-10. Victory in ‘Living’ The Lord’s Prayer: “For Thine is The Kingdom…”

Matt 6:9-13
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.   -KJV

_________________________________________________________________

-“For Thine is The Kingdom, and The Power, and The Glory, Forever. Amen”

“For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”

Greek Text:

Ὅτι σοῦ ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία καὶ ἡ δύναμις καὶ ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. Ἀμήν. (Hoti sou estin hē basileia kai hē dynamis kai hē doxa eis tous aiōnas Amēn_

For yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory for the ages. Amen.

Most NT scholars contend that it was not part of the original prayer. The earliest manuscripts do not have it nor is it in the Luke’s prayer. For me it is kind of incomplete as a prayer without the traditional ending and the Amen.

Nevertheless it quickly became part of the traditional corporate prayer spoken in the early church.

The Didache, which was written in the end of the first century or early second century had the whole prayer including the last declaration and Amen. It actually suggested that Christians should pray the Lord’s Prayer 3 times a day. It also contended that only those who actually believed in Jesus should be allowed to pray it.

We can easily find some parallels in this last declaration of the Lord’s Prayer in the traditional Kaddish prayer:

May the great Name of God be exalted and sanctified, throughout the world, which he has created according to his will. May his Kingship be established in your lifetime and in your days, and in the lifetime of the entire household of Israel, swiftly and in the near future; and say, Amen.

May his great name be blessed, forever and ever. Blessed, praised,  glorified, exalted, extolled, honored, elevated and luaded be the Name of the holy one, Blessed is he – above and beyond any blessings and hymns, Praises and consolations which are uttered in the world; and say Amen.

May there be abundant peace from Heaven, and life, upon us and upon all Israel; and say, Amen.

The last declaration of the Lord’s Prayer, whether it was part of the original or not is 100% true. For nearly 2,000 years Christians have prayed it and it would seem incomplete without this last declaration and amen.

The traditional ending declares that God is ultimately in charge:

-It’s His everlasting Kingdom

-it’s His unlimited creative power

-Nothing or anyone is equal to His glory

-For the ages—all of them–Forever—he created time itself and he is above it all—forever.

Amen—so let it be!

Last lesson: -11. Victory in ‘Living’ The Lord’s Prayer: Conclusion