The so-called Lord’s Prayer in Mt. 6:9-13 is often misunderstood. It is called the Lord’s Prayer, but is it really? Our Lord is God, so why does He have to pray. This prayer is a model for all prayers. Pay close attention to the words of Jesus Mt. 6:9; “….. after this manner therefore pray ye…..” This prayer is not Jesus praying to the Father, but for a guideline as to how mankind ought to pray. This prayer is all spiritual; nothing physical; including the bread that is mentioned. Let’s examine the passages in this prayer.
Our Father
This indicates our heavenly father (God) a spirit being; therefore it is spiritual.
Which are in Heaven
The spiritual father resides in a spiritual place. Sure Heaven is a real place, but to us now, it is not a physical place. One has to be in a spiritual body in order to occupy a spiritual place. Physical resides in physical and spiritual resides in spiritual.
Hallowed be thy name
The word (hallowed), means worthy of reverence. This is an emotional expression. Although emotions are sometimes acted out through praise and worship, it is still an inner feeling or expression of love.
Thy kingdom come
This kingdom signifies utopia; a place of love, joy, peace, and happiness. Again this is an inner kingdom or place. Observe Luke 17:21, “…..the kingdom of God is within you.” The kingdom being prayed for to come is a spiritual place; from within.
Thy will be done on earth as in heaven
The focus of the passage is the will of God. The will of God is recorded in John 6 :40; “…..this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life…..” The prayer indicates that His will (intent or purpose) for mankind is to believe on Jesus. A person’s (will) is spiritual, something abstract. The idea is that all mankind will have the same utopia here on earth as already exists in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
The daily bread here is not food as we commonly think of it. This is the daily bread or spiritual food that we need to sustain our faith; not only our faith but our very lives. That bread is Jesus, according to John 6:35, “…..Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life…..”
Forgive us our debts
Again the debts mentioned here are our sins; better known as unrighteousness. Our debts are not of any monetary value; it’s much more than that; it is the forgiveness of all unrighteousness paid in full by Jesus; Col. 1:14, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” Forgiveness is a spiritual emotion, because it comes from within.
As we forgive our debtors
Forgiveness is a change of heart; meaning it is spiritual. Spiritual things always produce natural or physical results and forgiveness is reciprocal; Mt 6:14-15, “…..if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you…..but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Lead us not into temptation
Temptation is a thought or desire to have something that you know is not beneficial to you. These thoughts or desires are spiritual. God does not lead anyone into temptation; James 1:13, “let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.”
But deliver us from evil
Evil is a moral weakness; again spiritual. God always gives mankind a way out of temptation; however it is still man’s choice to accept or reject the way out that God has provided; 1 Cor. 10:13, “…..but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory
God’s kingdom is heaven (spiritual place); John 18:36, “…..My kingdom is not of this world…..”
God’s power is the ability to do anything according to his will; Mt. 28:18, “…..All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”
Glory is a state of extreme honor and beauty. The glory of God cannot be imagined by man; 1 Cor. 2:9, “…..eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared…..”
Forever
Forever is definitely spiritual. Man cannot comprehend how long infinity will last. Forever is mind-boggling, therefore it is spiritual.
Amen
Amen means “so be it”. Jesus is speaking to the disciples and after He finished speaking, He said, “amen” or (so be it), the words he just spoke. Words are spirit; John 6:63, “…..the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit…..”
This is not to encourage you to stop saying this prayer. It is to enlighten you that this prayer is all spiritual. There is nothing material about it. It puts emphasis on a positive state of mind (spiritual). This prayer is a focus on a state of mind and all things coming from the mind are spiritual.