THE LORD’S PRAYER – AN ISRAELITE PRAYER

By Stuart McKay

SCOTLAND

The accounts of this teaching are found in Matthew 6:5 and Luke 11:1-4.

 The purpose in our message within this short treatise is to reveal that ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ (sic) is an Israelite prayer… as much as the ‘Israel Blessing’ of Numbers 6 is specifically for Israel.

Have you ever wondered at the significance of the first words in ‘The Lord’s Prayer “Our Father…”? It is these opening words which set  the course for all that Yeshua was teaching on prayer in our opening readings, and are the foundation for declaring  that ‘The Lord‘s Prayer‘ is an Israelite prayer.

Before we delve into our study, it will be wise to raise a few ‘flags‘ so that there is no misunderstanding to the scope of our study.

Flag 1: The Scriptures clearly show that those who are not of Israel stock can be saved, e.g. Naaman, Ebed-Melech (who rescued  Jeremiah  from the pit) the Ethiopian Eunuch.¹ [Such is also indicated in Solomon’s prayer of dedication in 2 Chronicles 6:32, 33.]

 Flag 2: Such individuals, along with the Redeemed of Israel, are exhorted to pray to our Elohim 2 Chronicles 6:32, 33, 1 Timothy 2:1-8.

 Flag 3: There is a (benedictory) prayer given which those of non-Israel stock can pray 2 Corinthians 13:14.

 Flag 4: There are prayers which YAHUAH has given for His Covenant People alone, such as the ‘Israel Blessing‘ (sic), and ‘The Lord‘s Prayer‘

 It is important to note in 2 Corinthians 3:14, and I Timothy 2:1- 8 the reference in prayer is to Elohim, and not to the ‘Father‘– this is important to a proper understanding of the opening words of ‘The Lord’s Prayer’. It is the Fatherhood of the Almighty which declares the Israel nature of ‘The Lord’s Prayer‘.

 We must consider the background to ‘The Lord’s Prayer’: The teaching in Matthew and Luke was given on two different occasions. In Matthew, Yeshua had been engaged in teaching, preaching, healing, and delivering. He then goes up into a mountain,  and when His disciples come to Him, He teaches them cf.Matthew 4:23–5:2.

There follows what we know as ‘The Sermon On the Mount‘ Matthew 5- 7 – of which ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ is part. This is not just ‘the twelve apostles‘ but the larger body of believers.

In Luke, our Master Yeshua is praying. As soon as He finishes praying, one of His disciples asks the Master to ‘teach them to pray’ (as John his disciples). This is the ‘inner circle’ of disciples, i.e. those who continued with Yeshua from His baptism by John, to His ascension. Cf. Acts 1:21, 22. Furthermore, Luke’s brief account of ‘The Sermon On the Mount’ occurs at a much earlier occasion in Ch.6. The disciples of Yeshua were all chosen from the Tribes of Israel. Thus, those being taught were all Israelites.

Again, in Matthew, Christ makes clear His mission – and those to whom he had come.Matthew 10:5, 6; 15:24. This second reference is illuminating because the Canaanite woman² has a believing spirit. Regardless of other considerations, she recognizes that she does not have the rights of Elohim’s Covenant People, and that it is of YAHUAH’s Favour the ‘dogs‘ eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. To put it another way: It is of YAHUAH’s Kindness that those without the right are granted to eat the left-overs which fall from the Israelite’s table.

In the context of our study, this woman would recognize that she had not the right to pray an ‘Israel­ exclusive’ prayer, but would accept that which fell to her, and her people – even the crumbs!

However, Yeshua was sent only to His kinsmen, The Lost Sheep of the House of Israel’ – and that is who He was teaching through ‘The Sermon On the Mount‘.

We must now address the question: Whose Father? The answer is in the opening of ‘The Lord’s Prayer’: Our Father!

This poses the next question: Who is the ‘our’? We have seen that the ‘our‘ are those whom the Messiah was teaching. He was teaching His followers, i.e. those who believed. Note what the Scriptures record,

...His disciples came… and he… taught them…” Matthew 5:1, 2.

 one of His disciples said…Master, teach us to pray... and He said unto them…” Luke 11:1, 2.

 We now understand two things about those being taught to pray ‘The Lord’s Prayer’:

1.  They were Israelites
2. They were disciples, i.e. believers in the Messiah

The word ‘Our’ (in ‘The Lord’s Prayer) denotes believing Israelites.

We now turn our attention to consider the word ‘Father’.

 We first need to understand that YAHUAH will not give His Honour to another. Isaiah 42:8; 48:11. In their context, these passages inform us that the Almighty will not give His Honour to any other god, or people. What Elohim gives to His  Covenant  People alone, he gives to His people alone!

An example of this point is ‘The Israel Blessing’ – and the principle has bearing on ‘The Lord’s Prayer‘. It is worth our taking the time to read Numbers 6:22- 27.

One thing is patently clear: This is a prayer of blessing for Israel alone! It is not for any other people. YAHUAH’s Inviolable Covenant was with Israel alone, and (He) instructed this blessing of Numbers 6 to be spoken over them.

What links ‘The Israel Blessing‘ with ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ is the Fatherhood of the Almighty. The Fatherhood of Elohim is easily seen in the opening words of ‘The Lord’s Prayer but it is also in ‘The Israel Blessing‘. Too often we quote (recite, or pronounce only) v.v. 24-26… but v.27 is part of the ‘blessing’ (sic) since it includes ‘the putting of YAHUAH’s Name C’El’) on the children of Israel. Once all of this is done, Elohim would Favour them.

Here is a question: ‘How would YAH put His Name upon them?’

 The answer: By being their Father!

 The writer of this treatise is a father, and I have put my name upon my children they are all surnamed ‘McKay’ – after their father! Clearly, they are my children, and are so identified by having my name. In the same way, it is clear that the Isra-EL-ites were the chosen of EL-ohim, and by putting His Name upon them He identifies Himself as their Father /and they as His children cf. 2 Corinthians.6:18; Jeremiah 30:22; 31:1, 9.

Thus, the Israelites might honestly declare ‘Elohim is our Father!’

Now, ask yourself- What are the opening words of ‘The Lord’s Prayer’? Exactly, “Our Father…”

Whose Father? Israel’s Father!

 However, we are not finished with the Truth of ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ being an ‘Israel-exclusive’ prayer. Some may claim when anyone is saved from sin (be they Israel or no), Elohim becomes their ‘Father’, i.e. they make Him their ‘Heavenly Father’.

 First – No child makes a man their father. Either the man is their father, or he is not.

Second – Either the Almighty is their Father at the outset, or He is not! YAHUAH does not have a ‘mid­ life crisis‘ and suddenly ‘become’ their Father. No! Elohim is Father to those upon whom He has put His Name – He is Father only to Isra-EL.

YAHUAH is ‘our Father’. Israel’s Father...because He is no-one else’s! Isaiah 63:16, 19

It is clear that by putting His Name upon us, and calling us by His Name Isaiah 43:1, YAHUAH is Our Father alone. We, the children, do not share Our Father with anyone else. The Almighty has declared in His WORD that He is Our Father alone, and the Father of no other Nation or individual.

Consider this: Only the children have the right and honour to call their father such.[In our meeting today] There are children which do not belong to my family, they have their own father. Would it be appropriate for those children to come up to me and address me as father’? Absolutely not! In fact, it would be a gross insult [presumptive bare-faced cheek] – Only my children have the right, and privilege to call me. father’.

 It is exactly the same with the Abba-Father, and his children. It is not appropriate for those who are not His children to address YAHUAH as ‘Father’ – only the children have that right. Therefore, it is revealed that ‘The Lord’s Prayer‘ is a prayer exclusively for the Israel people – Elohim’s children.

Can any doubt the meaning of our Redeemer’s words? Or to whom they were addressed?

There is another evidence which establishes that ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ is for the Israel people alone, and for none others. Matthew 6:7-9a

Those whom the Master Yeshua is teaching (in His Office of Rabbi) are a different group from the ‘heathen‘ of v. 7. Do you know what the  word ‘heathen’ in our text signifies? The word  has nothing to do with the issue of salvation. The Greek word for ‘heathen’ is ‘ethnikos’.3 In this context the  word means a national, or ethnic, i.e. a non-Israelite infidel. Thus, Yeshua was saying to these Israelite believers,

‘But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions as the non-Israelite ethnics do: For they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking…’

Do we not see how it is vain for the non-Israelite to utter this prayer because YAHUAH is not their Father? Neither does it matter how often they repeat  this prayer – they will not be heard for their much speaking. Likewise, no matter how much, how frequently, or who pronounces the ‘Israel Blessing’ – if  the pronouncer and recipient are not both Israelite, it shall never come to rest – and so it is with ‘The Lord’s Prayer’.

There is one other issue we should deal with before we conclude. Some may have wondered: If you are of Israel stock, you can pray ‘The Lord’s Prayer’?

The answer is, ‘Yes!’…and ‘No!’

 As an Israelite you are part of YAHUAH’s Covenant People and, in that sense, you are one of His children. However, to be one of Elohim’s children through the flesh alone is not sufficient. You will be able to utter ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ – but it shall be without power.

If we would enter ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ effectively, and avoid ‘vain repetition … It is altogether necessary to be born again of the Spirit. Romans 9:7, 8.

Are you an Israelite of the flesh only, or of both flesh and Spirit? Can you call the Almighty your ‘Abba-­ Father’? Your ‘Daddy, Daddy’? We who are Elohim’s children through  the  flesh need  to receive ‘the Spirit of Adoption’.

 Scriptural Adoption does not extend to the non­-Israelite. Scriptural Adoption applies only to those who are children already. Galatians 4:1-6

We Israelites are Elohim’s children of the flesh, and when we believe [put our trust] in our Redeemer, we receive ‘the Adoption of Sons’. Note carefully: Not as sons. [This Adoption is that which pertains to those who are already the children of their father, which adoption is conferred upon those who meet with the ‘Patriarchal  Approval’  when attaining full manhood at the age of thirty.]

 This is exactly what was happening at the baptism of our Redeemer Yeshua – the Son was being adopted by ‘His [very] Own Father’!

 Our brief study has shown that Scripture interprets Scripture, revealing the Fatherhood of Elohim, in conjunction with the Adoption of Sons, establishes that both ‘The Israel Blessing’, and ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ are for Israelites only.

‘The Lord’s Prayer’ is truly an Israel prayer – but its real power and significance  is found when prayed  by the redeemed, the Israelite who has called on [the Name of] YAHUAH for salvation.

For those of us who know the Redeemer as our personal Saviour, we may fully enter into ‘The Lord’s Prayer’.

 For any of our Israelite readers who have not yet accepted the Sovereignty of Yeshua, we would urge you to take full possession of ‘The Lord’s Prayer’, and with the apostle we would cry:

“…we pray you in the Messiah’s stead, be ye reconciled to the Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 5:20.

1 This individual was likely an Israelite, but the other two not

2  Some hold this lady may not be an Israelite

3 The present author asserts the original language of the Renewed Covenant is Aramaic rather than Greek