Luke 11:1-141And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. 2And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. 3Give us day by day our daily bread. 4And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. 5And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; 6For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? 7And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. 8I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. 9And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 10For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 11If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? 12Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? 14And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered. (Luke 11:1‑14)
The disciples wanted to honor God and to pray to Him in a right way, and asked the Lord Jesus to tell them how. He told them these words:
“Our Father Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in Heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.”
Perhaps you have said these words many times without thinking of the meaning: that cannot honor God Jesus’ words taught them first that God is holy, His name is holy, and must not be said carelessly, but always with the most possible respect. But they were to pray to Him simply, asking Him as a loving Father, Who cared for them.
The disciples had been taught of the time of God’s rule or Kingdom, and then prayed for that time to come, when Christ will be honored and men will be obedient. But not long after these words were said, Jesus was refused as King, and died as men’s Saviour.
So now those who believe Him, pray most for others to believe in Him now, before that time when all that is wrong will be punished. The people then, like the disciples, will have great trials, and will pray earnestly, words like this prayer, as shown in the psalms and prophets.
But even now we are to trust God for our food and all we have, He can send storms, drouth, or blight, to spoil all. And we need also to forgive any who have done us wrong, for we have many wrongs to be forgiven by God.
Small boys and girls can thank God for His care, and learn to pray, but when older, to understand, it is not the repeating of words, or “saying prayers” that pleases God, but to tell Him what you feel in your heart.
Jesus said God will surely hear, and do for those who ask Him: He said, if a friend came in the night to ask for bread, because a traveler had come, even though a trouble, it would be given as needed. And God would not do less for those who ask Him in need.
Jesus reminded them that one of them would not give his child a stone if it asked for bread, so God would give good gifts. He told them of the Holy Spirit to be given those who believe God, and later He said the Spirit would teach them all things, and they should ask God the Father in Jesus’ Name (John 16:13,2413Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. (John 16:13)
24Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. (John 16:24)).
So Jesus taught how simply but earstly those who believe His words, can pray, and that God will do for them. But they will not be praying just for what will please themselves, but for what will honor the Lord Jesus Who has done so much for them.
ML 06/10/1945