Luke 11:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And he said to them, "When you pray, say: "Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.

NIV: He said to them, "When you pray, say: " ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.

NASB: And He said to them, 'When you pray, say: ‘ Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come.

CSB: He said to them, "Whenever you pray, say, Father, your name be honored as holy. Your kingdom come.

NLT: Jesus said, 'This is how you should pray: 'Father, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon.

KJV: And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

NKJV: So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

The core elements of the Lord's Prayer are strongly related to Jesus' instructions to His disciples as they spread the message of the kingdom of God.

After a general acknowledgment of God's holiness, they pray that His kingdom would come. The message they spread was that God's kingdom had come (Luke 9:2; 10:9) in the form of localized healings and exorcisms (Luke 9:1; 10:9, 17). We know His kingdom will not be fully realized until Jesus returns. To pray for God's kingdom to come fully mirrors John's plea in Revelation 22:20: "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!"

Jesus' words, "When you pray, say…" suggests it's acceptable to recite pre-written prayers so long as they're prayed sincerely.

"Father" is from the Greek pater, which has the same connotation as the Aramaic abba. However, it's important to understand that abba does not have the same implications as the modern English word "daddy." Abba is a recognition of God's authority and our close relationship with Him, but with a strong note of respect and awe, as the next word shows. "Hallowed" means to be holy or set apart. "Name" isn't just the letters and sounds that identify a person; it means their character, reputation, authority, and position. Even as the world takes God for granted, His children are to give Him the respect He deserves.

God's kingdom is the manifestation of His power, glory, and sovereignty and the nullification or destruction of evil forces. The aspect related to God the Son began when He took on human form and culminates when He takes possession of and authority over the earth during the end times. In Jesus' ministry, the kingdom of God was made manifest through healings and exorcisms (Luke 10:9, 17). But those signs also led to judgment when people saw Jesus' works and rejected Him as their savior (Luke 10:12–16).

Luke 11:1–4 is the last in a series of stories about the blessings people receive when they follow Jesus. In three sub-sections, Jesus teaches the disciples about prayer (Luke 11:1–13). First, He provides "The Lord's Prayer" which illustrates how completely dependent we are on God (Luke 11:1–4). Next, Jesus will challenge the disciples to trust that God works for their good, better than a friend or even a father. The Lord's prayer is also recorded in Matthew 6:9–13, although possibly at a different time and event.

In what some scholars refer to as "The Travelogue to Jerusalem" (Luke 9:51—19:27), Jesus prepares His disciples for His crucifixion and resurrection and the establishment of the church. The description begins with Christ teaching the disciples how to spread the news of the kingdom of God and reaffirming how they will be blessed, culminating in the Lord's Prayer (Luke 9:51—11:13). Luke 11 finishes with accounts of leaders who reject Jesus. The remainder of the travelogue gives a pattern of teaching on the kingdom of God, miracles, and explanations of salvation. Then Jesus enters Jerusalem to face the cross.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.