The Lord's Prayer (10)

Quintus Heine

Over the past two weeks (up until last Friday) I have been discussing the Our Father prayer. The last sentence of this prayer (see today’s text) is not found in the older versions of the original manuscripts of the Bible, that’s why certain Bible translations leave it out or have it as a footnote. But just because it does not appear in the earliest manuscripts, doesn’t mean we don’t have to pray it. It is generally accepted that it was a customary closing prayer in Jesus’ time. We can therefore conclude our prayer with confidence. I think it is a very fitting conclusion to our prayer. I want to conclude the series on the Lord's Prayer with this.

Matthew 6:13 "For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory for ever. Amen"

This last prayer offers praise to God. The concluding words of the prayer return to the beginning where the prayer started with praise and the confession that God is in control of his kingdom, and that his power and glory are above all else! He is the beginning and the end. These concluding words are a confession that joins all the previous petitions in the Our Father prayer together. God is able to bring about his kingdom. He is able to let his will be done because the glory belongs to him! Everything – yes, everything – is to his glory. This phrase in the Lord's Prayer is very similar to Revelation 4:11, 'You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.' This is a confession that God is in control and that we are dependent on his power.

We need the Our Father prayer. Together with all believers of all times, we are grateful for the model prayer that Christ taught us. There are times when your own words dry up and you do not know what to pray. There are times where your mind is so full of sadness or joy is that you know your own words sound empty. It is in times like these that you pray the prayer of the Our Father to the Lord. When I was a child we were taught to learn this prayer by heart so we could pray any time. There are many days when I bow before God and pray this prayer! It is a prayer you can pray for others. Sometimes you want to support someone and you do not want to talk. At times like these, this wonderful prayer is a comfort and a confession.

And we need it often: Let us pray this prayer regularly. Let's live it - so that God can receive the glory through our lives and our prayers. If you have missed any of the devotions on the Lord’s Prayer, you can download them at www.versndag.co.za by clicking on the ‘Verse-a-day' tab.

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.