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.
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.
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,
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,
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
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
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
119
verse 29
where he
prays
keep me
from deceitful
ways
be
gracious
to me
and teach
me your
law
or Psalm
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