Dr. Martin Luther's

Small Catechism

The Six Chief Parts:

III. The Prayer of Jesus

The Introduction

Our Father/Mother in heaven.

What does this mean?

Here God encourages us to believe that God is truly our parent and we are God's children. We therefore are to pray to God with complete confidence just as children speak to their loving father or mother.

The First Petition

Hallowed be your name.

What does this mean?

God's name certainly is holy in itself, but we ask in this prayer that we may keep it holy.

When does this happen?

God's name is hallowed whenever the Word is taught in its truth and purity and we as children of God live in harmony with it. help us to do this, heavenly God! But anyone who teaches or lives contrary to the Word of God dishonors God's name among us. Keep us from doing this, heavenly God!

The Second Petition

Your kingdom come.

What does this mean?

God's kingdom comes indeed without our praying for it, but we ask in this prayer that it may come also to us.

When does this happen?

God's kingdom comes when our God in heaven gives us the Holy Spirit, so that by her grace we believe God's holy Word and live a godly life on earth now and in heaven forever.

The Third Petition

Your will be done, on earth as in heaven.

What does this mean?

The good and gracious will of God is surely done without our prayer, but we ask in this prayer that it may be done also among us.

When does this happen?

God's will is done when God hinders and defeats every evil scheme and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful self, which would prevent us from keeping God's name holy and would oppose the coming of God's rule. And God's will is done when God strengthens our faith and keeps us firm in the Word as long as we live. This is God's gracious and good will.

The Fourth Petition

Give us today our daily bread.

What does this mean?

God gives daily bread, even without our prayer, to all people, though sinful, but we ask in this prayer that God will help us to realize this and to receive our daily bread with thanks.

What is meant by "daily bread"?

Daily bread includes everything needed for this life, such as food, and clothing, home, and property, work, and income, a devoted family, an orderly community, good government, favorable weather, peace, and health, a good name, and true friends and neighbors.

The Fifth Petition

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

What does this mean?

We ask in this prayer that our loving God in heaven would not hold our sins against us and because of them refuse to hear our prayer. And we pray that God would give us everything by grace, for we sin every day and deserve nothing but punishment. So we on our part will heartily forgive and gladly do good to those who sin against us.

The Sixth Petition

And lead us not into temptation.

What does this mean?

God tempts no one to sin, but we ask in this prayer that God would watch over us and keep us so that the devil, the world, and our sinful self may not decieve us and draw us into false belief, despair, and other great and shameful sins. And we pray that even though we are so tempted we may still win the final victory.

The Seventh Petition

And deliver us from evil.

What does this mean?

We ask in this inclusive prayer that our God in heaven would save us from every evil to body and soul, and at our last hour would mercifully take us from the troubles of this world to God's realm in heaven.

The Doxology

For dominion, and ppower, and glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.

What does "Amen" mean?

Amen means "Yes, it shall be so." We say amen because we are certain that wuch petitions are pleasing to God in heaven and are heard by God. For God indeed has commanded us to pray in this way and has promised to hear us.

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Dated: 15 June 2003, MTH