The prayer to Our Father

Introduction

Today, as a church, we are entering into a profound understanding of the most well-known and most practiced prayer in the New Testament. This prayer could have been called the disciples’ prayer, since it was given by Jesus as a teaching to His disciples. For us, it shows how we are to communicate with the Father, in a simple, direct, and genuine way.

And why do we communicate with Him? To express our reverence, our thanksgiving, our eternal gratitude, our devoted love, and our humble submission to our Father in heaven, allowing Him to make His will our goal.

Through Jesus’ teaching, we learn the vital importance of prayer, more specifically, prayer to our Father, for without it, He does not take first place in our lives. This powerful prayer reminds us of who He is: the One who saved us through the work of Jesus Christ, the One who cares for us, provides for us, guides us, and holds every part of our lives in His hands.

Context of this prayer

The fact that Matthew was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write his Gospel in this manner, shows Jesus as the awaited Messiah since the fall of man, the One announced by the prophets such as Isaiah and many others.

This prayer teaching was a true revelation for them, helping the disciples to understand that they were being extracted from a form of religious approach into a spiritual and invisible form of faith, from a man-made temple to a God-made spiritual temple, a transition from the Law of Moses and the prophets to the grace of God.

The way Jesus was teaching stood in total contrast to what they had been taught since birth. Even though the Spirit had revealed and inspired the authors to write all the Old Testament, it was read merely as God’s Law and ordinances for His people. Yet their lives could not be transformed by the Spirit, for it was only a matter of outward obedience to precepts, holy but still temporal.

This ultimately led them to complete failure, a total abandonment of God’s directions, as the work of the flesh continued to produce disobedience and sin, until God had to act strongly against them again and again throughout the Old Testament as a consequence of their rebellion.

Jesus was preparing them to understand His mission, that He came to fulfill the Law of Moses and the prophets, so that through the Holy Spirit, they and we might live by faith and have direct access to the Father through our salvation and our belief in His name.

What « Prayer » means?

The word prayer (Greek: proseuchomai) is a verb most often translated as “to pray” in the New Testament. It literally means “to make a request to God” and refers to believers speaking directly to Him, whether in private or in community.

More deeply, it signifies the idea of approaching God with reverence and heartfelt dependence, not merely through outward form. While public prayer has its place, private prayer remains essential for a genuine relationship with God, as it expresses our trust and devotion in His presence.

Prologue - Jesus’s warning

In Jesus’ introduction to His teaching on prayer, He first reminds them of the hypocrisy of the religious Pharisees, those who spoke about God but did not recognize the Messiah, the Anointed One sent by the Father for the forgiveness of their sins. 

He also exposes their hypocrisy of being “holy” through their religious garments, standing in the Temple, and reciting words of Scripture, yet showing no genuine love or concern for others, which is the second greatest commandment. That is why Jesus calls them hypocrites in every sense of the word: displaying outward piety and holiness, yet filled with pride and arrogance toward the simple and the needy.

Jesus also speaks about the religious people embracing the Gentiles eloquence in their way of praying, many or empty words, and noisy manners, which is quite similar to some practices seen in church preachings today, yet without regard for the simple and uneducated people among them.

But now, what Jesus calls His disciples to do, and, by extension, all of us, is very clear. He teaches that to receive a reward from Heaven, we are called to pray to the Father wherever we are, in every situation, even in secret, behind closed doors.  

The Father is in Heaven, who is omnipresent, hears us, and answers us. Yes, He also lives within us, giving us life through the Holy Spirit. The Father is always near, listening to our voices and caring for His children.

Psalm 139:7-12 says: « Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take up the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will take hold of me. If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night,” Even darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You. » 

God is also omniscient. As verse 8 says “for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” What we pray for, God has already placed in our hearts as a desire. The Holy Spirit gives us the words, shapes our hearts for prayer, and guides us to the right moment to offer it.

Once we understand how prayer works, we can no longer skip this essential part of our spiritual life. When we grasp that God wants us to establish a relationship with Him, to receive His blessings, and to be a blessing for the Church and the world, we gain a fuller understanding of our purpose for God’s Kingdom.

« Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father, who is in heaven »

Jesus was fully man and fully God, and His perfect, unconditional love draws His disciples, and all of us, into one spiritual family. This awareness of our identity in Him gives us a deep sense of divine belonging. Jesus reminds His followers that we are citizens of His heavenly Kingdom: living in this world, but no longer of it. 

We are set apart for God, called to pray, to worship Him, and to reflect His glory in everywhere we go, and in everything we do.

« Hallowed be Your name. »

This doxology calls us to approach God with the highest reverence and allegiance to His glory and majesty. The God we pray to is three times holy, before whom angels and all creation bow down. To “hallow” His name is to honor Him above all else, acknowledging that no one else is worthy of worship, praise and adore.

Before Jesus came in the flesh, His name, YHWH, was the focus of Israel’s worship. Yet when Christ was incarnate, He lived among us as God, and after His resurrection and ascension, He was given the Name above all names. At this Name, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, connecting the reverence of the Old Testament worship of YHWH with the glory and authority of Christ today.

« Your kingdom come. » 

The Kingdom of God, also called the Kingdom of Heaven in the Gospel of Matthew, is a central theme in Jesus’s teachings and throughout the New Testament. It represents God’s reign and rule over all creation, both in a present spiritual reality and in a future physical manifestation. The Kingdom is characterized by the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.

Believers are called to live as citizens of their inherited Kingdom, embodying its values, embracing its gospel, and extending its light into the darkness. This calling involves a commitment to discipleship, evangelism, and reflecting the character of Christ in every aspect of life. Jesus teaches His disciples, and all His followers, to pray, highlighting the active role believers have in bringing God’s Kingdom to earth.

« Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. »

This verse reveals God’s omnipotence over both heaven and earth. As His children, we are called to submit and surrender ourselves to our Father, recognizing that our relationship is that of Master and servant, Creator and creation. The Commander-in-Chief has full authority to establish His commands in every circumstance. When we pray, “Your will be done,” it becomes the guiding goal and deepest desire of our lives.

Jesus Himself prayed often to the Father, withdrawing from the crowds to be alone with Him. He spent time in His Father’s presence to be renewed and to teach His disciples the profound importance of staying close to, and being led by, the will of the Father in every situation.

In this way, our selfishness and ego are put to death, allowing us to grow in faith and perseverance as we wait upon God’s guidance in every aspect of our lives. 

God loves to be first in everything, and this attitude brings Him joy and glory. When we acknowledge that we are seeking His will, His favor will be granted, and His blessings will be sure.

Our sinful nature prevents us from making right decisions or speaking rightly apart from the Holy Spirit’s guidance. We may take paths that seem fruitful, but are they truly what God desires? If the outcome glorifies God, it is a good start; if it leads someone to believe in the Jesus as Lord and Savior, then it is the perfect direction.

Waiting on God does not mean sitting around and expecting a miracle to happen. The Lord calls us to act, and through our faithful actions, His miracles are revealed. Moses had to approach the Red Sea for God to demonstrate His mighty power. When our hearts are aligned with God, our prayers will be answered more abundantly than we could imagine and how to be aligned? By praying.

« ‘Give us this day our daily bread. »

Cultivating through prayer our relationship of dependence on our Father is the most important and meaningful act of love toward Him, and it is the first commandment engraved in our hearts when we are born of the Spirit. 

Acknowledging that every daily need, both physical and spiritual, is a divine provision by God’s grace is a sign of the work of the Holy Spirit in our walk with Him.

The verse, “Give us this day our daily bread,” shows the necessity of praying every day, relying solely on our Father for our vital needs according to each person’s life and circumstances, and giving Him thanks and glory for all that we have. While “bread” literally represents our physical food, it also points to our spiritual nourishment, reminding us that God provides for every aspect of our life.

It teaches us to live by faith in everyday circumstances, rather than making plans for a future that may not unfold as we expect. Each day, our journey and sanctification take a new shape and direction; we are called to abide in Him and not in our own desires. Living by the Spirit means trusting the Father to guide us in all we need.

« And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. »

The first part of this verse speaks of the heart of repentance that we are called to have. Yes, we have been forgiven for our past, present, and future sins; this means we are no longer bound to the consequence of sin, which is spiritual death. Yet, even saved we still often go against God, in our thoughts, our desires, and our will, and I am the first to admit it. Jesus teaches His disciples to ask for forgiveness to the Father daily and to do so with joy, as an act of humble and continual submission before Him.

The second part also focuses on forgiveness, but this time it is the forgiveness we are called to extend toward others. Forgiveness is essential for spiritual maturity, helping us grow from grace to grace in our sanctification and cultivating a heart that does not cling to offense but trusts in God’s holy judgment over every soul.

This verse clearly shows that the renewal of our minds and spirits is essential for continuing our journey of sanctification and becoming more Christlike.

« And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. »

The divine providence of the Father, bringing us physical and spiritual protection and deliverance from our enemies. This verse shows us our human vulnerability to sin and the need for divine guidance. This can only occur if we surrender to Him in every aspects of our lives.

In biblical context, "temptation" refers to trials or tests that can lead to sin. In  fact in James 1:13 it is written: « No one is to say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. »

That makes it clear, God does not tempt anyone to do evil, suggesting that this plea is for God to guide us away from situations where we might fall because of our own desires.

« Deliver us » calls on God’s divine rescue from all evil throughout prayer. In heartfelt prayer, the Father hears us and delivers us by the power of the Holy Spirit from both external dangers and the sinful desires of our flesh. 

As the Apostle said, «For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.» Eph. 6:12

« For if you forgive other people for their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive other people, then your Father will not forgive your offenses. »

Jesus reaffirms and emphasizes forgiveness to teach His disciples about the importance of compassion for one another. The assurance of our forgiveness is central to our salvation and should be exercised constantly, knowing that God has forgiven us our sins.

Withholding forgiveness is an intentional choice. Refusal turns a wound into a weapon that we may aim back at the offender, and ultimately at ourselves. The plural “people” makes it clear whom Jesus is referring to: family, friends, strangers, and enemies. Anyone who sins against us is included. Jesus places the responsibility clearly on every listener: we cannot control another’s repentance, but we can control our willingness to forgive.

The warning is literal: God will hold us to the same standard we apply to others. As we measure, so it will be measured to us. It also implies treating others as we would like to be treated, fostering a community of grace and understanding.

Conclusion

Jesus’ teaching on prayer to the Father, given to His disciples, is one of the most powerful, simple, and meaningful examples of how we are to communicate with Him. Through such prayer, our love for the Father is proclaimed, and His Spirit renews us. The submission of our flesh to the Spirit enables us to bear fruit in our lives. On the other hand, when we become prayerless and distant from Him, we easily lose direction, following our own desires and will instead of our Father’s. Yet our Father longs for us to remain lovingly dependent on Him. For those who are redeemed and have experienced His saving grace, this dependence is no burden, it fills our hearts with peace, joy, love, and hope in the promise of Christ’s soon return.