Reflections on The Lord's Prayer

     Recently i have come to receive the centrality of what is commonly known as "The Lord's Prayer," something that i am surprised that i did not discern previously. As a child i learned the traditional KJV version in Matthew 6:9-13.
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
     Luke 11:2ff and the more modern versions have abbreviated versions. Both Matthew and Luke indicate that Jesus is instructing the disciples to pray in this way.
   So what is Jesus saying? The word "Father" shows relationship and is by far the most common term of address for God in the New Testament. "Our" shows that Jesus shares that relationship with us. We are all part of one family. Heaven is where God dwells, and where all of his true children will eventually join Him. "Hallowed" indicates holy or consecrated. I am reminded of Lincoln's Gettysburg address, which contains this word in reference to the ground fought and bled over. Hallowing the name of God shows its importance.
   The next sentence is the clearest possible understanding of the Kingdom which Jesus and the apostles preached. The Kingdom of God is where His will is done. It is always done in heaven. Here on the rebel planet His will is done by disciples surrendered to Him as King.
   Asking for our daily bread illustrates our dependence on God rather than on ourselves.
Asking for forgiveness as we forgive others shows faith working through love. ( 1 Timothy 1:5)
     Praying for deliverance from evil shows the warfare between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness- the spiritual warfare which a disciple of Christ must engage in.
     The concluding sentence is acknowledging that ultimately our lives are not about us but for Him- to praise, exalt and glorify God through Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. May His disciples seek revelation of the heart of this prayer.