“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father 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 forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” Matthew 6:9-13 & Luke 11:1-4
Over the coming days we will look at what we call ‘The Lord’s Prayer,’ which appears twice in the New Testament, in Matthew and Luke. While the backdrop to these accounts is different, the substance of what Yeshua said is broadly the same in both, and that is the primary thing we want to look at. Matthew places this prayer as part of what we term as ‘The Sermon on the Mount’, while Luke says the disciples asked Yeshua to teach them to pray. There are, of course, differing opinions as to who was present at ‘The Sermon on the Mount,’ as Matthew 5:1-2 says, “And seeing multitude, He went up into a mountain: and when He was set, His disciples came unto Him: And He opened His mouth, and taught them.” Having said all of that, Yeshua gives clear instruction on how, when and where His disciples should pray. Various issues were addressed, such as people not praying loudly in the streets or in the synagogues, with the sole intention of ensuring everyone saw and heard them. Instead, Yeshua counselled people to primarily pray on their own, in private, in a place and manner that their relationship to and connection with their Heavenly Father was their primary concern. He said to avoid ‘vain repetitions.’ The word ‘vain’ here indicates unproductive prayers in that they are repetitive simply for show. Whilst, also, we are counselled to seek, knock and ask, and keep on doing so, we are instructed to pray in faith, believing Yehovah will, because of His love and faithfulness towards us, answer in accordance with His Word, His promises and, therefore, His declared will and purpose. Over the coming days, open your mind and heart to receive fresh manna from Heaven on the privilege of a prayerful encounter with your Yehovah.