Matthew 6.

Again we have a chapter that is filled with so much good and hard teaching. Something I have been thinking about is what we call the Lord’s prayer. I have taught and used it as a model for prayer, rather than as a direct recital, recognizing Jesus says “in this way”. But I have recited it as well, many many times. In many denominations and churches, it is a standard part of worship to recite the Lord’s prayer.

When using this prayer as a model, there is a pattern to our prayer that begins by simply acknowledging our Father in heaven — that he is our Father, that he is in heaven, that we have this relationship, that he is creator and ruler of the universe. And adding whatever else about Father in heaven we are drawn to. And then we continue by honoring his name. And so forth.

This has generally been how I understood we were to use Jesus’ teaching, and that straight recital was probably not what he intended. But I think maybe he also intended we should simply repeat it too. It turns out that the earliest records we have of how churches conducted their time together did include an exact recital of this prayer. The Didache, a very early manual for Christian conduct and worship, has the prayer recited three times during a church gathering.

So that’s what I’m thinking about.

A question for you:

How do you understand this teaching?

¹⁴ “For if you forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive you your sins.

Matthew 6:14, 15

A final thought:

Our lives would be much simpler and much more fruitful if we could just heed this.

³³ But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 6:33