The Lord's Prayer

I would now like to share with you the prayer that Jesus Himself taught us, known as the Lord’s Prayer. It is found in Matthew 6:9–13 and Luke 11:2–4. In the Orthodox Church, we pray it in every service, and many Christians use it daily. Here is what it means.

“Our Father, who art in heaven.” Jesus teaches us to call God “Father” because through Christ we are His children. “See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God” (1 John 3:1).

“Hallowed be Thy name.” This means we honor God’s holy name with reverence. “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name” (Psalm 29:2).

“Thy kingdom come.” We pray for God’s reign of love and righteousness to fill the earth. Jesus said, “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).

“Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” We ask for the strength to do God’s will, not our own. Jesus Himself prayed, “Not my will, but thine be done” (Luke 22:42).

“Give us this day our daily bread.” This means both the food we need to live and the spiritual bread of Christ Himself. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35).

“And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” We ask for God’s mercy, but we must also forgive others. Jesus taught, “If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you” (Matthew 6:14).

“And lead us not into temptation.” We pray for God’s protection from the trials that could overwhelm us. Paul assures us, “God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your strength” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

“But deliver us from evil.” We ask God to guard us from the evil one, the devil, and from all harm. Jesus prayed to the Father, “Keep them from the evil one” (John 17:15).

“For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.” This closing doxology, used in the Orthodox Church, echoes the Scripture: “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty” (1 Chronicles 29:11).

The Lord’s Prayer teaches us to trust God as our Father, to seek His will, to depend on Him daily, to forgive and be forgiven, and to live in His Kingdom. It is the perfect prayer because it comes from Christ Himself.

With love in Christ,
Fr. Charles

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