Jesus taught his followers to pray with these specific words that begin a direct conversation with God. The bible verse our father who art is one of the most recognized passages in all of Scripture, found in Matthew 6:9-13. This prayer, often called the Lord’s Prayer, serves as a model for how believers should approach their Heavenly Father.
You might have recited these words since childhood without fully understanding their depth. Let’s break down this powerful prayer verse by verse. We’ll look at its meaning, context, and how you can apply it to your daily life.
Bible Verse Our Father Who Art
The exact phrase “Our Father who art in heaven” opens the prayer that Jesus gave during the Sermon on the Mount. This was a radical way to address God. In Jewish tradition, God’s name was considered too holy to speak aloud. Jesus changed that by teaching his followers to call God “Father.”
Here is the complete passage from the King James Version:
“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” (Matthew 6:9-13 KJV)
Context Of The Lord’s Prayer
Jesus gave this prayer right after warning against hypocritical prayer. He said not to pray like the Pharisees who stood on street corners to be seen. Instead, he taught a simple, direct prayer that focuses on God’s character and our needs.
The prayer appears in two places in the Bible:
- Matthew 6:9-13 (longer version, part of the Sermon on the Mount)
- Luke 11:2-4 (shorter version, when a disciple asked Jesus to teach them to pray)
Both versions start with addressing God as Father. This shows the intimate relationship believers are invited to have with God.
Breaking Down Each Line
Let’s look at each part of the prayer and what it means for you today.
Our Father Which Art In Heaven
This opening line establishes two important truths. First, God is personal and relational. He is your Father, not a distant force. Second, God is holy and transcendent. He is in heaven, meaning he is above all creation.
Notice the word “our.” This prayer is not just for individuals. It connects you to the whole family of believers. When you pray this, you join millions of Christians across history and around the world.
Hallowed Be Thy Name
“Hallowed” means holy or set apart. This line is about worship. You are declaring that God’s name is sacred and worthy of honor. It shifts your focus from your problems to God’s greatness.
Practical application: Start your prayers by acknowledging who God is. Thank him for his holiness, love, and power before asking for anything.
Thy Kingdom Come
This is a request for God’s rule to be established on earth. It looks forward to the day when Jesus returns and makes all things right. But it also applies now. You are asking God to reign in your heart, your family, and your community.
How to apply this: Pray for God’s justice, peace, and righteousness to increase in your sphere of influence. Ask him to use you to bring his kingdom values to your workplace, school, or neighborhood.
Thy Will Be Done In Earth As It Is In Heaven
Heaven is a place where God’s will is perfectly obeyed. This line asks for the same obedience on earth. It is a surrender of your own plans to God’s greater purposes.
This can be hard to pray honestly. You might have your own ideas about how your life should go. But this prayer aligns your heart with God’s heart. It says, “Not my will, but yours be done.”
Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread
This is a request for daily provision. Notice it says “this day.” Jesus teaches you to depend on God one day at a time. You do not need to worry about tomorrow. God will provide what you need when you need it.
Practical steps for trusting God with your needs:
- Identify your basic needs: food, shelter, clothing, and work.
- Thank God for what he has already provided.
- Ask him to meet your specific needs today.
- Trust him for tomorrow when tomorrow comes.
And Forgive Us Our Debts As We Forgive Our Debtors
This line connects your forgiveness from God with your forgiveness of others. “Debts” here means sins or wrongdoings. You are asking God to forgive you just as you forgive those who have wronged you.
Jesus emphasized this point right after the prayer. He said in Matthew 6:14-15: “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
This does not mean you earn forgiveness by forgiving others. It means an unforgiving heart blocks your own experience of God’s forgiveness. If you hold grudges, you cannot fully receive God’s grace.
And Lead Us Not Into Temptation But Deliver Us From Evil
God does not tempt anyone (James 1:13). This line is a request for guidance and protection. You are asking God to keep you away from situations that would lead you into sin. And if you do face temptation, you ask him to rescue you from evil.
How to pray this effectively:
- Ask God to help you recognize temptation before it becomes sin.
- Pray for strength to resist when you are tempted.
- Ask for a way of escape, as promised in 1 Corinthians 10:13.
For Thine Is The Kingdom And The Power And The Glory Forever Amen
This closing line is a doxology, a statement of praise. It acknowledges that all authority, power, and honor belong to God forever. The word “Amen” means “so be it” or “let it be done.”
Some early manuscripts of Matthew do not include this line. But it appears in later copies and has been used in Christian worship for centuries. It is a fitting end to a prayer that begins with God and ends with God.
How To Pray The Lord’s Prayer Today
You can use this prayer in several ways. It is not a magic formula to repeat mindlessly. Jesus said “after this manner pray ye,” meaning use it as a pattern.
Method 1: Pray It Word For Word
Reciting the prayer verbally can be meaningful. Many churches pray it together during services. You can pray it alone as a way to connect with the historic faith. Just be careful not to fall into vain repetition (Matthew 6:7).
Method 2: Use It As An Outline
This is the most powerful way to pray the Lord’s Prayer. Use each line as a starting point for your own prayers. For example:
- When you say “Our Father,” spend time thanking God for being your Father.
- When you say “Hallowed be thy name,” worship God for his holiness.
- When you say “Give us this day our daily bread,” bring your specific needs to God.
This method turns a memorized prayer into a living conversation with God.
Method 3: Meditate On Each Phrase
Take one line of the prayer each day. Think about its meaning. Ask the Holy Spirit to apply it to your heart. Write down what you learn. This deepens your understanding over time.
Common Questions About The Lord’s Prayer
Many people have questions about this famous prayer. Here are answers to some frequent ones.
Why Do Some Versions Say “Trespasses” Instead Of “Debts”?
Different Bible translations use different words. “Debts” is more literal to the Greek word “opheilemata.” “Trespasses” comes from the Latin Vulgate and emphasizes crossing a line. Both mean the same thing: sins or wrongdoings that need forgiveness.
Is The Lord’s Prayer In The Old Testament?
No, the Lord’s Prayer is only found in the New Testament. However, many of its themes appear in Old Testament prayers. For example, the Psalms contain praise, confession, and requests for deliverance.
Can Non-Christians Pray The Lord’s Prayer?
Anyone can recite the words. But the prayer is specifically for those who have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Calling God “Father” implies being part of his family through faith in Christ (John 1:12).
Practical Benefits Of Praying This Way
Praying the Lord’s Prayer regularly can change your life. Here are some benefits you might experience.
- It keeps your focus on God instead of yourself.
- It reminds you to forgive others.
- It builds trust in God’s provision.
- It aligns your will with God’s will.
- It connects you with the global church.
- It gives you words when you do not know how to pray.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
When praying the Lord’s Prayer, watch out for these pitfalls.
- Rushing through it without thinking about the words.
- Using it to show off your spirituality.
- Ignoring the parts that challenge you, like forgiving others.
- Treating it as a good luck charm.
- Forgetting that it is a model, not a script.
The Lord’s Prayer In Different Translations
Here is how the prayer reads in a few popular English translations. Comparing them can give you fresh insight.
New International Version (NIV):
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”
English Standard Version (ESV):
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
New Living Translation (NLT):
“Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.”
Notice how each translation captures the same meaning with slightly different words. The core message remains the same.
Historical Use Of The Lord’s Prayer
Christians have prayed this prayer since the first century. It appears in an early church document called the Didache, written around 100 AD. The Didache instructs believers to pray the Lord’s Prayer three times a day.
Throughout church history, this prayer has been used in:
- Public worship services
- Private devotions
- Baptismal ceremonies
- Teaching new believers
- Times of persecution
It is one of the few prayers that nearly all Christian traditions share. Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox, and other groups all pray these same words.
Teaching The Lord’s Prayer To Children
If you have children, you can teach them this prayer early. Here is a simple way to explain each part to a child.
- Our Father in heaven: God is our loving Dad who lives in heaven.
- Hallowed be your name: God’s name is special and we should respect it.
- Your kingdom come: We want God to be in charge everywhere.
- Your will be done: We want what God wants, not just what we want.
- Give us today our daily bread: Please give us what we need today.
- Forgive us our debts: Please forgive us when we do wrong.
- As we forgive our debtors: Help us forgive people who hurt us.
- Lead us not into temptation: Keep us away from things that make us sin.
- Deliver us from evil: Keep us safe from bad things.
Children can learn this prayer by repetition. But also help them understand what they are saying. This builds a foundation for a lifelong prayer life.
Connecting The Lord’s Prayer To Other Bible Verses
The themes in this prayer appear throughout Scripture. Here are some related verses you can study.
On God as Father: Romans 8:15 – “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”
On God’s kingdom: Matthew 6:33 – “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
On daily provision: Philippians 4:19 – “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
On forgiveness: Ephesians 4:32 – “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
On temptation: 1 Corinthians 10:13 – “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able.”
These verses deepen your understanding of what you are praying. They show that the Lord’s Prayer is rooted in the whole Bible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Exact Bible Verse Our Father Who Art?
The exact verse is Matthew 6:9 in the King James Version. It reads: “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” This is the opening line of the Lord’s Prayer.
Why Do We Say “Who Art” Instead Of “Who Are”?
“Art” is an old English form of the verb “are.” The King James Version was translated in 1611, when this language was common. Modern translations use “who are” or “in heaven” instead.
Is The Lord’s Prayer A Prayer To Jesus Or To God The Father?
The prayer is addressed to God the Father. Jesus taught his disciples to pray to the Father. However, Christians often pray to Jesus as well, since he is also God. The Lord’s Prayer specifically models prayer to the Father.
Can I Change The Words Of The Lord’s Prayer?
You can paraphrase the prayer as long as you keep the meaning. Jesus gave this as a pattern, not a rigid formula. The important thing is the heart behind the words, not the exact phrasing.
Why Is The Lord’s Prayer Important For Christians Today?
It remains important because it teaches us how to pray. It covers worship, submission, provision, forgiveness, and protection. It connects us to Jesus’ own teaching and to the historic church. It is a simple but profound guide for daily conversation with God.
Final Thoughts On Praying This Verse
The bible verse our father who art is more than a memorized prayer. It is an invitation into relationship with the living God. When you pray these words with understanding, they become a bridge between your heart and heaven.
Start using this prayer as a daily guide. Let it shape your priorities. Let it soften your heart toward others. Let it remind you that you are not alone. You have a Father who hears, cares, and provides.
Pray it slowly. Pray it thoughtfully. Pray it with faith. And watch how God uses this ancient prayer to transform your modern life.