St Louis UBF UBF Bible Study : Matthew 6:9-15

Bible Materials

Matthew 6:9-15

by Paul Choi 03/22/2015 Matthew 6:9~15

Message

The Lord’s Prayer

Matthew 6:9-15

Key Verse: 6:10 “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

The Lord’s Prayer is one of the most popular prayers, which Christians have read, recited, sung, meditated, and memorized, whether they are Catholics or Protestants. We finish our worship service and Bible study with the Lord’s Prayer. I remember that when I was young, my grandmother started each day with the Lord’s Prayer. I like Andrea Bocelli’s song, “The Lord’s Prayer.” The Lord’s Prayer is not the prayer of Jesus. The prayer of Jesus is written in John 17. The Lord’s Prayer is the prayer which Jesus taught his disciples. The Lord’s Prayer is written in Luke 11 as a short version. In Luke 11:1 Jesus’ disciples asked Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” In Matthew 6:9a Jesus answered, “This, then, is how you should pray:…” Here Jesus taught them how to pray, not what to pray. The Lord’s Prayer is a pattern or model of prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer is divided into two parts; three petitions for God (9-10) and three petitions for our need (11-13). The missing part of the prayer is doxology, “for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen!” Modern Bible translations including NIV do not include this doxology because it was not written in the earliest version of the Bible, the Alexandrian text. Today let us study the contents of the Lord’s Prayer and the meaning of each petition.

First, “Our Father in heaven.” Look at verse 9b. “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,” Jesus asked his disciples to call God, ‘Father in heaven.’ To the Jews, calling God ‘our Father’ was unthinkable, and it was presumptuous. They didn’t speak God’s name because he is too high and holy. The word “Father” appears 15 times in the Old Testament, but not even one time in their prayer. To the Jews, our God is considered as an unapproachable God who stays far away, is extremely holy and righteous, and is absolutely authoritative, transcendent, austere, and so on. In fact, God appeared on Mount Sinai as thunder, lighting, and a consuming fire. How could they call this holy God ‘Father.’? Father is ‘Pater’ in Greek and ‘Abba’ in Aramaic. Jesus asked his disciples to call God ‘Father’, like ‘daddy’ in English, with affection and family love. Jesus meant that our God is not far away, but very close and approachable, where he can respond to us right away when we call him. This is like how little Joshua calls his daddy, Missionary Isaiah Lim, saying, ‘Daddy!’ Jesus said in 6:6-7 that our Father God, who is unseen, hears our whispering prayer in a small room. God is with us and in us, close by as he hears our prayer.

I have a good memory of my father. We didn’t talk much, but I received his good love and care. Above all, he taught me how to persevere in times of poverty and adversity. Thus, images of a good father are love, care, provision, protection, guide, discipline, and so on. In the Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15, we see the image of the heavenly Father who forgives sinners. The father in the story opens his arm for his returning son. Our Father God always opens his arms for returning sinners. God wants us to come to him as we are. As the little Joshua comes to his daddy without fear, so we come to God with confidence and love. Ephesians 3:12 says, “In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” Amen!

Calling God ‘our Father’ is a tremendous privilege to us, which was given through Jesus Christ. John 1:12 says, “Yet to all who did receive him (Jesus), to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” Paul said in Romans 8:14-16. “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus calls God ‘Father in heaven’ 12 times. Jesus teaches us to call God ‘our Father’.

Let us read the words“…hallowed be your name.” The word “hallow” is the verb form of holy, ‘hagios’ in Greek, which means ‘sacred’ and ‘set apart’. Our Father God should be acknowledged, honored, exalted, and worshiped. He is the Creator of the whole universe and the source of all lives, including ours. He is Alpha and Omega, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty. (Rev 1:8) He is our loving Father. His name deserves to be honored, glorified, exalted, and praised. Revelation 4:11 says, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power…Amen!”

We must not misuse God’s name. In the third Commandment God says, “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.” (Ex 20:7) “Hallowed be your name” means “Glorify your name through us and throughout our lifetime.” Paul said in Romans 11:36, “For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.” The chief end of men’s life is to glorify God’s name and enjoy in him. As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:31, whether we eat or drink or study or work, whatever we do, we must do it all for the glory of God. Jesus said in 5:16, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” I pray that God’s name may be hallowed and glorified through our good deeds, obedience, and devotion to him. Amen!

Second, “your kingdom come and your will be done.” (10) Look at verse 10. “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” What does it mean that God’s kingdom comes? A kingdom is where a king rules and reigns. God’s kingdom is where God rules and reigns. God rules and reigns his people with love, peace, justice, and righteousness. Jesus asks us to pray that God may rule us and reign in our lives. God is our king and we submit to him. We invite him in our hearts as our Lord and King, and we acknowledge his sovereignty over our lives. Then God fills our hearts with peace, joy, love, salvation and fruits of the Holy Spirit. Paul said in Romans 14:17, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

“Your kingdom come” also means the expansion of God’s kingdom to others. The characteristic of God’s kingdom is growth, expansion, and redemption. Jesus said that the kingdom of God starts small like a mustard seed. But when it grows, it becomes a big tree. (13:31, 32) The kingdom of God also expands like bread with yeast. (13:33) Those who experience the kingdom of God in their hearts desire to share it with others. This is a natural phenomenon. Jesus asks his disciples to pray not only for themselves, but also for others - for neighbors, for community, for country, and for the whole world. We must pray that God’s kingdom may come onto this earth starting with in our hearts.

These days I see the coming of God’s kingdom in the hearts of my Bible students. In the past they lived in the darkness under Satan’s rule. But now they are freed from the rule of Satan and enjoy freedom, joy, love, peace, hope, and other fruits of the Holy Spirit. They began to share their joy with their family members and friends. In this way the kingdom of God grows, spreads, and expands. Some church members here experience the same joy and peace when they pray and read the Bible. I see their faces shining like the morning sun. Look at the person next to you, and say, “your face shines like the sun!”

“Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” God’s will is the establishment and expansion of God’s kingdom on this earth. His redemptive work must be accomplished. Jesus asks us to pray that God’s kingdom may come down from heaven to the earth. “Heaven came down and glory filled my soul!” God’s will was done through Jesus’ obedient death on the cross and his glorious resurrection. God removed the curse from men’s lives and brought blessing and eternal life through Jesus Christ. God wants his people to be holy and living sacrifices, so that we may please him and fulfill his will. (Ro 12:1,2)

Thus far we studied three petitions for God. These three petitions focus on God’s name, God’s kingdom, and God’s will. His people must hallow his name, submit to his reign, and do his will. Amen!

Third, “Give us today our daily bread.” (11) These three petitions are for our needs, not for our greed. All these are promised to be given by God. God will provide, protect, and guide. Why did Jesus ask us to pray? God wants to be with us, and for us to have fellowship with him by seeking him daily. Let us read verse 11. “Give us today our daily bread.” God wants us to seek him daily. In the wilderness God provided a daily portion of manna for the Israelites so that they might seek him every day. Some rebellious and lazy people collected two or three day’s portions of manna, but all of it were rotten on the next day. (Ex 16:20) Daily bread refers not only to our physical need, but also to our spiritual need. We must pray to God our Father to provide spiritual food for our souls. Our Father God is the Creator of our lives and the source of strength for our souls to be sustained. Jesus Christ is the living bread. (Jn 6:35) We need our daily bread for our daily walk with Jesus. As you cannot drive your car without gas, your soul cannot survive without the living bread, Jesus Christ.

We walk with the Lord Jesus through fellowship with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, fills us with Christ’s words, life, spirit, wisdom, love, and strength each day. He guides us and leads us to live a victorious and blessed life every day. So, one pastor shouts each day, “Let’s go, Holy Spirit!” and starts the day with the Holy Spirit. In Luke 11:11,12, Jesus said, “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! ”

Fourth, “forgive us our debts…” (12) Look at verse 12. “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Among the topics in the Sermon on the Mount, forgiveness is the most frequently mentioned by the Lord Jesus. Forgiveness is not an easy task for human beings in any generation. King David was a great king and godly man who is known as a man after God’s own heart. Still, he could not forgive his son Absalom, who had killed his brother Amnon. David would not see Absalom for three years (2 Sam 13:38). Dr. Samuel Lee confessed that he couldn’t forgive his stepmother who had abused him physically and verbally when he was young. It took more than a few decades for him to forgive her from his heart. How much more difficult is it for us to forgive those who mistreated us, hurt us, and harm us? This is why Jesus spent most of the time and space in his sermon on the forgiveness of sin.

How can we forgive others? Let us read verse 12 again, “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” We can forgive others when we are forgiven by God. When we remember how God has forgiven us, we can forgive others. Jesus said in 10:8, “Freely you have received; freely give.” In the parable of the Unmerciful Servant Jesus teaches us why we should forgive other’s sin. A king cancelled a tremendous amount of debts for a servant because the servant was not able to pay the debts. But the servant forgot the mercy of his king. When he met his friend who owed him only a few dollars, he choked him and demanded to be paid back. Later when the king heard the news of the unmerciful servant, he was furious and put the servant to jail until he paid all his debts. (Mt 18:22-35) Jesus taught this parable to Peter when Peter asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” (Mt 18:21) Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy seven times.” Jesus continued, “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” (18:35) Let us verses 14,15. “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Jesus asked us to pray to God for the forgiveness of sin. Jesus himself prayed on the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Lk 23:34) Remember that the kingdom of God comes when we forgive others. Without forgiveness of sin, God’s kingdom never comes. Instead, Satan rules us with hatred, anger, bitterness and all kinds of evil spirits until our body and soul dies. Forgiveness brings peace, freedom, love, joy, gratitude, and all kinds of fruits of the Holy Spirit to our souls. (Gal 5:22,23) Forgiveness brings the kingdom of God to each person, each family, each nation and to the whole world.

Fifth, “lead us not into temptation…” (13) Look at verse 13. “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” The Lord Jesus knows that we are weak and vulnerable to temptations. So he asked his disciples to pray to God to protect them from temptations. There is no man immune from temptations. Samson struggled hard not to be tempted by women. But finally he failed in temptation and lost his eyes and his life. David failed to temptation. Peter also failed to temptation. We are not free from temptation. Jesus said to his disciples, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh (body) is weak.” (Mt 26:41) The Apostle Paul said in Galatians 5:16, “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”

Jesus also prayed forty days and nights in order not to fall into temptation. (Mt 4:1) He was led by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit strengthened Jesus when he earnestly prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. The Apostle Paul said in Romans 8:26, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we out to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” So we must ask God for the Holy Spirit to protect us and overcome all temptations. Amen.

In conclusion Jesus taught us how to pray. We must pray for God’s kingdom in our hearts, in others’ hearts, in our family, in our society, in our country, and in the whole world, especially in the Muslim countries in the Middle East. The Kingdom of God starts from my small decision of faith for Christ Jesus. It sprouts, grows, and bears fruit thirty times and a hundred times. The kingdom of God grows, spreads, and expands. We must pray that God’s name may be glorified through his kingdom. Jesus also taught us about our daily bread. Jesus loves to walk with us and talk with us through the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Jesus also gives us forgiveness of sin, first for ourselves and then for others. God’s kingdom comes with the fruits of the Holy Spirit into our hearts. Whenever we finish our church service with the Lord’s Prayer, may the Holy Spirit move our hearts with the glory of God and the love of Christ! May God make America a kingdom of priests and a holy nation! Amen.

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