The “Our Father” Prayer

“But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them…”  (Matthew 6:7-8). The “Our Father” prayer is often repeated today without really thinking about what the Bible says later after Jesus has died and rose again. This is before the cross to the 12 apostles and the nation of Israel. See Matthew 15:24.

Matthew 6:10 – “Thy kingdom come” [to earth]. Isn’t the church looking for the rapture and to be taken to heaven? (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17)

Matthew 6:11 – “Give us this day our daily bread.” This is a request in their future when God will do just that, See Revelation 12:6. The woman being fed is the future remnant of Israel.

Matthew 6:12 – “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” The Christian today already has the forgiveness of sins through his blood. We have forgiveness according to the riches of his grace! Our iniquities are forgiven, and the Lord will not impute sin (Ephesians 1:7; Romans 4:7-8). “Having forgiven you all trespasses” (Colossians 2:13)

Matthew 6:14,15 – “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:  But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” If we don’t forgive others God will not forgive us? Ephesians 4:32 wonderfully states, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” The same good work of forgiving others but now on a different basis. Forgive others in grace because we have already been forgiven!

Jesus on earth was speaking to the 12 apostles and Israel about something different than Paul later to the Gentiles. These are not contradictions, just different instructions at different times to different people. The kingdom did not come and was postponed because God revealed a mystery to Paul for the Gentiles long after Jesus died on the cross. This is a new purpose for today that temporarily supersedes the prophetic earthy kingdom (Ephesians 3:1-12). The kingdom now awaits a future day after the church is taken to heaven.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).