Different Versions of The Lord's Prayer

 Here is another post I wrote for my Florida church's electronic newsletter as we enjoy our pastor's sermon series on the Lord's Prayer:

You may not realize that we have 2 versions of the Lord's Prayer, but we do:  one in Matthew, and one in Luke.  Let's look at them together and see what we notice.  For both of these, I'm using the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition.  It can also be fun to look at different translations, but we won't do that today (www.biblegateway.com has a feature where you can compare several translations side by side).

 

Here's the version in Luke 11:  2-4:

² So he said to them, “When you pray, say:

Father,^[a] may your name be revered as holy.
    May your kingdom come.^[b]
3     Give us each day our daily bread.^[c]
4     And forgive us our sins,
        for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
    And do not bring us to the time of trial.

 

Here's the version that may be more familiar to more of us.  It's found in Matthew 6:  9-13:

⁹ “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
¹⁰ your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give us today our daily bread.
¹² And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³ And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from the evil one.

 

What do you notice?  How is each version different from the version that you usually pray?

 

I know that many of us like The Message, so let’s close with those versions.  And then maybe you’d like to write your own version.

 

Here’s Matthew from The Message:

 

Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what’s best—
    as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You’re in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You’re ablaze in beauty!
    Yes. Yes. Yes.

 

 

And here’s Luke from The Message:

 

Father,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.

 

What would your version say?