Matthew 6:9-13 - The Lord's Prayer - part 3 - Give us this day our daily bread.
Mat.6:9-13: The Lord's Prayer - part 3 - Give us this day our
daily bread.
Mat 6:9-13 (KJV) After this manner therefore pray ye: Our
Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our
daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine
is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
DEVOTIONAL PEARL
The prayer for daily bread includes not only food to sustain the
body, but that spiritual bread which will nourish the soul unto life
everlasting. Jesus bids us, "Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for
that meat which endureth unto everlasting life." John 6:27. He says,
"I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat
of this bread, he shall live forever." Verse 51. Our Saviour is the
bread of life, and it is by beholding His love, by receiving it into
the soul, that we feed upon the bread which came down from heaven.
We receive Christ through His word, and the Holy Spirit is given to
open the word of God to our understanding, and bring home its truths
to our hearts. We are to pray day by day that as we read His word,
God will send His Spirit to reveal to us the truth that will
strengthen our souls for the day's need. In teaching us to ask every day
for what we need --both temporal and spiritual blessings--God has a
purpose to accomplish for our good. He would have us realize our
dependence upon His constant care, for He is seeking to draw us into
communion with Himself. In this communion with Christ, through prayer and
the study of the great and precious truths of His word, we shall as
hungry souls be fed; as those that thirst, we shall be refreshed at the
fountain of life. MB102-22
THE FOLLOWING FOR THOSE WHO DESIRE DEEPER STUDY:
CONTENT; What's in the verse; Translations; Paraphrase; Word
Study:
Mat 6:9-13 (KJV) After this manner therefore pray ye: Our
Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our
daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine
is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Mat 6:9-13 (NLT) Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your
name be honored. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done
here on earth, just as it is in heaven. Give us our food for today,
and forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have
sinned against us. And don't let us yield to temptation, but deliver
us from the evil one.
CONTEXT; What's around the verse; Overview; Topic:
Overview
Kingdom citizens have an "in-secret" relationship with God
(6:1-5), knowing how (vv. 6-8) and what (vv. 9-15) to pray. Such prayer
has nothing to do with outward show (vv. 16-18). With our attention
on heaven (vv. 19-24) and our trust in God as Father, we are freed
to concentrate on kingdom living (vv. 25-34). Because relationship
with God is "in secret," we do not judge others (7:1-6), we
consciously depend on our Father (vv. 7-12), and we choose His "narrow gate"
(vv. 13-14). As we do, God's power is exhibited in our good lives
(vv. 15-23) and obedience (vv. 24-29). [The 365-Day Devotional
Commentary]
Praying (vv. 5-15).
Jesus says, "When you pray" (NIV) not "If you pray"; He expects
us to pray. The first thing that characterized Paul after his
conversion was his praying (Acts 22:17). Jesus emphasizes that it is a sin
to pray to be seen and heard by others. Prayer is secret fellowship
with God, although public prayer is certainly authorized in the
Bible. However, nobody should pray in public who does not pray in
private; for that would be hypocrisy. Jesus points out three common
errors concerning prayer: (1) praying to be heard by others (vv. 5-6);
(2) praying mere words, empty repetition (vv. 7-8); and (3) praying
with sin in the heart (vv. 14-15). God does not forgive us because we
forgive others but on the basis of the blood of Christ (1 John 1:9).
However, an unforgiving spirit will hinder a prayer life and show that a
person has no understanding of the grace of God. The so-called "Lord's
Prayer" of vv. 9-13 is not given to be recited thoughtlessly. Rather, it
is a model for us to use to learn to pray. It is a "family
prayer"--note the repeated "our" and "us." It puts God's name, God's kingdom,
and God's will before the earthly needs of people. It cautions us
against selfish praying. [Wiersbe Expository Outlines]
The "Lord's Prayer" (Matt. 6:9-13) was clearly a model for the
disciples to follow, not an exact formula to recite in each prayer. In the
parallel passage in Luke 11:2-4, the words vary, but the pattern remains
the same. [New Bible Companion]
The Lord's Prayer is a model for our prayers. It begins with
adoration of God (v. 9), acknowledges subjection to His will (v. 10), asks
petitions of Him (vv. 11-13a), and ends with an ascription of praise (v.
13b, though this may have been added later). [Ryrie SB]
The Model Prayer both commands and teaches Christians how to
pray. The prayer contains six petitions, divided equally. The first
three (vv 9-10) concern God's holiness and purposes; the second group
(vv 11-13) contain three personal requests. [Disciple SB]
The body of the prayer falls into two main parts characterized
by ascending development. The first part contains three petitions
concerning the glory of God: (1) the hallowing of His name (v. 9), (2) the
consummation of His kingly reign (v. 10), and (3) the fulfillment of God's
will on earth as in heaven (v. 10). The second part contains
petitions concerned with the personal needs of His disciples: (1)
provision (v. 11), (2) pardon (v. 12), and (3) protection (v. 13). The
doxology, "For Yours is the kingdom ..." (v. 13b), is not in some
manuscripts (NU omits the rest of verse 13) and is patterned after David's
prayer (1 Chr. 29:11-13). This model prayer ... serves as a pattern for
all prayer. [Believer's SB]
The Lord's Prayer
I cannot say "our" if I live only for myself.
I cannot say "Father" if I do not endeavor each day to act like
His child.
I cannot say "who are in heaven" if I am laying up no treasure
there.
I cannot say "hallowed be thy name" if I am not striving for
holiness.
I cannot say "Thy kingdom come" if I am not doing all in my
power to hasten that wonderful event.
I cannot say "Thy will be done" if I am disobedient to his word.
I cannot say "on earth as it is in heaven" if I'll not serve Him
here and now.
I cannot say "forgive us our debts" if I harbor a grudge against
anyone.
I cannot say "lead us not into temptation" if I deliberately
place myself in its path.
I cannot say "deliver us from evil" if I do not put on the whole
armor of God.
I cannot say " Thine is the kingdom" if I do not give the King
the loyalty due Him from a faithful subject.
I cannot attribute to Him "the power" if I fear what men may do.
I cannot attribute to Him "the glory" if I'm seeking honor only
for myself.
I cannot say "forever" if the horizon of my life is bounded
completely by time. -Author Unknown.
Brenda Jean Williams [mailto:BrendaJean.Williams@us.coopers.com]
LORD, I cannot say "Our"...
if my religion has no room for other people and their needs.
LORD, I cannot say "Father"...
if I fail to resemble You in the way I live my daily life.
LORD, I cannot say "Who art in Heaven"...
if my attention is focused only on earthly things.
LORD, I cannot say "Hallowed be Thy name"...
if I who am called by Your name am not holy.
LORD, I cannot say "Thy Kingdom come"...
if I fail to acknowledge Your sovereignty in my life.
LORD, I cannot say, "On earth as it is in Heaven"...
unless I am truly ready to serve You here and now.
LORD, I cannot say "Give us this day our daily bread"...
without doing an honest day's work, and without considering the
needs of those less fortunate.
LORD, I cannot say "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our
debtors"...
if I harbor a grudge against my brother or sister.
LORD, I cannot say "Lead us not into temptation"...
if I deliberately choose to remain in a situation where I am
likely to be tempted.
LORD, I cannot say "Deliver us from evil"...
if I am not prepared to take a stand against injustice in my
society.
LORD, I cannot say "Thine is the Kingdom, the Power, and the
Glory"...
if I do not submit to Christ as King, if I fail to trust You to
act in my life, or if in pride I seek my own glory.
LORD, I cannot say "Amen"...
unless I can honestly say, "Come what may, this is my prayer."
Adapted from "Lamplighter," Speedway Christian Church, Indianapolis,
Indiana [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary]
He presents His own ideal of prayer, words so simple that they
may be adopted by the little child, yet so comprehensive that their
significance can never be fully grasped by the greatest minds. We are taught
to come to God with our tribute of thanksgiving, to make known our
wants, to confess our sins, and to claim His mercy in accordance with
His promise. MB102-22
This does not prohibit long prayers; Jesus prayed all night (Lk
6:12). [Disciple SB]
It was from hours spent with God that He came forth, morning by
morning, to bring the light of heaven to men. The disciples had come to
connect His hours of prayer with the power of His words and works.
MB102-22
SECTION HEADINGS
Jesus teaches about prayer (6:5-15)
Teaching about Prayer and Fasting
The Lord's Prayer (6:5-15)
CROSS REFERENCES; What's in verses elsewhere.
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD.
Matthew 7:11 (KJV) If ye then, being evil, know how to give
good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which
is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
Psalm 34:10 (KJV) The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger:
but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.
Matthew 4:4 (KJV) But he answered and said, It is written, Man
shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out
of the mouth of God.
1 Tim. 6:8 (KJV) And having food and raiment let us be
therewith content.
COMMENTARY / APPLICATION: Moving From The Head To The Heart
What is God teaching here? What does it teach about Jesus?
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD.
Give us. In the first part of the Lord's Prayer (vs. 9, 10)
attention is directed to the Fatherhood, character, kingdom, and will of
God. In the second part of the prayer (vs. 11-13) petition is made
for the temporal and spiritual needs of man. [SDA Commentary]
Daily. The words of Matt. 6:34 tend to confirm the idea of a
daily supply sufficient for life. [SDA Commentary]
Bread: Represents the necessities, but not the luxuries, of
life. [NIV SB]
Bread. Our "daily bread" includes both physical and spiritual
provisions. [SDA Commentary]
When we pray "Give us today our daily bread," we are
acknowledging that God is our sustainer and provider. [Life Application SB]
The first half of the prayer Jesus has taught us is in regard to
the name and kingdom and will of God --that His name may be honored,
His kingdom established, His will performed. When you have thus made
God's service your first interest, you may ask with confidence that
your own needs may be supplied. If you have renounced self and given
yourself to Christ you are a member of the family of God, and everything
in the Father's house is for you. All the treasures of God are
opened to you, both the world that now is and that which is to come.
The ministry of angels, the gift of His Spirit, the labors of His
servants--all are for you. The world, with everything in it, is yours so far
as it can do you good. Even the enmity of the wicked will prove a
blessing by disciplining you for heaven. If "ye are Christ's," "all
things are yours." 1 Corinthians 3:23, 21. But you are as a child who
is not yet placed in control of his inheritance. God does not
entrust to you your precious possession, lest Satan by his wily arts
should beguile you, as he did the first pair in Eden. Christ holds it
for you, safe beyond the spoiler's reach. Like the child, you shall
receive day by day what is required for the day's need. MB102-22
When we pray, "Give us this day our daily bread," we ask for
others as well as ourselves. And we acknowledge that what God gives us
is not for ourselves alone. God gives to us in trust, that we may
feed the hungry. MB102-22
The prayer for daily bread includes not only food to sustain the
body, but that spiritual bread which will nourish the soul unto life
everlasting. Jesus bids us, "Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for
that meat which endureth unto everlasting life." John 6:27. He says,
"I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat
of this bread, he shall live forever." Verse 51. Our Saviour is the
bread of life, and it is by beholding His love, by receiving it into
the soul, that we feed upon the bread which came down from heaven.
We receive Christ through His word, and the Holy Spirit is given to
open the word of God to our understanding, and bring home its truths
to our hearts. We are to pray day by day that as we read His word,
God will send His Spirit to reveal to us the truth that will
strengthen our souls for the day's need. In teaching us to ask every day
for what we need --both temporal and spiritual blessings--God has a
purpose to accomplish for our good. He would have us realize our
dependence upon His constant care, for He is seeking to draw us into
communion with Himself. In this communion with Christ, through prayer and
the study of the great and precious truths of His word, we shall as
hungry souls be fed; as those that thirst, we shall be refreshed at the
fountain of life. MB102-22
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