Jesus Preached The Sermon On The Mount Religion Essay

When Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount, he was prophesying on moral concerns. Jesus was concerned with how his followings were doing determinations so he taught his hearers some spiritual patterns. Jesus illustrates what the church is supposed to look like through this discourse. During the discourse, Jesus instructs all his hearers as to how to pray. The supplication Jesus teaches his adherents is found in Matthew and Luke. For this documents sake it will look at Matthews history. Matthew records Jesus ‘ supplication in the 6th chapter.

And take us non into enticement, but present us from immorality: For thine is the land, and the power, and the glorification, everlastingly. Amons. ”[ 1 ]

This supplication is a supplication we have all grown up larning to pray. Some households say this supplication before they eat dinner, before bed, and during Christian vacations. The Lord ‘s Prayer is a supplication curates encourage their fold to pray, we even say this supplication communally as a public signifier of Holy Eucharist or in private religiousness. A huge bulk of Christians know this supplication. When asked, we are able to declaim this supplication ; but how many know what it means when we pray it? What is this supplication stating theologically? Is this a supplication that we all should pray? What does it look like to populate out the Lord ‘s Prayer in 21st century America? If Jesus instructs us to pray this supplication ; is it non of import to understand what we are stating?

Before this paper unpacks the divinity behind this supplication, it is important to understand the history of the Lord ‘s Prayer. “ The supplication Jesus taught his followings has been called the Lord ‘s Prayer since the Patristic period when the early male parent began to analyze this transition. ”[ 2 ]Throughout the old ages, bookmans have been analyzing this sacred supplication and there have been several add-ons to the original manuscript. The first add-on to the supplication occurs at the terminal, as a Doxology. “ For thine is the power, and glorification everlastingly.[ 3 ]“ The earliest add-on appears for the first clip in the church ‘s earliest catechism, the Didache.[ 4 ]The Didache adapted fast into the Holy Eucharist of the church. Harmonizing to the Didache, the supplication is to be said three times a twenty-four hours following the Judaic form.[ 5 ]The following add-on was when the word “ land ” was incorporated into the doxology. “ The earliest informant to this textual enlargement appears to be the fifth-century Washington Codex. ”[ 6 ]“ Ultimately the word ‘kingdom ‘ was added to impute to God every bit much as the power and glorification. ”[ 7 ]The land belongs to God. The land is made up of those who participate in the life and instruction of Jesus Christ. The last add-on to the early manuscript of the Lord ‘s Prayer was “ Amen. ” “ When Amens is spoken in religion at the terminal of the supplication ; it resembles the uneasiness of being God ‘s darling girls and boies, it is an avowal that Abba God is committed to the fulfilment of all the requests of the supplication. ”[ 8 ]It is of import to admit the add-ons because it shows the human finger prints in the supplication. For this documents sake, the supplication will be examined with maintaining the add-ons in topographic point. The add-ons add of import theological significance to this supplication.

The three requests this paper will seek to better understand are all in the same Greek tense. “ All three of these requests are in the Godhead passive and aorist tense. ”[ 9 ]In the Greek the aorist tense represent undefined and completed action. The Godhead passive, assumes God is the 1 behind the action. In this transition from Matthew the Godhead passive is important because it is through God ‘s strength we are able to pray this supplication and see the fruits of God ‘s approvals. The Godhead passive shows God is behind all of the action for fostering God ‘s land.

With reaping a better apprehension of the history behind the Lord ‘s Prayer, it is clip to plunge into the theological branchings of this supplication. But, before this paper seeks to better understand the supplication ; it is of import to retrieve there is no set expression or set of words that make certain supplications get answered. Praying this paper will non reply all of our supplications. This supplication helps us larn to pray. When Jesus teaches his adherents to pray, he teaches them to pray with humbleness. Praying is non to inform God of our wants, demands, and desires. “ The Lord ‘s Prayer therefore centres on the big issues of God ‘s redemptional plan instead than on more everyday affairs. The adherents are to pray above all for the realisation of God ‘s eschatological plan on Earth. ”[ 10 ]“ The Lord ‘s Prayer has traditionally been divided into the thou-petitions that address God as such: Thy name, Thy land, and Thy will, and we-petitions that reference God with respects to our demand: give us bread, forgive us, and present us from immorality. ”[ 11 ]This paper will concentrate on the three thou-petitions ; Thy name, Thy land, and Thy will. These three requests of the supplication are closely linked together and to redemption.

“ Our Father in Eden, hallowed be your name ”[ 12 ]Jesus introduces us to God through the gap words of the Lord ‘s Prayer. Jesus taught his adherents to concentrate all of their supplications on God because it is through God ‘s power we are redeemed and brought to Christlikeness. Jesus taught his adherents to pray with a balance of familiarity and regard. The first phrase of this request is both enlightening and debatable. Jesus opens this supplication by giving us an image of God as male parent. Throughout the Old and New Testament we see a assortment of different names attributed to God. Throughout our Christian tradition God has been considered Father. God has been considered Father because we all are kids of God. Throughout our history there has been a false facade that merely work forces can be important. Thus we make God into a adult male or Father figure. Throughout the New Testament we see Jesus speech production of God as his Father. All of our illustrations of who God is throughout the Bible have a masculine undertone. If one takes a deeper expression at the Greek they will shortly happen that God is neither masculine nor famine.

Delegating a gender to God is really debatable. Is God truly Father? Can God truly have a gender? If we attribute God as a male, how do we react to people who have had opprobrious male parents? “ A survey found that kids ‘s feelings about God normally reflect their relationship with parents, particularly their male parent. Those with rough parents are much more likely to fear God than those whose parents love. ”[ 13 ]These people could ne’er look up to another adult male, yet we ask them to pray to a adult male. This is really debatable and is the job with delegating masculine features to God. It besides goes the same for imputing famine features to God. Some have been profoundly hurt by their female parents. Can we delegate human features to God? When we limit God to a gender we are seting God in a box. We should non throw out the Lord ‘s Prayer because it calls upon God as Father, we merely need make certain we are utilizing gender inclusive linguistic communication and being cautious of the 1s around us.

While looking at this request a inquiry arises. Why did Jesus learn his adherents to pray in the plural? It is of import to understand why Jesus instructs us to pray “ our male parent. ” “ God as Father knows the terminal from the beginning and offers us counsel in our confusing universe. He is the ‘Father in Eden ‘ whose resources are eternal and ageless. ”[ 14 ]German theologist and sermonizer Helmut Thielicke said, “ We find the first significance of the plural in the individual who incited us to pray in this manner. ”[ 15 ]The plural besides assure us that we ne’er pray entirely. When we pray the Lord ‘s Prayer we are praying with the Body of Christ. This thought of community supports on looking throughout the Lord ‘s Prayer. Another deduction of the plural is a sense of belonging. In a universe that is aching, broken, and tied down by the bondage of wickedness we all need a topographic point to belong. This sense of belonging embracings all who confess Jesus Christ as Lord. The plural affirms we are all apart of God ‘s household. The plural besides implies that God is continually accessible to all. God is non merely for the elected, but instead redemption and God ‘s grace is extended to all people who are willing to name upon the name of the Lord.

The last phrase of this request raises the inquiry what is in a name? Throughout the Old and New Testament your name was of great significance. To understand person ‘s name means to understand their nature. In this request to cognize God ‘s name means to understand God ‘s nature. When we pray “ Hallowed be thy name, ” we are finally stating God reveal yourself to us. What does it intend to consecrate person ‘s name? “ Hallowed derives from the Grecian word for sanctum. Here in Jesus request, Jesus suggests to ‘to maintain sanctum ‘ or ‘to sanctify in our Black Marias. ‘ ”[ 16 ]“ When you hallow person ‘s name it implies three different thoughts ; holiness, fear, and worship. Jesus places this at the beginning of the Lord ‘s Prayer to assist us rinse our Black Marias and heads as we enter the sanctuary of supplication with God. ”[ 17 ]When we pray for God to be hallowed, we are stating God we give you first topographic point in our bosom and precedences. When believing about this construct of consecrating God ‘s name several inquiries come to mind. What does it intend to inquire God to put his name apart in our universe? A manner we can consecrate God ‘s name is by populating out the ground why we were created. We were created to love God, love others, love our ego, and attention for creative activity. When we hallow God ‘s name it is populating out the kernel of God ‘s nature. “ In a Judaic context, this request refers to God moving in fulfilment of the promises to Israel, and therefore to the silencing of the twits of her enemies. In short, God ‘s name will merely be honored when God brings the land and accomplishes God ‘s will on Earth. ”[ 18 ]

“ Thy land semen. ”[ 19 ]The 2nd request refers to the eschatological regulation of God. “ The Gospel is itself, above all, the proclamation that God ‘s promised regulation has now begun in and through the work of Jesus the christ, so the adherents are therefore encouraged to pray that what has begun in the ministry of Jesus, what they have now begun to take part in, may be experience in all comprehensiveness. ”[ 20 ]Jesus understood that He was the manner to the land, but the land is where God reigns and regulations. “ Thy land semen ” recognizes that God ‘s program is worked out through justness and peace. Jesus Christ illustrated this through his life and instructions. All of Jesus ‘ instruction revolved around his construct of the Kingdom of God when God entirely will reign. The Grecian verb tense suggests “ Thy land semen ” is the concluding completed manner. ”[ 21 ]“ Thy land semen ” therefore becomes non merely a petition for the victory of God in that concluding twenty-four hours, but besides realizes any twenty-four hours could be the twenty-four hours our Lord and Savior comes back. “ Thy land semen ” therefore becomes a manner of praying for the concluding judgement and the 2nd coming. The request would be a manner of praying for whatever is needed now so that concluding and glorious twenty-four hours may come shortly.[ 22 ]“

Many people have wondered and questioned the land. Is the land something God will make when he comes back, or has God already created the land? In order for God ‘s land to “ come, ” two things are implied. First, the land had non come in its full reign. Second, the land is in being. If we were to presume that the land does non be yet, the right phrase would be, Thy land be created. If on the other manus, “ Thy land semen, ” as Jesus taught us to pray, the land already exists. Throughout the New Testament when Jesus talks about the land he talks about it being among us. “ The land of God does non come with your careful observation, nor will people state, ‘Here it is, ‘ or ‘There it is, ‘ because the land of God is within you. ”[ 23 ]If we want “ Thy land semen, ” we must be will and pray “ my land go. ” When we pray this, we are inquiring is for the willingness to subject ourselves to God

When one prays this request, how does it impact our day-to-day life? When we pray, “ Thy land semen, ” our mentality needs to switch to the mentality of God. “ To pray this supplication may name for me to nail my ain lands, that God ‘s land might hold distinction. ”[ 24 ]When we anticipate the land coming is when life has significance. The universe is seen through new lenses. One who prays this request develops kingdom eyes. A individual who is kingdom oriented celebrates life, redemption, the gifts of God, and the smallest fingerprints of God. When we develop a new position or “ kingdom eyes ” we invest to a great extent into the Kingdom of God because we see the great potency and the call God places on our life. With seeking with kingdom eyes everything has a intent. Every hurting, injury, and demand has a intent to indicate us back to salvation. This request echoes what John says in Revelation, “ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. ”[ 25 ]

The 2nd and 3rd requests are closely linked together. “ Thy land semen, Thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Eden. ”[ 26 ]The 2nd sentence defines the first. So we have the perfect definition of the land of God. “ The land of God is a society on Earth where God ‘s will is absolutely done as it is in Eden. ”[ 27 ]What do we anticipate to go on when we pray this 3rd request, “ Thy will be done ” ? “ The first three requests all focus on inquiring God to work in our universe to do God ‘s sanctity seeable through consecrating God ‘s name, to multiply the land, and to carry through God ‘s overall design. ”[ 28 ]Again, it is important to retrieve this first portion of this supplication is composed of the first three requests that are all spoken in the plural. When we individualize this pray we rob this supplication of its significance. When one individualizes this supplication we distort the significance and flow of the whole supplication. When we pray this request we become God centered. Everything we do, we want to be God ‘s will. When we pray this request we are going vulnerable and unfastened to God for God ‘s work in our life. We declare, show us what you can make with us today. The astonishing portion of going vulnerable is we are ne’er left entirely ; we have God ‘s strength to pull upon.

The Lord ‘s Prayer is a supplication of committedness. We pray to perpetrate ourselves to follow God ‘s will and aim. This supplication is a committedness that brings about the Kingdom of God. “ Every clip we pray for God ‘s land to come and for God ‘s will to be done we make a fresh, up-to-date committedness to faithfulness. ”[ 29 ]God does non anticipate partial committedness, but instead, God expects one hundred per centum of our committedness and attempt. If one is traveling to pray for God ‘s will to be done, one must be ready to perpetrate and move in obeisance. Obedience can come at great costs. Jesus non merely taught us this supplication and for God ‘s will to be done but he besides demonstrated what it means to populate out God ‘s will. The Lord ‘s Prayer is extremist and we can non take it lightly. To pray for God ‘s will is so extremist that it cost Jesus his life. Jesus was so obedient and sincere when he prayed that he committed to God ‘s design. Jesus prayed “ My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet non as I will, but as you will. ”[ 30 ]Latter Jesus goes on and repeat the words of the Lord ‘s Prayer. “ My, Father, if it is non possible for this cup to be taken off unless I drink it, may your will be done. ”[ 31 ]From Jesus life we see how one must perpetrate and go obedient to God ‘s will. Perpetrating to God ‘s will could come at a great cost, but one must recognize God ‘s will is to convey about the land.

When we pray it is easy to fall into the iniquitous trap of writhing God ‘s arm to acquire our manner. Praying for our will can damage our relationship with God. We must ever pray for God ‘s will to be done. It would hold been truly easy for Jesus to travel against God ‘s will in the Garden of Gethsemane, but He chose to be obedient. “ When 1 refuses to pray for the will of God, they must experience that their ain will is superior to God ‘s. ”[ 32 ]When we pray for our will, we are conveying to God that we know more. Merely traveling out on a shelf here, but God knows so much more and is so much wiser than anyone. We must larn to pray for God ‘s will and for continual strength, support, and obeisance.

Curates must make a better occupation of educating their folds. If we do non educate our fold on the significance of the Lord ‘s Prayer we are put on the lining the opportunity of losing an of import portion of our Christian tradition and Holy Eucharist. The Lord ‘s Prayer gives intending for how we pray. If we take this supplication earnestly and pray with an unfastened bosom there are several deductions. This whole supplication is spoken from the plural point of position. This gives great significance to the Lord ‘s Prayer. One must retrieve we are ne’er praying this supplication entirely. When we are praying this supplication we are praying with the larger church household. Through this supplication Jesus introduces us to God. Not merely does Jesus present us to God, but, Jesus introduces us to the eschatological regulation of God. We learn about God ‘s land and how everything God does is through the fulfilment of God ‘s will and God ‘s grad design. If we were to populate out the Lord ‘s Prayer in 21st century America we would be a wholly different group of people. America would see resurgence like no other. As a church we would be populating out the imago Dei. We would be populating out the ground we were created.

The first half of the Lord ‘s Prayer is focused on the land coming and the terminal times. In Stanley Hauerwas and William Willimon ‘s book Resident Aliens, one of their chief premises was how our eschatology or divinity of the terminal times affects what we are making now. These writers suggest that our Christian moralss is populating out the Kingdom. “ Ethics is a map of the telos, the terminal. It makes all the difference in the universe how one regards the terminal of the universe, ‘end ‘ non so much in the sense of its concluding breath, but ‘end ‘ in the sense of the intent, the end, the consequence.[ 33 ]“ If every bit Christians we take the Lord ‘s Prayer and what these writers suggest to be true ; so we would be showing a batch more action. If we pray for God ‘s will to be done and for God ‘s land to come we must willing to populate these requests out in our life. When we pray for God ‘s will, it is a request for God to give us the strength and travel us into action. “ Thy will, ” therefore becomes a missional request. “ By praying this request, God ‘s people non merely incite God to carry through God ‘s will, but offer to enlist in the mission of conveying people to God ‘s Kingdom. ”[ 34 ]If we take these requests earnestly and pray this supplication we must go obedient and bring people into God ‘s land.

“ The first portion of the Lord ‘s Prayer is devoted chiefly to the concluding result of the earthly procedure and the ageless fate of world in the Kingdom of God. ”[ 35 ]The Lord ‘s Prayer is a life altering supplication in which 1 must make bold to pray. When praying with an unfastened bosom, be ready for God to come into your life and transform it. Besides be ready to be obedient to the will of God as we hallow God ‘s name and ticker as God ‘s land semen.