Meaning of Luke 11:2

Jesus, in response to his disciples' request to be taught how to pray, offers a model prayer that begins by directing believers to address God as "Father." This invocation is not merely a polite salutation but an intimate and profound recognition of God's paternal relationship with those who follow His Son. The subsequent petitions, "hallowed be your name, your kingdom come," establish the foundational priorities for Christian prayer: the sanctification of God's name and the advancement of His reign. This opening sets the tone for all subsequent prayer, emphasizing reverence, submission to God's will, and a focus on His ultimate purposes rather than solely on personal needs.

Context and Background

The request for instruction on prayer arises in Luke 11:1, where the disciples observe Jesus praying and ask Him to teach them, just as John the Baptist taught his disciples. This indicates a desire for a distinct, authoritative model of prayer from Jesus. Luke's placement of this teaching, following Jesus' ministry and prior to His journey to Jerusalem, highlights its centrality to discipleship. The prayer itself, often referred to as the Lord's Prayer, is a concise yet comprehensive framework for approaching God, encapsulating the essence of what Jesus intended for His followers to communicate to the Father.

Key Themes and Messages

The primary themes are reverence for God's holiness, acknowledging His supreme and set-apart nature, and anticipation of God's kingdom, recognizing His sovereign rule and desiring its full manifestation on earth. The address "Father" underscores a relationship of intimacy and trust, implying that believers can approach God with the confidence and familiarity of a child with a loving parent. This is a radical departure from the distant, awe-inspiring portrayal of God in much of the Old Testament, though it builds upon existing covenantal language.

Spiritual Significance and Application

Spiritually, this verse calls for a reorientation of our prayer life. It moves prayer from a transactional exchange to a relational encounter. The emphasis on "hallowed be your name" urges us to consider how our lives and prayers reflect God's sacredness. The desire for "your kingdom come" cultivates an eschatological hope and a commitment to living as citizens of God's reign, actively participating in its unfolding. This model prayer is not meant to be recited verbatim as a magical incantation, but rather as a template that guides the posture, content, and priorities of our prayers.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

This verse is deeply embedded in the biblical narrative of God's covenantal relationship with humanity. The "Father" address echoes God's declaration in Hosea 11:1, "Out of Egypt I called my son," referring to Israel. Jesus, as the true Son, inaugurates a new covenant where all believers are adopted into God's family. The concept of God's kingdom is a recurring theme from Genesis to Revelation, representing God's sovereign rule and the restoration of His creation. Jesus' teaching here brings this kingdom into sharp focus, presenting it as a present reality to be prayed for and a future hope to be anticipated.

Analogies

One analogy for approaching God as "Father" is that of a child approaching a loving and trustworthy parent. The child doesn't need to beg for attention or fear rejection; they can come with openness and honesty. Similarly, the desire for God's kingdom to come can be likened to a citizen of a just and prosperous nation longing for their homeland's ideals to be fully realized everywhere. The prayer for God's name to be hallowed is akin to a loyal subject honoring and upholding the reputation of their king, ensuring His name is treated with the respect and dignity it deserves.

Relation to Other Verses

This verse directly parallels Matthew 6:9, where Jesus teaches the same prayer. The "Father" address is consistent with Jesus' own frequent use of "Abba, Father" (Mark 14:36) and His teaching in John 14:6 that He is the way to the Father. The theme of God's kingdom is central to Jesus' preaching (Mark 1:15) and is further elaborated in parables throughout the Gospels. The concept of God's name being honored is found in the Old Testament, such as in Isaiah 29:23, which speaks of "sanctifying the Holy One of Jacob" and "fearing the God of Israel."