CHAPTER I THE MODEL PRAYER THIS is the first Christian prayer. It was prescribed by Jesus to his disciples at the beginning of his public ministry, and constitutes a bridge connecting the old dispensation and the new. Its form is Jewish-the claim being made that it might be entirely reconstructed from words taken from the Jewish sacred writings. But if its form is Jewish, its spirit is Christian. True, we miss in it certain elements which could only have come later, when the work of Christ was accomplished and the new age of the Spirit was brought in; but, looked at in its place in the development of Christian truth, it is of priceless value as forming the first introduction into the temple of Christian worship. On this wise this prayer was given; "It came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples" (Luke 11. 1). John had evidently taught his disciples some form of prayer, and the disciples of Jesus asked him to do the same. Hitherto he had given no definite instruction regarding prayer. He had taught by example. He had been content to create a prayer-spirit, leaving it free to express itself in whatever form might be deemed suitable. He laid little stress upon outward forms, knowing full well the tendency for form to degenerate into formality. But the time had come when to the contagion of his example it was necessary that he add specific instruction and direction on the subject of prayer, in order that his disciples might be able to share with him more fully in what was deepest in his own religious experience. Their request, voiced by an unnamed disciple, was, "Master, teach us thy secret, that we may pray as thou prayest." It is not to be inferred that they did not pray up to this time; what they desired was that they might be taught to pray right; or, more explicitly, taught to pray in Christ's way. It was in response to this request that Jesus gave utterance to that simple, direct, and comprehensive prayer, which has become the model of all true prayer, and which is known as The Lord's Prayer. Matthew's version of "the prayer which teaches to pray" is the one commonly used. It reads thus: "Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one" (6. 9-13). This prayer of prayers sweeps the entire circle of human needs. It teaches the art of prayer and indicates its scope. It was not designed to exhaust the subject of prayer, but merely to be suggestive, and set the thought of the world in the right direc |