The Lord’s Prayer: Phrase-by-Phrase Exposition

 

Jesus offered the Lord’s Prayer to shape our relationship with the Father and align our hearts with His purposes. What follows is a clear, thoughtful reflection on each phrase of Matthew 6:9-13 (LSB), with pointers to other Scriptures that deepen our understanding.

 

“Pray, then, in this way:

‘Our Father who is 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 also have forgiven our debtors.

And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’”

 

Our Father who is in heaven, We begin with relationship and awe. In Christ we address God as “Abba, Father” (Rom. 8:15), embracing both intimacy and reverence. The plural “our” reminds us we pray within the global family of faith (Eph. 3:14-15).

 

Hallowed be Your name. To hallow is to treat as holy. We pray that God’s reputation would be honored in our character and in the world (1 Pet. 1:15-16; Ps. 111:9).

 

Your kingdom come. This petition expresses our longing for Christ’s reign to advance now and to be fully realized at His return (Matt. 6:33; Rev. 11:15). The Kingdom of God is the means by which God redeemed mankind through his son’s death as atonement for sin. This Kingdom will restore God’s full ruler ship over the earth as well as heaven.

 

This kingdom will defeat the devil and bring peace to mankind. Christians, once baptized, become citizens of God’s Kingdom as his earthly representatives to declare the Gospel which is the Good News of God’s Kingdom. The ruler ship of God’s King Jesus now in the hearts of believers, is nevertheless a real government coming to the earth when Jesus returns.  Everything is about the Kingdom.

 

Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Heaven embodies perfect obedience. We ask that our lives, our church, and our cultures would mirror that willing submission (Ps. 40:8; Rom. 12:2). Asking for God’s will to be done on earth is asking for HIS kingdom to reign over the earth which by definition means all evil have been put into “tarsus,” a place of inactivity.  Satan and his demons will be put in prison during the millennial rule by Jesus on the earth at his second coming.

 

Give us this day our daily bread. We acknowledge our daily dependence on the Provider. Like Israel gathering manna, we trust God for each day’s needs (Ex. 16:4; Phil. 4:19).

 

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. Sin incurs a debt no human can repay. Christ’s atonement cancels our liability, and we are called to extend that same mercy to others (Matt. 6:12; Eph. 4:32; Matt. 18:21-22). Our forgiveness by God of our sins is also tied to our forgiveness of others.  Just as he forgave us as guilty sinners, we also forgive others that may have trespassed against us.

 

And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. We confess our vulnerability and ask for God’s guidance and protection. He never tempts us, and He provides escape from trials (James 1:13; 1 Cor. 10:13; Ps. 121:7-8). In prayer, we ask for deliverance from our sins in the flesh. We ask for the help of the Holy Spirit to help us overcome our weakness in the flesh and our temptation to sin.  All sin is originated from the devil, who is evil. 

 

 

 

Reference Scriptures (LSB):

 

Rom. 8:15, “For you did not receive a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you received the Spirit of adoption as sons by whom we cry out, 'Abba! Father!”

 

Eph. 3:14-15, “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,”

 

1 Pet. 1:15-16, “But as he who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all your conduct; 16because it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'”

 

Ps. 111:9, “He has sent redemption to His people; He has ordained His covenant forever; Holy and awesome is His name.”

 

Matt. 6:33, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

 

Rev. 11:15, “Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He shall reign forever and ever.'”

 

Ps. 40:8, “I delight to do Your will, my God, And Your law is within my heart.”

 

Rom. 12:2, “ And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

 

Ex. 16:4, “Then Yahweh said to Moses, 'Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not.'”

 

Phil. 4:19, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

 

Matt. 6:12, “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

 

Eph. 4:32, “And become kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.”

 

Matt. 18:21-22, “Then Peter came to Him and say, 'Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?' 22Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to you up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.'”

 

James 1:13, “Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am being tempted by God'; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.”

 

1 Cor. 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

 

Ps. 121:7-8, “Yahweh shall keep you from all evil; He shall keep your soul; 8Yahweh shall guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever.”