Luke 11: 1 – 4 The Our Father

Luke 11: 1 – 4 The Our Father

He was praying in a certain place, and when he had 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 and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test."

The Lord’s Prayer or the Our Father as presented in Luke is a sparse, almost spartan affair. Jesus leaves off all words that are non-essential. It is a direct prayer without any stage-setting or slow build-up.

“Father” The prayer is intimate, addressing God as “Father” – a bold start at least as far as the disciples would be concerned. Jesus’ re-introduction of God as “Father” is huge!
“Hallowed be Thy Name” Jesus acknowledges his Father’s holiness, the appropriateness of honoring and worshiping him.
“Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done” I think this is both a recognition of God’s primacy and a submission to his will. His kingship, his will. . .
“Give us each day our daily bread” Ultimately we acknowledge that we must have faith that God will provide us with what we need. . . in the form of skills, or gifts, whatever.
“Forgive us our sins as we forgive others” Forgiveness is a two-way street in God’s kingdom. We must be as generous with forgiveness for others as God is to us.
“Subject us not to the final test” What does this mean? Is it a recognition that we are only human, that we are weak? Or is it a plea right out of Jesus personal prayer at that time - a prayer that knows the cross is coming with all the agony it will mean for him and his disciples? If this is true then Jesus is encouraging us, after we acknowledge our Father’s holiness and primacy, his care for us (providing for our needs and offering us forgiveness if we forgive others) to bring God into our present and share with him our joys and sorrows, our fears and our hopes.