Coming of the King: Week 12

Matthew 6:9-18: Prayer and Fasting in the Kingdom

The Disciple's Prayer

• 6:9 "Father in Heaven" - we address God as a child addresses their earthly Father (in a healthy family). An excellent military commander is also revered as a father. "hallowed" - God's name is set apart, and not to be used for anything else. "The LORD will not leave anyone unpunished who takes Him name in vain." Absolute respect for our Father and Commander is foundational. Exodus 20:7
• 6:10 "Thy Kingdom" - our primary mission. "Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom, and You are exalted as head over all." 1 Chronicles 29:11 "Thy will" - "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." Matthew 7:21 Lip service is not acceptable. Matthew 21:28-32
• 6:11 "daily bread" - the logistics of the Kingdom. Children need food to grow, soldiers need food to fight, not only earthly, but heavenly bread. Deuteronomy 8:3
  
• 6:12 "as we also have forgiven" - no infighting among the citizens of the Kingdom. Matthew 18:21-35
• 6:13 "lead us not into temptation" - Luke 22:40, "the Lord will rescue me from every evil action and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom." 2 Timothy 4:18

  Pope Francis recently approved a change to Catholic translations, making this "do not let us fall into temptation". The text literally says "do not lead us", with no ambiguity or even a hint of "fall". The word translated "temptation" here, however, is the Greek word translated "trial" in James 1:12, not the word translated "temptation" in James 1:13 and elsewhere. When we are actually letting God lead us, he always "provides a way of escape". 1 Corinthians 10:13 It is when "we like sheep have gone astray" (Isaiah 53:6) that we "fall into temptation".1 Timothy 6:9

  "the evil one" - literally "the evil". The same Greek phrase is used many other places, e.g. Matthew 5:37, John 17:15, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, 1 John 5:18. It is a definite article, it is either a definite but impersonal evil like the the Evil in "A Wrinkle in Time", or an evil person. In my uncredentialed opinion, translations (including the venerable King James) with just "evil" are just wrong.

• 6:14 Just to be clear, "forgive ... or don't be forgiven". But the word "forgive" is often misused today. It does not mean to enable wickedness. And neither will God enable your wickedness.
• 6:16 Isaiah 58:3-12 To channel William Boetcker, You cannot humble yourself before God by exalting yourself before men.
• 6:17 This does not mean dress for a wedding every day, but as Ellicot's commentary says, "The disciples of Christ were to hide their contrition and self-discipline, and even when the heart knew its own bitterness were to be blithe and cheerful, opening their griefs only to their Father in heaven." I Must Tell Jesus All of My Trials