Prayer and the Lord's Prayer
Matthew 6:5-15
Matt.6.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- οταν: CONJ
- προσευχησθε: VERB,pres,mp,imp,2,pl
- ουκ: PART,neg
- εσεσθε: VERB,fut,mp,ind,2,pl
- ως: ADV
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- υποκριται·οτι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- φιλουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- εν: PREP
- ταις: ART,dat,pl,f
- συναγωγαις: NOUN,dat,pl,f
- και: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- ταις: ART,dat,pl,f
- γωνιαις: NOUN,dat,pl,f
- των: ART,gen,pl,f
- πλατειων: NOUN,gen,pl,f
- εστωτες: VERB,perf,act,ptc,nom,pl,m
- προσευχεσθαι: VERB,pres,mp,inf
- οπως: CONJ
- φανωσιν: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,pl
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,m
- ανθρωποις·αμην: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- λεγω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- απεχουσι: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- μισθον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,c
Parallels
- Matthew 6:1-4 (structural): Immediate context in the Sermon on the Mount warning against performing religious acts for human approval (almsgiving) — same exhortation and literary unit as 6:5.
- Matthew 23:5 (verbal): Jesus elsewhere accuses Pharisees of doing their deeds 'to be seen by men,' repeating the same language and charge against public, reputation-seeking piety.
- Luke 18:10-14 (thematic): Parable contrasting a boastful, public Pharisee’s prayer with a humble tax‑collector’s — underscores the danger of proud, outward prayer and that human‑applause is not God's reward.
- Isaiah 29:13 (allusion): Prophetic critique of worship that is merely outward ('honor me with lips, but hearts far from me') — thematically parallels Jesus’ condemnation of hypocritical, showy prayer.
Alternative generated candidates
- And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.
- And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.
Matt.6.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- συ: PRON,nom,sg,2
- δε: CONJ
- οταν: CONJ
- προσευχη: VERB,pres,act,subj,2,sg
- εισελθε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- ταμειον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- και: CONJ
- κλεισας: PTCP,aor,act,nom,sg,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- θυραν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- προσευξαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- πατρι: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- κρυπτω·και: ADJ,dat,sg,n+CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- πατηρ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- βλεπων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- κρυπτω: ADJ,dat,sg,n
- αποδωσει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- σοι: PRON,dat,sg,2
Parallels
- Matthew 6:5 (structural): Immediate context/contrast: Jesus contrasts the hypocrites who pray publicly to be seen with the instruction to pray privately in the inner room.
- Luke 18:9-14 (thematic): Parallel teaching on the proper attitude in prayer—contrasts public, self‑justifying prayer (the Pharisee) with humble, private prayer (the tax collector).
- Psalm 139:1-4 (verbal): Language and theme of God’s knowledge of hidden things—God ‘knows when I sit and rise’ and perceives what is done in secret, echoing ‘the Father who sees in secret.’
- Colossians 3:23-24 (thematic): Shares the principle of acting (or praying) as for the Lord rather than for human approval—service to God, not human applause, is what is ultimately rewarded.
Alternative generated candidates
- But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut the door, and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
- But when you pray, go into your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
Matt.6.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Προσευχομενοι: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- μη: PART
- βατταλογησητε: VERB,aor,act,subj,2,pl
- ωσπερ: CONJ,compar
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- εθνικοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- δοκουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- γαρ: PART
- οτι: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- πολυλογια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,c
- εισακουσθησονται·: VERB,fut,pass,ind,3,pl
Parallels
- Luke 11:2-4 (verbal): Luke's parallel to the Lord's Prayer and Jesus' instruction on how to pray — like Matthew 6:7 it presents teaching on prayer language and discourages formulaic speech by giving a concise model prayer.
- Matthew 6:5 (structural): Immediate contextual parallel in the Sermon on the Mount — both verses criticize ostentatious, performative prayer (v.5) and meaningless, repetitive prayer (v.7) as improper motives/ways of praying.
- Isaiah 29:13 (thematic): Themes overlap: Isaiah condemns lip service and outward ritual when hearts are distant from God, paralleling Jesus' critique of empty, repetitive prayer without sincerity.
- 1 Corinthians 14:14-16 (thematic): Paul emphasizes intelligible, sincere prayer (praying 'with the mind' as well as the spirit) and warns against unintelligible or empty utterance in worship, resonating with Jesus' rejection of meaningless repetition.
- Luke 18:9-14 (thematic): The parable contrasts self‑righteous, public prayer (showy words) with humble, sincere petition, echoing Matthew's concern with the disposition and authenticity of prayer rather than mere verbosity.
Alternative generated candidates
- And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases like the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
- And when you pray, do not use empty phrases like the Gentiles, for they suppose that by their many words they will be heard.
Matt.6.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- μη: PART
- ουν: PART
- ομοιωθητε: VERB,aor,pass,subj,2,pl
- αυτοις: PRON,dat,pl,3
- οιδεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,3,sg
- γαρ: PART
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- πατηρ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- ων: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,m
- χρειαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εχετε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- προ: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,m
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- αιτησαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Luke 12:30 (verbal): Uses nearly identical language: 'For your Father knows that you need all these things,' echoing Matthew's claim that the Father knows your needs before you ask.
- Matthew 7:11 (thematic): Affirms the Father's benevolent care in answering requests ('how much more will your Father give good things to those who ask'), reinforcing trust in God's knowledge and provision.
- Isaiah 65:24 (allusion): OT promise: 'Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear,' paralleling the idea that God knows and responds even before petitions are voiced.
- Psalm 139:4 (allusion): 'Before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether'—an image of God's prior knowledge of human speech and needs that undergirds Matthew's statement.
Alternative generated candidates
- Do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
- Do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Matt.6.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ουτως: ADV
- ουν: PART
- προσευχεσθε: VERB,pres,mid,imp,2,pl
- υμεις·Πατερ: PRON,nom,pl,2 + NOUN,voc,sg,m
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,m
- ουρανοις·αγιασθητω: NOUN,dat,pl,m + VERB,aor,pass,impv,3,sg
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- ονομα: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
Parallels
- Luke 11:2 (quotation): Luke preserves a parallel version of the Lord’s Prayer: 'Our Father in heaven... hallowed be your name'—direct verbal correspondence to Matthew 6:9.
- Matthew 23:9 (verbal): Shares the designation of God as 'Father... in heaven,' underscoring the theological claim of divine fatherhood and the heavenly locus echoed in the Lord’s Prayer.
- Ezekiel 36:23 (thematic): God declares he will sanctify his great name among the nations—parallels the petition 'hallowed be your name' in its concern for God's name being made holy.
- Exodus 20:7 (thematic): The command not to take the LORD’s name in vain reflects ancient Israelite concern for the sanctity of God's name, which the Lord’s Prayer petitions to honor and hallow.
- Psalm 8:1 (thematic): A liturgical praise of the LORD’s majestic name ('How majestic is your name in all the earth') resonates with the petition that God's name be hallowed.
Alternative generated candidates
- Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
- Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Matt.6.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ελθετω: VERB,aor,act,imp,3,sg
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- βασιλεια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- γενηθητω: VERB,aor,pass,imp,3,sg
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- θελημα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- ως: ADV
- εν: PREP
- ουρανω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- επι: PREP
- γης·: NOUN,gen,sg,f
Parallels
- Luke 11:2 (quotation): The Lord’s Prayer in Luke includes the same petition for God’s kingdom to come and his will to be done—shorter verbal parallel to Matthew’s wording.
- Matthew 26:42 (verbal): In Gethsemane Jesus prays “not my will but yours,” echoing the petition for God’s will to be done and exemplifying submission to God’s will.
- Revelation 22:20 (allusion): The eschatological cry “Come, Lord Jesus” expresses the same longing for God’s reign to arrive as the petition “Your kingdom come.”
- Daniel 7:13-14 (thematic): The vision of the Son of Man receiving everlasting dominion supplies the Old Testament background for the Jewish/Christian hope that God’s kingdom will come and his rule be established on earth.
Alternative generated candidates
- Your kingdom come; your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
- Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Matt.6.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- αρτον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ημων: PRO,gen,pl,1
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- επιουσιον: ADJ,acc,sg,m
- δος: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- ημιν: PRON,dat,pl
- σημερον·: ADV
Parallels
- Luke 11:3 (verbal): Parallel version of the Lord’s Prayer in Luke: the petition for 'daily bread' is expressed nearly verbatim (uses epiousios in Matthew and Luke’s equivalent).
- Exodus 16:4-5,11-15 (allusion): The Israelites’ request and God’s provision of daily manna; background for asking God to provide daily sustenance.
- Deuteronomy 8:3 (thematic): Affirms dependence on God for life and sustenance ('man does not live by bread alone'), shaping the prayer’s trust in God’s provision.
- Psalm 104:27-28 (thematic): Describes God supplying food to creatures 'in due season,' reflecting the theme of God as provider of daily needs.
- Proverbs 30:8 (thematic): Prayer for 'give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food allotted me' echoes the request for appropriate, daily provision rather than abundance or want.
Alternative generated candidates
- Give us today our daily bread.
- Give us today our daily bread.
Matt.6.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- αφες: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- ημιν: PRON,dat,pl
- τα: ART,acc,pl,neut
- οφειληματα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- ως: ADV
- και: CONJ
- ημεις: PRON,nom,pl,1
- αφηκαμεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,pl
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,m
- οφειλεταις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- ημων·: PRON,gen,pl,1
Parallels
- Luke 11:4 (verbal): Parallel form of the Lord's Prayer petition for forgiveness; closely matches Matthew's wording and linkage of receiving forgiveness with forgiving others.
- Matthew 6:14-15 (structural): Immediate teaching that follows the petition: God's forgiveness of us is conditioned on our forgiveness of others, directly interpreting the prayer's implication.
- Mark 11:25 (thematic): Jesus instructs believers to forgive anyone they hold grudges against when praying, linking personal forgiveness with effective prayer and divine forgiveness.
- Matthew 18:21-35 (thematic): Parable of the Unmerciful Servant illustrates the ethical and eschatological consequences of refusing to forgive others after receiving forgiveness oneself.
- Colossians 3:13 (thematic): A Pauline ethical parallel urging believers to forgive one another as the Lord forgave them, echoing the reciprocity expressed in the Lord's Prayer petition.
Alternative generated candidates
- And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
- And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Matt.6.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- μη: PART
- εισενεγκης: VERB,aor,act,subj,2,sg
- ημας: PRON,acc,pl,1
- εις: PREP
- πειρασμον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- αλλα: CONJ
- ρυσαι: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- ημας: PRON,acc,pl,1
- απο: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,m
- πονηρου: ADJ,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Luke 11:4 (verbal): Parallel version of the Lord's Prayer with almost identical petition—'lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil/ the evil one.'
- Matthew 26:41 (verbal): Jesus' admonition 'Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation' echoes the prayer's request to be kept from entering temptation.
- James 1:13-15 (thematic): Develops the doctrine of temptation—its source and progression—and underscores the need for deliverance from sinful testing, providing theological context for the petition.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:3 (verbal): Promises that 'the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one,' paralleling the petition for rescue from 'the evil' or 'the evil one.'
- Psalm 121:7-8 (thematic): OT assurance that the LORD will keep/preserve from all evil provides background for the prayer's plea for divine protection and deliverance.
Alternative generated candidates
- And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
- And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Matt.6.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εαν: CONJ
- γαρ: PART
- αφητε: VERB,aor,act,subj,2,pl
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,m
- ανθρωποις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- τα: ART,acc,pl,neut
- παραπτωματα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,c
- αφησει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- πατηρ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- ουρανιος·: ADJ,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- Luke 6:37 (verbal): Contains the same succinct formula 'forgive, and you will be forgiven,' closely paralleling Matthew's linkage of forgiving others and receiving forgiveness.
- Mark 11:25 (verbal): In the context of prayer Jesus commands forgiving others so that 'your Father in heaven may also forgive you,' a near-verbal parallel to Matthew 6:14's promise of the Father's forgiveness.
- Matt.18:21-35 (structural): The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant develops the same principle: God's forgiveness of you is conditioned on your forgiveness of others; it functions as an extended teaching on Matthew's brief saying.
- Ephesians 4:32 (thematic): Paul echoes the ethical logic of Matthew 6:14: believers are to forgive one another because God has forgiven them in Christ, linking interpersonal forgiveness to divine forgiveness.
- Colossians 3:13 (thematic): Calls Christians to 'bear with/forgive one another, as the Lord has forgiven you,' reflecting the same reciprocal connection between human forgiveness and God's forgiveness found in Matthew 6:14.
Alternative generated candidates
- For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
- For if you forgive people their debts, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
Matt.6.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εαν: CONJ
- δε: CONJ
- μη: PART
- αφητε: VERB,aor,act,subj,2,pl
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,m
- ανθρωποις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- ουδε: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- πατηρ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- αφησει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- τα: ART,acc,pl,neut
- παραπτωματα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
Parallels
- Matthew 6:14 (verbal): Immediate parallel in the Sermon on the Mount — an almost identical statement linking forgiveness of others with the Father’s forgiveness of our trespasses.
- Mark 11:25 (verbal): When praying, forgive anyone you have grievance against so that your Father in heaven may also forgive your trespasses — closely parallels Matthew’s causal link between forgiving others and receiving divine forgiveness.
- Luke 11:4 (verbal): In Luke’s version of the Lord’s Prayer the petition 'forgive us our sins, for we also forgive' explicitly couples God’s forgiveness with the believer’s forgiving of others, echoing Matthew 6:15.
- Matthew 18:21-35 (thematic): The parable of the unforgiving servant illustrates the same principle: those who refuse to forgive others forfeit the mercy they have received from the king (God).
- Colossians 3:13 (thematic): Christian ethical exhortation to 'bear with and forgive one another' because the Lord forgave you — echoes Matthew’s theological rationale that divine forgiveness grounds and requires human forgiveness.
Alternative generated candidates
- But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
- But if you do not forgive people, neither will your Father forgive your debts.
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. And when you pray, do not use empty phrases like the Gentiles, for they suppose that by many words they will be heard.
Do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Pray then like this: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.'
May your kingdom come; may 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.
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your Father in heaven will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.