Luke 11:1-2
The Gospel of Luke • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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-Well, we’ve come to a new chapter...
…in our study of Luke’s gospel (Chapter 11)
And with this new chapter...
A new theme
And essentially, the next 13 verses...
(one way or the other)
…all center around the subject of prayer.
-So, this is something we’re going to be focusing on...
…for several weeks to come.
And given our observance of the Supper this morning...
…we’re only going to have time...
…to make it through the first two verses.
And even that, will probably...
…stretch us to the limits
The reason for that being, that...
…there’s just a lot of...
...deep and rich and needful truth...
…packed into those first two verses.
-But, so we aren’t ignorant of the context...
We’re going to go ahead and...
…read the first four verses all together.
-Hopefully you’ve found it by now.
Luke chapter 11...
…beginning in Verse 1.
Brace yourselves!
You’re about to hear a Word from the Lord!
Luke 11:1–4 (ESV)
1 Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”
2 And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread,
4 and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.”
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Pray
-Luke begins verse 1 with what...
…has now become a familiar scene for us.
-Without connecting it in any way to previous events...
…he says:
Luke 11:1 (ESV)
1 Now Jesus was praying in a certain place...
So, notice the apparently INTENTIONAL absence...
…of any incidental details in that.
No indication of chronological placement
Nothing to denote place or setting.
And I imagine that the reason for that, is...
…that Luke wanted Theophilus’ attention...
…to not be distracted by the circumstances...
…surrounding Jesus’ actions and words, here...
…but to hone in on...
What he was doing
What he saying.
So, that’s what we’re going to try to do, ourselves.
-Now, I mentioned a moment ago...
…that the scene, here, is a familiar one.
What I meant by that was, that...
…we have seen throughout Luke’s gospel...
…that Jesus spent a great deal of his time on earth...
…in prayer and communion with the Father.
And that he tended to mark...
…significant events and turning points...
…in his earthly ministry...
…by getting alone with God in prayer.
Ryken says it like this:
Usually we think of the life of Christ as a series of miracles, parables, and personal conversations, culminating in the events of his passion, and occasionally interrupted by seasons of prayer.
But we could just as well see his life the other way around: as a series of private prayer times, interspersed with the ordinary events of his daily ministry — Philip Ryken
Another commentator makes this observation: (Give qualifier about Commentaries)
The greatest argument for the priority of prayer is the fact that our Lord was a Man of prayer.
Thus far we have seen that He prayed at His baptism (Luke 3:21), before He chose the Twelve (Luke 6:12), when the crowds increased (Luke 5:16), before He asked the Twelve for their confession of faith (Luke 9:18), and at His Transfiguration (Luke 9:29).
Then, he makes this assessment of what follows in the text:
The disciples knew that He often prayed alone (Mark 1:35), and they wanted to learn from Him this secret of spiritual power and wisdom. — The Bible Exposition Commentary
-And indeed, that’s what...
…appears to be happening in...
…the remainder of Verse 1.
Look at it again:
Luke 11:1 (ESV)
1 ...Jesus was praying . . . and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”
-So it appears (as the commentator had said)...
…that, at least one of his disciples...
…had been inspired by Jesus’ practice of private prayer.
And so, he petitions Jesus...
To do for them (his disciples)
What John had done for his followers...
...And that was to give them instructions...
…about how they were to...
…go about doing it themselves.
-Now, this wasn’t an odd request...
…for his disciples to make.
Religious teachers of the day...
…were EXPECTED to teach their followers...
…how to pray.
John had certainly done so.
And we saw, back in chapter 5...
…that his disciples' prayer lives...
…looked pretty different...
…than those of the followers of Christ.
Luke 5:33 (ESV)
33 And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.”
-And, I’m imagining that...
…this created a lot of confusion for...
The Jews in general
(Apparently) for Jesus’ disciples, as well.
So, they ask him to clear the matter up for them.
And he obliges, in Verse 2.
-First of all, Notice how he begins with an assumption:
Luke 11:2 (ESV)
2 And he said to them, “When you pray...
Not “if” but “when”
The practice of prayer is assumed.
It is an integral part of being in a relationship with God.
Martyn Lloyd-Jones once said that prayer is...
“the highest activity of the human soul.” — MLJ
J.I. Packer wrote, similarly:
“Prayer is the spiritual measure of men and women in a way that nothing else is, so that how we pray is as important a question as we can ever face.” — Packer
An brethren, I don’t think these men...
…are overstating their case.
Do you remember what the Author of Hebrews...
…said about Jesus in his humanity?
Hebrews 5:7 (ESV)
7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.
Does that make it sound like...
…this is something that’s important to God?
-Now, with the primacy of prayer assumed...
...watch how Jesus responds to the man’s petition.
We’re going to read the whole thing again...
…and make some summary observations...
And then, we’ll come back...
...and begin examining its individual parts.
Luke 11:2–4 (ESV)
2 ...he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.
(Give KJV Qualifier)
3 Give us each day our daily bread,
4 and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.”
-So, there’s a lot for us to consider, here.
First of all, notice how...
Simple
Straightforward
…that his answer was.
I would argue that his response...
…tends to defy, even our own notions...
…regarding prayer.
These two commentators...
…explain what I mean:
It is a straightforward prayer. There are no complex ideas or difficult language and this teaches us that God appreciates simplicity. It is a clear yet profound prayer, without repetition or wild extravagances.
It warns us against feeling we need to get worked up, calling out, even shouting, thinking that God will better hear us because of it. — John G. Mason
Another says this:
The effectiveness of our prayers has nothing to do with their length or their so-called “spirituality.” How little we find in this prayer Jesus gives us that could be considered “spiritual.” — Larson & Ogilvie
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I’ll tell you why I think...
…that these men are accurate in what they’re saying:
Because Jesus gave this same teaching before.
It was during the Sermon on the Mount.
And apparently, the disciple asking the question here, either...
Wasn’t there
Wasn’t paying attention
Had forgotten what Jesus said...
...Because Jesus gave the same basic instructions, then.
However, he taught it in more detail...
…than Luke records this time.
And the way he prefaced those instructions, then...
…gives credence to what these commentators are saying, now:
Matthew 6:5–9 (ESV)
5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.
8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9 Pray then like this...
And he proceeds to give them...
…the correct way to pray instead!
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-Now, there are two pretty common...
…misconceptions about this prayer...
…that I think we need to address...
…before we begin to dissect it.
1.) It isn’t (technically) “The Lord’s Prayer”
i.e., this isn’t a prayer that...
Jesus prayed
Or even would pray.
How can we be sure of that?
Because of Verse 4.
Because Jesus had no sins...
…for which he needed the Father’s forgiveness.
He was/is the sinless Son of God!
2.) He probably didn’t mean for this to be recited verbatim.
(For one thing, the two accounts differ slightly)
Also, in the Sermon on the Mount...
…he had said:
Matthew 6:9 (ESV)
9 Pray then like this. . .
i.e., pray in this manner.
-Hence, I think this should be...
Seen
Used
…PRIMARILY, as a model prayer...
…NOT as a liturgical prayer to recite.
Steve Lemke gives this summary:
The result is what is often called the Lord’s Prayer because it came from Him, but it really is the disciples’ prayer because it shows disciples how to pray for each other and depend on God for life’s basic needs.
There is one statement about God’s uniqueness, two declarations about God’s kingdom coming and His will being done, and three requests about daily bread, forgiveness, and protection from temptation. — Lemke
-Alright, let’s look at what it says in detail.
Luke 11:2 (ESV)
2 And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name...
-Now, it’s hard for us to grasp...
…what a glorious statement that this is.
For starters, consider this:
God is addressed in terms of intimacy (Father). The original Semitic term here was probably Abba...
It is not the exact equivalent of “Daddy” (as is sometimes popularly suggested), but it does suggest a close, familial relationship. — NET Notes
You see, we are preconditioned to see God...
…as a loving and caring Father.
It’s what we tend to lead off with...
…in the way we understand our relationship with God.
We tend to assume his immanence (nearness)...
…and overlook his transcendence.
But for the 1st Century Jew...
…that perception would have been reversed.
Sproul says this:
Not once do we have a single example of a Jew addressing God in the personal form of address that Jesus uses here.
Yet, when we come to the prayers of Jesus, on every occasion, except one, Jesus addresses God by the personal form of address, ‘My Father’.
And, he goes on to note, how:
The Pharisees were infuriated by Jesus’claim to an intimate filial relationship with God.
So angry were his opponents that they accused him of blasphemy… — Sproul
-But, now Jesus is telling his disciples...
(Those who were in union with him)...
That their natural, normal, and customary form of address...
Should be to God as THEIR Father too!
Guys, if we could really get a hold of that...
…it would transform our prayer lives.
-Because of what God has done for us in Christ...
…we don’t have to approach him in servile fear:
Paul said:
Galatians 4:4–7 (ESV)
4 …When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,
5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
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This is the glorious position...
…from which we (as Christians)...
…approach God in prayer!
John the Baptist couldn’t...
…assure his disciples of that!
Please, don’t ever take that for granted.
-Now, after the address...
…Jesus gives two sets of petitions.
The first are Godward...
Indicating that He should be our highest priority in prayer
The second are directed toward ourselves...
Indicating that our own needs and desires are subservient to the will and Glory of God.
-Let’s look at the first set...
...at the end of Verse 2.
Luke 11:2 (ESV)
2 . . . “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.
These are separate, but related petitions.
And they’re both theocentric (God-centered)...
…and tell us that our prayers must be as well.
These two primary and over-arching petitions...
…have to do with two important couplets:
1.) The Nature and Reputation of God
2.) The Will and Reign of God
To pray for God’s name to “be hallowed” . . .
…means for it to be...
regarded
treated
honored...
…as HOLY!
And, in that God’s name...
…essentially stands for his reputation among men...
…it essentially stands for God himself.
So, the chief desire of the Christian in prayer...
…is that God would be revered and respected on the earth...
…to the same degree that he is in heaven...
…and that God would orchestrate the events of our lives...
…in the way that would bring...
…maximum glory to Him!
Calvin said this:
The substance of this petition is, that the glory of God may shine in the world, and may be duly acknowledged by men. — Calvin
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Yes! God is our Father!
But he is not in our category
He is Holy, Holy, Holy!
And the heart of the Christian in prayer...
…must be longing for the manifestation of that...
…above everything else!
-Now, the second petition...
…is closely related to the first.
It ultimately concerns God’s Sovereign authority:
Luke 11:2 (ESV)
2 . . . “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.
This has been a persistent theme...
…in Jesus’ earthly ministry.
Philip Ryken, again reminds us of something important:
The kingdom of God is not a nation-state, a system of government, or a geographic region on a political map.
Very simply, God’s kingdom is God’s rule.
It is the sovereign administration of his authority over creation, over his enemies, and over the people who honor him as their King.
Thus the second petition is a prayer for the glory of God — Ryken
I also love what the JFB Commentary says, here.
It says that this petition, is...
...the spontaneous and resistless longing of the renewed soul—put into words—to see the whole inhabited earth in entire conformity to the will of God — JFB Commentary
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Jesus said...
This is how you pray as my disciples.
This is what you lead off with:
1.) The Name of God to be hallowed in men’s hearts
i.e., God to be known and adored
2.) The Kingdom of God to come to its full fruition.
i.e., The Authority of God to be manifested completely.
Jesus says:
This is how you pray
This is where you begin.
(Ask the Brothers to come up and go ahead and distribute)
-And Here’s what’s beautiful this morning.
We have, in our observance of the Lord’s Supper...
...a continual, visible reminder...
…of all three facets of Verse 2.
1.) We are reminded that God is our Father:
Through the body and blood of Christ...
…we are now adopted as sons...
…and seated at the family table!
1.) We are reminded that the Name of God...
…has been/will yet be...
...hallowed on the earth:
John 17:4 (ESV)
4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.
John 17:6 (ESV)
6 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me...
26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known...
How has he done that?
Through his body and blood
3.) And finally, we are reminded that...
…through the person and work of Christ...
…The Kingdom of God...
…His sovereign rule and reign...
Has come
Will come further still
John 17:1–2 (ESV)
1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you,
2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.
This he has already accomplished, through his...
Body
Blood
…that was given for you.
And still we wait...
…for the fullness of our redemption...
…and for that day when he:
1 Corinthians 15:24 (ESV)
24 ...when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.
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We long for that day.
And the Lord’s Supper reminds us...
…of the work that Christ has accomplished...
…that guarantees that ultimate and final victory!
And as we partake with these reminders...
Our faith is strengthened
Our souls are nourished...
…until the day that our faith becomes sight!
Let’s pray and give thanks...
…for his indescribable gift.
Pray
The Apostle Paul said this:
1 Corinthians 11:23–24 (ESV)
23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,
24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Pray and Partake
He went on to say:
1 Corinthians 11:25–26 (ESV)
25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Pray and Partake
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