Sunday 2nd June
Read Matthew 6:9-13
“This, then, is how you should pray:
‘“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.” (NIVUK)
As we conclude our fortnight, ever so briefly, considering possibly the most prayed prayer in history we reflect on the audience for this prayer. It begins with a respectful yet surprising address to ‘Our Father in heaven’ but points us to the Trinity in every way. This is captured beautifully by John Stott in his final reflections on the three petitions with which the prayer closes.
“…a trinitarian Christian is bound to see in these three petitions a veiled allusion to the Trinity, since it is through the Father’s creation and providence that we receive our daily bread, through the Son’s atoning death that we are forgiven and through the Spirit’s indwelling power that we are rescued from the evil one. No wonder some ancient manuscripts (though not the best) end with the doxology, attributing ‘the kingdom and the power and the glory’ to this triune God to whom it all belongs.” (John Stott – The Sermon on the Mount)
