens us and keeps us steadfast in His Word and in faith, until death.

The devil, the world, and our own flesh.

God, who is merciful and faithful, will Himself help us to do His will.

Give us this day our daily bread.

That is...

God gives daily bread indeed without our prayer even to the wicked; but we pray in this petition that He would help us to appreciate His benefits, that we may receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.

By daily bread is meant all those things which are needed for our support and well-being in life, as food and clothing, home and property, happy family relations, a good government, favorable weather, peace and health, faithful friends, good neighbors, and the like.

I pray God to give me daily bread.

By daily bread is meant all those things which are needed for our support and well-being in life, as food and clothing, home and property, happy family relations, a good government, favorable weather, peace and health, faithful friends, good neighbors, and the like.

I must be content with that which God gives me.

They are added that I should not be anxious for the morrow, but let each day bear its own burdens.

No; He gives daily bread also to the wicked, but they receive it without thanksgiving, and miss His blessing.

They should ask God to bless their daily bread, and return Him thanks for it.

Yes; God wants us to be diligent, each in our calling, trusting in His help.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

That is...

We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look upon our sins, nor, on account of them, deny our prayer; for we are not worthy of anything we ask, neither have we deserved it; but we pray that He would give it to us out of His mercy; for we sin every day, and deserve nothing but punishment.

And we on our part will heartily forgive those who have sinned against us, and return good for evil.

I pray God to forgive us our trespasses.

Thereby is implied our guilt or debt to God, which we have brought upon ourselves by our sins.

Yes; Jesus Christ has paid for all our sins.

Because he sins every day, and is always in need of forgiveness.

We confess that we are not worthy of the least of that which we ask, neither have we deserved it; but we pray that He would give it to us out of His mercy.

We promise to forgive those who trespass against us, and return good for evil.

And lead us not into temptation.

That is...

God indeed tempts no one, but we pray in this petition that He would guard and keep us from the devil, the world, and our own flesh, that we fall not, through their deceit, into unbelief, despair, or other sins; but we pray that although we be thus tempted, we may overcome the temptation, and remain victorious.

I pray God not to lead us into temptation.

By temptation is meant opportunities that invite to sin.

By no means; God, who is holy and loving, does not tempt any one to sin.

God permits us to be tempted in order to test and strengthen our faith, to teach us to watch and pray, and to make us more humble and dependent on Him.

The devil, the world, and our own flesh, tempt us to sin.

The devil tempts us by putting evil thoughts into our minds.

The world tempts us by threats, attractive invitations, and bad example.

Our own flesh tempts by its evil desires.

No; the conditions of this present life are such that temptations must follow, and we need them for our bringing up in the kingdom of God.

We pray that when He finds it good for us to be tempted, He will guard and keep us, so that we may in the end be victorious.

We must use the Word of God, watch and pray, and take care not to invite temptation.

But deliver us from evil.

That is...

We pray in this petition, in general, that our Father in heaven would deliver us from all evil, affecting body and soul, property and honor, and at last grant us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this world of sorrow to Himself in heaven.

I pray God to deliver us from evil.

I pray God to deliver us from all sin that still clings to us, and from all the destructive effects of sin upon soul and body, property and honor.

No, we cannot; but we pray God in this petition to deliver us more and more from all evil, and at last grant us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this world of sorrow to Himself in heaven.

For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

We should remember that God is able to answer our prayer, and that the glory belongs to Him alone, when we get according to our prayer.

Its meaning is, Surely; so be it.

It is added in order that I may be fully assured that these petitions are acceptable to our Father in heaven, and are heard by Him.

God Himself has commanded us to pray, and has added this promise to hear us: Amen, Amen; that is, Surely; so be it.

No; God hears every prayer offered up according to His will.

No; He often answers our prayer by giving us something else and something better than we ask or think.

Sometimes; but He often delays His answer in order to strengthen our faith and our hope.

No; we must also return Him thanks for the blessings which we have received.