THIS IS HOW YOU SHOULD PRAY

Passage: Matthew 6:9-15

Key verse: 9

NIV

9 “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father(A) in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom(B) come,
your will be done,(C)
    on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.(D)
12 And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.(E)
13 And lead us not into temptation,[a](F)
    but deliver us from the evil one.[b]’(G)

14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.(H) 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.(I)

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 6:13 The Greek for temptation can also mean testing.
  2. Matthew 6:13 Or from evil; some late manuscripts one, / for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

9 (A)Pray then like this:

(B)“Our Father in heaven,
(C)hallowed be (D)your name.[a]
10 (E)Your kingdom come,
(F)your will be done,[b]
    (G)on earth as it is in heaven.
11 (H)Give us (I)this day our daily bread,[c]
12 and forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And (J)lead us not into temptation,
    but (K)deliver us from (L)evil.[d]

14 (M)For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 (N)but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 6:9 Or Let your name be kept holy, or Let your name be treated with reverence
  2. Matthew 6:10 Or Let your kingdom come, let your will be done
  3. Matthew 6:11 Or our bread for tomorrow
  4. Matthew 6:13 Or the evil one; some manuscripts add For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray through what is known as the Lord’s Prayer. It includes three petitions for God’s glory and three for our needs. It shows us how to approach God and how to live as his people. It begins by calling God, “Our Father in heaven.” God is not a distant, impersonal force, but a loving, caring, personal Father. He is in heaven, holy, powerful, and glorious. Therefore, his name is to be hallowed and honored by us. We hallow God’s name by living a life that glorifies him. We are also to pray for his kingdom to come and for his will to be done on earth as it is in heaven, expressing our desire for God’s righteous rule in our lives, families, communities, and the world.

Next, we ask for our daily needs, trusting in God’s faithful provision rather than being anxious about tomorrow. Forgiveness is essential to the Christian life. As we seek God’s forgiveness for our sins, we are also to forgive the sins of others. Forgiveness received should become forgiveness extended. Finally, we pray for God’s protection from evil. We are weak on our own, and God knows it. We need his merciful protection from sin, temptation, and the evil one. By living out the Lord’s Prayer, we can reshape our view of God, our desires, our relationships, and our daily walk.

Prayer: Lord, hallow your name; may your kingdom come, and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

One Word: Your kingdom come