Reformed Confessions & Catechisms

Petitions of the Lord's Prayer

33 passages across 4 documents address Petitions of the Lord's Prayer. The full text of each is below.

About this doctrine

I. Introduction: The Lord's Prayer as the Pattern and Directory of Prayer

"As God prescribed Moses a pattern of the tabernacle (Exod 25:9), so Christ has here prescribed us a pattern of prayer." [Thomas Watson - The Lord's Prayer]

"The ten commandments are the rule of our life, and the sum of our faith—and the Lord's prayer is the pattern of our prayer." [Thomas Watson - The Lord's Prayer]

"It is, without doubt, the best, the most expressive and perfect form of prayer that has ever been delivered." [Zacharias Ursinus - Commentary on the Heidelberg]

"For he has given us a form in which is set before us as in a picture every thing which it is lawful to wish, every thing which is conducive to our interest, every thing which it is necessary to demand." [John Calvin - Institutes]

"The special rule for our direction in prayer is that form of prayer which Christ taught his disciples, commonly called The Lord's prayer." [Thomas Vincent - The Shorter Catechism]

II. The Preface: "Our Father which art in heaven"

"That immediately, in the very beginning of our prayer, he might excite in us a childlike reverence for, and confidence in God, which are the foundation of our prayer; namely, that God is become our father in Christ, and will much less deny us what we ask of him in true faith, than our parents refuse us earthly things." [Zacharias Ursinus - Commentary on the Heidelberg]

"God is our Father, 1. In respect to our creation... 2. In respect to our redemption, and reception into divine favor through Christ our mediator... 3. In respect to our sanctification or regeneration by the Holy Spirit." [Zacharias Ursinus - Commentary on the Heidelberg]

"Though the Father alone is named in the Lord's prayer—yet the other two Persons are not excluded. The Father is mentioned because he is first in order; but the Son and Holy Spirit are included because they are the same in essence." [Thomas Watson - The Lord's Prayer]

"There is no such thing in the Lord's prayer, as, 'O saints or angels, hear us'; but, 'Our Father in heaven.'" [Thomas Watson - The Lord's Prayer]

"Father denotes reverence: Our Father, denotes faith." [Thomas Watson - The Lord's Prayer]

"These words, 'Our Father,' in the preface, teach us—1. To draw near unto God with confidence, both of his all-sufficiency and his readiness to help us; as also with a filial affection of desire, love, and delight, as children to a Father." [Thomas Vincent - The Shorter Catechism]

"Lest we should form any earthly conceptions of God's heavenly majesty, and that we may expect from his almighty power all things necessary for soul and body." [Zacharias Ursinus - Commentary on the Heidelberg]

"These words, 'Which art in heaven,' teach us to draw near unto God with all holy reverence, because of our great distance, God being not our earthly Father, but our Father which is in heaven." [Thomas Vincent - The Shorter Catechism]

"We are to pray to God with and for others, he being a common Father unto all his people." [Thomas Ridgley - A Body of Divinity]

III. The First Petition: "Hallowed be Thy Name"

"This petition is set in the forefront, to show that the hallowing of God's name is to be preferred before all things. It is to be preferred before life... It is to be preferred before salvation." [Thomas Watson - The Lord's Prayer]

"The petition, Hallowed be thy name, is placed first in order, because it comprehends the end and design of all the rest, inasmuch as the glory of God should be the end of all our affairs, actions and prayers." [Zacharias Ursinus - Commentary on the Heidelberg]

"The name of God signifies... God himself... and... all his attributes and works, in which his majesty shines." [Zacharias Ursinus - Commentary on the Heidelberg]

"To hallow, is to set apart a thing from the common use, to some sacred end. As the vessels of the sanctuary were said to be hallowed, so, to hallow God's name, is to set it apart from all abuses, and to use it holily and reverently." [Thomas Watson - The Lord's Prayer]

"The sum of the whole is, It must be our desire that God may receive the honour which is his due: that men may never think or speak of him without the greatest reverence." [John Calvin - Institutes]

"We hallow and sanctify God's name... When we ascribe the honor of all we do, to him... transferring all honor from ourselves to God." [Thomas Watson - The Lord's Prayer]

"In the first petition, (which is, "Hallowed be thy name,") we pray, That God would hallow and glorify his own name, by magnifying himself in the world, and by disposing all things for his own glory." [Thomas Vincent - The Shorter Catechism]

IV. The Second Petition: "Thy Kingdom Come"

"Thy kingdom come; that is, rule us so by thy word and Spirit, that we may submit ourselves more and more to thee; preserve and increase thy Church; destroy the works of the devil, and all violence which would exalt itself against thee, and also all wicked counsels devised against thy holy word, until the full perfection of thy kingdom takes place, wherein thou shalt be all in all." [Zacharias Ursinus - Commentary on the Heidelberg]

"God reigns when men, in denial of themselves and contempt of the world and this earthly life, devote themselves to righteousness and aspire to heaven... Thus this kingdom consists of two parts; the first is, when God by the agency of his Spirit corrects all the depraved lusts of the flesh... and the second, when he brings all our thoughts into obedience to his authority." [John Calvin - Institutes]

"Though the kingdom of grace be already come into us—yet still we must pray, "Your kingdom come," that grace may be increased, and that this kingdom may flourish still more in our souls." [Thomas Watson - The Lord's Prayer]

"In the second petition, (which is, "Thy kingdom come,") we pray, That Satan's kingdom may be destroyed; and that the kingdom of grace may be advanced, ourselves and others brought into it, and kept in it; and that the kingdom of glory may be hastened." [Thomas Vincent - The Shorter Catechism]

"We are to pray that the church may be purged from those corruptions... that God, by his providence, or rather by his Spirit, poured out from on high, would refine and purify his church..." [Thomas Ridgley - A Body of Divinity]

V. The Third Petition: "Thy Will be Done on Earth as it is in Heaven"

"Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; that is, grant that we and all men may renounce our own will, and without murmuring obey thy will, which is only good; that so every one may attend to, and perform the duties of his station and calling, as willingly and faithfully as the angels do in heaven." [Zacharias Ursinus - Commentary on the Heidelberg]

"heaven is expressly contrasted with earth, because... the angels 'do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word,' (Ps. 103:20). We are, therefore, enjoined to pray that... the earth may be brought under his authority, all rebellion and depravity having been extinguished." [John Calvin - Institutes]

"What is meant by the will of God? There is a twofold will. (1) God's secret will, or 'the will of his decree'. We pray not that God's secret will may be done by us..." [Thomas Watson - The Lord's Prayer]

"In praying, therefore, that the will of God may be done, we desire that all these duties may be properly discharged, and that every one may abide in the calling which has been assigned him..." [Zacharias Ursinus - Commentary on the Heidelberg]

"when we pray that the will of God may be done on earth as in heaven, the word as, does not refer to and signify the degree, but the kind of obedience, here alluded to; viz. the beginning of it..." [Zacharias Ursinus - Commentary on the Heidelberg]

"In the third petition... we pray, That God, by his grace, would make us able and willing to know, obey, and submit to his will in all things, as the angels do in heaven." [Thomas Vincent - The Shorter Catechism]

"When we pray that the will of God's providence may be done, we request that ourselves and others might have compliance of will with the will of God, so as thankfully to accept merciful providences, and patiently submit unto afflictive providences." [Thomas Ridgley - A Body of Divinity]

VI. The Fourth Petition: "Give us this Day our Daily Bread"

"we pray in general that God would give us all things which the body requires in this sublunary state, not only food and clothing, but everything which he knows will assist us to eat our bread in peace." [John Calvin - Institutes]

"Christ having regard to our infirmities, placed this fourth petition respecting our daily bread, as it were in the middle of the prayer... that the obtaining and receiving of temporal benefits might confirm in us more and more a confidence of obtaining spiritual blessings." [Zacharias Ursinus - Commentary on the Heidelberg]

"We believe that we shall obtain from God the temporal blessings which we ask at his hand, if they contribute to our salvation, and do not desire to be heard, if they would be injurious to us." [Zacharias Ursinus - Commentary on the Heidelberg]

"Bread here, by a synecdoche, [the particular for the whole class], is put for all the temporal blessings of this life, food, fuel, clothing, etc. [Whatever serves for our well-being.]" [Thomas Watson - The Lord's Prayer]

"Learn to be contented with the allowance which God gives. If we have the necessities of life-let us rest satisfied. We pray but for bread, 'Give us our daily bread;' we do not pray for superfluities..." [Thomas Watson - The Lord's Prayer]

"In the fourth petition, (which is, "Give us this day our daily bread,") we pray, That, of God's free gift, we may receive a competent portion of the good things of this life, and enjoy his blessing with them." [Thomas Vincent - The Shorter Catechism]

VII. The Fifth Petition: "Forgive us our Debts as we Forgive our Debtors"

"In this prayer there is but one petition for the body, 'Give us our daily bread,' but two petitions for the soul, 'Forgive us our trespasses, lead us not into temptation—but deliver us from evil.' Observe hence, that we are to be more careful for our souls than for our bodies, more careful for grace than for daily bread..." [Thomas Watson - The Lord's Prayer]

"Christ comprises under the term debts all our sins, original as well as actual... They are called debts, because they make us debtors to God both in respect to the obedience which we have failed to render, and also to the punishment which we are bound to pay in consequence thereof..." [Zacharias Ursinus - Commentary on the Heidelberg]

"Sin being forgiven, clearly implies we cannot satisfy for it!" [Thomas Watson - The Lord's Prayer]

"If a man prays to be forgiven, he confesses that he is a sinner, and if a sinner, he is not free from sin or perfect. And therefore, the use of the Lord's prayer by all Christians, is an acknowledgment that no Christian in this life is perfect." [Charles Hodge - Systematic Theology]

"as we spare and pardon all by whom we are in any way offended... We can voluntarily divest our minds of wrath, hatred, and revenge, and efface the remembrance of injuries by a voluntary oblivion. Wherefore, we are not to ask the forgiveness of our sins from God, unless we forgive the offenses of all who are or have been injurious to us." [John Calvin - Institutes]

"the particle as, as used in this petition, does not signify the degree of forgiveness... but it signifies the kind of forgiveness, or the truth and sincerity of the forgiveness which we and God extend..." [Zacharias Ursinus - Commentary on the Heidelberg]

"In the fifth petition, (which is, "And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors,") we pray, That God, for Christ's sake, would freely pardon all our sins; which we are the rather encouraged to ask, because by his grace we are enabled from the heart to forgive others." [Thomas Vincent - The Shorter Catechism]

VIII. The Sixth Petition: "Lead us not into Temptation, but Deliver us from Evil"

"Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; that is, since we are so weak in ourselves that we cannot stand a moment: and besides this, since our mortal enemies, the devil, the world, and our own flesh, cease not to assault us, do thou, therefore, preserve and strengthen us by the power of thy Holy Spirit, that we may not be overcome in this spiritual warfare..." [Zacharias Ursinus - Commentary on the Heidelberg]

"Do not allow us to be overcome by temptation, but rather bring assistance to our frailty, and deliver us that we may not fall." [John Calvin - Institutes]

"By this we are reminded that we not only have need of the gift of the Spirit inwardly to soften our hearts... but also of his assistance, to render us invincible by all the wiles and violent assaults of Satan." [John Calvin - Institutes]

"In general, when we pray, 'Deliver us from evil,' we pray to be delivered from the evil of sin. Not that we pray to be delivered immediately from the presence and indwelling of sin, for that cannot be in this life—we cannot shake off this viper." [Thomas Watson - The Lord's Prayer]

"In the sixth petition, (which is, "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,") we pray, That God would either keep us from being tempted to sin, or support and deliver us when we are tempted." [Thomas Vincent - The Shorter Catechism]

IX. The Conclusion: "For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory"

"For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever; that is, all these we ask of thee, because thou art our King, and Almighty, art willing and able to give us all good; and all this we pray for, that thereby not we, but thy holy name, may be glorified forever." [Zacharias Ursinus - Commentary on the Heidelberg]

"The second reason is drawn from the power of God. Hear us, O God... since thou art able, and thou alone... The third reason is from the end or final cause. We ask these things for thy glory." [Zacharias Ursinus - Commentary on the Heidelberg]

"THINE IS THE KINGDOM, AND THE POWER, AND THE GLORY, FOR EVER. Here is the calm and firm assurance of our faith. For were our prayers to be commended to God by our own worth, who would venture even to whisper before him?" [John Calvin - Institutes]

"The first thing which this conclusion of the Lord's prayer doth teach us, is, to take our encouragement in prayer, not from ourselves, or any worthiness of our own, but from God only, who having the kingdom and eternal sovereignty, the power and eternal all-sufficiency, the glory for ever..." [Thomas Vincent - The Shorter Catechism]

"Amen signifies it shall truly and certainly be; for my prayer is more assuredly heard of God than I feel in my heart I desire these things of him." [Zacharias Ursinus - Commentary on the Heidelberg]

"We are to say, 'Amen,' which signifieth so be it, or, So shall it be, in testimony of our desires and assurances to be heard." [Thomas Vincent - The Shorter Catechism]

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Question 118

Q. What has God commanded us to ask of him?

A. Everything we need, spiritually and physically, as embraced in the prayer Christ our Lord himself taught us.

Scripture proofs
  • James 1:17; Matt. 6:33.

    James 1:17 Every good act of giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

    Matt. 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you⁺.

Parallel passages (4)Westminster Shorter Catechism · Question 1041 shared proof text · 2 shared topicsWestminster Confession of Faith · Chapter 2: Of God, and of the Holy Trinity1 shared proof textWestminster Confession of Faith · Chapter 5: Of Providence1 shared proof textWestminster Shorter Catechism · Question 41 shared proof text

Question 119

Q. What is this prayer?

A. Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Scripture proofs
  • Matt. 6:9–13; Luke 11:2–4.

    Matt. 6:9–13 9 Therefore pray you⁺ this way: ‘Our Father who [is] in the heavens, hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done, as in heaven, also upon earth. 11 Give us today our necessary bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

    Luke 11:2–4 2 And He said to them, “When you⁺ pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our necessary bread. 4 And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.’”

Parallel passages (6+)Westminster Larger Catechism · Question 1868 shared proof texts · 2 shared topicsWestminster Shorter Catechism · Question 995 shared proof texts · 2 shared topicsWestminster Larger Catechism · Question 1872 shared proof texts · 2 shared topicsWestminster Larger Catechism · Question 1892 shared proof texts · 2 shared topicsWestminster Larger Catechism · Question 1902 shared proof texts · 2 shared topicsWestminster Larger Catechism · Question 1912 shared proof texts · 2 shared topics

Question 120

Q. Why has Christ commanded us to address God as "our Father"?

A. To awaken in us at the very beginning of our prayer what should be basic to our prayer— a childlike reverence and trust that through Christ God has become our Father, and will much less refuse to give us what we ask in faith than will our parents refuse us the things of this life.

Scripture proofs
  • Matt. 7:9–11; Luke 11:11–13.

    Matt. 7:9–11 9 Or which man is of you⁺ who, [if] his son will ask for bread, will give to him a stone, 10 or also, [if] he will ask for a fish, will give to him a serpent? 11 Therefore if you⁺, being evil, know to give good gifts to your⁺ children, how much more will your⁺ Father who [is] in the heavens give good things to those asking Him!

    Luke 11:11–13 11 And which father of you⁺, [if] the son will ask for a fish, instead of even a fish, will give to him a serpent? 12 Or also, [if] he will ask for an egg, will give to him a scorpion? 13 Therefore if you⁺, being evil, know to give good gifts to your⁺ children, how much more will the Father who [is] from heaven give the Holy Spirit to those asking Him!”

Parallel passages (5)Westminster Shorter Catechism · Question 1006 shared proof texts · 2 shared topicsWestminster Larger Catechism · Question 1891 shared proof text · 2 shared topicsWestminster Larger Catechism · Question 1961 shared proof text · 2 shared topicsWestminster Larger Catechism · Question 1841 shared proof text · shared topicWestminster Larger Catechism · Question 321 shared proof text

Question 121

Q. Why the words "who is in heaven"?

A. These words teach us not to think of God's heavenly majesty in an earthly way, and to expect from his almighty power everything needed for body and soul.

Scripture proofs
  • Jer. 23:23–24; Acts 17:24–25.

    Jer. 23:23–24 23 “[Am] I a God nearby,” a declaration of YHWH, “And not a God far away?” 24 “Can a man hide himself in the hidden places, and I shall not see him?” A declaration of YHWH. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” A declaration of YHWH.

    Acts 17:24–25 24 The God having made the world and all things that [are] in it, He, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in hand-made temples, 25 nor is He served by hands of men as needing anything—He [who] gives to all life and breath and all things.

  • Matt. 6:25–34; Rom. 8:31–32.

    Matt. 6:25–34 25 Because of this I say to you⁺, do not be anxious for your⁺ life, what you⁺ might eat or what you⁺ might drink, nor for your⁺ body, what you⁺ might put on. Is not life more than food, and the body [more] than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the sky, that they do not sow, nor do they reap, nor do they gather into barns, and your⁺ heavenly Father feeds them. Are you⁺ not much more valuable than they? 27 And who of you⁺, being anxious, is able to add to his lifespan one cubit? 28 And why are you⁺ anxious about clothing? Consider carefully the lilies of the field, how they grow: They do not labor, nor do they spin. 29 Yet I say to you⁺ that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these. 30 But if God thus clothes the grass of the field, being today and tomorrow being thrown into the furnace, [will He] not much more you⁺, O little of faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘[With] what shall we be clothed?’ 32 For the nations seek after all these things. For your⁺ heavenly Father knows that you⁺ have need of all of these. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you⁺. 34 Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient to the day [is] its evil.[]

    Rom. 8:31–32 31 What then will we say to these things? If God [is] for us, who [can be] against us— 32 He who indeed did not spare [His] own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?

Parallel passages (6+)Westminster Confession of Faith · Chapter 5: Of Providence8 shared proof textsWestminster Shorter Catechism · Question 1044 shared proof texts · shared topicWestminster Confession of Faith · Chapter 2: Of God, and of the Holy Trinity4 shared proof textsWestminster Larger Catechism · Question 1423 shared proof textsWestminster Confession of Faith · Chapter 7: Of God's Covenant with Man2 shared proof texts · shared topicWestminster Confession of Faith · Chapter 21: Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day2 shared proof texts

Question 122

Q. What does the first petition mean?

A. "Hallowed be your name" means: Help us to truly know you, to honor, glorify, and praise you for all your works and for all that shines forth from them: your almighty power, wisdom, kindness, justice, mercy, and truth. And it means, Help us to direct all our living— what we think, say, and do— so that your name will never be blasphemed because of us but always honored and praised.

Scripture proofs
  • Jer. 9:23–24; 31:33–34; Matt. 16:17; John 17:3.

    Jer. 9:23–24 23 Thus says YHWH: “Let not the wise one glory in his wisdom, and let not the mighty one glory in his might, and let not the rich one glory in his riches; 24 that but let the one glorying glory in this, understanding and knowing Me, that I [am] YHWH, exercising loving devotion, justice, and righteousness in the earth; for in these [things] I delight!” A declaration of YHWH.

    31:33–34 33 “For this [is] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel, after those days, a declaration of YHWH: I will give My law in their inward parts, and I will write it upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they will be My people. 34 And they will teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know YHWH; for all of them will know Me, from the least of them and to the greatest of them, a declaration of YHWH. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

    Matt. 16:17 And answering, Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood did not reveal [it] to you, but My Father who [is] in the heavens.

    John 17:3 Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You sent.

  • Ex. 34:5–8; Ps. 145; Jer. 32:16–20; Luke 1:46–55, 68–75; Rom. 11:33–36.

    Ex. 34:5–8 5 And YHWH descended in the cloud and stood with him there and proclaimed in His name, YHWH. 6 And YHWH passed before his face and proclaimed, “YHWH, YHWH God, merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in loving devotion and truth, 7 keeping loving devotion to the thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and he will surely not acquit [the guilty], visiting iniquity of fathers upon sons and upon sons of sons, upon a third and upon a fourth.” 8 And Moses hurried and bowed down to the earth and worshiped.

    Jer. 32:16–20 16 And I prayed to YHWH after I had delivered the account of the purchase to Baruch son of Neriah, saying: 17 “Ah Lord YHWH! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! There is not anything [too] difficult for You— 18 showing loving devotion to thousands and recompensing the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them, O God great [and] Mighty—YHWH of Hosts [is] His name— 19 great in counsel and mighty in deed. Your eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men, to give to each man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his deeds. 20 You have set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt to this day, and in Israel, and among men; and You have made for Yourself a name, as at this day.

    Luke 1:46–55, 68–75 46 And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit exulted in God my Savior! 48 For He looked upon the humiliation of His maidservant. For behold, from now on all the generations will call me blessed. 49 For the Mighty One did great things to me, and holy [is] His name. 50 And His mercy [is] to generations and generations, to those fearing Him. 51 He showed strength with His arm; He scattered the proud in the thought of their heart. 52 He brought down rulers from thrones and exalted the humble. 53 [Those] hungering He filled with good things, and [those] being rich He sent away empty. 54 He took hold of Israel His servant, remembering mercy, 55 as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed to the age.” 68 “Blessed [be] the Lord, the God of Israel, because He visited and performed redemption for His people, 69 and He raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, 70 as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from the age, 71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all those hating us, 72 to show mercy toward our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, 73 the oath that He swore to Abraham our father, to give us, 74 having been saved from the hand of [our] enemies, to serve Him without fear 75 in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.

    Rom. 11:33–36 33 O, the depth of riches, both of wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and untraceable His ways! 34 “For who knew the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor?” 35 Or “who first gave to Him, and it will be given back to him?” 36 For from Him and through Him and unto Him [are] all things. To Him [be] the glory to the ages! Amen.

    Psalm 145 on BibleHub ↗

  • Ps. 115:1; Matt. 5:16.

    Ps. 115:1 Not to us, O YHWH, not to us, but to Your name, give glory, because of Your loving devotion, because of Your faithfulness!

    Matt. 5:16 Thus let your⁺ light shine before men, so that they may see your⁺ good works and may glorify your⁺ Father who [is] in the heavens.

Parallel passages (6+)Westminster Shorter Catechism · Question 47 shared proof texts · shared topicWestminster Confession of Faith · Chapter 2: Of God, and of the Holy Trinity5 shared proof texts · shared topicWestminster Larger Catechism · Question 75 shared proof texts · shared topicLondon Baptist Confession (1689) · Chapter 2: Of God, and of the Holy Trinity5 shared proof texts · shared topicWestminster Shorter Catechism · Question 1014 shared proof texts · 2 shared topicsWestminster Larger Catechism · Question 1904 shared proof texts · 2 shared topics

Question 123

Q. What does the second petition mean?

A. "Your kingdom come" means: Rule us by your Word and Spirit in such a way that more and more we submit to you. Preserve and increase your church. Destroy the devil's work; destroy every force which revolts against you and every conspiracy against your holy Word. Do all this until your kingdom fully comes, when you will be all in all.

Scripture proofs
  • Pss. 119:5, 105; 143:10; Matt. 6:33.

    Pss. 119:5, 105 5 Oh, that my ways were set firm to keep Your statutes! 105 Your word [is] a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.

    143:10 Teach me to do Your will, for You [are] my God; May Your good Spirit, lead me into the land of uprightness.

    Matt. 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you⁺.

  • Ps. 122:6–9; Matt. 16:18; Acts 2:42–47.

    Ps. 122:6–9 6 Ask for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper, those loving you! 7 May there be peace within your wall, prosperity within your citadels!” 8 For the sake of my brothers and my companions let me now say: “Peace [be] within you!” 9 For the sake of the house of YHWH our God I will seek good for you.

    Matt. 16:18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.

    Acts 2:42–47 42 Now they were steadfastly continuing in the teaching of the apostles and in the fellowship, in the breaking of the bread and in the prayers. 43 And fear was coming upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those believing were in the same [place] and were having all things in common. 45 And they were selling the possessions and the goods and were dividing them to all, as anyone had need. 46 And every day they were steadfastly continuing with one accord in the temple and breaking bread at each house. They were partaking of food with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord kept adding every day to the same those being saved.

  • Rom. 16:20; 1 John 3:8.

    Rom. 16:20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your⁺ feet in quickness. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you⁺.

    1 John 3:8 The one doing sin is of the devil, because the devil is sinning from the beginning. For this the Son of God was made manifest, so that He might destroy the works of the devil.

  • Rom. 8:22–23; 1 Cor. 15:28; Rev. 22:17, 20.

    Rom. 8:22–23 22 For we know that all the creation groans together and travails together until now. 23 And not only [so], but we ourselves, even having the firstfruit of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly awaiting adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.

    1 Cor. 15:28 Now when all things shall be subjected to Him, then also the Son Himself will be subjected to the One having subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all.

    Rev. 22:17, 20 17 And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And the one hearing, let him say, “Come!” And the one thirsting, let him come; the one wanting, let him take the water of life freely. 20 The One testifying these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

Parallel passages (6+)Westminster Shorter Catechism · Question 1024 shared proof texts · 2 shared topicsWestminster Confession of Faith · Chapter 26: Of the Communion of Saints4 shared proof texts · shared topicLondon Baptist Confession (1689) · Chapter 26: Of the Church3 shared proof texts · 2 shared topicsWestminster Larger Catechism · Question 1543 shared proof texts · 2 shared topicsWestminster Confession of Faith · Chapter 25: Of the Church3 shared proof texts · shared topicWestminster Larger Catechism · Question 1473 shared proof texts

Question 124

Q. What does the third petition mean?

A. "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" means: Help us and all people to renounce our own wills and without any back talk to obey your will, for it alone is good. Help everyone carry out his office and calling, as willingly and faithfully as the angels in heaven.

Scripture proofs
  • Matt. 7:21; 16:24–26; Luke 22:42; Rom. 12:1–2; Titus 2:11–12.

    Matt. 7:21 Not everyone who [is] saying to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the will of My Father who [is] in the heavens.

    16:24–26 24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. 25 For whoever may want to save his life will lose it, but whoever may lose his life on account of Me will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he should gain the whole world, but lose his soul? Or what will a man give [as] an exchange for his soul?

    Luke 22:42 saying, “Father, if You are willing, take away this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours, be done.”

    Rom. 12:1–2 1 Therefore I exhort you⁺, brothers, through the compassions of God, to present your⁺ bodies [as] a living sacrifice, holy to God, well-pleasing, which is your⁺ reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, for you⁺ to discern what [is] the good and well-pleasing and perfect will of God.

    Titus 2:11–12 11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us that having denied ungodliness and worldly passions, we should live sound-mindedly and righteously and godlily in the present age,

  • 1 Cor. 7:17–24; Eph. 6:5–9.

    1 Cor. 7:17–24 17 Nevertheless, as the Lord apportioned to each, as God has called each, thus let him walk. And thus I direct in all the churches. 18 Was anyone called having been circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping of the commandments of God. 20 Each in the calling in which he has been called—in this let him remain. 21 Were you called [while] a slave? Let it not be a care to you; but if also you have power to become free, rather use [it]. 22 For the one having been called in the Lord [while] a slave is the Lord’s freedman; likewise the one having been called [while] free is a slave of Christ. 23 You⁺ were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Each in that in which he was called, brothers—in this let him remain with God.

    Eph. 6:5–9 5 Slaves, obey the masters according to the flesh with fear and trembling, in sincerity of your⁺ heart, as to Christ, 6 not with eye-service as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the soul, 7 serving with good will, as to the Lord and not to men, 8 knowing that each one, whatever good he might have done, this he will receive from the Lord, whether slave or free. 9 And masters, do the same things toward them, giving up threatening, knowing that also their Master and yours⁺ is in the heavens, and there is no partiality with Him.

  • Ps. 103:20–21.

    Ps. 103:20–21 20 Bless YHWH, His angels, mighty of strength, doing His word, to listen to the voice of His word. 21 Bless YHWH, all His hosts, His ministering ones doing His pleasure.

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Question 125

Q. What does the fourth petition mean?

A. "Give us this day our daily bread" means: Provide for all our physical needs so that we may recognize that you are the only source of everything good, and that neither our care and work nor your gifts can do us any good without your blessing. Therefore may we withdraw our trust from all creatures and place it in you alone.

Scripture proofs
  • Pss. 104:27–30; 145:15–16; Matt. 6:25–34.

    Pss. 104:27–30 27 All of them look to You, to give their food, in its season. 28 You give to them, [and] they gather in; You open Your hand, [and] they are satisfied [with] good. 29 You hide Your face—they are troubled; You gather their spirit—they die, and to their dust they return. 30 You send forth Your Spirit—they are created, and You renew the face of the earth.

    145:15–16 15 The eyes of all wait for You, and You give to them their food in its time. 16 You open Your hand, and satisfy the desire of every living thing.

    Matt. 6:25–34 25 Because of this I say to you⁺, do not be anxious for your⁺ life, what you⁺ might eat or what you⁺ might drink, nor for your⁺ body, what you⁺ might put on. Is not life more than food, and the body [more] than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the sky, that they do not sow, nor do they reap, nor do they gather into barns, and your⁺ heavenly Father feeds them. Are you⁺ not much more valuable than they? 27 And who of you⁺, being anxious, is able to add to his lifespan one cubit? 28 And why are you⁺ anxious about clothing? Consider carefully the lilies of the field, how they grow: They do not labor, nor do they spin. 29 Yet I say to you⁺ that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these. 30 But if God thus clothes the grass of the field, being today and tomorrow being thrown into the furnace, [will He] not much more you⁺, O little of faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘[With] what shall we be clothed?’ 32 For the nations seek after all these things. For your⁺ heavenly Father knows that you⁺ have need of all of these. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you⁺. 34 Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient to the day [is] its evil.[]

  • Acts 14:17; 17:25; James 1:17.

    Acts 14:17 And yet He did not leave Himself without witness, doing good, giving to you⁺ rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your⁺ hearts with food and gladness.”

    17:25 nor is He served by hands of men as needing anything—He [who] gives to all life and breath and all things.

    James 1:17 Every good act of giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

  • Deut. 8:3; Pss. 37:16; 127:1–2; 1 Cor. 15:58.

    Deut. 8:3 And He humbled you and allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, so that He might make you know that the man shall not live by bread alone; but by every [word] that proceeds from the mouth of YHWH the man shall live.

    Pss. 37:16 Better [is] the little of the righteous, than the riches of many wicked.

    127:1–2 1 A Song of the Ascents. Of Solomon. If YHWH does not build the house, in vain do its builders labor on it; if YHWH does not guard the city, in vain the one guarding keeps watch. 2 [It is] vain for you⁺, being early [in] rising, [and] delaying to sit, eating the bread of sorrows; for so He gives sleep to His beloved.

    1 Cor. 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your⁺ labor in the Lord is not in vain.

  • Pss. 55:22; 62; 146; Jer. 17:5–8; Heb. 13:5–6.

    Pss. 55:22 Cast your burden upon YHWH, and He will sustain you; He will not give a righteous one to be shaken forever.

    Jer. 17:5–8 5 Thus says YHWH: “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his arm and turns away his heart from YHWH. 6 And he shall be like a shrub in the desert plain, and he shall not see when good comes, and he shall dwell in the parched places in the desert, [in] a salt land without dweller. 7 Blessed [is] the man who trusts in YHWH, and his hope is YHWH. 8 And he shall be planted like a tree by the waters, and [which] by the river sends out its roots; and it does not fear when the heat comes, and its leaf will be green, and in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it will not leave off from producing fruit.

    Heb. 13:5–6 5 [your] manner of life [let be] without love of money, being satisfied with the present; for He Himself has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” 6 So we are confident to say: “The Lord [is] to me a helper, and I will not be afraid; what will man do to me?”

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Question 126

Q. What does the fifth petition mean?

A. "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" means: Because of Christ's blood, do not impute to us, poor sinners that we are, any of the transgressions we do or the evil that constantly clings to us. Forgive us just as we are fully determined, as evidence of your grace in us, wholeheartedly to forgive our neighbors.

Scripture proofs
  • Pss. 51:1–7; 143:2; Rom. 8:1; 1 John 2:1–2.

    Pss. 51:1–7 1 For the one directing. A Psalm of David, in the coming of Nathan the prophet to him after that he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy on me O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to the abundance of Your compassion, wipe out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin [is] before me continually. 4 Against You, You alone, have I sinned, and have done the evil in your eyes, so that You are right when You speak, and You are pure when You judge. 5 Behold, in iniquity I was brought forth, and in sin my mother conceived me. 6 Behold, You take delight [in] truth in the inner parts; in the inmost place You teach me wisdom. 7 Cleanse my sin with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

    143:2 And do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for not anyone alive is righteous before Your face.

    Rom. 8:1 Therefore [there is] now no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus.

    1 John 2:1–2 1 My little children, I am writing these things to you⁺ so that you⁺ might not sin. And if anyone might sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous One. 2 And He is the propitiation for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for [those] of the whole world.

  • Matt. 6:14–15; 18:21–35.

    Matt. 6:14–15 14 For if you⁺ forgive men their trespasses, your⁺ heavenly Father will also forgive you⁺. 15 But if you⁺ do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your⁺ Father forgive your⁺ trespasses.

    18:21–35 21 Then, having come, Peter said to Him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I will forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus says to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy-seven times! 23 Because of this, the kingdom of the heavens was likened to to a man, a king, who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And [on] his having begun to settle, one was brought to him, a debtor of ten thousand talents. 25 And [on] his having nothing to repay, the master commanded him to be sold—and the wife and the children and all of whatever he had—and repayment to be made. 26 Therefore the servant, having fallen down, was bowing on his knees to him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay all to you.’ 27 And having been moved with compassion, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But having gone out, that servant found one of his fellow servants who was owing him a hundred denarii. And having seized him, he was choking [him], saying, ‘Repay what you owe!’ 29 Therefore, having fallen down, his fellow servant was calling on him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay you.’ 30 But he was not willing. Rather, having gone, he cast him into prison until he should repay what was owed. 31 Therefore his fellow servants, having seen the things having happened, were deeply grieved, and having gone, they made clear to their master all the things having happened. 32 Then, having summoned him, his master says to him, ‘Evil servant! I forgave you all that debt because you called on me. 33 Was it not necessary for you also to have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I also had mercy on you?’ 34 And having become angry, his master delivered him to the tormenters until he should repay everything being owed to him. 35 Thus also My heavenly Father will do to you⁺ unless each of you⁺ should forgive his brother from your⁺ hearts.”

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Question 127

Q. What does the sixth petition mean?

A. "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" means: We are so weak that we cannot stand on our own for a moment, and our sworn enemies— the devil, the world, and our own flesh— never stop attacking us. And so, Lord, uphold us and make us strong by the power of your Holy Spirit, so that we may not be defeated in this spiritual fight, but may firmly resist our enemies until we finally win the complete victory.

Scripture proofs
  • Ps. 103:14–16; John 15:1–5.

    Ps. 103:14–16 14 For He knows our form; He remembers that we [are] dust. 15 A man—his days [are] like grass; like the flower of the field, so he blossoms; 16 For the wind passes over it, and it is no more; and its place does not recognize it anymore.

    John 15:1–5 1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch not bearing fruit in Me, He takes it away; and every one bearing fruit, He prunes it clean so that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you⁺ are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you⁺. 4 Remain in Me, and I in you⁺. As the branch is not able to bear fruit of itself unless it remains in the vine, so neither you⁺, unless you⁺ remain in Me. 5 I am the vine; you⁺ [are] the branches. The one remaining in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit. For apart from Me you⁺ are able to do nothing.

  • 2 Cor. 11:14; Eph. 6:10–13; 1 Peter 5:8.

    2 Cor. 11:14 And no wonder, for Satan himself disguises himself as an angel of light.

    Eph. 6:10–13 10 Henceforth, be empowered in the Lord and in the might of His strength. 11 Put on the full armor of God, for you⁺ to be able to stand against the schemes of the devil, 12 because to us the wrestling is not against blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual [forces] of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Because of this, take up the full armor of God, so that you⁺ may be able to withstand in the day of evil, and having done all things, to stand.

    1 Peter 5:8 Be sober-minded; be alert. Your⁺ adversary the devil prowls around as a roaring lion seeking whom to swallow up,

  • John 15:18–21.

    John 15:18–21 18 If the world hates you⁺, you⁺ know that it has hated Me before you⁺. 19 If you⁺ were of the world, the world would love [you] [as] its own; but because you⁺ are not of the world, but I chose you⁺ out of the world, on account of this, the world hates you⁺. 20 Remember the word that I said to you⁺: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you⁺; if they kept My word, they will keep yours⁺ also. 21 But they will do all these things against you⁺ on account of My name, because they do not know the One having sent Me.

  • Rom. 7:23; Gal. 5:17.

    Rom. 7:23 but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin being in my members.

    Gal. 5:17 For the flesh desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. For these are opposed to one another so that the [things] you⁺ may want, these things you⁺ may not do.

  • Matt. 10:19–20; 26:41; Mark 13:33; Rom. 5:3–5.

    Matt. 10:19–20 19 And when they may deliver you⁺ up, do not be anxious how or what you⁺ shall speak; for it will be given to you⁺ in that hour what you⁺ shall speak. 20 For you⁺ are not the ones speaking, but the Spirit of your⁺ Father speaking in you⁺.

    26:41 Watch and pray so that you⁺ might not enter into temptation. the spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh weak.”

    Mark 13:33 Take heed; stay awake! For you⁺ do not know when the time is.

    Rom. 5:3–5 3 And not only [so], but also we boast in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put [us] to shame, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, the One having been given to us.

  • 1 Cor. 10:13; 1 Thess. 3:13; 5:23.

    1 Cor. 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you⁺ except [what is] human. And faithful [is] God, who will not allow you⁺ to be tempted beyond what you⁺ are able, but He will also provide with the temptation the escape, to be able to bear up under [it].

    1 Thess. 3:13 in order to strengthen your⁺ hearts, blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. Amen.

    5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you⁺ completely, and may your⁺ entire spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Question 128

Q. How do you conclude this prayer?

A. "For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever." This means we have made all these petitions of you because, as our all-powerful king, you are both willing and able to give us all that is good; and because your holy name, and not we ourselves, should receive all the praise, forever.

Scripture proofs
  • Rom. 10:11–13; 2 Peter 2:9.

    Rom. 10:11–13 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone believing on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord of all is rich to all those calling upon Him, 13 for, “Whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.”

    2 Peter 2:9 [then] the Lord knows to deliver the devout out of trial and to keep the unrighteous being punished unto the day of judgment,

  • Ps. 115:1; John 14:13.

    Ps. 115:1 Not to us, O YHWH, not to us, but to Your name, give glory, because of Your loving devotion, because of Your faithfulness!

    John 14:13 And whatever you⁺ might ask in My name, this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

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Question 129

Q. What does that little word "Amen" express?

A. "Amen" means: This shall truly and surely be! For it is much more certain that God has heard my prayer than I feel in my heart that I desire such things from him.

Scripture proofs
  • Isa. 65:24; 2 Cor. 1:20; 2 Tim. 2:13.

    Isa. 65:24 And it will come to pass that before they call, then I will answer; and [while] they are still speaking, then I will hear.

    2 Cor. 1:20 For as many as [are] the promises of God, in Him [is] the “Yes.” Therefore also through Him the “Amen” through us [is] for glory to God.

    2 Tim. 2:13 if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He is not able to deny Himself.

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Question 99

Q. What rule hath God given for our direction in prayer?

A. The whole Word of God is of use to direct us in prayer; but the special rule of direction is that form of prayer which Christ taught his disciples, commonly called the Lord's Prayer.

Scripture proofs
  • 1 John 5:14.

    1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we may ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

  • Matt. 6:9–13.

    Matt. 6:9–13 9 Therefore pray you⁺ this way: ‘Our Father who [is] in the heavens, hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done, as in heaven, also upon earth. 11 Give us today our necessary bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

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Question 100

Q. What doth the preface of the Lord's Prayer teach us?

A. The preface of the Lord's Prayer, which is, Our Father which art in heaven, teacheth us to draw near to God with all holy reverence and confidence, as children to a father, able and ready to help us; and that we should pray with and for others.

Scripture proofs
  • Ps. 95:6.

    Ps. 95:6 O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the face of YHWH our Maker!

  • Eph. 3:12.

    Eph. 3:12 in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through the faith from Him.

  • Matt. 7:9–11 (cf. Luke 11:11–13); Rom. 8:15.

    Matt. 7:9–11 9 Or which man is of you⁺ who, [if] his son will ask for bread, will give to him a stone, 10 or also, [if] he will ask for a fish, will give to him a serpent? 11 Therefore if you⁺, being evil, know to give good gifts to your⁺ children, how much more will your⁺ Father who [is] in the heavens give good things to those asking Him!

    Luke 11:11–13 11 And which father of you⁺, [if] the son will ask for a fish, instead of even a fish, will give to him a serpent? 12 Or also, [if] he will ask for an egg, will give to him a scorpion? 13 Therefore if you⁺, being evil, know to give good gifts to your⁺ children, how much more will the Father who [is] from heaven give the Holy Spirit to those asking Him!”

    Rom. 8:15 For you⁺ did not receive a spirit of slavery again unto fear, but you⁺ received the Spirit of adoption as sons, in whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

  • Eph. 3:20.

    Eph. 3:20 Now to the One being able to do exceedingly above all things that we ask or think, according to the power that [is] working in us,

  • Eph. 6:18; 1 Tim. 2:1–2.

    Eph. 6:18 through all prayer and supplication, praying in the Spirit in every season and unto this very thing, staying awake with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints,

    1 Tim. 2:1–2 1 I exhort, therefore, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, [and] thanksgivings to be made for all men, 2 for kings and all those being in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

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Question 101

Q. What do we pray for in the first petition?

A. In the first petition, which is, Hallowed be thy name, we pray that God would enable us, and others, to glorify him in all that whereby he maketh himself known; and that he would dispose all things to his own glory.

Scripture proofs
  • Ps. 67:1–3; Ps. 99:3; Ps. 100:3–4.

    Ps. 67:1–3 1 For the one directing. On stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song. May God be gracious to us and bless us, [and] cause His face to shine upon us, Selah 2 for the knowing of Your way on the earth, Your salvation among all nations. 3 May the peoples praise You, O God; may the peoples praise You—all of them.

    Ps. 99:3 Let them praise Your great and awesome name! Holy [is] He!

    Ps. 100:3–4 3 Know that YHWH, He [is] God; He has made us and not we ourselves; [we are] His people and the sheep of His pasture. 4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving, His courts with praise; give thanks to Him; bless His name!

  • Rom. 11:33–36; Rev. 4:11.

    Rom. 11:33–36 33 O, the depth of riches, both of wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and untraceable His ways! 34 “For who knew the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor?” 35 Or “who first gave to Him, and it will be given back to him?” 36 For from Him and through Him and unto Him [are] all things. To Him [be] the glory to the ages! Amen.

    Rev. 4:11 “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they existed and were created.”

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Question 102

Q. What do we pray for in the second petition?

A. In the second petition, which is, Thy kingdom come, we pray that Satan's kingdom may be destroyed; and that the kingdom of grace may be advanced, ourselves and others brought into it, and kept in it; and that the kingdom of glory may be hastened.

Scripture proofs
  • Matt. 12:25–28; Rom. 16:20; 1 John 3:8.

    Matt. 12:25–28 25 And knowing their thoughts, He said to them, “Every kingdom having been divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house having been divided against itself will not stand. 26 And if Satan casts out Satan, he was divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your⁺ sons cast [them] out? Because of this, they will be your⁺ judges. 28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you⁺.

    Rom. 16:20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your⁺ feet in quickness. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you⁺.

    1 John 3:8 The one doing sin is of the devil, because the devil is sinning from the beginning. For this the Son of God was made manifest, so that He might destroy the works of the devil.

  • Ps. 72:8–11; Matt. 24:14; 1 Cor. 15:24–25.

    Ps. 72:8–11 8 And he will rule from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. 9 Before him the desert dwellers will bow down, and his enemies will lick the dust. 10 The kings of Tarshish and the isles will return a gift; the kings of Sheba and Seba will bring near a gift. 11 And all kings will bow low before him; all nations will serve him!

    Matt. 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.

    1 Cor. 15:24–25 24 then the end, when He shall deliver the kingdom to God, even the Father, when He shall have made null all rule and all authority and power. 25 For it is necessary for Him to reign until He shall have put all the enemies under His feet.

  • Ps. 119:5; Luke 22:32; 2 Thess. 3:1–5.

    Ps. 119:5 Oh, that my ways were set firm to keep Your statutes!

    Luke 22:32 But I begged for you, that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

    2 Thess. 3:1–5 1 Finally, brothers, pray for us that the word of the Lord may run and may be glorified, just as also with you⁺, 2 and that we may be delivered from perverse and evil men; for the faith [is] not unto all. 3 But faithful is the Lord, who will strengthen you⁺ and guard [you] from the evil one. 4 And we are persuaded in the Lord as to you⁺, that both you⁺ are doing and you⁺ will do what we command. 5 And may the Lord direct your⁺ hearts into the love of God and into the perseverance of Christ.

  • Rev. 22:20.

    Rev. 22:20 The One testifying these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

Parallel passages (6+)Heidelberg Catechism · Question 1234 shared proof texts · 2 shared topicsWestminster Larger Catechism · Question 1952 shared proof texts · 2 shared topicsWestminster Larger Catechism · Question 1912 shared proof texts · 2 shared topicsHeidelberg Catechism · Question 12 shared proof textsWestminster Confession of Faith · Chapter 17: Of the Perseverance of the Saints2 shared proof textsWestminster Larger Catechism · Question 1921 shared proof text · 2 shared topics

Question 103

Q. What do we pray for in the third petition?

A. In the third petition, which is, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven, we pray that God, by his grace, would make us able and willing to know, obey, and submit to his will in all things, as the angels do in heaven.

Scripture proofs
  • Ps. 19:14; Ps. 119; 1 Thess. 5:23; Heb. 13:20–21.

    Ps. 19:14 The words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, let them be for favor before Your face, O YHWH, my Rock and my Redeemer.

    1 Thess. 5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you⁺ completely, and may your⁺ entire spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

    Heb. 13:20–21 20 Now [may] the God of peace, the One having brought up out from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you⁺ in everything good in order to do His will, doing in us that which [is] well pleasing before Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom [be] the glory to the ages of the ages. Amen.

    Psalm 119 on BibleHub ↗

  • Ps. 103:20–21; Heb. 1:14.

    Ps. 103:20–21 20 Bless YHWH, His angels, mighty of strength, doing His word, to listen to the voice of His word. 21 Bless YHWH, all His hosts, His ministering ones doing His pleasure.

    Heb. 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits being sent forth for service for the sake of those being about to inherit salvation?

Parallel passages (6+)Westminster Larger Catechism · Question 1926 shared proof texts · 3 shared topicsWestminster Larger Catechism · Question 1953 shared proof texts · 2 shared topicsHeidelberg Catechism · Question 1242 shared proof texts · 3 shared topicsWestminster Larger Catechism · Question 162 shared proof texts · shared topicWestminster Larger Catechism · Question 192 shared proof texts · shared topicWestminster Confession of Faith · Chapter 16: Of Good Works2 shared proof texts

Question 104

Q. What do we pray for in the fourth petition?

A. In the fourth petition, which is, Give us this day our daily bread, we pray that of God's free gift we may receive a competent portion of the good things of this life, and enjoy his blessing with them.

Scripture proofs
  • Prov. 30:8–9; Matt. 6:31–34; Phil. 4:11, 19; 1 Tim. 6:6–8.

    Prov. 30:8–9 8 Put vanity and the word of a lie far away from me; do not give poverty or wealth to me; provide me the bread of my portion, 9 lest I become satisfied and I deny and say, ‘Who [is] YHWH?’ And lest I become dispossessed and steal, and I seize the name of my God.

    Matt. 6:31–34 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘[With] what shall we be clothed?’ 32 For the nations seek after all these things. For your⁺ heavenly Father knows that you⁺ have need of all of these. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you⁺. 34 Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient to the day [is] its evil.[]

    Phil. 4:11, 19 11 Not that I speak according to deficiency, for I have learned to be content in that which I am. 19 And my God will fill all your⁺ need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

    1 Tim. 6:6–8 6 But godliness with contentment is a means of great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, because neither are we able to bring out anything. 8 But having sustenance and coverings, with these we will be content.

Parallel passages (6+)Westminster Larger Catechism · Question 1935 shared proof texts · 2 shared topicsHeidelberg Catechism · Question 1254 shared proof texts · 2 shared topicsHeidelberg Catechism · Question 1214 shared proof texts · shared topicWestminster Larger Catechism · Question 1413 shared proof textsWestminster Confession of Faith · Chapter 5: Of Providence2 shared proof textsWestminster Larger Catechism · Question 1362 shared proof texts

Question 105

Q. What do we pray for in the fifth petition?

A. In the fifth petition, which is, And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors, we pray that God, for Christ's sake, would freely pardon all our sins; which we are the rather encouraged to ask, because by his grace we are enabled from the heart to forgive others.

Scripture proofs
  • Ps. 51:1–2, 7, 9; Dan. 9:17–19; 1 John 1:7.

    Ps. 51:1–2, 7, 9 1 For the one directing. A Psalm of David, in the coming of Nathan the prophet to him after that he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy on me O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to the abundance of Your compassion, wipe out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 7 Cleanse my sin with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 9 May You hide Your face from my sins, and wipe out all my iniquities.

    Dan. 9:17–19 17 And now, listen, our God, to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplications, and cause to shine Your face on Your sanctuary that [is] desolate—for the sake of the Lord! 18 Incline, O my God, Your ear, and hear; open Your eyes, and see our desolations and the city upon which Your name is called. For [it is] not because of our righteous acts [that] we are letting fall our supplications before Your face, but because of Your many mercies. 19 O Lord, may You hear! O Lord, may You forgive! O Lord, may You be attentive and act! Do not delay, for Your sake, O my God, for Your name is called upon Your city and upon Your people!”

    1 John 1:7 But if we should walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

  • Matt. 18:21–35; Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13.

    Matt. 18:21–35 21 Then, having come, Peter said to Him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I will forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus says to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy-seven times! 23 Because of this, the kingdom of the heavens was likened to to a man, a king, who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And [on] his having begun to settle, one was brought to him, a debtor of ten thousand talents. 25 And [on] his having nothing to repay, the master commanded him to be sold—and the wife and the children and all of whatever he had—and repayment to be made. 26 Therefore the servant, having fallen down, was bowing on his knees to him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay all to you.’ 27 And having been moved with compassion, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But having gone out, that servant found one of his fellow servants who was owing him a hundred denarii. And having seized him, he was choking [him], saying, ‘Repay what you owe!’ 29 Therefore, having fallen down, his fellow servant was calling on him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay you.’ 30 But he was not willing. Rather, having gone, he cast him into prison until he should repay what was owed. 31 Therefore his fellow servants, having seen the things having happened, were deeply grieved, and having gone, they made clear to their master all the things having happened. 32 Then, having summoned him, his master says to him, ‘Evil servant! I forgave you all that debt because you called on me. 33 Was it not necessary for you also to have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I also had mercy on you?’ 34 And having become angry, his master delivered him to the tormenters until he should repay everything being owed to him. 35 Thus also My heavenly Father will do to you⁺ unless each of you⁺ should forgive his brother from your⁺ hearts.”

    Eph. 4:32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as also God in Christ forgave you⁺.

    Col. 3:13 bearing with one another and forgiving each other, if anyone may have a complaint toward another. Just as also the Lord forgave you⁺, so also you⁺.

Parallel passages (6+)Westminster Larger Catechism · Question 19422 shared proof texts · 3 shared topicsHeidelberg Catechism · Question 12618 shared proof texts · 3 shared topicsWestminster Confession of Faith · Chapter 15: Of Repentance unto Life4 shared proof texts · shared topicWestminster Larger Catechism · Question 1963 shared proof texts · 2 shared topicsHeidelberg Catechism · Question 1173 shared proof texts · shared topicWestminster Larger Catechism · Question 1783 shared proof texts · shared topic

Question 106

Q. What do we pray for in the sixth petition?

A. In the sixth petition, which is, And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, we pray that God would either keep us from being tempted to sin, or support and deliver us when we are tempted.

Scripture proofs
  • Ps. 19:13; Matt. 26:41; John 17:15.

    Ps. 19:13 Also, hold back Your servant from proud [things]; may they not rule over me. Then I shall be complete, and cleansed of great transgression.

    Matt. 26:41 Watch and pray so that you⁺ might not enter into temptation. the spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh weak.”

    John 17:15 I do not ask that You would take them out of the world, but that You would keep them from evil.

  • Luke 22:31–32; 1 Cor. 10:13; 2 Cor. 12:7–9; Heb. 2:18.

    Luke 22:31–32 31 Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked for all of you⁺ to sift like wheat. 32 But I begged for you, that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

    1 Cor. 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you⁺ except [what is] human. And faithful [is] God, who will not allow you⁺ to be tempted beyond what you⁺ are able, but He will also provide with the temptation the escape, to be able to bear up under [it].

    2 Cor. 12:7–9 7 and the surpassingness of the revelations. Therefore, so that I should not be over-exalted, a thorn in [my] flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan, that he might buffet me, so that I should not be over-exalted. 8 Three times I entreated the Lord for this, that it might depart from me. 9 And He has said to me, “My grace suffices for you, for the power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, rather, I will boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

    Heb. 2:18 For in that He Himself has suffered, having been tempted, He is able to help those being tempted.

Parallel passages (6+)Westminster Larger Catechism · Question 1958 shared proof texts · 2 shared topicsWestminster Confession of Faith · Chapter 5: Of Providence5 shared proof textsLondon Baptist Confession (1689) · Chapter 5: Of Divine Providence3 shared proof textsHeidelberg Catechism · Question 1272 shared proof texts · 2 shared topicsWestminster Confession of Faith · Chapter 14: Of Saving Faith2 shared proof texts · shared topicWestminster Confession of Faith · Chapter 18: Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation2 shared proof texts

Question 107

Q. What doth the conclusion of the Lord's Prayer teach us?

A. The conclusion of the Lord's Prayer, which is, For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen, teacheth us to take our encouragement in prayer from God only, and in our prayers to praise him, ascribing kingdom, power, and glory to him; and, in testimony of our desire, and assurance to be heard, we say, Amen.

Scripture proofs
  • Dan. 9:4, 7–9, 16–19; Luke 18:1, 7–8.

    Dan. 9:4, 7–9, 16–19 4 And I prayed to YHWH my God, and I made confession and said: “O Lord God, the great and fearsome One, the One keeping the covenant and the loving devotion to those loving Him and those keeping His commandments. 7 Unto You, O Lord, [is] the righteousness, and unto us [is] shame of face, as [on] this day, to the men of Judah, and to those dwelling in Jerusalem, and to all of Israel—those near, and those far off—in all the lands to which You have driven them there because of their unfaithfulness with which they were unfaithful to You! 8 O YHWH, unto us [is] shame of face—to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers—because we have sinned against You. 9 Unto the Lord our God [are] compassion and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him, 16 O Lord, according to all Your righteousness, let be turned back, please, Your anger and Your fury from Your city Jerusalem, the mountain of Your holiness! For because of our sins and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people [are] a reproach to all around us. 17 And now, listen, our God, to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplications, and cause to shine Your face on Your sanctuary that [is] desolate—for the sake of the Lord! 18 Incline, O my God, Your ear, and hear; open Your eyes, and see our desolations and the city upon which Your name is called. For [it is] not because of our righteous acts [that] we are letting fall our supplications before Your face, but because of Your many mercies. 19 O Lord, may You hear! O Lord, may You forgive! O Lord, may You be attentive and act! Do not delay, for Your sake, O my God, for Your name is called upon Your city and upon Your people!”

    Luke 18:1, 7–8 1 And He was speaking a parable to them that it is necessary for them always to pray and not to grow fainthearted, 7 And shall not God execute the avenging of His chosen—the ones crying out to Him day and night—and be deferring in regard to them? 8 I say to you⁺ that He will execute their avenging in quickness. Nevertheless, the Son of Man having come, will He find the faith on the earth?”

  • 1 Chron. 29:10–13; 1 Tim. 1:17; Rev. 5:11–13.

    1 Chron. 29:10–13 10 And David blessed YHWH before all the assembly, and David said, “Blessed are You, O YHWH, God of Israel, our Father, from forever and even to forever. 11 To You, O YHWH, [is] the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty, because of everything in the heavens and on earth. To You, O YHWH, [is] the kingdom, and You are exalted over all as head. 12 And the riches and the honor [are] from before You, and You reign over all, and in Your hand [is] power and might, and in Your hand [is] to exalt and to give strength to all. 13 And now, our God, we thank You and praise Your glorious name.

    1 Tim. 1:17 Now to the King of the ages, the immortal, invisible, the only God, [be] honor and glory to the ages of the ages! Amen.

    Rev. 5:11–13 11 And I saw, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and of the living creatures, and of the elders; and their number was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying in a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb having been slain to receive the power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” 13 And I heard every creature that is in heaven and upon the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and everything in them, saying: “To the One sitting on the throne, and to the Lamb, blessing and honor and glory and might to the ages of the ages!”

  • 1 Cor. 14:16; Rev. 22:20.

    1 Cor. 14:16 Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will the one filling up the place of the uninstructed say the “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you say?

    Rev. 22:20 The One testifying these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

Parallel passages (6+)Westminster Larger Catechism · Question 19618 shared proof texts · 3 shared topicsWestminster Larger Catechism · Question 1788 shared proof texts · shared topicWestminster Confession of Faith · Chapter 21: Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day4 shared proof texts · shared topicWestminster Larger Catechism · Question 1124 shared proof texts · shared topicWestminster Larger Catechism · Question 1943 shared proof texts · 3 shared topicsWestminster Confession of Faith · Chapter 2: Of God, and of the Holy Trinity3 shared proof texts · 2 shared topics

Question 186

Q. What rule hath God given for our direction in the duty of prayer?

A. The whole Word of God is of use to direct us in the duty of prayer; but the special rule of direction is that form of prayer which our Savior Christ taught his disciples, commonly called the Lord's Prayer.

Scripture proofs
  • 1 John 5:14.

    1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we may ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

  • Matt. 6:9–13; Luke 11:2–4.

    Matt. 6:9–13 9 Therefore pray you⁺ this way: ‘Our Father who [is] in the heavens, hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done, as in heaven, also upon earth. 11 Give us today our necessary bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

    Luke 11:2–4 2 And He said to them, “When you⁺ pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our necessary bread. 4 And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.’”

Parallel passages (6+)Heidelberg Catechism · Question 1198 shared proof texts · 2 shared topicsWestminster Shorter Catechism · Question 996 shared proof texts · 3 shared topicsWestminster Confession of Faith · Chapter 21: Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day3 shared proof texts · 2 shared topicsLondon Baptist Confession (1689) · Chapter 22: Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day2 shared proof texts · 2 shared topicsSecond Helvetic Confession · Chapter 14: Of Repentance, and the Conversion of Man2 shared proof texts · 2 shared topicsHeidelberg Catechism · Question 1171 shared proof text · shared topic

Question 187

Q. How is the Lord's Prayer to be used?

A. The Lord's Prayer is not only for direction, as a pattern, according to which we are to make other prayers; but may also be used as a prayer, so that it be done with understanding, faith, reverence, and other graces necessary to the right performance of the duty of prayer.

Scripture proofs
  • Matt. 6:9; Luke 11:2.

    Matt. 6:9 Therefore pray you⁺ this way: ‘Our Father who [is] in the heavens, hallowed be Your name.

    Luke 11:2 And He said to them, “When you⁺ pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come.

Parallel passages (5)Heidelberg Catechism · Question 1192 shared proof texts · 2 shared topicsWestminster Shorter Catechism · Question 991 shared proof text · 2 shared topicsSecond Helvetic Confession · Chapter 14: Of Repentance, and the Conversion of Man1 shared proof text · shared topicWestminster Shorter Catechism · Question 541 shared proof textSecond Helvetic Confession · Chapter 10: Of the Predestination of God, and the Election of the Saints1 shared proof text

Question 188

Q. Of how many parts doth the Lord's Prayer consist?

A. The Lord's Prayer consists of three parts; a preface, petitions, and a conclusion.

Question 189

Q. What doth the preface of the Lord's Prayer teach us?

A. The preface of the Lord's Prayer (contained in these words, Our Father which art in heaven,) teacheth us, when we pray, to draw near to God with confidence of his fatherly goodness, and our interest therein; with reverence, and all other childlike dispositions, heavenly affections, and due apprehensions of his sovereign power, majesty, and gracious condescension: as also, to pray with and for others.

Scripture proofs
  • Matt. 6:9. (Cf. Luke 11:2.)

    Matt. 6:9 Therefore pray you⁺ this way: ‘Our Father who [is] in the heavens, hallowed be Your name.

    Luke 11:2 And He said to them, “When you⁺ pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come.

  • Ps. 103:13; Luke 11:13; Rom. 8:15.

    Ps. 103:13 As a father has compassion for [his] children, [so] YHWH has compassion for those fearing Him.

    Luke 11:13 Therefore if you⁺, being evil, know to give good gifts to your⁺ children, how much more will the Father who [is] from heaven give the Holy Spirit to those asking Him!”

    Rom. 8:15 For you⁺ did not receive a spirit of slavery again unto fear, but you⁺ received the Spirit of adoption as sons, in whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

  • Isa. 64:9.

    Isa. 64:9 Do not be angry, O YHWH, beyond measure, and do not remember [our] iniquity forever! Behold, please, look; we [are] all Your people!

  • Col. 3:1–2; Ps. 123:1; Lam. 3:41.

    Col. 3:1–2 1 If, then, you⁺ were raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Mind the things above, not the things on the earth.

    Ps. 123:1 A Song of the Ascents. Unto You I lift up my eyes, [to] the One sitting in the heavens.

    Lam. 3:41 Let us lift our heart with [our] hands to God in the heavens:

  • Isa. 63:15–16; Neh. 1:4–6. (See Ps. 113:4–6.)

    Isa. 63:15–16 15 Look down from the heavens and see, from the habitation of Your holiness and Your glory! Where [is] Your zeal and Your strength, the groaning of Your bowels and Your compassion toward me—are they restrained? 16 For You [are] our Father, though Abraham does not know us and Israel does not acknowledge us, You, O YHWH, [are] our Father, Our Redeemer from Everlasting [is] Your name.

    Neh. 1:4–6 4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept and mourned [for] days, and I was fasting and praying before the face of the God of the heavens, 5 and I said, “Please, O YHWH, God of the heavens, the great and awesome God, keeping the covenant and loving devotion for those loving Him and observing His commandments, 6 please let Your ear be attentive, and Your eyes be open, that You may listen to the prayer of Your servant, which I pray before You now, day and night, for the sons of Israel Your servants. And confessing on account of the sins of the sons of Israel, which we have sinned against You, both I and the house of my father have sinned.

    Ps. 113:4–6 4 High over all nations [is] YHWH, [and] over the heavens His glory, 5 who [is] like YHWH our God, being on high to dwell, 6 stooping down to look on the heavens and on the earth,

  • Acts 12:5; 1 Tim. 2:1–2; Eph. 6:18.

    Acts 12:5 Therefore indeed Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer was fervently being made to God by the church concerning him.

    1 Tim. 2:1–2 1 I exhort, therefore, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, [and] thanksgivings to be made for all men, 2 for kings and all those being in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

    Eph. 6:18 through all prayer and supplication, praying in the Spirit in every season and unto this very thing, staying awake with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints,

Parallel passages (6+)Westminster Confession of Faith · Chapter 21: Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day6 shared proof texts · shared topicWestminster Shorter Catechism · Question 1005 shared proof texts · 2 shared topicsSecond Helvetic Confession · Chapter 6: Of the Providence of God3 shared proof textsHeidelberg Catechism · Question 1192 shared proof texts · 2 shared topicsLondon Baptist Confession (1689) · Chapter 22: Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day2 shared proof texts · shared topicLondon Baptist Confession (1689) · Chapter 24: Of the Civil Magistrate2 shared proof texts · shared topic

Question 190

Q. What do we pray for in the first petition?

A. In the first petition, (which is, Hallowed be thy name,) acknowledging the utter inability and indisposition that is in ourselves and all men to honor God aright, we pray, that God would by his grace enable and incline us and others to know, to acknowledge, and highly to esteem him, his titles, attributes, ordinances, Word, works, and whatsoever he is pleased to make himself known by; and to glorify him in thought, word, and deed: that he would prevent and remove atheism, ignorance, idolatry, profaneness, and whatsoever is dishonorable to him; and, by his overruling providence, direct and dispose of all things to his own glory.

Scripture proofs
  • Matt. 6:9. (Cf. Luke 11:2.)

    Matt. 6:9 Therefore pray you⁺ this way: ‘Our Father who [is] in the heavens, hallowed be Your name.

    Luke 11:2 And He said to them, “When you⁺ pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come.

  • 2 Cor. 3:5; Ps. 51:15.

    2 Cor. 3:5 Not that we are sufficient from ourselves to reckon anything as of ourselves, but our sufficiency [is] of God,

    Ps. 51:15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise.

  • Ps. 67:2–3; Ps. 99:1–3.

    Ps. 67:2–3 2 for the knowing of Your way on the earth, Your salvation among all nations. 3 May the peoples praise You, O God; may the peoples praise You—all of them.

    Ps. 99:1–3 1 YHWH reigns, let the peoples tremble! He dwells [above] the cherubim, let the earth be shaken! 2 YHWH [is] great in Zion, and high [is] He over all the peoples. 3 Let them praise Your great and awesome name! Holy [is] He!

  • Ps. 83:18.

    Ps. 83:18 And they shall know that You—Your name [is] YHWH—You alone [are] Most High over all the earth!

  • Ps. 86:10–13, 15.

    Ps. 86:10–13, 15 10 For You [are] great, and the One doing wonders; You [are] God—You alone. 11 Instruct me, O YHWH, [in] Your way, [and] I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name. 12 I will confess You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forever. 13 For Your loving devotion [is] great toward me. And You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. 15 But You, O Lord, [are] a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in in loving devotion and faithfulness.

  • 2 Thess. 3:1; Ps. 147:19–20; Ps. 138:1–3; 2 Cor. 2:14–15.

    2 Thess. 3:1 Finally, brothers, pray for us that the word of the Lord may run and may be glorified, just as also with you⁺,

    Ps. 147:19–20 19 He declares His words to Jacob, His statutes and His judgments to Israel. 20 He has not done so for any nation; and His judgments they have not known. Praise YAH!

    Ps. 138:1–3 1 Of David. I give You praise with all of my heart; before the gods I sing Your praises. 2 I bow down toward the temple of Your holiness, and I give thanks to Your name for Your loving devotion, and for Your faithfulness; for You have magnified above all Your name [and] Your word. 3 On the day I called out, then You answered me; You embolden me in my soul [with] strength.

    2 Cor. 2:14–15 14 But thanks [be] to God, the One always leading us in triumph in Christ and making manifest the fragrance of the knowledge of Him through us in every place. 15 For we are a sweet smell of Christ to God among those being saved and among those perishing:

  • Ps. 145; Ps. 8.
  • Ps. 103:1; Ps. 19:14.

    Ps. 103:1 Of David. Bless, O my soul, YHWH, and all within me—His holy name!

    Ps. 19:14 The words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, let them be for favor before Your face, O YHWH, my Rock and my Redeemer.

  • Phil. 1:9, 11; Ps. 100:3–4.

    Phil. 1:9, 11 9 And this I pray, that your⁺ love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 11 being filled with the fruit of righteousness that [is] through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

    Ps. 100:3–4 3 Know that YHWH, He [is] God; He has made us and not we ourselves; [we are] His people and the sheep of His pasture. 4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving, His courts with praise; give thanks to Him; bless His name!

  • Ps. 67:1–4.

    Ps. 67:1–4 1 For the one directing. On stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song. May God be gracious to us and bless us, [and] cause His face to shine upon us, Selah 2 for the knowing of Your way on the earth, Your salvation among all nations. 3 May the peoples praise You, O God; may the peoples praise You—all of them. 4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you will judge the peoples with uprightness, and You will guide the nations on the earth. Selah

  • Eph. 1:17–18.

    Eph. 1:17–18 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you⁺ a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes your⁺ of heart being enlightened for you⁺ to know what is the hope of His calling, what [are] the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

  • Ps. 97:7.

    Ps. 97:7 Let all those serving a carved image be put to shame, those boasting in idols! Bow down to Him, all gods!

  • Ps. 74:18, 22–23.

    Ps. 74:18, 22–23 18 Remember this, an enemy has reproached YHWH, and a foolish people have spurned Your name! 22 Arise, O God, defend Your cause! Remember the scorning of You from a fool all the day. 23 Do not forget the voice of Your enemies, the uproar of those rising against You, going up continually.

  • 2 Kings 19:15–16.

    2 Kings 19:15–16 15 And Hezekiah prayed before the face of YHWH and said, “O YHWH, God of Israel, dwelling [between] the cherubim, You alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made the heavens and the earth. 16 Incline, O YHWH, Your ear, and hear; open, O YHWH, Your eyes, and see; and listen to the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God.

  • 2 Chron. 20:6 (see vv. 10–12); Rom. 11:33–36; Rev. 4:11. (See Pss. 83; 140:4, 8.)

    2 Chron. 20:6 and he said, “O YHWH, God of our fathers, are You not He, the God in the heavens? And You are ruling over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand [are] power and might, and there is no one to stand against You.

    Rom. 11:33–36 33 O, the depth of riches, both of wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and untraceable His ways! 34 “For who knew the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor?” 35 Or “who first gave to Him, and it will be given back to him?” 36 For from Him and through Him and unto Him [are] all things. To Him [be] the glory to the ages! Amen.

    Rev. 4:11 “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they existed and were created.”

    140:4, 8 4 keep me, O YHWH, from the hands of the wicked, from the man of violence guard me—those who have devised to push down my steps. 8 Do not grant, O YHWH, the desires of the wicked; do not promote his wicked device; [lest] they be exalted! Selah

    Psalm 83 on BibleHub ↗

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Question 191

Q. What do we pray for in the second petition?

A. In the second petition, (which is, Thy kingdom come,) acknowledging ourselves and all mankind to be by nature under the dominion of sin and Satan, we pray, that the kingdom of sin and Satan may be destroyed, the gospel propagated throughout the world, the Jews called, the fullness of the Gentiles brought in; the church furnished with all gospel officers and ordinances, purged from corruption, countenanced and maintained by the civil magistrate: that the ordinances of Christ may be purely dispensed, and made effectual to the converting of those that are yet in their sins, and the confirming, comforting, and building up of those that are already converted: that Christ would rule in our hearts here, and hasten the time of his second coming, and our reigning with him forever: and that he would be pleased so to exercise the kingdom of his power in all the world, as may best conduce to these ends.

Scripture proofs
  • Matt. 6:10. (Cf. Luke 11:2.)

    Matt. 6:10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done, as in heaven, also upon earth.

    Luke 11:2 And He said to them, “When you⁺ pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come.

  • Eph. 2:2–3.

    Eph. 2:2–3 2 in which once you⁺ walked according to the age of this world, according to the ruler of the authority of the air, the spirit now working in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom we all also once conducted ourselves in the desires of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of [its] thoughts; and we were by nature children of wrath even as the rest.

  • Ps. 68:1, 18; Rev. 12:10–11.

    Ps. 68:1, 18 1 For the one directing. Of David. A Psalm. A Song. God Arises, His enemies are scattered, and those hating Him flee before His face. 18 You have gone up to the height, You have led captive captivity; You have received gifts from man, even [from] the rebellious ones, that YAH God may dwell there.

    Rev. 12:10–11 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ, because the accuser of our brothers was cast down, the one accusing them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; and they did not love their life unto death.

  • Ps. 67:1–2; 2 Thess. 3:1.

    Ps. 67:1–2 1 For the one directing. On stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song. May God be gracious to us and bless us, [and] cause His face to shine upon us, Selah 2 for the knowing of Your way on the earth, Your salvation among all nations.

    2 Thess. 3:1 Finally, brothers, pray for us that the word of the Lord may run and may be glorified, just as also with you⁺,

  • Rom. 10:1.

    Rom. 10:1 Brothers, indeed the good pleasure of my heart and [my] supplication to God on behalf of them [is] for salvation.

  • John 17:9, 20; Rom. 11:25–26. (See Ps. 67.)

    John 17:9, 20 9 I ask concerning them. I do not ask concerning the world, but concerning those whom You have given to Me, for they are Yours. 20 But I do not ask for these only, but also for those believing in Me through their word,

    Rom. 11:25–26 25 For I do not want you⁺ to be ignorant, brothers, of this mystery, so that you⁺ may not be wise in yourselves: A hardening in part has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles may come in. 26 And thus all Israel will be saved, as it has been written: “The Delivering One will come out of Zion; He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.

    Psalm 67 on BibleHub ↗

  • Matt. 9:38; 2 Thess. 3:1.

    Matt. 9:38 Therefore implore the Lord of the harvest, that He might put forth workers into His harvest.”

    2 Thess. 3:1 Finally, brothers, pray for us that the word of the Lord may run and may be glorified, just as also with you⁺,

  • Mal. 1:11; Zeph. 3:9.

    Mal. 1:11 For from the rising of the sun to its going down, great [is] My name among the nations; in every place incense shall be offered to My name, and a pure offering. Indeed, My name will be great among the nations.” Says YHWH of Hosts.

    Zeph. 3:9 For then I will turn over to the peoples a lip made pure, to call for all of them on the name of YHWH, to serve Him with one shoulder.

  • 1 Tim. 2:1–2; Isa. 49:23.

    1 Tim. 2:1–2 1 I exhort, therefore, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, [and] thanksgivings to be made for all men, 2 for kings and all those being in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

    Isa. 49:23 And kings will be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers; facedown to the earth they will bow low to you, and they will lick up the dust of your feet. And you will know that I [am] YHWH; those waiting for Me will not be ashamed.”

  • Acts 4:29–30; Eph. 6:18–20; Rom. 15:29–30, 32; 2 Thess. 1:11; 2 Thess. 2:16–17.

    Acts 4:29–30 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats, and grant to Your servants to speak Your word with all boldness, 30 while You stretch out Your hand for healing and signs and wonders to take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.”

    Eph. 6:18–20 18 through all prayer and supplication, praying in the Spirit in every season and unto this very thing, staying awake with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints, 19 and for me, that word may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known in boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in a chain, that in it I may be bold, as it is necessary for me to speak.

    Rom. 15:29–30, 32 29 And I know that coming to you⁺ I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ. 30 Now I exhort you⁺, brothers, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in the prayers for me to God, 32 so that having come to you⁺ in joy, through the will of God I may be refreshed together with you⁺.

    2 Thess. 1:11 For [this] also we pray always for you⁺, that our God may count you⁺ worthy of the calling and may fulfill every good pleasure of goodness and work of faith in power,

    2 Thess. 2:16–17 16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, the One having loved us and having given [us] eternal comfort and good hope in grace, 17 may He comfort your⁺ hearts, and may He strengthen [you] in every good work and word.

  • Eph. 3:14–20; Col. 3:15.

    Eph. 3:14–20 14 ... for reason of this, I bow my knees to the Father, 15 from whom every family in the heavens and on earth is named, 16 that He might give to you⁺ according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 [for] Christ to dwell in your⁺ hearts through faith, having been rooted and having been founded in love, 18 that you⁺ may be fully able, with all the saints, to comprehend what [is] the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ surpassing knowledge, that you⁺ may be filled to all the fullness of God. 20 Now to the One being able to do exceedingly above all things that we ask or think, according to the power that [is] working in us,

    Col. 3:15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your⁺ hearts, to which also you⁺ were called in one body. And be thankful.

  • Rev. 22:20; 2 Tim. 2:12; 2 Peter 3:12.

    Rev. 22:20 The One testifying these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

    2 Tim. 2:12 if we endure, we will also reign together [with Him]; if we will deny [Him], He also will deny us;

    2 Peter 3:12 anticipating and hastening the coming of the day of God, by which the heavens will be dissolved, being set on fire, and the elements melt, burning with heat.

  • Isa. 64:1–2; Rev. 4:8–11.

    Isa. 64:1–2 1 If only You would rend the heavens [and] come down; at Your presence the mountains would shake, 2 like the kindling of brushwood [by] the fire—the fire boils the waters—to make known Your name to Your adversaries, [that] before Your face the nations will tremble,

    Rev. 4:8–11 8 And the four living creatures, one by one of them had six wings respectively, full of eyes all around and within; and they do not have rest day and night, saying: “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, the One who was and who is and who is coming!” 9 And whenever the living creatures will give glory and honor and thanksgiving to the One sitting upon the throne, the One living to the ages of the ages, 10 the twenty-four elders will fall before the One sitting upon the throne, and they will worship the One living to the ages of the ages, and they will cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 11 “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they existed and were created.”

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Question 192

Q. What do we pray for in the third petition?

A. In the third petition, (which is, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven,) acknowledging, that by nature we and all men are not only utterly unable and unwilling to know and do the will of God, but prone to rebel against his Word, to repine and murmur against his providence, and wholly inclined to do the will of the flesh, and of the devil: we pray, that God would by his Spirit take away from ourselves and others all blindness, weakness, indisposedness, and perverseness of heart; and by his grace make us able and willing to know, do, and submit to his will in all things, with the like humility, cheerfulness, faithfulness, diligence, zeal, sincerity, and constancy, as the angels do in heaven.

Scripture proofs
  • Matt. 6:10. (Cf. Luke 11:2.)

    Matt. 6:10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done, as in heaven, also upon earth.

    Luke 11:2 And He said to them, “When you⁺ pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come.

  • Rom. 7:18; Job 21:14; 1 Cor. 2:14.

    Rom. 7:18 For I know that there does not dwell in me—that is, in my flesh—good. For to want is present with me, but not to carry out the good.

    Job 21:14 And they said to God, ‘Turn away from us! For we do not delight to know Your ways.

    1 Cor. 2:14 But the natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he is not able to know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.

  • Rom. 8:7.

    Rom. 8:7 because the mind of the flesh [is] hostility toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for [it is] not even able.

  • Ex. 17:7; Num. 14:2.

    Ex. 17:7 And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the contention of the sons of Israel, and because of their testing of YHWH, saying, “Is YHWH among us, or not?”

    Num. 14:2 And all the sons of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness!

  • Eph. 2:2.

    Eph. 2:2 in which once you⁺ walked according to the age of this world, according to the ruler of the authority of the air, the spirit now working in the sons of disobedience,

  • Eph. 1:17–18.

    Eph. 1:17–18 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you⁺ a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes your⁺ of heart being enlightened for you⁺ to know what is the hope of His calling, what [are] the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

  • Eph. 3:16.

    Eph. 3:16 that He might give to you⁺ according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,

  • Matt. 26:40–41.

    Matt. 26:40–41 40 And He comes to the disciples and finds them sleeping. And He says to Peter, “So, were you⁺ not able to watch with Me one hour? 41 Watch and pray so that you⁺ might not enter into temptation. the spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh weak.”

  • Jer. 31:18–19.

    Jer. 31:18–19 18 I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself: ‘You disciplined me, and I was disciplined as an untrained heifer; turn me back and I will return, for You [are] YHWH my God. 19 For after my turning back, I repented; and after I was instructed, I struck myself on the thigh; I was ashamed and also humiliated, because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’

  • Ps. 19:14; Acts 21:14. (See Ps. 119; 1 Thess. 5:23; Heb. 13:20–21.)

    Ps. 19:14 The words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, let them be for favor before Your face, O YHWH, my Rock and my Redeemer.

    Acts 21:14 And he not being persuaded, we were silent, having said, “The will of the Lord be done.”

    1 Thess. 5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you⁺ completely, and may your⁺ entire spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

    Heb. 13:20–21 20 Now [may] the God of peace, the One having brought up out from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you⁺ in everything good in order to do His will, doing in us that which [is] well pleasing before Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom [be] the glory to the ages of the ages. Amen.

    Psalm 119 on BibleHub ↗

  • Mic. 6:8.

    Mic. 6:8 He has shown to you, O man, what [is] good. And what does YHWH seek from you, but to do justice and to love kindness, and to be humble to walk with your God?

  • Ps. 100:2; Job 1:21; 2 Sam. 15:25–26.

    Ps. 100:2 Serve YHWH with gladness! Come before His face with a shout of joy!

    Job 1:21 and he said, “Naked I came forth from the womb of my mother, and naked I shall return there. YHWH gave, and YHWH has taken away. Let the name of YHWH be blessed.”

    2 Sam. 15:25–26 25 And the king said to Zadok, “Carry back the ark of God into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of YHWH, He will bring me back and show me it and His dwelling place. 26 But if thus He says, ‘I have not delighted in you,’ behold, [it is] I. Let Him do to me as [is] good in His eyes.”

  • Isa. 38:3.

    Isa. 38:3 and he said, “I pray you, O YHWH, remember please how I have walked before Your face in truth and with a complete heart, and I have done [what is] good in your eyes.” And Hezekiah wept [with] great weeping.

  • Ps. 119:4–5.

    Ps. 119:4–5 4 You have commanded Your precepts, to be kept diligently. 5 Oh, that my ways were set firm to keep Your statutes!

  • Ps. 69:9; John 2:17; Rom. 12:11.

    Ps. 69:9 For zeal for Your house has consumed me, and the insults of those insulting You have fallen on me.

    John 2:17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “The zeal of Your house will consume Me.”

    Rom. 12:11 not slothful in diligence, being fervent in spirit, serving the Lord,

  • Josh. 24:14; Ps. 119:80; 1 Cor. 5:8. (See 2 Cor. 1:12.)

    Josh. 24:14 And now, fear YHWH and serve Him in sincerity and in truth. And put away the gods that your⁺ fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt, and Serve YHWH!

    Ps. 119:80 May my heart be perfect in Your statutes, so that I may not be ashamed.

    1 Cor. 5:8 so that we may keep the feast, not with old leaven, not with leaven of malice and wickedness, but with unleavened [bread] of sincerity and of truth.

    2 Cor. 1:12 For our boasting is this: The testimony of our conscience, that in the simplicity and sincerity of God, and not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we conducted ourselves in the world and more abundantly toward you⁺.

  • Ps. 119:112.

    Ps. 119:112 I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes forever, [to] the end!

  • Isa. 6:2–3; Ps. 103:20–21; Matt. 18:10.

    Isa. 6:2–3 2 Seraphim stood above Him, [with] six wings for each—six wings—with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And this one cried to this one and said: “Holy, holy, holy [is] YHWH of Hosts; the fullness of all the earth [is] His glory!”

    Ps. 103:20–21 20 Bless YHWH, His angels, mighty of strength, doing His word, to listen to the voice of His word. 21 Bless YHWH, all His hosts, His ministering ones doing His pleasure.

    Matt. 18:10 See that you⁺ do not despise one of these little ones. For I say to you⁺ that their angels in the heavens always see the face of My Father who [is] in the heavens.

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Question 193

Q. What do we pray for in the fourth petition?

A. In the fourth petition, (which is, Give us this day our daily bread,) acknowledging, that in Adam, and by our own sin, we have forfeited our right to all the outward blessings of this life, and deserve to be wholly deprived of them by God, and to have them cursed to us in the use of them; and that neither they of themselves are able to sustain us, nor we to merit, or by our own industry to procure them; but prone to desire, get, and use them unlawfully: we pray for ourselves and others, that both they and we, waiting upon the providence of God from day to day in the use of lawful means, may, of his free gift, and as to his fatherly wisdom shall seem best, enjoy a competent portion of them; and have the same continued and blessed unto us in our holy and comfortable use of them, and contentment in them; and be kept from all things that are contrary to our temporal support and comfort.

Scripture proofs
  • Matt. 6:11. (Cf. Luke 11:3.)

    Matt. 6:11 Give us today our necessary bread.

    Luke 11:3 Give us each day our necessary bread.

  • Gen. 2:17; Gen. 3:17; Rom. 8:20–22; Jer. 5:25; Deut. 28:15–68.

    Gen. 2:17 And from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, from it you shall not eat. For in the day of your eating from it, you shall surely die!”

    Gen. 3:17 And to the man He said: “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and ate from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘you shall not eat from it,’ cursed is the ground on your account, in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life,

    Rom. 8:20–22 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of the One having subjected [it], in hope 21 that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of decay, into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that all the creation groans together and travails together until now.

    Jer. 5:25 Your⁺ iniquities have stretched away these [things], and your⁺ sins have withheld the good from you⁺.

    Deut. 28:15–68 15 And it shall come to pass, if you do not listen to the voice of YHWH your God, to observe carefully to do all His commandments and His statutes that I am commanding you today, [that] all these curses will come upon you and overtake you. 16 Cursed [are] you in the city, and cursed [are] you in the field. 17 Cursed is your basket and your kneading bowl. 18 Cursed is the fruit of your womb, and the fruit of your ground, the increase of your cattle, and the young of your flock. 19 Cursed [are] you in your coming in, and cursed [are] you in your going out. 20 YHWH will send on you the cursing, the confusion, and the rebuke, in every putting forth of your hand that you do, until you are destroyed and until you perish quickly, because of the wickedness of your doings in which you have forsaken Me. 21 YHWH will make cling to you the plague, until He has consumed you from the land that you are going in to possess. 22 YHWH will strike you with consumption, and with fever, and with inflammation, and with severe burning fever, and with the sword, and with scorching, and with mildew; and they shall pursue you until you perish. 23 And your heavens that [are] over your head shall be bronze, and the earth that [is] under you iron. 24 YHWH will give the rain of your land [to be] dust and powder; from the heavens it shall come down on you, until you are destroyed. 25 YHWH will cause you to be defeated before your enemies; one way you shall go out against him, and seven ways you shall flee before his face, and you shall become troublesome to all the kingdoms of the earth. 26 And your carcass shall be food for all the birds of the heavens and the beasts of the earth, and no one shall frighten [them] away. 27 YHWH will strike you with the boils of Egypt, and with the tumors, and with the scab, and with the itch, from which you are not able to be healed. 28 YHWH will strike you with madness and blindness and confusion of mind, 29 and you shall grope at noonday as a blind man gropes in darkness, and you shall not prosper in your ways. And you shall be only oppressed and plundered all of the days, and no one shall save [you]. 30 You shall betroth a wife and another man shall lie with her. You shall build a house and you shall not dwell in it. You shall plant a vineyard and you shall not gather its grapes. 31 Your ox shall be slaughtered before your eyes, and you shall not eat of it. Your donkey shall be seized from before your face and shall not be restored to you. Your sheep shall be given to your enemies, and you shall have no one to rescue [them]. 32 Your sons and your daughters shall be given to another people, and your eyes are looking and wasting away toward them all the day, and there is no power in your hand. 33 A nation whom you have not known shall eat the fruit of your land and of all your toil, and you shall be only oppressed and crushed all the days. 34 And you shall be driven mad because of the sight of your eyes that you see. 35 YHWH will strike you with severe boils in the knees and on the legs, which are not able to be healed, from the sole of your foot and to the top of your head. 36 YHWH shall bring you and the king whom you set over you to a nation that neither you nor your fathers have known, and there you will serve other gods of wood and stone. 37 And you shall become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword among all the nations to which YHWH will drive you. 38 Much Seed you shall carry out into the field, and little gather in, for the locust shall consume it. 39 You shall plant vineyards and tend [them], and [of] the wine you shall not drink and not gather, for the worms shall consume it. 40 Olive trees shall be unto you throughout all your territory, and with the oil you shall not anoint, for your olives shall drop off. 41 You shall bear sons and daughters, and they shall not be yours, for they shall go into captivity. 42 The locust shall consume all your trees and the produce of your land. 43 The foreigner who [is] among you shall rise above you higher and higher, and you shall descend lower and lower. 44 He shall lend to you, and you shall not lend to him. He shall be the head, and you shall be the tail. 45 And all these curses shall come upon you and pursue and overtake you until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of YHWH your God to keep His commandments and His statutes that He commanded you. 46 And they shall be upon you for a sign and a wonder, and on your seed, even to forever. 47 Because that you did not serve YHWH your God with joy and gladness of heart from the abundance of all things, 48 therefore you shall serve your enemies, whom YHWH will send against you, in hunger and in thirst and in nakedness and in lack of all things, and He will put a yoke of iron on your neck until He has destroyed you. 49 YHWH will bring against you a nation from afar, from the end of the earth, as the eagle flies, a nation whose tongue you have not heard, 50 a nation fierce of face, which does not respect the face of the aged, and does not show favor to the young. 51 And they shall eat the increase of your livestock and the produce of your land, until you are destroyed—which will leave to you no grain, or new wine, or oil, or offspring of your cattle, [or] increase of your flock, until they have destroyed you. 52 And they shall lay siege to you in all your gates until your walls, high and fortified, in which you trust, come down in all your land; and they shall besiege you in all your gates in all your land that YHWH your God has given to you. 53 And you shall eat the fruit of your womb, the flesh of your sons and your daughters whom YHWH your God has given you, in the siege and dire straits that your enemy will inflict on you. 54 The tender man among you and very refined—his eye shall do evil against his brother, and against the wife of his bosom, and against the remnant of his sons whom he leaves behind, 55 so that he will not give to one of them the flesh of his children whom he will eat, because there remains nothing at all for him in the siege and dire straits that your enemy will inflict on you at all your gates. 56 The tender and delicate woman among you who would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground because of her delicateness and tenderness—her eye is evil against the husband of her bosom, and against her son, and against her daughter, 57 and against her afterbirth that comes from between her feet, and against her children whom she bears. For she will eat them in secret for lack of anything in the siege and dire straits that your enemy will inflict on you within your gates. 58 If you are not careful to do all the words of this law written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name—YHWH your God— 59 then YHWH will bring extraordinary plagues and the plagues of your seed, great and prolonged plagues, and evil and prolonged sicknesses. 60 And He will bring back on you all the diseases of Egypt, the presence of which you were afraid, and they shall cling to you. 61 Also every sickness and every plague that [is] not written in the Book of this Law, YHWH will bring upon you until you are destroyed. 62 And you⁺ shall be left few men, instead of which you⁺ were as stars of the heavens in multitude, because you would not listen to the voice of YHWH your God. 63 And it shall come to pass [that] as YHWH rejoiced over you⁺ to do good to you⁺ and multiply you⁺, so YHWH will rejoice over you⁺ to destroy you⁺ and bring you⁺ to nothing, and you⁺ shall be plucked from off the land that you are going there to possess. 64 And YHWH will scatter you among all the peoples, from the end of the earth and to the end of the earth, and there you shall serve other gods—which neither you nor your fathers have known—wood and stone. 65 And among those nations you shall not find rest, nor shall you have a resting place for the sole of your foot. And there YHWH will give to you a trembling heart, and failing eyes, and anguish of soul. 66 And your life shall be hanging in doubt before you, and you shall dread night and day, and have no assurance of life. 67 In the morning you shall say, ‘Would that evening be granted!’ And at the evening you shall say, ‘Would that morning be granted!’ Because of the dread of your heart that you dread, and because of the sight of your eyes that you see. 68 And YHWH will take you back to Egypt in ships by the way of which I said to you, never will you add again to see it, and you⁺ will sell yourselves there to your enemies for menservants and for maidservants, and no one will buy [you].”

  • Deut. 8:3.

    Deut. 8:3 And He humbled you and allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, so that He might make you know that the man shall not live by bread alone; but by every [word] that proceeds from the mouth of YHWH the man shall live.

  • Gen. 32:10.

    Gen. 32:10 I am not worthy of all the kindnesses and of all the faithfulness that You have done for Your servant. For with my staff I passed over this Jordan, and now I have become two camps.

  • Deut. 8:17–18.

    Deut. 8:17–18 17 and you say in your heart, “My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.” 18 And you shall remember YHWH your God, for He gives you power to gain wealth, that He may establish His covenant that He swore to your fathers, as [it is] this day.

  • Jer. 6:13; Mark 7:21–22.

    Jer. 6:13 “For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them, everyone is gaining dishonest gain; and from the prophet even to the priest, everyone is dealing falsely.

    Mark 7:21–22 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil reasonings, sexual immorality, thefts, murders, adulteries, 22 covetous desires, wickednesses, deceit, sensuality, an evil eye, slander, pride, foolishness.

  • Hos. 12:7.

    Hos. 12:7 A Canaanite [has] scales of deceit in his hand; he loves to oppress.

  • James 4:3.

    James 4:3 You⁺ ask and do not receive, because you⁺ ask wrongly, that you⁺ may spend [it] in your⁺ pleasures.

  • Gen. 43:12–14; Gen. 28:20; Eph. 4:28; 2 Thess. 3:11–12; Phil. 4:6.

    Gen. 43:12–14 12 And double the silver take in your⁺ hand, and the silver that was returned in the mouth of your⁺ bags you⁺ shall return in your⁺ hand. Perhaps it [was] a mistake. 13 And take your⁺ brother and arise; return to the man. 14 And may El-Shaddai give to you⁺ mercy before the man, and may he release to you⁺ your⁺ other brother and Benjamin! And I—if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.”

    Gen. 28:20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I am going and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear,

    Eph. 4:28 The one stealing, let him steal no longer, but rather let him toil, working with [his] own hands what [is] good, so that he may have [something] to impart to the one having need.

    2 Thess. 3:11–12 11 For we hear some are walking among you⁺ in an unruly manner, not working at all, but being busybodies. 12 Now to such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that, working with quietness, they should eat their own bread.

    Phil. 4:6 Be anxious about nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your⁺ requests be made known to God.

  • 1 Tim. 4:3–5.

    1 Tim. 4:3–5 3 forbidding to marry, [requiring] to abstain from foods that God created for reception with thanksgiving by the faithful and [by] [those] knowing the truth. 4 For every creature of God [is] good, and nothing [is] to be rejected, being received with thanksgiving, 5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and intercession.

  • 1 Tim. 6:6–8.

    1 Tim. 6:6–8 6 But godliness with contentment is a means of great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, because neither are we able to bring out anything. 8 But having sustenance and coverings, with these we will be content.

  • Prov. 30:8–9.

    Prov. 30:8–9 8 Put vanity and the word of a lie far away from me; do not give poverty or wealth to me; provide me the bread of my portion, 9 lest I become satisfied and I deny and say, ‘Who [is] YHWH?’ And lest I become dispossessed and steal, and I seize the name of my God.

Parallel passages (6+)Westminster Shorter Catechism · Question 1045 shared proof texts · 2 shared topicsWestminster Shorter Catechism · Question 194 shared proof texts · shared topicHeidelberg Catechism · Question 1192 shared proof texts · 2 shared topicsWestminster Confession of Faith · Chapter 21: Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day2 shared proof texts · shared topicWestminster Confession of Faith · Chapter 6: Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment Thereof2 shared proof texts · shared topicWestminster Confession of Faith · Chapter 9: Of Free Will2 shared proof texts · shared topic

Question 194

Q. What do we pray for in the fifth petition?

A. In the fifth petition, (which is, Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors,) acknowledging, that we and all others are guilty both of original and actual sin, and thereby become debtors to the justice of God; and that neither we, nor any other creature, can make the least satisfaction for that debt: we pray for ourselves and others, that God of his free grace would, through the obedience and satisfaction of Christ, apprehended and applied by faith, acquit us both from the guilt and punishment of sin, accept us in his Beloved; continue his favor and grace to us, pardon our daily failings, and fill us with peace and joy, in giving us daily more and more assurance of forgiveness; which we are the rather emboldened to ask, and encouraged to expect, when we have this testimony in ourselves, that we from the heart forgive others their offenses.

Scripture proofs
  • Matt. 6:12. (Cf. Luke 11:4.)

    Matt. 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

    Luke 11:4 And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.’”

  • Rom. 3:9–22; Matt. 18:24–25; Ps. 130:3–4.

    Rom. 3:9–22 9 What then? Are we better? Not at all. For we charged before both Jews and Greeks with being all under sin. 10 As it has been written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one understanding; there is no one seeking out God. 12 All turned away; together they became worthless; there is none who is doing kindness, there is not even one.” 13 “Their throat [is] a grave having been opened; they keep practicing deceit with their tongues;” “the poison of vipers [is] under their lips,” 14 “of whom the mouth is full of cursing and of bitterness;” 15 “their feet [are] swift to shed blood; 16 ruin and misery [are] in their paths; 17 and a way of peace they did not know.” 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” 19 Now we know that as much as the law says, it speaks to those in the law, so that every mouth may be shut, and all the world may be under judgment to God. 20 Therefore by works of the law, not any flesh will be justified before Him; for through the law [is] knowledge of sin. 21 But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified to by the Law and the Prophets. 22 And the righteousness of God [is] through faith from Jesus Christ toward all those believing. For there is no distinction,

    Matt. 18:24–25 24 And [on] his having begun to settle, one was brought to him, a debtor of ten thousand talents. 25 And [on] his having nothing to repay, the master commanded him to be sold—and the wife and the children and all of whatever he had—and repayment to be made.

    Ps. 130:3–4 3 If You were to mark iniquities, O YAH, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But with You [is] forgiveness, so that You may be feared.

  • Rom. 3:24–26; Heb. 9:22.

    Rom. 3:24–26 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that [is] in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation through faith in His blood, for a demonstration of His righteousness, because of the passing over of the sins having taken place beforehand in the forbearance of God, 26 for the demonstration of His righteousness in the present time, for Him to be just and justifying the one of the faith from Jesus.

    Heb. 9:22 And almost all things are purified with blood according to the law, and without blood-shedding there is no forgiveness.

  • Eph. 1:6–7.

    Eph. 1:6–7 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He graciously gave us in the Beloved One, 7 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of trespasses, according to the riches of His grace,

  • 2 Peter 1:2.

    2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you⁺ in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

  • Hos. 14:2; Jer. 14:7; 1 John 1:9. (See Dan. 9:17–19.)

    Hos. 14:2 Take with you⁺ words, and return to YHWH. Say to Him: “Lift away all iniquity, and receive what is good, and we offer the fruit of our lips.

    Jer. 14:7 Though our iniquities testify against us, O YHWH, may You act for the sake of Your name! For many are our backslidings; we have sinned against You.

    1 John 1:9 If we should confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, that He may forgive us [our] sins and may cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

    Dan. 9:17–19 17 And now, listen, our God, to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplications, and cause to shine Your face on Your sanctuary that [is] desolate—for the sake of the Lord! 18 Incline, O my God, Your ear, and hear; open Your eyes, and see our desolations and the city upon which Your name is called. For [it is] not because of our righteous acts [that] we are letting fall our supplications before Your face, but because of Your many mercies. 19 O Lord, may You hear! O Lord, may You forgive! O Lord, may You be attentive and act! Do not delay, for Your sake, O my God, for Your name is called upon Your city and upon Your people!”

  • Rom. 15:13; Ps. 51:7–10, 12.

    Rom. 15:13 And may the God of hope fill you⁺ with all joy and peace in believing, for you⁺ to abound in hope in the power [of] the Holy Spirit.

    Ps. 51:7–10, 12 7 Cleanse my sin with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Make me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice. 9 May You hide Your face from my sins, and wipe out all my iniquities. 10 Create a clean heart in me, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me [by a] willing spirit.

  • Luke 11:4; Matt. 6:14–15; Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13. (See Matt. 18:21–35.)

    Luke 11:4 And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.’”

    Matt. 6:14–15 14 For if you⁺ forgive men their trespasses, your⁺ heavenly Father will also forgive you⁺. 15 But if you⁺ do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your⁺ Father forgive your⁺ trespasses.

    Eph. 4:32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as also God in Christ forgave you⁺.

    Col. 3:13 bearing with one another and forgiving each other, if anyone may have a complaint toward another. Just as also the Lord forgave you⁺, so also you⁺.

    Matt. 18:21–35 21 Then, having come, Peter said to Him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I will forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus says to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy-seven times! 23 Because of this, the kingdom of the heavens was likened to to a man, a king, who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And [on] his having begun to settle, one was brought to him, a debtor of ten thousand talents. 25 And [on] his having nothing to repay, the master commanded him to be sold—and the wife and the children and all of whatever he had—and repayment to be made. 26 Therefore the servant, having fallen down, was bowing on his knees to him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay all to you.’ 27 And having been moved with compassion, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But having gone out, that servant found one of his fellow servants who was owing him a hundred denarii. And having seized him, he was choking [him], saying, ‘Repay what you owe!’ 29 Therefore, having fallen down, his fellow servant was calling on him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay you.’ 30 But he was not willing. Rather, having gone, he cast him into prison until he should repay what was owed. 31 Therefore his fellow servants, having seen the things having happened, were deeply grieved, and having gone, they made clear to their master all the things having happened. 32 Then, having summoned him, his master says to him, ‘Evil servant! I forgave you all that debt because you called on me. 33 Was it not necessary for you also to have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I also had mercy on you?’ 34 And having become angry, his master delivered him to the tormenters until he should repay everything being owed to him. 35 Thus also My heavenly Father will do to you⁺ unless each of you⁺ should forgive his brother from your⁺ hearts.”

Parallel passages (6+)Westminster Shorter Catechism · Question 10522 shared proof texts · 3 shared topicsHeidelberg Catechism · Question 12618 shared proof texts · 3 shared topicsHeidelberg Catechism · Question 512 shared proof textsWestminster Confession of Faith · Chapter 6: Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment Thereof11 shared proof texts · 2 shared topicsLondon Baptist Confession (1689) · Chapter 6: Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment Thereof10 shared proof texts · 2 shared topicsWestminster Confession of Faith · Chapter 15: Of Repentance unto Life9 shared proof texts · 3 shared topics

Question 195

Q. What do we pray for in the sixth petition?

A. In the sixth petition, (which is, And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,) acknowledging, that the most wise, righteous, and gracious God, for divers holy and just ends, may so order things, that we may be assaulted, foiled, and for a time led captive by temptations; that Satan, the world, and the flesh, are ready powerfully to draw us aside, and ensnare us; and that we, even after the pardon of our sins, by reason of our corruption, weakness, and want of watchfulness, are not only subject to be tempted, and forward to expose ourselves unto temptations, but also of ourselves unable and unwilling to resist them, to recover out of them, and to improve them; and worthy to be left under the power of them: we pray, that God would so overrule the world and all in it, subdue the flesh, and restrain Satan, order all things, bestow and bless all means of grace, and quicken us to watchfulness in the use of them, that we and all his people may by his providence be kept from being tempted to sin; or, if tempted, that by his Spirit we may be powerfully supported and enabled to stand in the hour of temptation; or when fallen, raised again and recovered out of it, and have a sanctified use and improvement thereof: that our sanctification and salvation may be perfected, Satan trodden under our feet, and we fully freed from sin, temptation, and all evil, forever.

Scripture proofs
  • Matt. 6:13. (Cf. Luke 11:4.)

    Matt. 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

    Luke 11:4 And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.’”

  • 2 Chron. 32:31.

    2 Chron. 32:31 And so with the ambassadors of the heads of Babylon, those sending to him to inquire about the sign that was [done] in the land, God withdrew from him in order to test him, that He might know all in his heart.

  • 1 Chron. 21:1.

    1 Chron. 21:1 And Satan stood up against Israel and incited David to number Israel.

  • Luke 21:34; Mark 4:19.

    Luke 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest your⁺ hearts ever be burdened with dissipation and drunkenness and the cares of life—and that day would come upon you⁺ suddenly as a snare.

    Mark 4:19 and the anxieties of the age, and the deceit of riches, and the desires concerning the other things, entering, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

  • James 1:14.

    James 1:14 But each one is tempted, being dragged away and being enticed by [his] own desire.

  • Gal. 5:17.

    Gal. 5:17 For the flesh desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. For these are opposed to one another so that the [things] you⁺ may want, these things you⁺ may not do.

  • Matt. 26:41.

    Matt. 26:41 Watch and pray so that you⁺ might not enter into temptation. the spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh weak.”

  • Matt. 26:69–72; Gal. 2:11–14; 2 Chron. 18:3; 2 Chron. 19:2.

    Matt. 26:69–72 69 And Peter was sitting outside in the court, and one servant girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 And he denied [it] before all, saying, “I do not know what you say.” 71 And having gone out to the gateway, another saw him and says to those there, “This [man] was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 And again he denied [it] with an oath: “I do not know the man.”

    Gal. 2:11–14 11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed [him] to his face because he was standing condemned. 12 For before certain ones came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles. But when they came, he was drawing back and was separating himself, fearing those of the circumcision. 13 And also the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they are not walking in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before all, “If you, being a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how do you compel the Gentiles to Judaize?”

    2 Chron. 18:3 And Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me [against] Ramoth-gilead?” And he answered him, “I [am] as you [are], and as your people [are] my people, and with you in the war.”

    2 Chron. 19:2 And Jehu son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and he said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should [you be] giving help to the wicked, and those hating YHWH would you love? And for this, wrath [is] upon you from before the face of YHWH.

  • Rom. 7:23–24; 1 Chron. 21:1–4; 2 Chron. 16:7–10.

    Rom. 7:23–24 23 but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin being in my members. 24 O wretched man [that] I am! Who will deliver me out of this body of death?

    1 Chron. 21:1–4 1 And Satan stood up against Israel and incited David to number Israel. 2 And David said to Joab and to the heads of the people, “Go, number Israel from Beersheba and as far as Dan and bring [it] to me, that I may know their number.” 3 And Joab answered, “May YHWH add to His people as they [are] a hundred times. Are [they] not, my lord O king, all of them for my lord as servants? Why does my lord require this? Why should he be a cause of guilt in Israel?” 4 And the word of the king was strengthened against Joab, and Joab went out and went throughout all Israel, and he came to Jerusalem.

    2 Chron. 16:7–10 7 And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, “Because of your leaning on the king of Aram and not leaning on YHWH your God, upon thus the force of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand. 8 Was [it] not [that] the Cushites and the Libyans were as an army of multitudes, of very many chariots and horsemen? And in your leaning on YHWH, He delivered them into your hand. 9 For YHWH—His eyes go to and fro in all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart [is] perfect to Him. You have acted foolishly regarding this; therefore from now on there will be wars with you.” 10 And Asa was angry with the seer, and he put him in the house of the stocks, for [he was] in a rage at him because of this. And Asa oppressed some of the people at that time.

  • Ps. 81:11–12.

    Ps. 81:11–12 11 My people would not listen to My voice, and Israel has not consented to Me. 12 And I sent them away in the stubbornness of their hearts, to walk by their own counsels.

  • John 17:15.

    John 17:15 I do not ask that You would take them out of the world, but that You would keep them from evil.

  • Ps. 51:10; Ps. 119:133.

    Ps. 51:10 Create a clean heart in me, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

    Ps. 119:133 Establish my steps by Your word, and do not let any iniquity rule over me.

  • 2 Cor. 12:7–8.

    2 Cor. 12:7–8 7 and the surpassingness of the revelations. Therefore, so that I should not be over-exalted, a thorn in [my] flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan, that he might buffet me, so that I should not be over-exalted. 8 Three times I entreated the Lord for this, that it might depart from me.

  • 1 Cor. 10:12–13.

    1 Cor. 10:12–13 12 Therefore the one thinking to stand, let him observe, lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you⁺ except [what is] human. And faithful [is] God, who will not allow you⁺ to be tempted beyond what you⁺ are able, but He will also provide with the temptation the escape, to be able to bear up under [it].

  • Heb. 13:20–21.

    Heb. 13:20–21 20 Now [may] the God of peace, the One having brought up out from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you⁺ in everything good in order to do His will, doing in us that which [is] well pleasing before Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom [be] the glory to the ages of the ages. Amen.

  • Matt. 26:41; Ps. 19:13.

    Matt. 26:41 Watch and pray so that you⁺ might not enter into temptation. the spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh weak.”

    Ps. 19:13 Also, hold back Your servant from proud [things]; may they not rule over me. Then I shall be complete, and cleansed of great transgression.

  • Eph. 3:14–17; 1 Thess. 3:13; Jude 24.

    Eph. 3:14–17 14 ... for reason of this, I bow my knees to the Father, 15 from whom every family in the heavens and on earth is named, 16 that He might give to you⁺ according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 [for] Christ to dwell in your⁺ hearts through faith, having been rooted and having been founded in love,

    1 Thess. 3:13 in order to strengthen your⁺ hearts, blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. Amen.

    Jude 24 on BibleHub ↗

  • Ps. 51:12.

    Ps. 51:12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me [by a] willing spirit.

  • 1 Peter 5:8–10.

    1 Peter 5:8–10 8 Be sober-minded; be alert. Your⁺ adversary the devil prowls around as a roaring lion seeking whom to swallow up, 9 whom you⁺ should resist, firm in the faith, knowing the same sufferings in your⁺ brotherhood to be experienced in the world. 10 And the God of all grace, the One having called you⁺ to His eternal glory in Christ, having suffered a little while, He Himself will complete, will confirm, will strengthen, [and] will establish [you].

  • 2 Cor. 13:7, 9.

    2 Cor. 13:7, 9 7 Now we pray to God [for] you⁺ to do nothing wrong, not that we might appear approved, but that you⁺ may do what [is] right, though we might appear as unapproved. 9 For we rejoice when we may be weak but you⁺ may be powerful. This also we pray for: your⁺ perfection.

  • Rom. 16:20; Luke 22:31–32.

    Rom. 16:20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your⁺ feet in quickness. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you⁺.

    Luke 22:31–32 31 Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked for all of you⁺ to sift like wheat. 32 But I begged for you, that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

  • John 17:15; 1 Thess. 5:23.

    John 17:15 I do not ask that You would take them out of the world, but that You would keep them from evil.

    1 Thess. 5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you⁺ completely, and may your⁺ entire spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Parallel passages (6+)Westminster Confession of Faith · Chapter 17: Of the Perseverance of the Saints11 shared proof texts · 3 shared topicsWestminster Shorter Catechism · Question 1068 shared proof texts · 2 shared topicsWestminster Confession of Faith · Chapter 18: Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation8 shared proof texts · 2 shared topicsWestminster Confession of Faith · Chapter 5: Of Providence8 shared proof texts · shared topicHeidelberg Catechism · Question 1277 shared proof texts · 4 shared topicsWestminster Confession of Faith · Chapter 13: Of Sanctification6 shared proof texts · 2 shared topics

Question 196

Q. What doth the conclusion of the Lord's Prayer teach us?

A. The conclusion of the Lord's Prayer, (which is, For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.) teacheth us to enforce our petitions with arguments, which are to be taken, not from any worthiness in ourselves, or in any other creature, but from God; and with our prayers to join praises, ascribing to God alone eternal sovereignty, omnipotency, and glorious excellency; in regard whereof, as he is able and willing to help us, so we by faith are emboldened to plead with him that he would, and quietly to rely upon him, that he will fulfill our requests. And, to testify this our desire and assurance, we say, Amen.

Scripture proofs
  • Matt. 6:13.

    Matt. 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

  • Rom. 15:30.

    Rom. 15:30 Now I exhort you⁺, brothers, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in the prayers for me to God,

  • Dan. 9:4, 7–9, 16–19.

    Dan. 9:4, 7–9, 16–19 4 And I prayed to YHWH my God, and I made confession and said: “O Lord God, the great and fearsome One, the One keeping the covenant and the loving devotion to those loving Him and those keeping His commandments. 7 Unto You, O Lord, [is] the righteousness, and unto us [is] shame of face, as [on] this day, to the men of Judah, and to those dwelling in Jerusalem, and to all of Israel—those near, and those far off—in all the lands to which You have driven them there because of their unfaithfulness with which they were unfaithful to You! 8 O YHWH, unto us [is] shame of face—to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers—because we have sinned against You. 9 Unto the Lord our God [are] compassion and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him, 16 O Lord, according to all Your righteousness, let be turned back, please, Your anger and Your fury from Your city Jerusalem, the mountain of Your holiness! For because of our sins and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people [are] a reproach to all around us. 17 And now, listen, our God, to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplications, and cause to shine Your face on Your sanctuary that [is] desolate—for the sake of the Lord! 18 Incline, O my God, Your ear, and hear; open Your eyes, and see our desolations and the city upon which Your name is called. For [it is] not because of our righteous acts [that] we are letting fall our supplications before Your face, but because of Your many mercies. 19 O Lord, may You hear! O Lord, may You forgive! O Lord, may You be attentive and act! Do not delay, for Your sake, O my God, for Your name is called upon Your city and upon Your people!”

  • Phil. 4:6.

    Phil. 4:6 Be anxious about nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your⁺ requests be made known to God.

  • 1 Chron. 29:10–13; 1 Tim. 1:17; Rev. 5:11–13.

    1 Chron. 29:10–13 10 And David blessed YHWH before all the assembly, and David said, “Blessed are You, O YHWH, God of Israel, our Father, from forever and even to forever. 11 To You, O YHWH, [is] the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty, because of everything in the heavens and on earth. To You, O YHWH, [is] the kingdom, and You are exalted over all as head. 12 And the riches and the honor [are] from before You, and You reign over all, and in Your hand [is] power and might, and in Your hand [is] to exalt and to give strength to all. 13 And now, our God, we thank You and praise Your glorious name.

    1 Tim. 1:17 Now to the King of the ages, the immortal, invisible, the only God, [be] honor and glory to the ages of the ages! Amen.

    Rev. 5:11–13 11 And I saw, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and of the living creatures, and of the elders; and their number was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying in a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb having been slain to receive the power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” 13 And I heard every creature that is in heaven and upon the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and everything in them, saying: “To the One sitting on the throne, and to the Lamb, blessing and honor and glory and might to the ages of the ages!”

  • Eph. 3:20–21; Luke 11:13.

    Eph. 3:20–21 20 Now to the One being able to do exceedingly above all things that we ask or think, according to the power that [is] working in us, 21 to Him [be] the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all the generations of the age of the ages. Amen.

    Luke 11:13 Therefore if you⁺, being evil, know to give good gifts to your⁺ children, how much more will the Father who [is] from heaven give the Holy Spirit to those asking Him!”

  • 2 Chron. 20:6, 11.

    2 Chron. 20:6, 11 6 and he said, “O YHWH, God of our fathers, are You not He, the God in the heavens? And You are ruling over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand [are] power and might, and there is no one to stand against You. 11 And behold, they are recompensing to us by coming to throw us out of Your possession, which You have given us to inherit.

  • 2 Chron. 14:11.

    2 Chron. 14:11 And Asa cried out to YHWH his God and said, “O YHWH, [it is] nothing for You to help, whether with many or with no power. Help us, O YHWH our God, for on You we rest, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O YHWH, You [are] our God; do not let man prevail against You.”

  • 1 Cor. 14:16; Rev. 22:20–21.

    1 Cor. 14:16 Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will the one filling up the place of the uninstructed say the “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you say?

    Rev. 22:20–21 20 The One testifying these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus [be] with all the saints. Amen.

Parallel passages (6+)Westminster Shorter Catechism · Question 10718 shared proof texts · 3 shared topicsWestminster Shorter Catechism · Question 989 shared proof texts · shared topicWestminster Confession of Faith · Chapter 21: Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day5 shared proof texts · shared topicWestminster Shorter Catechism · Question 544 shared proof textsWestminster Shorter Catechism · Question 1053 shared proof texts · 2 shared topicsHeidelberg Catechism · Question 1173 shared proof texts · shared topic

Chapter 23: Of the Prayers of the Church, of Singing, and of Canonical Hours

It is true that a man may lawfully pray privately in any tongue that he understands, but public prayers ought in the holy assemblies to be made in the vulgar tongue or such a language as is known to all. Let all the prayers of the faithful be poured forth to God alone, through the mediation of Christ only, out of a true faith and pure love. As for invocation of saints or using them as intercessors to entreat for us, the priesthood of our Lord Christ, and true religion, will not permit us. Prayer must be made for magistracy, for kings and all that are placed in authority, for ministers of the church, and for all necessities of churches; and specially in any calamity of the church, prayer must be made, both privately and publicly, without ceasing.

Moreover we must pray willingly, and not by constraint, nor for any reward: neither must we superstitiously tie prayer to any place, as though it were not lawful to pray but in the church. There is no necessity that public prayers should be in form and in time the same or alike in all churches. Let all churches use their liberty. Socrates, in his History, says, "In any country or nation wheresoever, you shall not find two churches which do wholly agree in prayer." The authors of this difference I think were those which had the government of the churches in all ages. Thus, if any agrees, it deserves great commendation and is to be imitated of others.

Besides this, there must be a mean and measure, as in every other thing, so also in public prayers that they are not over long and tedious. Let, therefore, the most time be given to teaching the gospel in such holy assemblies: and let there be diligent heed taken that the people in the assemblies not be wearied with over long prayers so that, when the preaching of the gospel should be heard, they through wearisomeness either desire to go forth themselves or to have the assembly wholly dismissed. For unto such the sermons seem to be over long, which otherwise are brief enough. Yes, and the preachers ought to keep a mean.

Likewise the singing in sacred assemblies ought to be moderated where it is in use. That song which they call Gregory's has many gross things in it: wherefore it is upon good cause rejected of ours and of all other Reformed churches. If there are any churches which have faithful prayer in good manners and no singing at all, they are not, therefore, to be condemned: for all churches do not have the commodity and opportunity of singing. And it is certain by testimonies of antiquity that, as the custom of singing has been very ancient in the Eastern churches, so it was long ere it was received in the Western churches.

In ancient times, there were no such things as canonical hours; that is, known prayers framed for certain hours in the day and therein chanted or oft repeated, as the manner of the papists is: which may be proved by many of their lessons appointed in their hours, and divers other arguments. Moreover they have many absurd things (that I say no more) and, therefore, are well omitted by our churches, which have brought in their stead matters more wholesome for the whole church of God.

Parallel passages (6+)Westminster Larger Catechism · Question 1914 shared topicsCanons of Dort · Second Head: Rejection of the Errors3 shared topicsCanons of Dort · Fifth Head: Rejection of the Errors3 shared topicsLondon Baptist Confession (1689) · Chapter 26: Of the Church3 shared topicsHeidelberg Catechism · Question 1233 shared topicsWestminster Shorter Catechism · Question 993 shared topics