What Prayer Did Jesus Teach the Disciples?

When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, he gave them what is now known as the Lord’s Prayer. This prayer can be found in both Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4. It is one of the most well-known and frequently recited prayers in Christianity.

The Lord’s Prayer

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 also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.

Breaking Down the Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer can be divided into two parts. The first part focuses on acknowledging God and His sovereignty, while the second part deals with personal needs.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
This opening line of the prayer acknowledges that God is our Father and that He reigns in heaven. The phrase “hallowed be your name” means that we should acknowledge and honor God’s holiness.

Your kingdom come, Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
In this part of the prayer, we ask for God’s will to be done on earth just as it is done in heaven. We pray for His kingdom to come and for His purposes to be fulfilled.

Give us this day our daily bread,
Here, we ask God to provide for our daily needs. This includes not only physical needs but also spiritual needs such as guidance and strength.

And forgive us our debts, As we also have forgiven our debtors.
In this part of the prayer, we ask for forgiveness for our sins, and we also commit to forgiving those who have wronged us.

And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil.
Finally, we ask God to protect us from temptation and evil.

Conclusion

The Lord’s Prayer is a powerful tool for Christians to connect with God. It acknowledges His sovereignty and asks for His provision and protection.

It also reminds us of our responsibility to forgive others and resist temptation. By including this prayer in our daily lives, we can deepen our relationship with God and draw closer to Him.