In Luke 11:1-4, Jesus responds to His disciples' request for guidance on how to pray. Observing Jesus in prayer, a disciple asks Him to teach them to pray, akin to how John the Baptist taught his followers. Jesus then presents what is commonly known as the Lord's Prayer. This prayer begins with an intimate address to God as "Father," signifying a personal relationship. It includes petitions for the sanctification of God's name, the coming of God's kingdom, the provision of daily needs, forgiveness of sins, and guidance away from temptation. Each element of this prayer reflects fundamental aspects of the believer's relationship with God and their dependence on divine provision and guidance.
From a Wesleyan/Methodist perspective, this passage underscores the importance of prayer as a means of grace, a conduit through which believers experience God's love and power. The prayer highlights key theological themes: the intimacy of calling God "Father," the reverence for God's holiness, the anticipation of God's kingdom, reliance on God's daily provision, the necessity of forgiveness, and the need for divine guidance. These themes align with John Wesley's emphasis on personal and social holiness, the transformative power of God's grace, and the believer's active participation in God's mission. This passage not only provides a model for personal prayer but also encapsulates core tenets of Wesleyan theology that continue to shape Methodist spiritual practice and community life.
Origin and Name: The Gospel of Luke is one of the four canonical gospels in the New Testament. The name "Luke" is derived from the traditional attribution to Luke, a companion of the Apostle Paul and a physician. The Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles form a two-part work by the same author, often called "Luke-Acts."
Authorship: The Gospel of Luke is traditionally ascribed to Luke the physician, a figure mentioned in Colossians 4:14, 2 Timothy 4:11, and Philemon 1:24. This attribution, supported by early church fathers like Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, and Tertullian, lends historical credibility to the Gospel (Bovon). Modern scholarship further suggests that the author of Luke was a well-educated Gentile Christian, closely associated with Paul and familiar with other Gospel traditions.
Date and Setting: The Gospel of Luke is typically dated to around AD 80-90, a dating that is firmly based on the analysis of textual and historical evidence. This evidence includes the relationship between Luke and the other synoptic gospels (Matthew and Mark) and the context of early Christian communities after the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 (Marshall 35). The setting for the writing of Luke is generally thought to be outside of Palestine, possibly in a Hellenistic city where a Gentile audience would be present, reflecting the Gospel's broader appeal to non-Jewish Christians.
Purpose and Themes: The Gospel of Luke stands out with its multifaceted purpose. It aims to provide an orderly and detailed account of Jesus’ life and ministry, emphasizing His role as the Savior for all people, Jews and Gentiles alike. Luke explicitly states his intention in the prologue (Luke 1:1-4), indicating a desire to assure Theophilus and other readers of the certainty of the teachings they have received. Notably, Luke's Gospel places a particular focus on the poor and marginalized, highlighting a unique aspect of his narrative (Green 56).
Structure: Luke 11 can be divided into several key sections:
The Lord's Prayer (11:1-4): Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray, offering a model prayer that emphasizes the sanctity of God's name, the coming of His kingdom, and daily dependence on God.
Persistence in Prayer (11:5-13): Through the parable of the persistent friend and additional teachings, Jesus underscores the importance of persistence and faith in prayer.
Jesus and Beelzebul (11:14-28): Jesus addresses accusations of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul and teaches about the nature of true blessedness.
The Sign of Jonah (11:29-32): Jesus speaks to the crowds about the sign of Jonah, foretelling His resurrection and judgment on those who reject Him.
The Lamp of the Body (11:33-36): Jesus teaches about spiritual insight and the need for inner light.
Woes on the Pharisees and Lawyers (11:37-54): During a meal with a Pharisee, Jesus pronounces woes on the Pharisees and lawyers, criticizing their hypocrisy and legalism.
Significance: Luke 11 is significant for several reasons. It provides one of the most well-known versions of the Lord's Prayer, offering essential teaching on the nature and practice of prayer. The chapter also addresses key themes such as the power of Jesus over evil, the importance of inner purity, and the critique of religious hypocrisy. These teachings are central to Luke's portrayal of Jesus as the compassionate and authoritative Savior who calls for genuine faith and ethical living.
Verse 1: Context and Setting
"One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, 'Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.'"
This verse sets the scene by emphasizing Jesus' practice of prayer. The request from the disciple highlights the Jewish tradition of rabbinic instruction on prayer, indicating that prayer was an essential aspect of discipleship (Bovon). The mention of John the Baptist teaching his disciples to pray suggests a parallel between Jesus and John, showing the importance of prayer in their ministries (Green 438).
Verse 2: Invocation and Petition
"He said to them, 'When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.' "
Jesus begins with the address "Father," which signifies a personal and intimate relationship with God, reflecting the Aramaic term "Abba" (Marshall 452). The phrase "hallowed be your name" calls for reverence and recognition of God's holiness. This petition aligns with the Jewish Kaddish prayer, which also sanctifies God's name (Fitzmyer 901). The request for "your kingdom come" reflects the eschatological hope for God's reign on earth, a central theme in Jesus' teachings (Nolland 613).
Verse 3: Daily Provision
"Give us each day our daily bread."
This verse underscores the disciples' dependence on God for daily sustenance. The term "daily bread" (Greek: ἐπιούσιος, epiousios) is unique and can be interpreted as both "necessary for existence" and "for the coming day," indicating both physical and spiritual sustenance (Bovon 1095). It reflects a trust in God's provision, reminiscent of the manna provided in the wilderness (Exodus 16:4-5) (Green 440).
Verse 4: Forgiveness and Protection
"Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’"
The petition for forgiveness acknowledges human sinfulness and the need for divine mercy. The reciprocal nature of forgiveness—" for we also forgive"—emphasizes the ethical demand for disciples to forgive others, which is central to Jesus' teaching (Marshall 454). The request "lead us not into temptation" (Greek: πειρασμός, peirasmos) can be understood as asking for protection from situations that could lead to sin or a plea for deliverance from trials and testing (Fitzmyer 902).
Luke 11 contains several essential teachings and events that reflect the core of Jesus' ministry. From a Wesleyan/Methodist viewpoint, this chapter underscores themes of prayer, the Holy Spirit, divine guidance, and ethical living, all of which are pivotal to Methodist theology.
Verses 1-13: The Lord's Prayer and Teaching on Prayer
In Luke 11:1-4, Jesus teaches the Lord's Prayer. Wesleyan theology emphasizes the importance of prayer as a means of grace, a channel through which believers receive God's grace and are transformed (Collins 85). The structure of the Lord's Prayer in this passage emphasizes both the adoration of God ("hallowed be your name") and the petition for God's kingdom and daily needs, reflecting a holistic approach to prayer that Wesley advocated (Thorsen 207).
Verses 5-13 continue with teachings on prayer, stressing persistence and the assurance that God listens and responds. Wesleyan thought highlights God's prevenient grace, suggesting that God’s willingness to respond to prayer is an expression of His grace working ahead of our actions (Outler 194). The promise of the Holy Spirit (v. 13) aligns with Wesley's emphasis on the role of the Holy Spirit in sanctification and the believer's life (Maddox 153).
Verses 14-28: Jesus and Beelzebul, The Sign of Jonah
In verses 14-23, Jesus casts out a demon and addresses Beelzebul’s accusations of doing so. This passage underlines Jesus' authority over evil, a concept that Wesleyan theology links to the ongoing struggle against sin and evil in the Christian life. Wesley believed in the possibility of victory over sin through the power of Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit (Collins 112).
The subsequent discussion about seeking signs (vv. 24-28) and the sign of Jonah (vv. 29-32) emphasize the necessity of faith and repentance. Wesleyan theology stresses repentance as a crucial step in the journey of salvation, acknowledging human sinfulness and the need for a transformative encounter with God's grace (Thorsen 144).
Verses 33-36: The Lamp of the Body
These verses focus on the lamp and the eye metaphor, highlighting the importance of spiritual perception and inner purity. Wesley taught that holiness involves both inward and outward transformation, reflecting purity of heart and life (Outler 223). The idea of the "whole body full of light" resonates with the Methodist emphasis on personal holiness and the ethical implications of faith.
Verses 37-54: Woes to the Pharisees and Experts in the Law
In these verses, Jesus criticizes the Pharisees and the experts in the law for their hypocrisy and neglect of justice and the love of God. Wesleyan theology often critiques superficial religiosity and emphasizes authentic faith that produces love and justice (Maddox, 218). Wesley himself was deeply concerned with social holiness, believing that true faith must express itself in love and justice towards others (Thorsen 180).
Jesus' condemnation of the Pharisees for neglecting "justice and the love of God" (v. 42) aligns with Wesleyan social ethics, which stress the inseparability of personal piety and social action. The Methodist tradition advocates for active involvement in addressing social injustices, reflecting Jesus' call for a faith that manifests in concrete acts of compassion and justice (Collins 145).
Luke 11:1-4
(NIV):
"One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, 'Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.' He said to them, 'When you pray, say: 'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.' "
Exegesis:
1. Prayer as a Means of Grace:
In Wesleyan theology, prayer is considered one of the "means of grace," a crucial channel through which God imparts His grace to believers. John Wesley emphasized the importance of prayer as a vital practice for spiritual growth and communion with God. In Luke 11:1-4, Jesus instructs His disciples on how to pray, underscoring the necessity of prayer in the life of a disciple. Wesley encouraged believers to engage in both private and communal prayer, viewing it as essential for sustaining the Christian life (Heitzenrater 128).
2. The Paternal Relationship with God:
Jesus begins the prayer with "Father, " highlighting the intimate and personal relationship believers are invited to have with God. Wesleyan theology deeply values this personal relationship, emphasizing that through prevenient grace, God seeks to draw all individuals into a loving relationship with Himself. This address reflects the idea of God as a caring and approachable parent, which is a cornerstone of Wesley's understanding of God's nature (Collins 212).
3. Holiness and Reverence:
The phrase "hallowed be your name" reflects a deep reverence for God's holiness. Wesleyan theology strongly emphasizes holiness, not only as an attribute of God but as a calling for believers. This line of the prayer aligns with Wesley's call for Christians to pursue sanctification—a process of becoming holy and more Christ-like in their daily lives. Wesley taught that holiness is the goal of Christian living and a testament to God’s transformative power (Maddox 134).
4. The Kingdom of God:
"Your kingdom come" is a petition for the realization of God's reign on earth. Wesleyan theology interprets the Kingdom of God as both a present reality and a future hope. Wesley believed in working towards social holiness, which involves striving for justice, peace, and love in the world, as an expression of God's kingdom. This petition invites believers to actively participate in God's mission of transforming the world (Heitzenrater 201).
5. Daily Dependence on God:
"Give us each day our daily bread" signifies trust and dependence on God for provision. Wesley emphasized living a life of simplicity and reliance on God rather than material wealth. This line encourages believers to seek God's provision and be content with what is necessary, reflecting a trust in God’s continual sustenance (Collins 159).
6. Forgiveness and Reconciliation:
"Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us" ties personal forgiveness to the practice of forgiving others. Wesleyan theology highlights the importance of forgiveness as a reflection of God's grace. Wesley taught that experiencing God's forgiveness empowers believers to forgive others, thus fostering reconciliation and community harmony. Forgiveness is a vital aspect of personal and communal holiness (Maddox 147).
7. Guidance and Deliverance:
"Lead us not into temptation" expresses a desire for divine guidance and protection from evil. Wesley understood human susceptibility to sin and the need for God's grace to overcome it. This petition acknowledges the believer's dependence on God's strength to resist temptation and live a life pleasing to God. It reflects the Wesleyan emphasis on God’s active role in sanctifying believers and leading them toward righteousness (Heitzenrater 89).
