The Lord’s Prayer
Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” Luke 11:1
During Jesus’ ministry, one of His disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray. In response, Jesus gave what has become known as the Lord’s Prayer. The evangelists Matthew and Luke recorded this prayer for us. In Matthew, it reads, "In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil (or the evil one). For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” (Mt. 6:9-13; Lk. 11:2-4)
Martin Luther said concerning this prayer, “The Lord’s Prayer is a prayer above all prayers, the greatest of all prayers, which has been taught by the greatest Master of all, in which all spiritual and bodily trouble is comprehended and which is the strongest consolation in all temptations, tribulations, and in the last hour.”
When we use this prayer, we observe that a majority of the petitions are devoted to spiritual things and a lesser number to earthly things. With this arrangement, Jesus gives us a lesson on priorities. It reminds us what Jesus said in His Sermon on the Mount, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)
The Lord’s Prayer is so full of meaning and covers all the many things we may want or need. It will be good for us to review what Jesus is teaching us in the coming week.
Prayer is the simplest form of speech that infants’ lips can try;
Prayer the sublimest strains that reach The Majesty on high.
The Lutheran Hymnal 454:3