Lord’s Prayer Pt. 7 – The Doxology Dilemma

Have you ever been reading your Bible and suddenly come across a verse or phrase that is bracketed? You know, something like what you’ll find in Matthew 6:13: And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]

If you have a study Bible and you’ve taken the time to look at the notes concerning passages like this one, you know the reason for the brackets is that these passages are not found in the earliest manuscripts of the scriptures in question. So what should we do in situations like these? Should we cut the passages out of our Bibles like Thomas Jefferson had a habit of doing, or whole-heartedly believe them because, bracketed or not, they made it in the book?

The approach I’m in favor of is looking to see if the earliest Christians quoted these passages, and if they did, how they interpreted them. If they treated a bracketed passage like it was a normal part of scripture, I feel comfortable doing the same.

Here’s what a couple of them had to say about the concluding bracketed portion of the Lord’s Prayer:

The Doxology at the end of the Lord’s Prayer has equally Jewish parallels. Thus, one of the daily evening prayers concludes with the words, ‘For Yours is the kingdom;’ … The words ‘the power and the glory’ seem to come from 1 Chronicles 29:11. – Cyprian 250CE, Volume 5, p. 999

We, together with you, sing our praises to Christ, who has the power of life and death, saying, “You are the true Light, proceeding from the true Light; the true God, begotten of the true God; the one Lord … but for our sakes also perfect man; in Your own nature the King absolute and sovereign. … For Yours is the glory, and the power, and the greatness, and the majesty, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, forever. Amen.” – Methodius 290CE, Volume 6, p. 661

What a valuable resource the early Christians are! Not only do their writings demonstrate that the closing line of the Lord’s Prayer was part of the tradition of the early believers; they also provide us with commentary on the line’s scriptural origin and meaning!

Another passage you will either find bracketed or altogether omitted from your bible is the last phrase of Mark 9:29.

Jesus’ disciples were being ridiculed by Jewish scribes for not being able to drive a demon out of a boy. Jesus asks for the boy to be brought to Him, rebukes the unclean spirit, and commands it to never enter him again. Later, the disciples ask Jesus why they couldn’t drive it out. Verse 29 states: And He told them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer [and fasting].” 

Did the early Christians write about this bracketed phrase?

Let us also attend to this, “This kind will not go out except by prayer and fasting,” in order that if at any time it is necessary that we should be engaged in the healing of one suffering from such a disorder … devoting ourselves to prayer and fasting, [we] may be successful as we pray for the sufferer, and by our own fasting may thrust out the unclean spirit from him. – Origen 225CE, Volume 9, p. 759 [CD-ROM]

I don’t know about you, but I find it odd that they were trying to expel a demon without using prayer. What is equally strange to me, especially considering that Christian fasting was not part of my tradition growing up, is that Jesus said certain demons will not come out without both prayer AND fasting.

Finally, according to the earliest manuscripts, the last chapter of Mark ends in verse 8 with these words, “So they went out and started running from the tomb, because trembling and astonishment overwhelmed them. And they said nothing to anyone, since they were afraid.” Kind of a weird way to end the greatest story ever told.

The early Christians, however, say Mark didn’t end there. If an early Christian could talk, he would tell you to read all the way to verse 20, and not to skip over verses 17-18. These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

I know some of those promises may seem a bit weird, but several of the early Christians referenced Mark 16:9-20. They believed this passage, and that all of God’s promises were ‘yes’ and ‘amen’. They believed that Jesus wants His kingdom to come and His will to be done here on earth through His servants as it is in heaven. Do you want that too?

May His kingdom, glory and power move mightily through you this week!

Lord’s Prayer Pt. 6 – Lead Us Not Into Temptation

I love my big Airedale, Zeke, and he absolutely loves giving hugs. Unfortunately, he also loves to eat my kids’ pencils… and their homework.

My wife and I tell our kids to keep these items off the floor and out of his reach. They are just too big of a temptation for him. Sometimes they listen, and sometimes they come home to find their favorite pencils in pieces.

The last two phrases of the Lord’s Prayer deal with temptation, and like other lines in the prayer, can seem a bit strange. In Matthew 6:13, Jesus commands us to pray, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

Before we discuss this beautiful sentence further, let’s see what the early Christians thought about it.

“Lead us not into temptation.” This means, do not allow us to be led into it by him who tempts. For far be the thought that the Lord should seem to tempt us. – Tertullian 198CE Volume 3, p. 684

“And allow us not to be led into temptation.” … When we ask that we may not come into temptation, we are reminded of our infirmity and weakness in that we thus ask, lest any should insolently vaunt himself, lest any should proudly and arrogantly assume anything to himself … when the Lord Himself, teaching humility, said, “Watch and pray, so that you will not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak;” …

We conclude by saying, “But deliver us from evil,” comprehending all adverse things which the enemy attempts against us in this world, from which there may be a faithful and sure protection if God deliver us, if He affords His help to us who pray for and implore it. … For what fear is there in this life, to the man whose guardian in this life is God? – Cyprian 250CE Volume 5, p. 795 [CD-ROM]

One immediate observation one can make is that the early Christians believed the wording of the Lord’s Prayer could better be written, “Do not allow us to be led into temptation.” They observed that since God does not tempt anyone, the prayer is a plea for divine help to not be dragged away from simple devotion to the Father, and thus fall into sin through the devil’s temptations.

Walter Liefeld echoes this thought in the Expositor’s Bible Commentary on Luke, “The request is clearly for the Father to keep His children from falling away in the hour of trial.” It would make sense for Jesus to call us to pray this way, since He says in the parable of the soils, “Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away (Luke 8:13).”

Also, the early Christians remind us that like Peter, James and John in the Garden of Gethsemane, God’s Spirit is willing to help, but our flesh is weak. And if we are not actively making use of God's help by keeping watch with prayer against temptation, any of us can fall into egregious temptation.

I remember as a teenager when I brashly declared I would never get drunk. I remember when I confidently proclaimed I would never do drugs. I remember when I made a promise to wait until I was married to have sex. I also remember falling in each of those three areas.

Like Peter on Jesus' last night, I was so sure of myself. Like Peter, I trusted in myself so much I didn’t depend on God and the power of prayer. I should’ve listened to Paul’s counsel in 1 Corinthians 10:12, "Therefore, let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall." 

I wish I had been exposed to the early Christians much sooner in my life, for they lived with a confident humility. They possessed an immense confidence in the power of prayer. As Cyprian stated, if we are willing to earnestly and faithfully cry out to God for deliverance from evil, we can walk without fear through any situation in life, knowing our great and mighty God is with us.

We don’t have to be like Zeke and feel helpless to give into certain temptations whenever they come our way. So may we take the approach of the early Christians, and three times daily call on our God with confident humility. And may we see and testify of Him coming through over and over as our ever-present help in times of trouble.

Lord's Prayer Pt. 5 - Forgive Us As We Forgive

In the Christian culture where I was raised, we were taught to view the Bible as the inerrant, infallible word of God. I’m glad that I was given that foundation, because scripture teaches that it is completely inspired by God… breathed out by the Holy Spirit Himself. Looking back, though, I have noticed that there were several instances in the church where it was insinuated that the pastor or teacher’s interpretation was more authoritative than the simple words of Christ.

For instance, let’s explore Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness.

The Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6:12 calls us to pray, “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Did you notice that little word as? It means ‘in the same way’. Little word – big implications.

Do you really forgive all people of their sins in the same way you want God to forgive you of your sins? And do you believe He will answer this prayer?

Perhaps the most detailed and shocking story told by Jesus on the importance of forgiveness is found in Matthew 18:21-35. A servant is mercifully forgiven an unimaginable debt by his master, yet afterwards refuses to forgive a fellow servant of a minor debt in comparison. When the master hears of the injustice, he hands him over to the torturers until his debt can be paid off (he owed more than 150,000 years worth of salary). Jesus concludes this parable by saying, “My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart. (vs. 35)”

Do you really believe that God will have His servants tortured if they don’t forgive other Christians from their heart?

Though my church culture growing up believed it was imperative to forgive, they didn't really teach that a Christian refusing to forgive others could affect that Christian's eternal experience. The early Christians took the matter of forgiveness with the utmost seriousness and believed it did affect our eternal standing with God. Look at these two examples:

If then we ask the Lord to forgive us, we ought to also forgive; for we are before the eyes of our Lord and God, and “we must all appear at the judgment-seat of Christ, and must every one give an account of himself.” Let us then serve Him in fear, and with all reverence, even as He Himself has commanded us, and as the apostles who preached the Gospel unto us. – Polycarp 135CE, Volume 1, p. 60 [CD-ROM]

He has clearly … bound us by a certain condition and engagement, that we should ask that our debts be forgiven us in such a manner as we ourselves forgive our debtors, knowing that that which we seek for our sins cannot be obtained unless we ourselves have acted in a similar way in respect of our debtors. … There remains no ground of excuse in the day of judgment, when you will be judged according to your own sentence; and whatever you have done, that you will also suffer. For God commands us to be peacemakers. – Cyprian 250CE, Volume 5, p. 793-794 [CD-ROM]

Being a parent will just about force you to learn how to be forgiving if you struggle with that issue. I’ve never had to offer forgiveness more often in a two year period than I have since Steph and I adopted siblings in 2014. It was a difficult adjustment for me during that first year, primarily because I was being pulled out of deep levels of selfishness I didn't know existed.

There was one point early in year one when I was getting repeatedly lied to and hurt every day, and began to harbor a significant amount of bitterness. It was affecting my mood, concentration, patience, relationships, driving and sleep. One day I felt God calling me to get down on my knees at my bed to confess this bitterness and forgive my kids.

As I began to confess the bitterness, an oppressive force seemed to manifest. I know this sounds weird, but something began to choke me. I tried to rebuke whatever it was in Jesus’ name, but I couldn’t breathe or speak. Finally, after about 20 seconds of crying out to God in my heart and mind, I managed to eek out, “Spirit of bitterness, I rebuke you in Jesus’ name.” And just like that, everything went back to normal. I quickly forgave my kids.

I’ve never experienced anything like that before, and, praise God, never anything like that since.

Bringing this to a head, there are many phrases in the Lord’s Prayer that the human heart just doesn’t want to take seriously. Yet, of all the things Jesus could say in response to the vital issues we are commanded to pray for, He immediately follows the prayer with, “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions (Matt. 6:14-15).”

So I ask, do you really believe Jesus that if you don’t forgive other people their sins, God will not forgive you of your sins?

Who do you need to make amends with today?

Lord's Prayer Pt. 4 - Give Us Our Daily Bread

In my blog posts, I try to be very honest with you, the reader. I try to be honest about failures and successes, no matter how weird they may make me appear. Today’s post is no exception.

I have never really been comfortable with the phrase in the Lord’s Prayer, “Give us this day our daily bread.” It has just never really made much sense to me, an American Christian.

Even when I was a teenager and it was just my mother and I basically living paycheck to paycheck, our refrigerator was full of food. I’ve never felt like I actually needed to ask God for my daily bread. 

As I became older and got an undergrad theology and seminary degree, I heard spiritualized interpretations of this prayer, as if it was simply reminding us that God meets our needs for today and tomorrow. However, as with this subject and countless others, I was never taught what the early Christians believed about this line of the Lord’s prayer.

I think there may be a nefarious reason for these omissions. For instance, read Cyprian’s explanation of the line in question:

“Give us this day our daily bread.” … We who have renounced the world, and have cast away its riches … should only ask for ourselves food and support, since the Lord instructs us and says, “Whosoever does not forsake all that he has, cannot be My disciple.” … And the Lord moreover promises and says, “Take no thought, saying, ‘What shall we eat, or what shall we drink, or where withal shall we be clothed?’ For after all these things do the nations seek. And your Father knows that you need of all these things. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” – Cyprian 250CE, Volume 5, p. 791-792 [CD-ROM]

As you can see, the early Christians took Jesus’ words simply and seriously. They viewed the prayer for daily bread as a call to radical simplicity and generosity. And here’s where I get even more honest with you.

The more I read the earliest Christian writings, the more I feel like I understand why many modern leaders in Christian places of learning seem to keep their writings away from Christian learners. The writings of the early Christians are threatening because the early Christians actually lived out Jesus’ words simply, and Jesus’ words are threatening. Jesus' words, taken simply and seriously, threaten my money, my security, my safety, and my right to say, “My” in the first place.

Here are some examples of what I mean:

“But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. … Whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.” – Luke 6:24-25, 29-30

“Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Luke 12:33-34

“When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you in return and that will be your repayment. But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” – Luke 14:12-14

“None of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.” – Luke 14:33

This kind of generosity seems radical to us, yet it was normal to the early Christians. One reason it was normal to them is because they had already surrendered all of their possessions to the Lord to use as He saw fit. 

Soon after Cyprian gave His life to Jesus, he literally sold all he had and gave the money to the poor. I think that seems radical to me because, when I’m being honest, I trust more in earth than I do in heaven. 

All of these passages I've quoted where Jesus calls His followers to deep levels of generosity come in the context of Him speaking about heaven. I don’t think very much about heaven, but I sure do spend a lot of time thinking about things of this earth. Maybe that’s why I’m so threatened by so many of the things Jesus says.

Interestingly, Jesus says He is the bread of heaven, and He, not this world, is the true food we need (John 6:51, 55). Lord, I believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!

Lord's Prayer Pt. 3 - May Your Kingdom Come

Once when my church was still meeting in an elementary school, a well-spoken, gentle young man decided to visit us. We happened to be teaching on Luke 4:40-43 where Jesus heals scores of people and casts out demons from sundown to sunup one night. We talked about how Luke records Jesus saying in verse 43, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose.”

We discussed how many of those people probably felt as if Jesus was turning their world upside down. However, what Jesus was actually doing was helping to set everything right side up again.

So many areas that had been turned upside down by the Fall in Eden were getting turned right side up by Jesus bringing the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven.

Little did I know, the kingdom of God was about to invade that young man’s life. After the service as folks were tearing stuff down, he came up to me weeping and asking if I would pray for him. So I took him behind the stage and off to the side where we wouldn’t attract any attention.

I felt led to ask him if he was having any compulsive sinful behaviors or thoughts. Areas where he almost felt driven to do or think those destructive things, no matter how hard he fought against them. He mentioned three areas and confirmed that those were the reasons he wanted prayer.

So I began by helping him with a prayer of confession in each of those areas. Then, starting with the first area of concern, I prayed that God would bring him cleansing and deliverance from that stronghold, and that His kingdom would come.

Suddenly, he began convulsing and vomited all over the floor and a little on one of my boots. Assuring him everything was okay, I gently began praying for the second area and… another big puddle of vomit. This time, though, I was able to get my feet out of the way in time. God blessed us with similar success in the third area as well.

The young man was overwhelmed with a feeling of peace as he shed a few tears of joy. It was amazing to watch Jesus’ kingdom begin to flip upside down areas of his life right side up in such a dramatic way. Praise God!

However, when Jesus commands us to pray for His kingdom to come, He isn’t speaking only of exorcisms and healings. He’s mostly speaking of us letting the King be Himself in us. And can you imagine what a tremendous blessing we Christians would be to the world if we believed and prayed the promise Jesus made that His disciples would do the same works as He did?

Cyprian did:

In the prayer, “Thy kingdom come,” we ask that the kingdom of God may be set forth to us, even as we also ask that His name may be sanctified in us. … He who dedicates himself to God and Christ desires not earthly, but heavenly kingdoms. … We add, also, and say, “Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” … Now that is the will of God, which Christ both did and taught. Humility in conversation; steadfastness in faith; modesty in words; justice in deeds; mercifulness in works; discipline in morals; to be unable to do a wrong, and to be able to bear a wrong when done; to keep peace with the brethren; to love God with all one’s heart; to love Him in that He is a Father; to fear Him in that He is God; to prefer nothing whatever to Christ, because He did not prefer anything to us; to adhere inseparably to His love; to stand by His cross bravely and faithfully. – Cyprian 250CE Volume 5, p. 788-789