"This, then, is how you should pray" - Class 3: “Give us this day our daily bread.”

"This, then, is how you should pray" 

 

Class 3: “Give us this day our daily bread.”

 

Introduction 

Last week’s class: “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”

 

Context of instruction

“Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:8 NIV11)

Note: This is how you should pray, not, this is what you should say.

 

"The three clauses of prayer for God’s glory are now balanced by three petitions for the disciples’ needs."

 

1. Give

What are we praying for, when we pray asking for our daily bread?

Looking to God for provision without anxiety

““Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” (Matthew 6:25 NIV11)

Trust that he wants and delights to give

Ask with relaxed posture, not anxious demand

 

2. Us Our

Not only my bread. Concern for needs of others.

Luther sees a social dimension to this prayer as well. For all to get daily bread, there must be a thriving economy, good employment, and adjust society. Therefore, to pray "give us all the people of our land-daily bread" is to pray against "wanton exploitation" in business, trade, and Labour, which "crushes the poor and deprives them of their daily bread.”

Luther goes on to warn those involved in the injustice that the church is praying against them!

 

3. Daily

espousios: today, tomorrow, coming day, the day at hand.

Perhaps an eschatological hint. The bread of life is here:

“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35 NIV11)

And is coming again.

(a) Just today - manna in the wilderness. 

(b) Necessary for survival - need, not want. Contentment. 

Workers paid daily. Might be only enough for that day’s bread. Not enough to save. Very precarious existence.

 

4. Bread

Making a point about necessities rather than luxuries?

Contentment.

“Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonour the name of my God.” (Proverbs 30:8–9 NIV11)

The prayer is for our needs, not our greeds

 

Conclusion

Don’t forget everything you have is from God.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17 NIV11

He owes us nothing.  Apparent security in our society tends to engender entitlement and/or ingratitude, there must be countered by active recognition of dependence on God’s generosity.

 

Questions for discussion:

What stands out to you from this verse?

How might your prayer life grow because of what this verse teaches you about God, yourself and prayer?

 

Suggestion: Pray this verse every day between now and the next class

Please contact me if you would like to share in the final class

 

Thank you for listening to this podcast. You can find more episodes in our feed. Our web site is http://www.tvcoc.org. 

 

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community. 

 

Do you have a question about the Bible or the Christian faith? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send us your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: tvcochrist@gmail.com.

 

Thanks again for listening. Have a super day.

 

God bless,

 

Malcolm