Our father prayer verse

Summary

Our father prayer verse

Our father prayer verse

The Pattern of Prayer: 60 Bible Verses Centered on The Lord’s Prayer

 

The “Our Father” is not just a prayer to be recited; it is an outline for a relationship with God. Below are the primary texts followed by the scriptural foundations for every petition within the prayer.

I. The Primary Texts (The Prayer Itself)

 

The direct accounts of Jesus teaching His disciples to pray.

1. Matthew 6:9 – “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,'”

2. Matthew 6:10 – “‘your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.'”

3. Matthew 6:11 – “‘Give us today our daily bread.'”

4. Matthew 6:12 – “‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.'”

5. Matthew 6:13 – “‘And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'”

6. Luke 11:2 – “He said to them, ‘When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.'”

7. Luke 11:3 – “‘Give us each day our daily bread.'”

8. Luke 11:4 – “‘Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.'”

II. “Our Father in Heaven” (Relationship & Adoration)

 

Scriptures establishing God as our Father.

9. Romans 8:15 – “The Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.'”

10. Galatians 4:6 – “Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.'”

11. Isaiah 63:16 – “But you are our Father… you, LORD, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name.”

12. 1 John 3:1 – “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!”

13. Psalm 103:13 – “As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.”

14. Ephesians 4:6 – “One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

15. Matthew 23:9 – “And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.”

III. “Hallowed be Thy Name” (Reverence)

 

Scriptures on the holiness of God’s name.

16. Psalm 111:9 – “He provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever—holy and awesome is his name.”

17. Ezekiel 36:23 – “I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations.”

18. Psalm 29:2 – “Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.”

19. Leviticus 22:32 – “Do not profane my holy name, for I must be acknowledged as holy by the Israelites.”

20. Isaiah 6:3 – “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”

21. 1 Peter 3:15 – “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.”

IV. “Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done” (Submission)

 

Aligning our lives with God’s rule.

22. Matthew 3:2 – “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

23. Matthew 6:33 – “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.”

24. Luke 22:42 – “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

25. Psalm 40:8 – “I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.”

26. Psalm 143:10 – “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God.”

27. Romans 12:2 – “Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

28. Revelation 11:15 – “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.”

V. “Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread” (Provision)

 

Dependence on God for physical and spiritual needs.

29. Proverbs 30:8 – “Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.”

30. Exodus 16:4 – “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day.”

31. John 6:35 – “Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry.'”

32. Philippians 4:19 – “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

33. Psalm 34:10 – “The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.”

34. Matthew 4:4 – “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

35. Psalm 145:15 – “The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time.”

VI. “Forgive Us… As We Forgive” (Mercy)

 

The reciprocal nature of forgiveness.

36. Mark 11:25 – “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

37. Ephesians 4:32 – “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

38. Colossians 3:13 – “Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

39. 1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins.”

40. Matthew 18:21-22 – “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister… Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'”

41. Matthew 6:14 – “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”

42. Matthew 6:15 – “But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

43. Psalm 103:12 – “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

VII. “Lead Us Not Into Temptation” (Protection)

 

Guidance away from sin and trials.

44. 1 Corinthians 10:13 – “God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.”

45. James 1:13 – “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.”

46. Matthew 26:41 – “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

47. 2 Peter 2:9 – “The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials.”

48. Psalm 141:4 – “Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil so that I take part in wicked deeds.”

49. Proverbs 4:14 – “Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.”

VIII. “Deliver Us From Evil” (Deliverance)

 

Rescue from the Evil One.

50. John 17:15 – “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.”

51. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 – “But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.”

52. Psalm 121:7 – “The LORD will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life.”

53. 2 Timothy 4:18 – “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.”

54. 1 John 5:18 – “The One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them.”

55. Psalm 34:19 – “The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all.”

IX. The Doxology (Kingdom, Power, Glory)

 

Verses reflecting the traditional ending.

56. 1 Chronicles 29:11 – “Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor.”

57. 1 Chronicles 29:12 – “In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.”

58. Revelation 5:13 – “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”

59. Psalm 145:13 – “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations.”

60. Jude 1:25 – “To the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

25 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About “The Our Father Prayer”

 

Q1: Where is the “Our Father” prayer found in the Bible? A: It is found in two places: Matthew 6:9-13 (part of the Sermon on the Mount) and Luke 11:2-4 (Jesus teaching the disciples).

Q2: Did Jesus write the Lord’s Prayer? A: Jesus spoke and taught the prayer. It was later recorded by the apostles Matthew and Luke under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Q3: Why do some versions say “Debts” and others “Trespasses”? A: The Greek word in Matthew is opheilemata (debts). Luke uses hamartias (sins). “Trespasses” comes from William Tyndale’s translation and became standard in the Anglican Book of Common Prayer, influencing English tradition. Both convey the need for forgiveness.

Q4: What is the “Doxology” at the end? A: The phrase “For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory…” is not in the earliest manuscripts of Matthew. It was likely added by the early church for liturgical use, based on 1 Chronicles 29:11.

Q5: Why do Catholics and Protestants end the prayer differently? A: Catholics often pause after “deliver us from evil” for the priest to add a prayer, then recite the doxology. Protestants usually recite the prayer and doxology continuously.

Q6: What does “Hallowed” mean? A: It means “to make holy” or “to revere.” We are praying that God’s name be treated with the highest honor and respect in the world and in our lives.

Q7: What does “Thy Kingdom Come” mean? A: It is a prayer for God’s reign to be established fully on earth—both in the present (in our hearts) and in the future (when Jesus returns).

Q8: Why do we ask for “Daily Bread”? A: It symbolizes dependence on God for our immediate physical needs (food) and spiritual needs (The Word/Eucharist). It teaches us to trust Him for today, not just hoard for tomorrow.

Q9: Does God lead us into temptation? A: No, James 1:13 says God tempts no one. The phrase “Lead us not” is a Hebrew idiom meaning “Do not let us succumb to” or “Protect us from the time of trial.”

Q10: Who is the “Evil One”? A: The Greek text can mean “deliver us from evil” (abstract) or “the Evil One” (Satan). Most modern scholars agree it refers to Satan, the enemy of our souls.

Q11: Why must we forgive others to be forgiven? A: Jesus teaches that a heart unwilling to forgive others is a heart that has not truly understood or received God’s grace. Unforgiveness blocks our fellowship with the Father.

Q12: Can I pray the Lord’s Prayer every day? A: Yes. The Didache (an early church document) instructed Christians to pray it three times a day. It is a perfect model for daily devotion.

Q13: What does “On earth as it is in heaven” apply to? A: It applies to the first three petitions: May Your name be hallowed, Your kingdom come, and Your will be done—here on earth just as perfectly as it is in heaven.

Q14: Is it better to memorize it or use it as an outline? A: Both. Memorizing it allows you to pray it anytime. Using it as an outline (The “ACTS” method) helps you expand your prayer life in your own words.

Q15: What does “Abba” mean? A: It is the Aramaic word for “Father,” used by Jesus. It implies deep intimacy, similar to “Daddy” or “Papa,” but with reverent respect.

Q16: Why is it called “The Lord’s Prayer”? A: Because the Lord Jesus taught it to us. Some theologians call it the “Disciple’s Prayer” because it is meant for us to pray.

Q17: Does “daily bread” refer to Jesus? A: Yes, many Church Fathers believed it had a dual meaning: physical food and the “Bread of Life” (Jesus/Communion).

Q18: How does this prayer help with anxiety? A: It shifts focus from our problems (“My will”) to God’s sovereignty (“Thy will”) and assures us of His daily provision.

Q19: Why is the prayer in the plural (“Our”, “Us”)? A: It emphasizes community. We pray not just as individuals, but as part of the Family of God. Even when alone, we pray with the global Church.

Q20: What is the “Will of God”? A: In this context, it is God’s moral will (obedience) and His sovereign plan for redemption. We pray to align our desires with His.

Q21: Can non-Christians pray this prayer? A: Anyone can say the words, but calling God “Father” implies a relationship established through faith in Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:26).

Q22: What if I struggle to forgive? A: Pray the verse honestly: “Lord, help me forgive as I have been forgiven.” Use the prayer to ask for the strength to forgive.

Q23: Is the Lord’s Prayer a mantra? A: It should not be “vain repetition” (Matthew 6:7). It should be prayed with understanding and intention of the heart.

Q24: Why is the version in Luke shorter? A: Luke likely records a different occasion where Jesus taught the core of the prayer in a concise way, while Matthew records the fuller liturgical teaching.

Q25: What is the significance of “Amen”? A: “Amen” means “Truly” or “So be it.” It is our seal of faith, agreeing with everything we have just prayed.