line-by-line commentary

 

The Lord's Prayer Line-by-Line Commentary
general commentary

The Lord's Prayer
introduction

Our Father Who Art In Heaven

The Seven Petitions


Hallowed be Thy Name
Thy Kingdom Come
Thy will be done
Give us this day our daily bread
Forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive them that trespass against us.

Lead us not into temptation
Deliver us from evil

The Doxology


For thine is the kingdom
The power and the glory
For ever and ever. Amen.

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the lords prayer


For Ever and Ever. Amen.


A line-by-line exploration of the Lord's Prayer through the writings of famous theological commentators

 

"For ever and ever. Amen." is the final part of the doxology that falls at the end of the Lord's prayer.

Please select a commentary by clicking on one of the following:-

Matthew Henry on the meaning of "For ever and ever. Amen"

Adam Clarke on "For ever and ever. Amen"

Albert Barnes on "For ever and ever. Amen"

 

(Commentary on Matthew chapter 6, verse 13)


 

 

Wesley Study Notes
Matthew 6:9-13

Commentary by John Calvin
Lords Prayer Matt 6:9

Commentary by John Calvin
Lords Prayer Matt 6:10

Commentary by John Calvin
Lords Prayer Matt 6:11

Commentary by John Calvin
Lords Prayer Matt 6:12

Commentary by John Calvin
Lords Prayer Matt 6:13

Sermon by Charles Spurgeon
"The Fatherhood of God"

Sermon by Charles Spurgeon
"A Heavenly Pattern..."

Interpretation by
Alexander Maclaren - intro

Interpretation by
Alexander Maclaren - part 1

Interpretation by
Alexander Maclaren - part 2

a contemporary bible study
on the Lord's Prayer

prayerscapes - creative
prayer music

 

 

Matthew Henry on "Amen"

 

   
      Lastly, To all this we are taught to affix our Amen, so be it. God's Amen is a grant; his fiat is, it shall be so; our Amen is only a summary desire; our fiat is, let it be so: it is in the token of our desire and assurance to be heard, that we say Amen. Amen refers to every petition going before, and thus, in compassion to our infirmities, we are taught to knit up the whole in one word, and so to gather up, in the general, what we have lost and let slip in the particulars. It is good to conclude religious duties with some warmth and vigour, that we may go from them with a sweet savour upon our spirits. It was of old the practice of good people to say, Amen, audibly at the end of every prayer, and it is a commendable practice, provided it be done with understanding, as the apostle directs (1Co 14:16), and uprightly, with life and liveliness, and inward expressions, answerable to that outward expression of desire and confidence.

 

Source: Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible Volume V (Matthew to John)

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Adam Clarke on "For ever and ever. Amen"

 

For ever and ever.] EISTOUSAIWNAS, to the for evers. Well
expressed by our common translation-ever in our ancient use of the
word taking in the whole duration of time; the second ever, the
whole of eternity. May thy name have the glory both in this
world, and in that which is to come! The original word AIWN comes
from AEI always, and WN being, or existence. This is
Aristotle's definition of it. Ge 21:33. There is no word in any language which more forcibly points out the grand characteristic of eternity-that which always exists. It is often used to signify a limited time, the end of which is not known; but this use of it is only an accommodated one; and it is the grammatical and proper sense of it which must be resorted to in any controversy concerning the word. We sometimes use the phrase for evermore: i.e. for ever and more, which signifies the whole of time, and the more or interminable duration beyond it.
Mt 25:46.

 

Amen.] This word is Hebrew, and signifies faithful or
true. Some suppose the word is formed from the initial letters of
adoni melech neetnan, My Lord, the faithful King.
The word itself implies a confident resting of the soul in God,
with the fullest assurance that all these petitions shall be
fulfilled to every one who prays according to the directions given
before by our blessed Lord.

 

The very learned Mr. Gregory has shown that our Lord collected
this prayer out of the Jewish Euchologies, and gives us the whole
form as follows:-

 

"Our Father who art in heaven, be gracious unto us! O Lord our
God, hallowed be thy name, and let the remembrance of Thee be
glorified in heaven above, and in the earth here below! Let thy
kingdom reign over us now, and for ever! The holy men of old
said, remit and forgive unto all men whatsoever they have done
against me! And lead us not into the hands of temptation, but
deliver us from the evil thing! For thine is the kingdom, and
thou shalt reign in glory for ever and for evermore." Gregory's
Works, 4to. 1671, p. 162. See this proved at large in the
collections of Lightfoot and Schoettgenius,

 

 

Source: Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

 

 

Albert Barnes on "For ever and ever. Amen"

 

This doxology, or ascription of praise, is connected with the prayer by the word "for," to signify that all these things--the reign, power, and glory of God--will be manifested by granting these petitions. It is not because we are to be benefited, but that God's name and perfections may be manifested. His glory is, then, the first and principal thing which we are to seek when we approach him. We are to suffer our concerns to be sunk and lost sight of in the superior glory and honour of his name and dominion. We are to seek temporal and eternal life, chiefly because the honour of our Maker will be promoted, and his name be more illustriously displayed to his creatures. He is to be "first, last, supremest, best," in our view; and all selfish and worldly views are to be absorbed in that one great desire of the soul that God may be "all in all." Approaching him with these feelings, our prayers will be answered, our devotions will rise like incense, and the lifting up our hands will be like the evening sacrifice.

 

Amen. This is a word of Hebrew origin, from a verb signifying to be firm, secure, to be true and faithful. It is a word expressing consent or strong approbation, a word of strong asseveration. It means verily, certainly, so be it. It is probable that this word was used by the people in the synagogue to signify their assent to the prayer that was uttered by the minister. And to some extent, it was probably so used in the Christian church. See 1Cor 14:16. It may be proper to remark, that this doxology, "for thine is the kingdom," etc., is wanting in many manuscripts, and that its authenticity is doubtful.

 

(b) "from evil" Jn 17:15 (c) "For thine" Rev 5:12,13

 

 

Source: Barnes' New Testament Notes

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