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This week we commence looking at Luke Chapter 11. The early part of the chapter recounts the teaching that is commonly referred to as ‘The Lord’s Prayer’. Please read these verses every day this week and, if possible use a different translation each day, asking God to open your eyes to fresh revelation from His Word.
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Luke 11:1-4 (NIV)
‘One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” 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.’”’
“It’ll be alright on the night”. This phrase is now synonymous with the Television programme that shows humorous outtakes from various film and television shows and I have to confess that I find many of the clips quite hilarious.
On such clip was of a husband and wife being filmed for a commercial in an American restaurant. All the guy has to say is “Baked in a buttery, flaky crust”. He really wants to say the right words but they’re just not coming out of his mouth. ‘Baked in a buttery crispy crust’, ‘baked in a buttery crust’, ‘baked in a buttery flavoured crust’. He says everything except the scripted line. His wife sits next to him prompting him with the correct words but still he can’t get it. Eventually they give the line to her and she also gets it wrong!!! It doesn’t sound funny, but you really need to see it.
The point is that in some circumstances it really matters what you say, the words you use are important and you just can’t go ‘off script’.
Is this what Jesus is teaching us in these verses? Are we meant to pray these words and only these words? Do we have to stick to the order of these and learn them by heart repeating them over and over whenever we want to pray to God?
Many people believe so and in doing so discipline themselves to say this prayer exactly as Jesus taught it. The problem with this is that the scripture is full of prayers that do not include these words nor do they necessarily stick to the order shown here. Also, I think it’s important to bear in mind the other reference to this prayer as found in the book of Matthew.
The two accounts have some differences but the most part is the same. Matthew records a slightly longer prayer with an extra ‘petition’: “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” and a conclusion “For thine is the kingdom…”. The omission of these in Luke does not detract from the prayer in any way. E.g. “Thy will be done” could be inferred from “Thy Kingdom come” because in His Kingdom, His will being done is integral.
I think the variety between the two accounts is wonderful. It demonstrates that we don’t have to stick to the script. We can change things around and use different words or clauses to express our hearts to God in prayer.
The prayer is certainly a pattern for our time in prayer but is not meant to be a substitute for a heart that exudes praise to an amazing God who has done so much for us. Take some time to think about how you can use this pattern in your own prayer time.
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