The Lord’s Prayer: The Meaning and Power

 

The Lord’s Prayer: The Meaning and Power

In the eleventh chapter of the Gospel of Luke, a disciple of Jesus asks Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John [the Baptist] also taught his disciples" (verse 1:1). Jesus responds by imparting to them a prayer that has since been revered as the Our Father or the Lord's Prayer. This prayer holds a place of unparalleled significance among Christians, as it is the very prayer Jesus himself provided for guidance. While the Gospels reveal several instances of Jesus' own prayers, it is solely in the case of the Lord's Prayer that He instructs, "Pray in this manner."

Every phrase of this prayer is rich with significance, a depth that can sometimes be overlooked when it is recited mechanically during church gatherings. The prayer comprises six requests, with five originating from the Lord and one later incorporated by the early church. These petitions echo the key aspects of Jesus's life and teachings. Jesus intended this prayer not just as a ritual but as a transformative guide for our lives, and through us, a means to influence and transform the world.

Multiple Versions of the Lord’s Prayer?

The Lord's Prayer has been passed down through three primary renditions from early Christian history. The most recognized of these is found in Matthew's Gospel, specifically within the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:9-13). The English rendition we commonly use today was significantly influenced by William Tyndale's translation from 1525. This translation subsequently shaped the version used in the sixteenth-century Book of Common Prayer, and later, the King James Bible of 1611. Tyndale's interpretation underwent minor alterations to become the version commonly recited by English-speaking Protestants and Catholics in contemporary times. A comparison between the King James Version and a modern translation, such as the New International Version, reveals differences. Notably, modern translations like the New International Version draw from more accurate Greek manuscripts of Matthew's Gospel than those available in 1611:

 

Besides the variations of the Lord's Prayer presented in different English translations, there's also an alternate version found in Luke's Gospel. The New International Version offers this rendition from Luke 11:2-4:

Father,

hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
  for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.

And lead us not into temptation.

It's important to note that the versions of the Lord's Prayer in the New Testament, as recorded by Matthew and Luke, do not include the familiar closing doxology, "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen."

Additionally, there exists a third form of the Lord's Prayer, preserved in an early Christian text known as The Didache, or The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles. This document, intriguing for its insights into the practices of the early church, is believed by some scholars to date back to the first century, while others place it in the second century. It serves as a guide for Christian living. In its eighth chapter, The Didache includes a version of the prayer that mirrors that found in Matthew's Gospel.

Do not pray as the hypocrites, but as the Lord commanded in his Gospel, pray thus: "Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, as in Heaven so also upon earth; give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our debt as we forgive our debtors, and lead us not into trial, but deliver us from the Evil One, for thine is the power and the glory for ever." Pray thus three times a day.

This version notably incorporates the doxology. Additionally, it emphasizes with the highlighted directive, "Pray thus three times a day." This underscores the significant role the Lord's Prayer played in the daily lives of early Christians.

This prayer has grown deeply meaningful to me over time. I find myself praying and reflecting on its words during my morning walks with my dogs. It accompanies me in every visit to hospitals and nursing homes. In moments of parting, with those nearing the end of their journey and with their loved ones, I offer this prayer at funerals and memorial services.

During a visit to a hospice care patient, I met a veteran named Don (not his real name), who was nearing the end of his life. He had been unresponsive for hours, with closed eyes and increasingly labored breathing. The hospice nurse indicated that his passing was imminent. He hadn't spoken since the previous day. Sitting beside his bed, I gently held his hand, addressing both him and his family gathered in the room. I spoke of Christ's love and His promises, read passages from Scripture, and expressed my gratitude for the privilege of serving as his chaplain. I then anointed him with oil, marking his forehead with the sign of the cross as a symbol of his belonging to Christ. Together with his loved ones, each laying a hand on him, we prayed. We gave thanks for Don's life and entrusted him into God's care. At the conclusion of this prayer, I said words I had spoken many times before, "Now, let us join together in the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples to pray saying,

Our Father, who art in heaven,
   hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
   thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,
   as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us, not into temptation,
   but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,

  forever and ever. Amen.

At the end of the prayer, one of his children pointed out, "Did you all see that?" Another confirmed, "Yes, I saw it. He was moving his lips, reciting the Lord's Prayer along with us." It was a sacred and profoundly touching moment. Those were the final words Don tried to utter before he passed away a few minutes later. I have witnessed similar occurrences numerous times. Each instance serves as a poignant reminder of the deep significance this prayer holds for many people. It is profoundly ingrained in the hearts and memories of countless Christians.