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THE LORD’S PRAYER

© Rosemary Bardsley 2026

(Theo-centric prayer = God-centred, God-focused, prayer)

For more detailed study read these studies on the Lord's Prayer.

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-15; Luke 11:1-13

1. HOW NOT TO PRAY

Not like the hypocrites - as a public demonmstration, looking for human praise; they have their reward. But in private - to your Father, who sees you and will reward you.

Not like pagans - babbling on, using repetitive prayers, not knowing they have a heavenly Father. But confidently, because your Father knows your needs.

2. THE GOD TO WHOM WE PRAY

Note that we address the One who is our Father, corporately. He is not an individually defined God; he is the God of who who believe in him. When we pray, we have more than ourselves in focus..

‘Our Father’ - the one who loves us

He created us - Genesis 1:1; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16, 17, 1Corinthians 8:6-7; Acts 17:27b,28.
He gave us new life in Christ - John 1:12, 13;  1John 3:2.
He adopted us as his children - Romans 8:14-16; Galatians 4:4-7.

= CREATION, REGENERATION, ADOPTION

When we pray to 'our Father', we are praying to the one who loves us - Psalm 103:13, 14; Hosea 11:3,4; Isaiah:40:11

‘in heaven’ – not like us

Scriptures: Psalm 103:19; 113:3, 5; 2Chronicles 20:6; Isaiah 40:12-28

Not bound by time
Not bound by space
Not bound by weakness
Not bound by ignorance
Not bound by sin

= ETERNAL, OMNIPRESENT, OMNIPOTENT, OMNISCIENT, PERFECT – UNLIMITED

2. THE PRIMARY CONCERN, AND THE BOUNDARY, OF PRAYER

‘’hallowed by your name’ – God’s honour

John 17:1 & 4
1Peter 2:9
Matthew 5:16
1Corinthians 10:31
Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14
Isaiah 43:7

THE HONOUR AND GLORY OF THE LORD IS BOTH THE PRIMARY CONCERN AND THE BOUNDARY OF OUR PRAYER

‘your kingdom come’ – God’s kingdom

This is a 3D prayer:

Internal – here we pray that God’s kingdom, God’s rule, will be real within us – Luke 17:21.

External – here we pray for the expansion of God’s kingdom as the good news of the kingdom is preached and others believe and enter the kingdom – Luke 4:43.

Eternal – here we pray for the return of Christ and the coming eternal kingdom – Hebrews 12:28; Revelation 11:15; 12:10.

THE KINGODM OF GOD IS ALSO THE PRIMARY CONCERN AND THE BOUNDARY OF OUR PRAYING.

‘your will be done on earth as it is in heaven’ – God’s will

God’s will is our salvation- 2Peter 3:9
God’s will is our security in Christ – John 6:39, 40
God’s will is our sanctification – 1Thessalonians 4:3-7

THE WILL OF GOD IS ALSO THE PRIMARY CONCERN AND THE BOUNDARY OF OUR PRAYER

3. OUR PHYSICAL NEEDS

‘Give us today our daily bread’

Scriptures: Psalm 104:10-30; Proverbs 30:8,9; Matthew 6:19-34; Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 1:3

(By this prayer we acknowledge our dependence on God for everything that we have).

4. OUR SPIRITUAL NEEDS 

‘forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors’

Ephesians 4:32
Colossians 3:13
Matthew 18:21-35
Matthew 6:14, 15

‘forgive us our debts’ –

Psalm 130:1-7; 1John 1:8-10

- Acknowledges our sinfulness
- Acknowledges our need of God’s grace and mercy
- Acknowledges that sin is essentially sin against God

‘as we also have forgiven our debtors’ –

ephesians 4:32-5:2; Matthew 18:23-35

- Acknowledges that we who know God’s forgiveness have no right to withhold forgiveness
- Acknowledges that the sins of my fellow-believer have already by forgiven by God
- Demonstrates the work of the Holy Spirit within

‘Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one’

James1:13 – temptation does not come from God.

Temptation comes from –
- The world – 1John 2:15, 16
- The flesh – Galatians 5:17, 19 (KJV)
- The devil – 1Peter 5:8; Ephesians 2:2; 6:12; Job 1:9,10; 2:4,5

We are completely dependent on God - Ephesians 6:10-12. 

CONCLUSION
Remember the beginning of the prayer –

Hallowed by your name – prayer for God’s honour
Your kingdom come – prayer for God’s kingdom
Your will be done – prayer for God’s will.

These three God-centred prayers define the primary concern and the boundary of our praying.

So here at the end:

‘for yours is the kingdom’ –

God, not us, is in charge
God, not us, makes the decisions
God, not us, has the authority and the rights.

‘and the power’

God, not us, has the ability
God, not us, has the means

‘and the glory’

God, not us, receives the praise.

THIS CONCLUSION OF OUR PRAYER DEFINES:

Why we pray. 
Why we pray to God.
Why we can pray to God.
Why we leave the answers to him.
Why we can then rest.