An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism Part 26

Eph. 6:18. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

I Tim. 2:1, 2. I exhort, therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all G.o.dliness and honesty.

Matt. 5:44. Pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.

Eph. 2:18. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

Jas. 5:16. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

I John 5:14. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us.

II Cor. 12:9. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

READING.--The Pharisee and the Publican in the Temple, Luke 18:10-14.

ILl.u.s.tRATIONS.--_Prayer for Self_: The Lepers, Luke 17:12, 13; The Blind Beggar, Luke 18:35-43; The Publican, Luke 18:13; _For Others_: Jesus, John 17, Luke 23:32; Abraham, Gen. 18:23-33; Moses, Exod. 32:11; Stephen, Acts 7:60. _Answer to Prayer_: Israel in Bondage, Exod. 2:23, 24; Hannah, I Sam. 1:9-20; Elijah, I Kings 17:21, 22; Jas. 5:17; The Early Church, Acts 12:5-17; Paul, Acts 16:25; II Cor. 12:7-9.

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE LORD'S PRAYER.

The Lord's Prayer is so-called because it was given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ. [Matt. 6:9-13, Luke 11:1-4] It teaches us how to pray aright, and is the model after which we should fashion all our prayers.

It shows us the manner in which we should come to G.o.d, and the things for which we should ask.

ITS CONTENTS. The Lord's Prayer contains an Introduction, Seven Pet.i.tions, and a Conclusion. The first three pet.i.tions regard G.o.d's glory, and deal with His Name, His Kingdom, and His Will; the last four regard our bodily and spiritual needs, and deal with our Daily Bread, Forgiveness, Temptation, and Deliverance from Evil. Six pet.i.tions, the first three and the last three, refer to spiritual gifts; and only one, the fourth, refers to earthly gifts. Thus we are taught that, when we pray, we should think first of G.o.d's glory; and that we should pray more for spiritual than for temporal benefits.

INTRODUCTION.

Our Father Who art in Heaven.

_What is meant by this Introduction?_

G.o.d would thereby affectionately encourage us to believe that He is truly our Father, and that we are His children indeed, so that we may call upon Him with all cheerfulness and confidence, even as beloved children entreat their affectionate parent.

This Introduction shows us the manner in which we should come to G.o.d in prayer; namely, as His children, who are asking their Father for what they need, and who are sure that He loves them and will answer their prayer.

OUR FATHER.[6] G.o.d is our Father and we are His children through Christ our Saviour. [Gal 3:26+, 1 John 3:1, 2, Rom. 8:16] We should therefore be sure that He will receive us kindly for Jesus' sake whenever we come before him with our prayers. We should CALL UPON HIM WITH ALL CHEERFULNESS AND CONFIDENCE, EVEN AS BELOVED CHILDREN ENTREAT THEIR AFFECTIONATE PARENT. [Matt. 7:11+, Rom. 8:15+, Heb. 4:16]

[Footnote 6: Observe how the name "Father," by which we are here taught to address G.o.d, corresponds with the duty "to fear, love, and trust in Him above all things" as enjoined by the First Commandment.]

We are taught to say _our_ and not _my_ Father, because the Lord's Prayer was given to believers to use in their common worship as well as in their private devotions; and because we should pray not only for ourselves but for our fellow-believers and for all men.

WHO ART IN HEAVEN. An earthly father is not always able to do what his children ask, even if he desires to do so. But the Father to whom we here pray is our Heavenly Father, and is abundantly able to answer all our prayers, [Eph. 3:20+] He not only loves us with an everlasting love, but is almighty, omniscient, and all-wise. He is able to do all things which He wills to do, and will answer all our prayers in the very way that is best for us.

QUESTIONS.--1. Why is the Lord's Prayer so called? 2. What does it teach us? 3. What does it contain? 4. What can you say about the seven pet.i.tions? 5. What does the introduction show? 6. Why do we say Our _Father_? 7. How should this encourage us to call upon Him? 8. Why do we say _Our_ Father? 9. What is to be said about our heavenly Father in comparison with earthly fathers?

SCRIPTURE VERSES.--Gal. 3:26. For ye are all the children of G.o.d by faith in Christ Jesus.

Matt. 7:11. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Rom. 8:15. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Eph. 3:20. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

READING.--Christ teaches His Disciples to pray, Luke 11:1-4.

CHAPTER XXV.

THE FIRST PEt.i.tION.

Hallowed be Thy name.

_What is meant by this Pet.i.tion?_

The name of G.o.d is indeed holy in itself; but we pray in this pet.i.tion that it may be hallowed also by us.

_How is this effected?_

When the Word of G.o.d is taught in its truth and purity, and we, as the children of G.o.d, lead holy lives in accordance with it; to this may our blessed Father in heaven help us. But whoever teaches and lives otherwise than as G.o.d's Word prescribes, profanes the name of G.o.d among us; from this preserve us, heavenly Father.

In this Pet.i.tion we pray for grace to hallow G.o.d's name[7] by the pure teaching of His Word and by childlike obedience to it.

[Footnote 7: There is a parallel between this Pet.i.tion and the Second Commandment. We here pray for grace to avoid what the Second Commandment forbids, and to do what it commands.]

THE NAME OF G.o.d means not only the names by which we address Him, but all by which He is known to us. Compare the Second Commandment.

IS INDEED HOLY IN ITSELF. [Ps. 99:3] G.o.d's name is holy, because He is holy. We cannot increase or diminish G.o.d's holiness by anything that we do. This pet.i.tion does not imply, therefore, that we are to _make_ G.o.d's name holy.

BUT WE PRAY IN THIS PEt.i.tION THAT IT MAY BE HALLOWED ALSO BY US. We hallow G.o.d's name when we regard and treat it as holy; in other words, when we honor and glorify G.o.d by worshiping and serving Him in accordance with the revelation which He has given of Himself in His Word. [John 17:6+, Ps. 100:2, 3]

I. HOW G.o.d'S NAME IS HALLOWED.

1. WHEN THE WORD OF G.o.d IS TAUGHT IN ITS TRUTH AND PURITY. G.o.d has revealed Himself to us in His Word, and it is only from that Word that we can learn to know Him and worship Him aright. [John 1:18+] Those, therefore, who in the Church, the school, or the home, teach G.o.d's Word, as well as those who gladly hear, read, and learn it, hallow His name.

[John 17:17+] But the Word must be taught in its truth and purity; that is, it must be taught as it is recorded in the Scriptures, with nothing added, taken away, or changed. [Gal. 1:9, Rev 22:18, 19]