Text and Structure of the Lord's Prayer

The Lord's Prayer, as recorded in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4, is a foundational Christian prayer that has been the subject of extensive interpretation and analysis throughout history. The prayer is introduced by Jesus as a model for his disciples to follow, in response to their request to teach them how to pray ^[4].

The Matthean version of the Lord's Prayer is more elaborate, consisting of seven petitions, while the Lukan version has five. The additional petitions in Matthew are "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven" and "but deliver us from evil" ^[1]. The closing doxology, "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever," is present in Matthew but absent in Luke, and is also omitted in some manuscripts and translations, such as the Revised Version ^[1].

The structure of the Lord's Prayer can be divided into two main sections: the first three petitions, which focus on God's name, kingdom, and will, and the remaining four, which concern the disciples' needs, including daily bread, forgiveness, and protection from evil ^[7]. According to Augustine, the first three petitions relate to eternal blessings, while the latter four pertain to temporal necessities that are antecedent to the attainment of the eternal ^[7].

The prayer's opening address, "Our Father in heaven," establishes the relational tone, emphasizing God's paternal care and the disciples' filial dependence. The petition "hallowed be thy name" seeks the sanctification of God's name, which is profaned by human sin ^[10]. The subsequent petitions, "Thy kingdom come" and "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven," express the desire for God's kingdom to be realized and His will to be obeyed universally ^[6].

The second part of the prayer addresses the disciples' needs, beginning with the request for "daily bread," which is understood to encompass both physical sustenance and spiritual nourishment ^[6]. The petition for forgiveness, "Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors," highlights the reciprocal nature of forgiveness, emphasizing the importance of forgiving others as a condition for receiving forgiveness from God ^[5].

Throughout history, the Lord's Prayer has been interpreted and expounded upon by various Christian traditions. The patristic writers, such as Tertullian, Cyprian, and Augustine, provided detailed expositions on the prayer's meaning and significance ^{[8, 7, 9]}. The Reformed tradition, as represented by Calvin and the Heidelberg Catechism, has also offered insightful interpretations, emphasizing the prayer's Christological and soteriological dimensions ^{[3, 5]}.

The Lord's Prayer remains a central element of Christian worship and devotion, serving as a model for prayer and a summary of Christian doctrine. Its text and structure continue to be studied and revered by Christians across various denominations and traditions.

The prayer's simplicity and comprehensiveness have made it a timeless and universal expression of Christian prayer, embodying the fundamental aspirations and concerns of the Christian life. As such, it continues to be a vital part of Christian liturgy and personal devotion, guiding believers in their communication with God ^[2].

Sources

Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Lord's Prayer — The name given to the only form of prayer Christ taught his disciples (Matt. 6:9-13). The closing doxology of the prayer is omitted by Luke (11:2-4), also in the R.V. of Matt. 6:13. This prayer contains no allusion to the atonement of Christ, nor to the offices of the Holy Spirit. "All Christian prayer is based on the Lord's Prayer, but its spirit is also guided by that of His prayer in Gethsemane and of the prayer recorded John 17. The Lord's Prayer is the comprehensive type of the simplest and most universal prayer."”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Lords Prayer — the prayer which Jesus taught his disciples. (Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4) "In this prayer our Lord shows his disciples how an infinite variety of wants and requests can be compressed into a few humble petitions. It embodies every possible desire of a praying heart, a whole world of spiritual requirements; yet all in the most simple, condensed and humble form, resembling, in this respect, a pearl on which the light of heaven plays."--Lange. "This prayer contains four great general sentiments, which constitute the very soul of religion,--sentiments which”
CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 75: stated seasons, &c. Exception in time of necessity. Prayer without ceasing. Its nature. Garrulity of Papists and hypocrites refuted. The scope and parts of prayer. Secret prayer. Prayer at all places. Private and public prayer. 30. Of public places or churches in which common prayers are offered up. Right use of churches. Abuse. 31. Of utterance and singing. These of no avail if not from the heart. The use of the voice refers more to public than private prayer. 32. Singing of the greatest antiquity, but not universal. How to be per”
Matthew (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Matthew 6:9: When Christ had condemned what was amiss, he directs to do better; for his are reproofs of instruction. Because we know not what to pray for as we ought, he here helps our infirmities, by putting words into our mouths; after this manner therefore pray ye, Mat 6:9. So many were the corruptions that had crept into this duty of prayer among the Jews, that Christ saw it needful to give a new directory for prayer, to show his disciples what must ordinarily be the matter and method of their prayer, which he gives in words that may very well be used as a form; as the sum”
Heidelberg Catechism (Reformed) “Heidelberg Catechism (Reformed, 1563), Q. What is this prayer?: Q. What is this prayer? A. 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 do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.* For the kingdom and the power and the glory are yours forever. Amen.1** 1 Matt. 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4 *This text of the Lord's Prayer is from the New Revised Standard Version in keeping with the use of the NRSV throughout thi”
CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 75: three things. Advent of the kingdom of God in the world. 43. Distinction between the second and third petitions. The will here meant not the secret will or good pleasure of God, but that manifested in the word. Conclusion of the three first petitions. 44. A summary of the second part of the Lord’s Prayer. Three petitions. What contained in the first. Declares the exceeding kindness of God, and our distrust. What meant by bread. Why the petition for bread precedes that for the forgiveness of sins. Why it is called ours. Why to be so”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 3: Augustine — On the Holy Trinity — CHAP. 115.--THE SEVEN PETITIONS OF THE LORD'S PRAYER, ACCORDING TO MATTHEW.: Accordingly, in the Gospel according to Matthew the Lord's Prayer seems to embrace seven petitions, three of which ask for eternal blessings, and the remaining four for temporal; these latter, however, being necessary antecedents to the attainment of the eternal. For when we say, "Hallowed be Thy name: Thy kingdom come: Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven"(2) (which some have interpreted, not unfairly, in body as well as in spirit), we ask for blessings that are”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 5: Hippolytus, Cyprian, Caius, Novatian — ON THE LORD'S PRAYER. (part 1): ARGUMENT.--THE TREATISE OF CYPRIAN ON THE LORD'S PRAYER COMPRISES THREE PORTIONS, IN WHICH DIVISION HE IMITATES TERTULLIAN IN HIS BOOK ON PRAYER, IN THE FIRST PORTION, HE POINTS OUT THAT THE LORD'S PRAYER IS THE MOST EXCELLENT OF ALL PRAYERS, PROFOUNDLY SPIRITUAL, AND MOST EFFECTUAL FOR OBTAINING OUR PETITIONS. IN THE SECOND PART, HE UNDERTAKES AN EXPLANATION OF THE LORD'S PRAYER; AND, STILL TREADING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF TERTULLIAN, HE GOES THROUGH ITS SEVEN CHIEF CLAUSES, FINALLY, IN THE THIRD PART, HE CONSIDERS ”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 3: Tertullian — CHAP.XXVI.--FROM ST. LUKE'S ELEVENTH CHAPTER OTHER EVIDENCE THAT CHRIST (part 1): COMES FROM THE CREATOR. THE LORD'S PRAYER AND OTHER WORDS OF CHRIST. THE DUMB SPIRIT AND CHRIST'S DISCOURSE ON OCCASION OF THE EXPULSION. THE EXCLAMATION OF THE WOMAN IN THE CROWD. When in a certain place he had been praying to that Father above,(17) looking up with insolent and audacious eyes to the heaven of the Creator, by whom in His rough and cruel nature he might have been crushed with hail and lightning--just as it was by Him contrived that he was (afterwards) attached to a cross(18”
Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 6:9: 6:9-13 The Lord’s Prayer is similar in form to a common Jewish prayer (the qaddish). Jesus gave this prayer to his followers as a succinct expression of their new faith. 6:9 Pray like this: In contrast to the vain repetition of pagan prayers (6:7-8), “the Lord’s Prayer” is a model of simplicity. • Jews rarely addressed God as Father, but Jesus did so in every prayer but one (Mark 15:34). • may your name be kept holy: God’s name is profaned by the sin of his people (Isa 29:22-24; Jer 34:15-16; Ezek 39:7; Amos 2:7).”

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