A Few thoughts About the Lord's Prayer

A few thoughts about the Lord’s prayer. The prayers found in Matthew and Luke are similar but not exact. The prayer found in Luke is shorter.

The prayer found in Matthew was an extension of his famous “Sermon on the Mount” and seemingly to correct a problem. The problem of public and grandiose prayers to impress others with the prayer’s seeming spirituality. In other words… to show off. Pride in prayer vs. humility in prayer.

The prayer found in Luke was a prayer post “Sermon on the Mount” and was given at the behest of Jesus’ disciples so they might be taught to pray like the disciples of John the Baptist did.

Both prayers contain teaching moments. In Matthew, Jesus uses the prayer to teach on forgiveness. And in Luke, Jesus seizes on the opportunity to emphasize that all they have to do is ask (in prayer) and God will give.

Both prayers are prayers for Jews. They pre-date the coming of the Kingdom, which is prophesied to occur during the lives of the disciples (Mark 9:1). So technically it would be incorrect to pray for a Kingdom that would come when it has already come.

These prayers are frequently memorized and recited in the assemblies of Christians. There is no example of that in the New Testament. A quick google search states that there are 46 prayers recorded in the New Testament. With the exception of the two previously discussed none of the other 44 hold to the form or content of the Lord’s Prayer.

I think that’s significant because Jesus did not want his disciples to recite memorized prayer over and over again but to pray the concerns of our hearts as they are touched by the problems and concerns and gratitudes found in our lives.

I still find it beneficial to recite with other Christians the exact words of Jesus in prayer but it should never substitute for what prayer was intended to be.