Lords Prayer in the Sermon on the Mount

U. Luz, in the Dictionary of Jesus and the Bible, is cited as saying that the Sermon on the Mount has been built around the Lord’s Prayer as its centerpiece.  Not having his work, this week our intrepid adult class will use the text, some scissors and tape to attempt to correlate sections of the Sermon to the 7 phrases of the Prayer.

Do you want to play? 

The phrases of the Prayer: 1.  Our Father in heaven 2.  hallowed be your name 3. your kingdom come  4.  your will be done… 5. give us ….bread 6.  Forgive us…as we forgive 7.  Lead us not…but deliver.

The units, based on NIV divisions:

(5:1-12; 5:13-16; 5:17-20; 5:21-26; 5:27-30; 5:31-32; 5:33-37; 5:38-42; 5:43-48; 6:1-4; 6:5-8; 6:9-15; 6:16-18; 6:19-24; 6:25-34; 7:1-6; 7:7-12; 7:13-14; 7:15-23; 7:24-29)

Have fun, I will post my results next week.

Context and the Lord’s Prayer

So if you go to a bookstore or to Amazon and look for treatment of the Lord’s Prayer – Matthew 6:9-13, you will find a ton.  Have you been to church recently, then you have probably heard a sermon or sermons on the subject.  Have you been to a funeral, then you probably recited it, as the crowd said “debts” and “trespasses” at the same time.  (Both are OK since Luke uses the word for “trespass” and Matthew for “debt”).

Here is a thought.  What if you read the prayer it it’s setting.  In Matthew it is in chapter 6, which has at the start the theme of religion, piety or spiritual disciplines.  The verses cover giving to the poor (a surprisingly common theme in scripture if you take note of it), prayer and fasting. 

What is interesting and what we are pondering this week is the prevalence of the phrase “our/your father/in heaven”.  (5:14; 6:1; 6:4; 6:6; 6:8; 6:9; 6:14; 6:15; 6:18; 6:26; 6:32; 7:11 – see also 5:9 “sons”; 7:3 “brother’s eye”; 7:9 “son”;  7:11 “children”)

Some call “the Lord’s Prayer” the “Our Father” as those are the first words.  so then here is the question.  How does this theme of God as Father permeate and flavor the Lord’s Prayer?

• “Hallowed by thy name” – Familial honor and love.
• Kingdom – are Kingship and Fatherhood related?
• Daily Bread – don’t we eat with our families?

Consider this a lead, not a conclusion.  It could be a red herring.  However, I think that the idea of piety or spirituality in Jesus’ teaching is very personal.  The focus is on God, with whom we have a relationship.  It is not on the processes we use to gather power or merit. Do we need to repeat our prayers incessantly when God is our Father – rather like those kids at the grocery story who plead, cry, hold their breaths and kick until they get that candy bar…..

FR

The Case of Psalm 108

Psalm 108 is a composite of two portions from other Psalms of David.  Psalm 108:1-5 corresponds to Psalm 57:7-11.  Psalm 108:6-13 corresponds to Psalm 60:5-12. 

Notice that Psalm 57 is about David hiding from Saul in one cave (I Sam 22) or another (I Sam 24).  He is being hunted by his enemy, and is hidden away from sight.  The words chosen to start Ps 108 affirm the greatness and steadfastness of God.  One wonders at a man who sees stars from inside a cave!

Psalm 60 is about trouble during a military campaign.  David was a man of war.  The geography describes encircles Judea.  Here David affirms that for all his arms, God is his strength.

What then is the purpose for Ps 108?  We notice that the anxieties of the previous psalms are not included, but only the affirmations.  Is this Psalm then to be used in times of extreme danger?  Perhaps including personal peril (Ps 57) and national peril (Ps 60).  Or is it that two affirmations are better than one?

One is struck from the New Testament point of view, as to how David could affirm God in such beautiful language (v. 1-5) but that is set against language of war and conquest.

New Testament passages, such as Romans 12, know there are enemies, and that there is a battle.  The tools of conflict differ – “overcome evil with good”  (Rom 12:21).  Ps 108:12 rings true: 

“Give us aid against our enemy,

for the help of man is worthless.”