The Meaning of the Lord's Prayer

Exploring the meaning of the Lord's Prayer through bible studies, commentaries and sermons.

The Lord's Prayer line-by-line

On the left-hand side of the navigation on this page, the Lord's prayer has been broken down into separate sentences and then analysed by the writings of famous biblical theologians and scholars. The section begins with introductory comments and summaries of the prayer, followed by an exploration of the phrase "Our Father, which art in heaven".

This is followed by the seven petitions that we find in the Lord's prayer. The first three are addressed to God and are about His character ("Hallowed be thy name") and concerns ("Thy Kingdom Come", "Thy will be done"). The next four are about man, his physical needs ("Give us this day"), relational needs ("forgive us" etc) and mental and spiritual needs ("lead us not into temptation" and "deliver us from evil").

Finally the prayer concludes with a doxology (omitted in the catholic tradition), its three-fold aspect ("Yours is the kingdom", "power and the glory") mirroring the nature of the Trinity.

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

The biblical theologians in the line-by-line commentary section

In this section you can discover more about the Lord's Prayer through some of the most notable exponents in biblical interpretation. Matthew Henry (1662-1714) was a non-conformist English clerygman. His commentaries on the scriptures are intended as a devotional guide to the bible, rather than as a critical study. Albert Barnes (1798-1870) was a Presbyterian minister and American theologian. His 'New Testament Notes' are invaluable in helping to understand difficult passages of scripture. Barnes frequently references the original greek to reveal the meaning of the text. Also in the line-by-line commentary section on the Lord's prayer is the writings of Adam Clarke (1769 or 62 to 1832), a Methodist minister and biblical theologian. His extensive commentary on the New Testament, at around 6000 pages long, is one of the longest works on the bible ever written by one person.

Commentary on the Lord's Prayer by famous theologians

At the top of the navigation on the left-hand side, there's Wesley's bible notes on the scripture that records the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13). John Wesley (born 1703, died aged 87 in 1791) is the founder of the modern day Methodist movement. His most famous theological insight is "Christian Perfection", a belief that the love of God can reign supreme in the believers heart. There are also two commentaries by different authors. John Calvin (1507-1564) was part of the reformation movement of the sixteenth century. His most notable theological stance is the belief that God is sovereign in the matters of salvation and election. Alexander Maclaren (1826-1910) was a English Baptist minister. He is most famous for his expository style, drawing on examples from life and nature to develop biblical truths. The commentaries in this section are taken from his writings on the the version of the Lord's prayer in Luke's Gospel.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-92) is one of the most famous preachers of the nineteenth century. The two sermons found in this section record some of his fascinating insights into the meaning of the Lord's Prayer. Also to be found in this section is a contemporary study on the Lord's Prayer by Phil Harper, a R.E. teacher based in Sussex, England. This material is suitable for group study and practical application.

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