The Lord’s Prayer, also known as the Our Father, is the most well-known prayer in Christianity. Jesus Christ taught this prayer to His disciples when they asked Him how to pray. It serves as a perfect model of prayer, teaching us to worship God, trust Him for our daily needs, seek forgiveness, forgive others, and rely on His protection from evil.
The prayer is found in Matthew 6:9–13 as part of the Sermon on the Mount and also appears in Luke 11:2–4.
The Full Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
Verse-by-Verse Explanation
Our Father, who art in heaven
Jesus teaches us to approach God as our loving Father. Through Christ, we become God’s children and can confidently call Him Father.
Bible Reference
- Matthew 6:9
- Romans 8:15
- Galatians 4:6
Meaning
This reminds us that God loves us, cares for us, and desires a personal relationship with every believer.
Hallowed be thy name
To “hallow” means to honour, reverence, and keep holy God’s name.
Bible Reference
- Matthew 6:9
- Exodus 20:7
- Ezekiel 36:23
Meaning
We begin prayer by praising God before asking for anything ourselves.
Thy kingdom come
We pray for God’s kingdom to grow in our hearts, in the Church, and throughout the world.
Bible Reference
- Matthew 6:10
- Matthew 3:2
- Revelation 22:20
Meaning
Christians long for the fullness of God’s Kingdom and Christ’s glorious return.
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven
Jesus teaches us to seek God’s will instead of our own desires.
Bible Reference
- Matthew 6:10
- Luke 22:42
- Romans 12:2
Meaning
True peace comes from trusting God’s perfect plan, even when we do not fully understand it.
Give us this day our daily bread
God invites us to depend on Him for our daily needs.
Bible Reference
- Matthew 6:11
- Exodus 16:4
- John 6:35
Meaning
This prayer asks for food, shelter, health, strength, and every blessing we need. Catholics also see “daily bread” as pointing to the Holy Eucharist, the Bread of Life.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us
We ask God to forgive our sins while promising to forgive those who have hurt us.
Bible Reference
- Matthew 6:12
- Matthew 18:21–35
- Ephesians 4:32
Meaning
God’s mercy transforms our hearts and calls us to show mercy to others.
And lead us not into temptation
God never tempts anyone to sin. Instead, we ask Him to strengthen us so that we do not fall when we face temptation.
Bible Reference
- Matthew 6:13
- James 1:13–14
- 1 Corinthians 10:13
Meaning
We rely on God’s grace to remain faithful during life’s spiritual battles.
But deliver us from evil
We ask God to protect us from sin, Satan, and every form of evil.
Bible Reference
- Matthew 6:13
- John 17:15
- 2 Thessalonians 3:3
Meaning
God is our protector, defender, and source of victory over evil.
Why Is the Lord’s Prayer Important?
The Lord’s Prayer teaches Christians how to pray with faith, humility, trust, and forgiveness. Every petition points us toward a deeper relationship with God and reminds us to depend on Him in every aspect of life.
For Catholics, the Our Father is prayed during the Holy Mass, the Rosary, personal prayer, family prayer, and many other liturgical celebrations. It remains one of the most cherished prayers in the Christian faith.
Related Articles
- Hail Mary Prayer
- Glory Be Prayer
- Apostles’ Creed
- Nicene Creed
- Divine Mercy Chaplet
- Holy Rosary
- Catholic Prayers
- Daily Mass Readings
External Resources
For the official text and teaching on the Lord’s Prayer, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2759–2865) and the Vatican’s official website.