Bible study
Matthew 6:9-13
The Lord’s Prayer: how Jesus taught his disciples to pray.
Matthew 6:9-13World English Bible
Pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done, as in heaven, so on earth. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.’
Scripture quoted from the World English Bible (Public Domain).
Big Idea
Jesus teaches us to align our hearts with God's kingdom, trusting Him for our needs, forgiveness, and protection.
Simple Summary
In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus models a prayer that honors God’s holiness, seeks His reign, depends on Him for daily provision, asks for forgiveness as we forgive others, and requests deliverance from evil.
Historical Context
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Unlock free for 7 daysLiterary Context
Understand how the passage functions in its chapter, book, and biblical argument.
Unlock free for 7 daysKey Phrases
- “Our Father in heaven”
- Jesus invites us to address God personally, emphasizing His intimate relationship with believers while also acknowledging His supreme authority over all creation.
- “Your name be kept holy”
- This petition seeks reverence for God's character, prompting believers to honor Him in speech, conduct, and worship, reflecting the holiness of His name.
- “Let your Kingdom come”
- It expresses a longing for God's reign to be realized fully on earth, shaping our values and actions toward justice, peace, and righteousness.
- “Give us today our daily bread”
- A request for God’s provision of physical and spiritual sustenance, reminding us of our dependence on Him for each day’s needs.
- “Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors”
- It links divine forgiveness with our willingness to extend forgiveness, highlighting the relational nature of grace.
- “Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”
- A plea for protection against moral failure and spiritual attack, acknowledging that true safety comes from God’s power.
Original-Language Insights
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Unlock free for 7 daysMain Themes
God’s Fatherly relationship
The prayer opens by recognizing God as a caring Father, which frames the entire petition in love, trust, and dependence.
Kingdom priority
Repeated references to God’s kingdom and will place the reality of God’s reign above personal concerns, urging believers to align their lives with divine purposes.
Dependence and forgiveness
Requests for daily bread, forgiveness, and protection reveal a posture of reliance on God’s provision and a call to mirror His mercy toward others.
Cross-References
Luke 11:2-4
Provides a parallel version of the Lord’s Prayer, confirming its early use and highlighting slight wording differences that enrich understanding.
Study this passagePsalm 103:12
Speaks of God’s forgiveness as removing debts, echoing the prayer’s request for debt forgiveness and the relational aspect of grace.
Study this passageJohn 17
Jesus’ high priestly prayer also emphasizes unity, glorification, and dependence on the Father, complementing the themes of the Lord’s Prayer.
Study this passageTeaching Ideas
Purpose
To help participants understand the structure and meaning of the Lord’s Prayer and apply its principles to personal devotion.
Opening idea
The prayer Jesus gave is more than words; it shapes how we relate to God and others.
Outline
- Address God as Father
- Worship and submission
- Petition for provision
- Petition for forgiveness
- Petition for protection
- Closing doxology
Discussion questions
Application
Encourage each person to pray the Lord’s Prayer daily, letting each petition shape their attitudes toward God, others, and the world.
Closing line
“May our prayers reflect the kingdom we hope to see.”
Prayer
Lord, help us to live out the words of this prayer, trusting in Your provision and extending Your forgiveness to those around us.
Translation Comparison
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