Mt 6:9b-13 “Pray… in this way:
Summary Notes
What did Jesus say?
Jesus told His followers how to pray: `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 evil.’”
Why would He say this?
From 1859 to 1934 ship captains would “follow” the St Clair Flats Front and Rear Range Lights through the narrow channel as they navigated near the mouth of the St. Clair River. They did this by positioning their vessel to align the lights one over the other when seen from a distance. In essence the lights told them to, “Sail this way” for safe passage. Jesus told his disciples to, ‘Pray this way” for an effective prayer. He then gave them a prayer as a model to fashion their own prayers.
Click here see why I like lighthouses.
I think that this prayer was a simply meant to teach me the basic outline of an effective prayer. As an outline I also think that I am free to add all the detail I would like to fully express myself in prayer.
Jesus was speaking to followers of the God of the Bible. Yet, I think that His prayer has application for conscientious people of any faith. In the “My Comments and Notes” section I’ve outlined why I think that Jesus’ prayer has interfaith application.
Click here for my personal application and your comments link …or Scroll down for my full notes…
Command 28 “Pray, …in this way:”
Mt 6:9a; see also in separate context Lk 11:2-4
RECIPIENT: To the disciples in the hearing of the crowds on the mountain
Mt 5:1-2 When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. 2He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying…
CONTEXT: A continuation of the Sermon on the Mount
Mt 6:6-7 “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”
7“And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. 8So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.”
COMMAND FULL TEXT:
Mt 6:9b-13 “Pray, then, in this way: `Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11Give us this day our daily bread. 12And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’”
RESULT:
Mt 6:14-15: “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.”
Also, after Jesus concluded the sermon in the next chapter:
Mt 7:28-29; 8:1 When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; 29for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
1When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him.
DEFINITIONS: Key Greek Words – Removes ambiguity of the Bible text
(word:: Strong’s # Greek word pronunciation — definition)
pray: 4336 προσευìχομαι pros-yoo’-khom-ahee — to talk to, to supplicate or worship God
in this way: 3779 οὕτω hoo’-tō — referring to what precedes or follows
MY COMMENTS AND NOTES:
Jesus was speaking to believers in the God of the Bible and this model prayer was meant to be applied in that context. I think that Jesus’ prayer can also be adapted as a template for meditation.
Christian:
I think of this as a model prayer that Jesus spoke to teach me the basic outline of an effective prayer. The prayer can be used as is or I can embellish it by filling in the outline with copious details.
This is a model prayer that:
1. Acknowledges God as personal and in command of the universe.
2. Reverences Him.
3. Agrees with His purposes over me personally and universally
4. Acknowledges that good things come from God and asks Him for my basic daily needs.
5. Assumes that God will forgive my debts (moral failings, sins) if I ask Him and maintain a humble heart to forgive people when they fail me.
6. Asks God to lead me to resist temptations and my inherent tendency toward moral failure.
7. Asks God to deliver me from adversities
Interfaith and Secular:
I also think that Jesus’ prayer can be used as an outline for effective meditation.
This is a template for meditation that:
1. Acknowledge there is purpose in the universe larger than myself.
2. Respect that purpose.
3. Agree that all individuals are subject to the same basic physical and spiritual realities and therefore we are all alike and have equal worth and dignity.
4. Acknowledges that the universe is not against me but that I am meant for good things and any other reality is abnormal.
5. Assumes I can have peace in spite of my moral failings if, with a humble heart, I ask for forgiveness and if I forgive people when they fail me.
6. Acknowledge my tendency toward moral failure and reaffirm the commitment to personal and public moral excellence.
7. Understand that I have problems but I also have faith that there is a path to resolution and I resolve to find that path.
MY PERSONAL APPLICATION: I encourage you to make your own application and share it in the comments
I will consider and implement the interfaith applications of Jesus’ prayer and use it as the template for for my own prayers.
© 2018 Christopher Carlson
I fully understand the busyness of life.Thanks. So much for the work you have done so far on this project.I look forward to seeing more of Christ’s commands as you complete them ( worth the wait).
Remember to take time to REST mentally and physically.I believe that might be a command at least one day a week.
Praying as you move forward .
Bill
Thank you, Bill. Your encouragement means a lot to me. I’m looking forward to studying the “new” material!