The Lord's Prayer

The Lord's Prayer

By Catechism.org
March 29, 2016

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

The Introduction

"Our Father Who Art In Heaven"

What does this mean?

With these words God tenderly invites us to believe that He is our
true Father and that we are His true children, so that with all
boldness and confidence we may ask Him as dear children ask their
dear father.

The First Petition

"Hallowed Be Thy Name"

What does this mean?

God’s name is certainly holy in itself, but we pray in this petition
that it may be kept holy among us also.

How is God’s name kept holy?

God’s name is kept holy when the Word of God is taught in its
truth and purity, and we, as the children of God, also lead holy
lives according to it.

Help us to do this, dear Father in heaven.

But anyone who teaches or lives contrary to God’s Word profanes
the name of God among us.

Protect us from this, heavenly Father.

The Second Petition

"Thy Kingdom Come"

What does this mean?

The kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer,
but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also.

How does God’s kingdom come?

God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His
Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and
lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity.

The Third Petition

"Thy Will Be Done On Earth As It Is In Heaven"

What does this mean?

The good and gracious will of God is done even without our prayer,
but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.

How is God’s will done?

God’s will is done when He breaks and hinders every evil plan and
purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature, which do not
want us to hallow God’s name or let His kingdom come; and when
He strengthens and keeps us firm in His Word and faith until we die.

This is His good and gracious will.

The Fourth Petition

"Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread"

What does this mean?

God certainly gives daily bread to everyone without our prayers,
even to all evil people, but we pray in this petition that God would
lead us to realize this and to receive our daily bread with
thanksgiving.

What is meant by daily bread?

Daily bread includes everything that has to do with the support
and needs of the body, such as food, drink, clothing, shoes,
house, home, land, animals, money, goods, a devout husband
or wife, devout children, devout workers, devout and faithful
rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, self-
control, good reputation, good friends, faithful neighbors, and
the like.

The Fifth Petition

"And Forgive Us Our Trespasses As We Forgive Those Who Trespass
Against Us"

What does this mean?

We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look
at our sins, or deny our prayer because of them.

We are neither worthy of the things for which we pray, nor have
we deserved them, but we ask that He would give them all to us
by grace, for we daily sin much and surely deserve nothing but
punishment.

So we too will sincerely forgive and gladly do good to those who sin
against us.

The Sixth Petition

"And Lead Us Not Into Temptation"

What does this mean?

God tempts no one.

We pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us so that
the devil, the world, and our sinful nature may not deceive us, or
mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great shame, and
vice.

Although we are attacked by these things, we pray that we may
finally overcome them and win the victory.

The Seventh Petition

"But Deliver Us From Evil"

What does this mean?

We pray in this petition, in summary, that our Father in heaven
would rescue us from every evil of body and soul, possessions and
reputation, and finally, when our last hour comes, give us a blessed
end, and graciously take us from this valley of sorrow to Himself in
heaven.

The Conclusion

"For Thine Is The Kingdom And The Power And The Glory Forever
And Ever Amen"

What does this mean?

This means that I should be certain that these petitions are pleasing
to our Father in heaven, and are heard by Him; for He Himself has
commanded us to pray in this way, and He has promised to hear us.

Amen, means, “yes, yes, it shall be so.”

http://catechism.cph.org/en/lords-prayer.html