The Lord's Prayer, Matthew 6:9-13

 

The Lord's Prayer, also known as the Our Father, stands as a central prayer in the Christian tradition, reflecting both the theological and cultural dimensions of early Christianity and its Jewish roots. This essay explores the text of the Lord's Prayer as presented in the Bible, its Jewish nature, and the instructions from the Didache,, "The Teachings of the Apostles," regarding the frequency of this prayer among early Christians.

The Lord's Prayer in the English Standard Version (ESV)

The Lord's Prayer is recorded in two of the Gospels within the New Testament: Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4. For the purpose of this discussion, the text from Matthew's Gospel will be quoted, as it is the more complete version commonly used in Christian liturgical traditions:

"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil." (Matthew 6:9-13, ESV)

This passage is part of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus teaches his disciples the correct way to pray, emphasizing a direct and personal relationship with God, reverence for His holiness, longing for His kingdom, dependence on Him for daily sustenance, forgiveness, and moral guidance.

The Jewish Nature of the Lord's Prayer

The Lord's Prayer, while foundational to Christian liturgy, is deeply rooted in Jewish prayer traditions. Its structure and themes reflect practices and theological concepts familiar to a Jewish audience of the first century. The opening address to God as "Our Father" echoes the Jewish tradition of calling God "Father," a concept found in several places in the Hebrew Scriptures, such as Isaiah 63:16 and 64:8. This term signifies a close, intimate relationship between God and His people, a theme central to Jewish religious thought.

The prayer's appeal for the coming of God's kingdom can be linked to Jewish eschatological hopes, as expressed in various Jewish texts of the Second Temple period, where the faithful look forward to a future where God reigns supreme, and peace and justice are established on earth. This is akin to the Jewish prayer "Kaddish," which glorifies God and expresses a yearning for the establishment of His kingdom.

Moreover, the request for daily bread reflects the Jewish emphasis on God as the provider of all needs, a theme prevalent in the wilderness narratives of Exodus, where God provides manna for the Israelites. The petitions for forgiveness and moral guidance are also consistent with the Jewish practice of daily self-examination and repentance, particularly as embodied in prayers like the Amidah or Shemoneh Esrei, which includes requests for forgiveness and deliverance from sin.

The Didache and the Lord's Prayer

The Didache, or "The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles," is a Christian treatise dating from the late first or early second century, offering insight into the practices and theology of early Christian communities. It provides a unique glimpse into how the earliest Christians understood and practiced their faith, including the use of the Lord's Prayer.

In the Didache, there is a specific instruction regarding the Lord's Prayer: "Do not pray like the hypocrites, but as the Lord commanded in his Gospel, pray thus: 'Our Father in heaven,' etc., three times a day" (Didache 8:2-3). This directive underscores the importance of the Lord's Prayer in early Christian devotion, positioning it as a central element of daily prayer life, reminiscent of the Jewish practice of praying three times a day (morning, afternoon, and evening) as observed in the tradition of the Psalms (e.g., Psalm 55:17) and Daniel (Daniel 6:10).

This instruction reflects the continuity and adaptation of Jewish prayer practices by early Christians, emphasizing the prayer's role in fostering a disciplined, regular engagement with God. By prescribing the Lord's Prayer three times a day, the Didache not only reinforces the prayer's theological significance but also ensures its integration into the daily lives of believers, fostering a rhythm of prayer that echoes the Jewish heritage from which Christianity emerged.

Conclusion

The Lord's Prayer, as recorded in the Bible and examined through the lens of its Jewish origins and early Christian practice as instructed by the Didache, reveals a profound connection between the Christian and Jewish traditions. It encapsulates key theological themes central to both faiths, including the recognition of God's holiness, sovereignty, provision, forgiveness, and guidance. The Didache's directive to pray the Lord's Prayer three times a day highlights the early Christians' effort to maintain a continuous spiritual discipline rooted in their Jewish heritage while embracing the new covenant through Jesus Christ. Through this prayer, followers of Jesus across generations have found a model for approaching God with reverence, dependence, and a deep desire for alignment with His will, embodying the prayer's timeless appeal and its foundational role in Christian spirituality.