After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
The Full Prayer
Matthew 6:9-13 (KJV)
Read full chapter →9 Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 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.
When Jesus' disciples asked Him how to pray, He gave them this model — not to limit their prayers, but to shape them. In just a few lines, Jesus covers everything: worship, submission, provision, forgiveness, and protection. It's remarkably complete.
Line by Line
"Our Father which art in heaven" — Jesus invites us to address God as Father — intimate, personal, relational. Not a distant deity, but a loving parent who knows us and cares for us. The word "Our" reminds us we are part of a family of believers.
"Hallowed be thy name" — Before any request, we begin with worship. We honor who God is — holy, set apart, worthy of our deepest reverence and praise.
"Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done" — We surrender our agenda to God's purposes. We ask for His reign to advance — in our hearts, our homes, our communities, and the world.
"Give us this day our daily bread" — A humble request for provision. Not next year's bread — today's. This teaches us daily dependence on God and contentment with what He provides.
"Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" — We ask for forgiveness while acknowledging our responsibility to extend that same grace to others. These two are inseparably linked.
"Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" — We ask for God's guidance away from temptation and His protection from the evil one. This is a prayer of dependence — we cannot stand on our own strength.
"For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever" — The prayer ends as it began — with God. Everything comes back to His sovereignty, His strength, and His honor. Amen — so be it.
Praying the Lord's Prayer Today
Use It as a Framework
- Worship first — Spend time praising God before making requests.
- Align your will — Ask "What does God want?" before "What do I want?"
- Trust for today — Focus on today's needs, not tomorrow's worries.
- Forgive freely — Release grudges before asking God to release yours.
- Seek protection — Ask for strength to resist temptation and stand firm.
Family Discussion & Activity
Discussion Questions
- ? Why do you think Jesus taught us to start prayer with worship instead of our requests?
- ? What does "daily bread" mean for your family today? What do you need God to provide?
- ? Is there someone you need to forgive? How can praying this prayer help you let go?
Family Activity
Pray through the Lord's Prayer together as a family, but pause after each line. Let each person add their own words expanding on that theme. For example, after 'Give us this day our daily bread,' each person can share something specific they need God's help with today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Lord's Prayer in the Bible?
The Lord's Prayer appears in Matthew 6:9-13 as part of the Sermon on the Mount, and in a shorter form in Luke 11:2-4 when a disciple asked Jesus, "Lord, teach us to pray."
Did Jesus intend for us to recite this prayer word for word?
Jesus introduced it by saying "After this manner therefore pray ye" (Matthew 6:9), suggesting it is a model or pattern for prayer rather than just a recitation. Both uses — as a memorized prayer and as a framework — have value.
What does "hallowed" mean?
Hallowed means holy, sacred, set apart, and worthy of reverence. When we pray "hallowed be thy name," we are asking that God's name be honored and treated as sacred throughout the earth.
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