The prayer can be sectioned into two sets. The first set, Matthew 6:9-10 and Luke 11:2, all begin with the third person imperative and end with “σου” (you, PL???). Luke only has two requests, while matthew has three. “γενηθήτω τὸ θέλημά σου” (Your will be done) is not included in Luke. This set is praising God and hoping for his honor. The next set, Matthew 6: 11-13 and Luke 11:3-4, all contain a form of “ἡμεις” (us??). this second set is asking God to provide for the people.
Jesus most likely taught the original prayer in Aramaic, not Greek. “Abba,” the Aramaic word for father, appears behind “πατερ” in several manuscripts. Matthew uses “τοῖς ὀφειλέταις” (the debts) in his version of the prayer. In Greek, “τοῖς ὀφειλέταις” …show more content…
Jesus prays during important events of his ministry like when the Holy Spirit descends upon him at baptism, before crucifixion in the garden of Gethsemane, and on the cross as he is dying. Before teaching his disciples about how to pray, he himself is praying. Matthew and Luke both use the word “επιουσιον” to describe the bread. This word is found nowhere else in the Bible or other non-Christian texts (New 204). Several interpretations of the word have been thought of. One interpretation is “necessary for existence.” This interpretation views “επιουσιον” as derived from “επι” and “GREEK” (wealthy, property). Another interpretation is “fort eh current day, for today.” A third interpretation is “for the following day.” (DANKER)
Luke uses “διδου” instead of “δος” when writing about the daily bread. He changes the aorist verb to the present tense, suggesting the continual giving of the bread each day (New 234). The aorist tense discusses the verb in the past tense, a singular event without continuing consequences. The present tense does not view the action as incomplete; the event continues to take place without …show more content…
Jewish prayers addressed God as “our Father.” The prayers also included the hallowing of God’s name and the coming of God’s Kingdom. The prayer does not have any Christology. Jews would find this prayer to be acceptable to pray.
The traditional Jewish aspects of the prayer help to emphasize Jesus’ Jewish faith. In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus is the Jewish messiah and continues the Jewish faith. Jesus teaches his followers a Jewish prayer. Matthew’s community was facing opposition from Jewish leaders who did not follow Jesus. These leaders accused the Jesus followers of abandoning the Jewish faith and the Law of Moses. Matthew’s gospel shows Jesus as Jewish and the fulfillment of Jewish scripture. Jesus teaches the Jewish prayer, and contrasts it against the Gentiles. In Matthew 6: 7, Jesus says to “BIBLE”. Instead, Jesus tells them to pray like he does, in the form of a Jewish prayer. When the kingdom of God comes, as is prayed for, the community of Jesus followers will not face persecution anymore because everyone will recognize God and