 The Lord's Prayer
The head of the family should teach it in a simple way to his household
Our Father who art in heaven. Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
The Introduction - Our Father who art in heaven.
What does this mean? By these words God would tenderly invite us to believe that He is our true Father, and that we are His true children, so that we may ask Him, with all boldness and confidence, as dear children ask their dear father.
The First Petition - Hallowed be Thy name.
What does this mean? God's name is indeed holy of itself; but we pray in this petition that it may become holy among us also.
How is this done? When the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity, and we live a holy life, as the children of God, according to it. Help us in this, dear Father in heaven. But anyone that teaches or lives otherwise than the Word of God teaches, profanes the name of God among us. Protect us from this, dear Heavenly Father.
The Second Petition - Thy kingdom come.
What does this mean? The kingdom of God comes even without our prayer, of itself; but we pray in this petition that it may come unto us also.
How is this done? When our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead a godly life, here in time and there in eternity.
The Third Petition - Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
What does this mean? The good and gracious will of God is also done without our prayer; but we pray in this petition that it also may be done among us.
How is this done? When God breaks and hinders every evil counsel and will which would not let us hallow the name of God nor let His kingdom come, such as the will of the devil, the world, and our flesh; but strengthens us and keeps us steadfast in His Word and faith unto our end. This is His gracious and good will.
The Fourth Petition - Give us this day our daily bread.
What does this mean? God gives daily bread even without our prayer, even to all the wicked; but we pray in this petition that He would lead us to know it, and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.
What is meant by daily bread? Everything which belongs to the needs and support of the body, such as food and drink, clothing and shoes, house and home, land and cattle, money and possessions, a pious spouse, pious children, pious servants, pious and faithful rulers, good government, beneficial weather, peace, health, discipline, honor, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.
The Fifth Petition - And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
What does this mean? We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look upon our sins, nor deny our petitions because of them; for we are worthy of none of the things for which we pray, nor have we deserved them; but [we pray] that he would grant all of them to us by grace; for we are gross sinners every day and genuinely deserve nothing but punishment. So will we also forgive from the heart, and also freely do good to those
who sin against us.
The Sixth Petition - And lead us not into temptation.
What does this mean? God, in fact, tempts no one; but we pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us, so that the devil, the world, and our flesh may not deceive us nor seduce us into false belief, despair, and other great shame and vice; and even though we be assaulted by them, that still we may ultimately overcome and gain the victory.
The Seventh Petition - But deliver us from evil.
What does this mean? We pray in this petition, as in summary, that our Father in heaven would deliver us from every sort of evil of body and soul, of property and honor, and at the end, when our last hour shall come, grant us a blessed end and graciously take us from this place of sorrows to Himself in heaven.
The Conclusion - For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
What is meant by the word "Amen"? That I should be certain that these petitions are acceptable to our Father in heaven, and are heard; for He Himself has commanded us to pray in this way and has promised to hear us. Amen, Amen, that is, Yes, certainly, Thus it shall be.
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