Teach Us To Pray

Alright, well this morning we're continuing our way through Luke. Luke's Gospel, the story of Jesus.

And we're in the Gospel of Luke chapter 11.

Luke 11 · chapter mention

So, just as a reminder, the last two things that we heard were the parable of the Good Samaritan that Jesus told to the religious lawyer.

And we heard about this visit of Jesus to Mary and Martha's house.

Both of these incidents had to do with relationship with God and relationship with Jesus.

Well, this morning we get to continue on with that theme.

Because what follows in Luke's Gospel is all about that.

Let me just read our verses for us in Luke chapter 11, verse 1 to 4.

Luke 11:1–4

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.

This prayer is very familiar.

Even for some who don't attend church regularly,

they may know the words of this prayer.

Maybe they were taught it as a child

or remember hearing it in church

as they attended with a parent or grandparent.

As we look at this prayer in Luke's Gospel,

maybe one of the first things that we notice

is that there seem to be some words

or phrases missing from it.

And why is that?

Well,

we have to notice the setting.

Go back up to verse 1.

Luke tells us that Jesus was praying

in a certain place.

And when he finished praying,

one of his disciples said this to him,

Lord, teach us to pray.

Just as John taught his disciples.

That would be John the Baptist,

John the Baptizer.

This is the occasion that gave rise

to Jesus' teaching on prayer.

So Jesus himself was praying

and his disciples maybe were watching this

or perhaps even overheard

some of what he was saying.

And then they make this request.

Teach us to pray

like you do.

But there's actually another occasion

on which Jesus taught about prayer.

And we read about it in a different Gospel.

We read about it in Matthew's Gospel,

chapter 6.

So in Matthew chapter 6,

Matthew 6 · chapter mention

we have the longer version

of this same prayer.

the one that we're more familiar with

in verses 9 to 13.

And you'll notice those phrases

and words that seem like they're missing

from Luke are here.

We also notice,

if we're looking in Matthew's Gospel,

that what Jesus taught here,

this is actually a different occasion.

Jesus wasn't praying

right before this.

He was actually teaching

about prayer.

And then if we look at

what comes after

in Matthew's Gospel,

we see that he continues teaching.

But his teaching is different

than the stuff that comes after

in Luke's Gospel.

In fact,

we know where we're at

in Luke,

Luke 11 · chapter mention

chapter 11.

The Sermon on the Mount

has already taken place

back in chapter 6.

And so what we've got going on here

is two different occasions

where Jesus taught

about how to pray

using very similar words.

One of those occasions,

he used a little bit more words

and had a few extra phrases

and words in there.

And on the other occasion

with his disciples later

in Luke's Gospel,

there's a few less words

and phrases.

And we've already said this before,

but Jesus often taught

the same things

over and over again

in different places

to different people.

He wanted everyone

to hear the same message,

the same good news

of the kingdom,

the same instruction,

the same teaching.

And sometimes he used

a little different wording

here than there.

Now you might be wondering,

is there any relevance

to all this?

I think there is.

One of the questions

that we have

is what are we supposed

to do with this prayer?

Does Jesus want his disciples

to pray this very same prayer,

these exact words?

And how often,

how frequently?

Every day?

Or is this prayer

a sort of template,

a guide,

an example

of how we should pray?

And I think the answer

to that is kind of proven

by the fact

there are two slightly

different versions of it.

If Jesus himself

didn't feel obligated

to use the exact same words

on both occasions,

it's evidence

that this is a guiding prayer.

It's an example

of how we should pray

and not the only prayer

that we must pray

word for word

all the time.

In some churches,

the reciting of this prayer

is done so often,

it's become

a very strong tradition.

And there's a sort of danger

that can go with that.

Not that we shouldn't

use these words often,

but we can become

like the lawyer

that we heard about

back in chapter 10,

where we're able

to recite the prayer

perfectly and flawlessly

from memory.

But as we recite it,

are we actually praying

from our hearts

to God

these words?

Or are we just

mindlessly rattling off

the same thing

again and again?

Because if that's

what we're doing,

this prayer can become

a religious ritual

rather than part of

a meaningful relationship

that we have

with God.

And the last thing

that God wants

from us

is for us to just

sort of rattle

this thing off

over and over

and over again

without even thinking

about what we mean

when we do it.

Well, let's take

some time

to work through

the phrases

of this prayer

and just reflect

on what these

words mean.

What does it mean

to pray

according to this

example prayer?

Well, the first

and perhaps

the most surprising

thing,

right at the beginning

of this prayer,

Jesus teaches us

to address God

as our Father.

When you pray,

say,

Father.

This surprises us

because we're used

to the more lofty

titles that God

has.

The Lord,

Almighty,

the Holy One.

But Father,

I mean,

that feels close.

That feels affectionate.

That's family language.

And I think

Jesus is introducing

His disciples

to a closeness

of relationship

that they have

not known

with God.

A closeness

that Jesus

will bring

between

God and us

through His

saving work.

Jesus has come

to bring us

into the family

of God

as dearly loved

children.

This is a wonderful

truth

and amazing news.

We read in Romans

how He has come

to secure

our adoption

as sons

and daughters

members

of God.

Very members

of God's

family.

And so,

Father fits

the relationship

that Jesus

has come

to bring us

into

with God.

Next,

Jesus says,

Hallowed be

your name.

Father,

hallowed be

your name.

What does that

mean?

the word

over the years

as English

translations

are updated,

they've been

quite hesitant

to touch

this word

and kind

of give it

a more

familiar

word.

It's so part

of tradition

that this is

what the Lord's

prayer is,

that we're

just used

to it.

Hallowed

be thy

name.

But what

do we

even

mean by

that?

What does

hallowed

mean?

the word

used here

is actually,

it comes

from the

word holy.

It's the

verb form

of the

word holy.

And it

means to

treat as

holy.

Or to

set apart

as special.

The

Christian

Standard

Bible has

an excellent

translation.

It says,

Father,

your name

be honored

as holy.

Another

translation

says,

Father,

may your

name be

held

in honor.

So what

am I really

saying to

God if I

use these

words?

I'm saying,

God,

I desire

that your

name be

honored,

be revered.

That all

people would

treat you

as the

holy God

that you

are.

That they

would praise

your name

and glorify

your name

and so

before we

can even

really say

these words

to God,

we really

need to

almost stop

and think

about,

do I

actually

desire

God's

name to

be

honored?

Lord,

is that

the cry

of my

heart?

That God's

name be

revered

and praised

by all?

is at the desire of your heart

next we read

your kingdom come

so father

hallowed be your name

your kingdom come

Jesus teaches us to long for

and desire

the coming of the kingdom

of God

and if this is the first time you've ever heard anything like this

you might even be wondering

what is the kingdom of God

this sounds weird

if you've been a Christian for some time

and you've been reading in the Bible

you'll know that Jesus spoke a lot

about the kingdom of God

and how it's come near

but really the hope of the kingdom of God

goes way back to before

Jesus was even born

back into ancient times

the hope of God's kingdom

comes from promises

that he made to his people

to put it

sort of briefly

and very simply

the kingdom of God

is the last kingdom of earth

it's the greatest kingdom

earth will ever see or know

it's a global kingdom

that God will establish

through the one that he has chosen

to be king

and that one of course is his son

Jesus

and it's a permanent kingdom

a forever kingdom

and the citizens of that kingdom

will be all who belong to God

and Jesus has lots to say

about this coming kingdom

many of his parables

and teachings

are aimed at helping us

understand it better

well here in this prayer

Jesus urges us

to desire the kingdom of God

and even to ask God

to let it come

to express that longing to God

and so again

we have to kind of

take a step back

and ask the question

do you long

for the fullness

of God's kingdom

to come

do you desire it

do you long for Jesus

the king

to return

the one who will reign

in righteousness

and justice

over all the earth

Jesus says

express that longing

to God

regularly

next we read

give us

each day

our daily bread

and

it's amazing

how much is packed

into this one

little

request

maybe before we even

get to the words

we notice that

up until now

we haven't really

asked for anything

for ourselves

yet in this prayer

and that's probably

by design

in other words

according to Jesus

before we start

asking God

for things

that we need

we should first

acknowledge him

we should first

remember who he is

we should first

put our thoughts

to his great

end

which is his kingdom

and then

come to bring

our things

that we are

looking for

from God

into our prayer

second

we might notice

that the word

please

is absent

it just says

give us each day

our daily bread

but

even though

please is

absent

humility

and reverence

is sort of

implied

we could even

translate this

as grant us

each day

our daily bread

it's not a

demand

but a humble

request

in fact

even asking

God for

our daily

provision

is really

us admitting

that we

need him

just to live

it's us

admitting that

we're not

self-sufficient

but we require

his sustaining

provision

day after day

and so it's

actually really

very humbling

thing to pray

it's a

declaration

of our

dependence

on God

give us

each day

our daily

bread

next we

notice that

word bread

how many of

you had bread

for breakfast

this morning

I don't expect

you to raise

your hands

but it's

something that

we eat

to live

but it's

also symbolic

it's used

often in

the Bible

as sort

of the

representative

food

it's not

just bread

or food

that we

need to

live

it represents

sustenance

and so that's

the principle

behind I think

what Jesus

is saying

give us

each day

our daily

bread

provide for

us

the things

that we

need

and so we're

not limited

to asking

for food

we can ask

for anything

what is it

that you

need

God desires

that we come

to him by

prayer and

just ask him

for those

things

whatever they

may be

it's also

hard not

to miss

the daily

emphasis

here

it comes

through really

strongly

give us

each day

our daily

bread

and we

can reflect

on this

there's lots

here

we could

talk about

whether God

just provides

us with

what we

need

one day

for each

day at

the beginning

of that

day or

during that

day

one of the

things I got

thinking about

here was

how this

sort of

implies

that we

pray

daily

that we

come to

God

and ask

for each

day's

provision

in other

words

Jesus is

steering us

toward a

certain

frequency

of

communication

with

God

our

relationship

with God

as our

father

is intended

to be

more than

an exchange

of words

every couple

weeks

or every

Sunday

this sort

of implies

that we

talk

with God

about our

needs

each day

doesn't it

give us

each day

our daily

bread

our

relationship

with God

as dependent

children in

his family

is to be

a daily

relationship

that's what

he wants

with us

a daily

walk with

him

what do

you need

from God

today

we might

reflect on

earlier this

morning

did we

stop and

take time

to just

ask God

for the

things that

we need

for today

but more

than that

if daily

is the

frequency

then it

sort of

makes sense

that this

be our

habit

that every

morning

at some

point

we take

time to

bring our

needs to

him

do you

do that

perhaps one

of the

reasons we

struggle with

this is

because we

aren't always

desperate

and in dire

straits

in the

toughest of

moments

when things

feel out

of our

control

it's easy

to

pray

and ask

God for

help

but we

aren't

always in

dire

need

perhaps we

even feel

sometimes if

we're honest

that we

don't really

need God's

help

today

or provision

we can

get what we

need on our

own

and yet

even the

strength to

get up

and go to

work

and earn

the next

dollar

it comes

from God

having

anything at

all

ultimately

is the

grace

and provision

of God

we are

far more

dependent on

him for

life and

for everything

else

than we

realize

and so it

really is

fitting as

Jesus taught

to come to

him each

day and

ask for

each day's

things that

we need

from him

well next

Jesus says

when you

pray say

father

forgive us

of our

sins

forgive us

our sins

for we

also

forgive

everyone

who sins

against us

I couldn't

help but

notice the

order of

the things

and how

they come

in this

prayer

we might

have expected

that this

should be

the first

thing

that we

ask God

for

before we

can even

expect to

receive anything

else from

God

we need

to first

ask God

to forgive

us of

our sins

but the

truth is

it's not

how it

works in

the family

of God

once we

belong to

him through

Jesus we

are part of

his family

this prayer

for forgiveness

I don't

think is

is the

first moment

of repentance

in a

believer's

life

it's not

the first

time

praying this

prayer that

we would

ask for

God's

forgiveness

I think

it's here

to show

us that

even after

we already

have confessed

and repented

and believed

in the

Lord

we have

to come

back to

God

and confess

our sins

continually

and regularly

an ordinary

human

relationship

works the

same

imagine what

would happen

if you went

to a loved

one in your

family and

you said

would you

please forgive

me of

everything that

I've done

wrong against

you

and they

said yeah

I will

but then as

your relationship

with them

continues

you continue

to do

things

to them

it's just

like at

home

as your

relationship

with the

person that

you

ask for

forgiveness

from

continues

you continue

to do

things to

them that

are wrong

you continue

to say

things to

them that

are hurtful

what if

you never

apologized

or admitted

anything

that you

did wrong

to them

again

because you

thought

well I

did that

already

that was

good enough

wasn't it

they said

they forgave

me so

what's the

need

well it's

true that

God has

forgiven us

through Christ

of all of

our sins

past

present

and future

and that

when we

repent and

we put

our faith

in him

that

forgiveness

is ours

but that

has to

do

with

our

status

with

God

our

standing

with

him

there

is

still

that

real

daily

relationship

that we

have

with

God

where we

need to

admit to

him

when we've

sinned

and ask

for his

forgiveness

that's how

a real

relationship

works

and so

Jesus

taught his

disciples

to regularly

ask God

for forgiveness

for their

sins

and again

this is a

sort of

general

request

but as

with the

bread

I think

there's a

sort of

principle

here

we ask

sometimes

just very

generally

would you

forgive me

of my

sins

knowing that

we can't

even begin

to name

or count

or remember

them all

but I think

the principle

here

implies

that we

would also

at times

confess

specifics

there's

specific

things

you know

that you've

done

wrong

I think

it's

implied

that

here

as we

pray

that would

be the

moment

yes

confess

those

things

to God

ask

for his

forgiveness

and

it's not

stated here

but I think

it's implied

it's also

taught elsewhere

that God

does not

withhold

forgiveness

from us

when we

sincerely

ask for

it

he is

gracious

to forgive

us

when we

confess

our sins

to him

you see

that in

first

John

1 9

Jesus

has made

atonement

for our

sins

once and

for all

and so

God can

simply

grant us

forgiveness

whenever we

ask

what's

particularly

interesting

about this

part of the

prayer

this request

is that

unlike the

other things

asked for

this thing

comes with

an add-on

forgive us

our sins

for we

also forgive

everyone

who sins

against us

there's this

add-on

it's maybe a

little strange

and unexpected

we probably

wouldn't put

this into

the prayer

except that

Jesus told

us to

we might be

tempted to

think of our

relationships

with other

people as

having nothing

to do with

our relationship

with God

and whether

God forgives

me of my

sins when I

ask him

has nothing

to do with

whether I

forgive others

who sin

against me

when they

ask me

right

those are

two separate

relationships

aren't they

but the way

Jesus teaches

us to pray

here

forces us

to think

right in the

moment when

we're asking

for his

forgiveness

of how we're

treating

others

it's almost

as if Jesus

is saying

do not

expect to

receive forgiveness

from God

for your sins

if you're not

willing to

grant the

same to

others who

have sinned

against you

so every

time you

come to

God asking

for forgiveness

think of

those who

have sinned

against you

and have

you forgiven

them

basically we're

praying

father treat

me as I

have treated

others

forgive me

just as I

also forgive

those who

sin against

me

can you

honestly pray

this prayer

if you're

withholding

forgiveness

from someone

if you're

holding a

grudge

if you're

keeping a

record of

wrongs

and grievances

and offenses

in your

heart

with someone

if there's

one thing

that God's

children must

be known

for

it's

forgiving

forgiving

one another

this is so

significant

that Jesus

when he's

teaching on

the other

occasion

in the

Sermon on

the Mount

this part

of the

prayer

he actually

elaborates

on this

point

and he

says this

in Matthew

Matthew 6:14

6

verse 14

he says

for if you

forgive other

people

when they

sin against

you

your heavenly

father will

also forgive

you

but if you

do not

forgive others

their sins

your father

will not

forgive your

sins

that's a scary

thought isn't

it

if you

withhold

forgiveness

from others

when they

sin against

you

God

will withhold

forgiveness

from you

this is

one of

those

truths

in the

Bible

that makes

us

squirm

it

unsettles

us

what about

the many

assurances

we have

of salvation

what about

the doctrine

of eternal

security

well it

seems to me

that those

offer no

guarantees

to the

person

who will

not

forgive

I don't

know how

else to

take those

words

a true

child of

God

must

and will

forgive

those who

sin against

them

if they

persist in

stubbornly

refusing

forgiveness

then whether

they truly

know God

and his

gracious

gospel

is in

question

this is

further

reinforced

by Jesus

parable

of the

unmerciful

servant

in

Matthew

18

finally

Jesus

teaches

us to

pray

these last

words in

the prayer

in Luke's

gospel

lead us

not

into

temptation

what is

it that

causes us

to sin

in the

first

place

how do

we get

to that

place

where we

choose

to do

the wrong

thing

temptation

is part

of the

process

it's

kind of

somewhere

in there

on the

way

to

doing

it

James

actually

describes

this

quite

vividly

in his

letter

in James

chapter

one

he says

when

when tempted

no one

should say

God is

tempting

me

for God

cannot be

tempted

by evil

nor does

he tempt

anyone

but each

person is

tempted when

they're dragged

away by their

own evil

desire

and enticed

then

after desire

has conceived

it gives

birth to

sin

and sin

when it is

full grown

gives birth

to death

James

describes

temptation

as being

dragged

away

by our

own evil

desires

we might

call it

temptation

from the

inside

but we

also know

that we

can be

tempted

from the

outside

as well

from other

people

and from

the devil

we heard

earlier in

Luke about

how the

devil

tempted

Jesus

whatever

the source

of temptation

whether it's

inside

or outside

temptation

is sort

of the

last moment

of struggle

before we

sin

and here

Jesus

teaches us

to pray

and to

ask God

for help

in those

for those

moments

even before

we're tempted

to sin

we're to

ask God

to watch

over our

path

lead us

such that

we will

not even

get close

to sin

against you

let me

not be

dragged

away

by my

own

evil

desires

steer me

away

from the

moments

and the

places

where I

will be

bombarded

by external

temptations

such that

I might

give in

and do

what's

wrong

there's

sort of

an earnestness

in these

words

just to

please

God

and do

what's

right

and not

be

taken

captive

again

to do

what we

know is

wrong

this plea

at the end

of the

prayer

here

it reminds

me of

some of

David's

moments

of prayer

in the

Psalms

I think

of Psalm

Psalms 119:29

119

verse 29

where he

prays

keep me

from deceitful

ways

be

gracious

to me

and teach

me your

law

or Psalm

Psalms 119:36

119

verse 36

where David

says turn

my heart

toward your

statutes

and not

toward selfish

gain

you can

almost hear

the battle

raging in

David's

heart

as he

prays this

Lord turn

my heart

I think

it's a

similar

prayer

lead us

not into

temptation

work in

us that

we go

the other

way

do we

pray and

ask God

regularly

for help

to overcome

sin

and temptation

God is

eager to

give us

that help

so these

are the

kinds of

things that

we should

say to

God

according to

Jesus

when we

pray

just in

summary

we should

acknowledge

him

we should

remember

who he

is

we should

express

our desire

for his

name to

be honored

and for

his kingdom

to come

we should

humbly ask

for each

day the

things that

we need

we should

regularly ask

for his

forgiveness

for the

things that

we've done

wrong

while also

being mindful

of how

we're treating

others

we should

ask for

his help

in our

battle

against

sin

and

temptation

these

are the

things

that

please

God

these

are the

things

that

he

wants

to

hear

from

us

and

as we

do

I think

we need

to

just

remember

we

can

use

these

words

exactly

maybe

you

do

frequently

but we

must guard

against

that sort

of empty

ritualistic

recitation

we must

put our

heart

into these

words

as we

speak them

to God

these

words are

here to

guide us

into

relationship

with him

so let's

just end

by asking

God to

work these

words

deep into

our hearts

let's pray

together

father in

heaven

we thank

you that

you desire

a relationship

with us

even though

we have

sinned

so many

times

that we've

lost count

we thank

you that

you are

merciful

and

sent

your son

into our

world to

draw us

into this

wonderful

relationship

with you

that we

now have

and I

pray that

we wouldn't

lose

the awe

and the

wonder

of that

Lord remind

us

each one

of us

through this

prayer

of how we

can continue

to be in

relationship

with you

the things

we need

to keep

bringing to

you

whether it's

our needs

or our

struggles

with sin

or maybe

it's a

relationship

with someone

who we're

having a

tough time

forgiving

press these

words deep

into our

hearts

the cry of

our heart

is for

your name

to be

honored

and for

you to

be praised

and we know

that these

words are

given for

that reason

so lead us

in that we

ask in

Jesus name

amen