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The Lord's Prayer - Our Father Who Art in Heaven - Bible Verses & Meaning

The Lord's Prayer - Our Father Who Art in Heaven - Bible Verses & Meaning

What is the Lord's Prayer?

In the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, we read of Jesus teaching His disciples how they should pray.  This famous Scripture is known as The Lord’s Prayer, also sometimes called Our Father's Prayer. Below, you can read through and memorize the Lord’s Prayer as it was the example Jesus gave when asked how we should pray. While this prayer was given as a template by Christ, we must use its word with heartfelt seeking of God! Contemplate the words of the Lord's Prayer to examine your own heart.

The Lord's Prayer (Traditional)

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from the evil one.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

The Lord's Prayer (Contemporary)

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and forever. Amen.

The Lord's Prayer in the Bible:

Matthew 6:9-13 - "This, then, is how you should pray: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."

Luke 11:2-4 - "He said to them, "When you pray, say: "Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation."

The Lord's Prayer (KJV)

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.

The Lord's Prayer (The Message Version)

Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what’s best—
as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You’re in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You’re ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes.

The Lord's Prayer for Kids

Dear God, our Father in heaven,
Your name is special and holy.
We want to be with you in heaven,
And for what you want to be done on earth, just like in heaven.
Please give us what we need each day.
Forgive us for the wrong things we do,
Help us to forgive people who do wrong to us.
Help us to make good choices,
And keep us safe from evil.
We know you are powerful forever and ever, Amen.

6 Steps taught in the Lord’s Prayer.

1. Address God’s rightful place as the Father
2. Worship and praise God for who He is and all that He has done
3. Acknowledge that it is God’s will and plans are in control and not our own
4. Ask God for the things that we need
5. Confess our sins and repent
6. Request protection and help in overcoming sin and Satan's attacks on us

As you read this Scripture, let it soak into your heart and begin to talk to God honestly and openly. He created you, loves you, and wants to hear from you! Use the Lord's Prayer as a way to walk through communicating with God!

Meaning of the Lord's Prayer

The Father-Son relationship within the Trinity reveals our potential relationship with God. Christ, the Son of God, grants us the privilege of calling God Our Father by the grace of adoption (Galatians 4:4-7). As a "son of God," the Christian is called to love, trust, and serve God as Christ does the Father. We must note that God is not our Father simply because He created us. He is the only Father to those in a saving and personal relationship with Him, a communion that only comes by the grace of adoption.

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (Romans 8:14-17)

"Daily" is actually a misleading translation of the Greek epiousios, which is literally "above the essence," or "supersubstantial." The expression for daily bread indicates not merely bread for this day, for earthly nourishment; it is the bread for the eternal day of the Kingdom of God, for the nourishment of our immortal soul. This living, supersubstantial bread is Christ Himself. In the Lord's Prayer, we are not asking merely for material bread for physical health but for spiritual bread for eternal life. (Read more about this in John 6:27-58)

How the Lord's Prayer Teaches Us How to Pray

The Lord's Prayer is not a formula for prayer. If we take this too literally, we will miss the principles, the general framework, that we can grab from this passage. But as Nicole Unice, host of the How to Study the Bible Podcast, teaches us in this episode, there is SO much to learn from the Lord's prayer about how to pray. Listen in as we deep dive into Matthew 6 and learn what it means to pray.

 

What phrase in the Lord's Prayer resonates most with you? Comment and share your thoughts and testimony at Crosswalk Forums! Click HERE.

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Find answers to Questions about the Lord's Prayer Here

How to Teach the Lord's Prayer to Kids

This article is part of our Prayer resource meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times. Visit our most popular prayers if you are wondering how to pray or what to pray. Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, and God knows your heart even if you can't find the words to pray.

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