The Disciples’ Prayer
- Bishop Keith Butler
- May 1
- 2 min read
And it came to pass that as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (Luke 11:1-4)
Although this is commonly known as "The Lord’s Prayer," it might be more accurately called "The Disciples' Prayer" because Jesus specifically provided it as a model for His disciples, who were not yet born-again or filled with the Spirit. Jesus began by acknowledging God as "Our Father," emphasizing relationship and intimacy. By using "Father," Jesus invited believers into a close, personal relationship with God. Jesus then emphasized the holiness of God's name—"Hallowed be thy name"—highlighting that we should not use His name vainly or casually. His name is holy and mighty.
"Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth." Here, Jesus expressed that prayer allows us to align our hearts with God’s heart. Real prayer is not simply about getting God to fulfill our needs or desires; it is about submitting our will to God's plan, inviting heaven's realities to transform and shape our earthly experiences. Jesus also included the critical element of forgiveness—asking for forgiveness and extending it to others. "Forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us.” God's forgiveness is intertwined with our willingness to extend mercy to those who wrong us.
Practical Application
Although this was the prayer the disciples prayed before Jesus gave His life, the essential elements of the prayer remain. God wants a relationship with us (Our Father), His name should not be misused (Hallowed be thy name), and we should expect miracles, deliverance, and power to show in our lives (Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven). We ought to forgive because we remind ourselves that we are forgiven.
