“For Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, for ever.  Amen”

The Perspective of Praise that Flows from a Relationship with the Father

 

 

The Original Text and the Doxology

It has been included for many centuries, but was it in the original text?  Scholars debate about its authenticity and inclusion in the original Greek.  Modern translations show it in a footnote stating that it is not found in the earliest manuscripts.  This may be true.

There are certain basic rules of exegesis.  One is, the shortest text is the more accurate.  Things get more and more embellished as time and transcribing goes on.  It is believed by some that these words were penned by a scribe along the way simply exclaiming his own reaction  to the prayer. 

The Didache (a very early summary of Christian teaching) includes, “for yours is the power, and the glory.”

 

From the Structure:

The invocation starts us off praying to the Father, the Creator and Redeemer.  Now the complementary doxology brings the worshiper into praise to the One who has made this possible.  The Lord’s Prayer begins and ends with praise to God. 

 

In A Nutshell:   Our Father, who seeks a relationship with us.  We are filled with adoration and seek God’s Name, His Kingdom, and His will.  In this sin sick world we must acknowledge God as the source of all we need, bread, forgiveness, and deliverance.  This brings us back to gratitude lost in God, which is authentic worship.

 

From the Text:

 

“For” – This phrase begins with the word “for” or “because,” and it proclaims the reason we can pray and live the Lord’s Prayer.  “The reason we can pray is because the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory are not ours, but they belong to God.”

 

 “Yours” or “To You” – Acknowledgement of Ultimate Ownership:

God is the ultimate resource for everything and it all belongs to Him. 

There is a God-centered nature to this entire prayer.

 

“The Kingdom” – Repeating a Primary Theme:

“Kingdom” – appears twice in the prayer.  Christ’s central message was about the Kingdom

Matt. 11:12 – worth any effort            Matt. 13:45-46 – worth any price

Matt. 18:8-9 – worth any sacrifice      

His kingdom is not of this world, and can be understood only from within.

 

“And the Power” – The Redefinition of Power:

(Mk. 10:45) – servant leadership – in contradiction to the Roman Empire and its powerful Caesars of Jesus’ day.  At the heart of power is the cross – (Col. 2:15) – it disarms rulers and authorities.

Eph. 2:5 – we are alive in Him Heb. 7:16 – the power of indestructible life

“The doxology ascribes all power and empowerment to God.” (p. 103).

 

“And the Glory”- the “Doxological Attitude”

Jn. 1:14 – Jesus came to humanity and His glory was observed.

At His birth, Scripture records angels on the scene and Gods glory shining around them.

Jn. 17:5 – Jesus prays for the Father to glorify Him in His original heavenly glory.

 

And – He prays for that glory to be with us to unite us with God (Jn. 17:22).

This transfer of glory from Jesus to us makes us realize that glory really belongs to God only, and we pray in this prayer, a reminder of where the glory really belongs.  We live in reverence to the God of Glory.

 

“Forever” – A never-ending Symphony of Praise:

“For all ages,” “Forever” – were often used in writings of this time whenever speaking about praise to God.  He is eternal and is the Creator God, who is sovereign and has established all things.  Nothing can really cancel His purposes.  “So the words “for ever” are set like a seal on the Doxology and on this prayer.” (103)

 

The Great “AMEN” – Personalizing the Prayer in Community:

A phonetically universal word across many languages.  It derives “truth and specifies forgiveness, certainty, and reliability.”  Rev. 3:14 – Jesus is called the “Amen” – “the faithful and true witness.”

2 Cor. 1:20 – “it’s through Him that we say the ‘Amen’ to the glory of God”

Some places in John’s Gospel, there is double emphasis – “Amen, Amen.”  It is also a community or corporate event as everyone says “Amen!”  After praying this prayer with the understanding of Jesus’ intent, and if we “contemplate the divine presence and with such praise, the only response would be an “attitude of gratitude.”   AMEN!

 

This prayer contains all possible petitions within it. When we repeat it we may “check-in” at different points depending on what’s going on in our lives.  The following summary may help you pray and live the Lord’s Prayer more effectively.  (from p. 108 – Living the Lord’s Prayer).

 

A Series of Confessions:

1. The invocation is a confession that we are the children of the covenant Father.  2. “Hallowed by thy Name” is a confession that only God can finally make His hidden holiness visible.  3. “Thy kingdom come” is a confession that only God can ultimately bring His kingdom into full functioning.  4. “Thy will be done” is a confession that God can accomplish the global reconciling work of His design.  5. “Give us this day our daily bread” is a confession that God is the resource of all resources.  6. “Forgive us” is a confession that the ravages of sin can be reversed only by God’s work in Christ at the cross.  7. “Lead us not into temptation” is a confession of our vulnerability apart from God in the presence of evil.  8. “Deliver us” is a confession that only divine deliverance can replace our own energy and strength.  9. The doxology is a confession of trust in God – in full brass-and-organ crescendo!

 

Scripture References – The Holy Bible – New International Version, Zondervan

1 Chron 29:10-13

10 David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly, saying,

"Praise be to you, O LORD, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.

11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,

for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.

12 Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power

to exalt and give strength to all.

13 Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.

1 Chron 29:14b

Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.

1 Chron 16:36

36 Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.

Then all the people said "Amen" and "Praise the LORD."

Dan 2:20

20 and said: "Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his.

Ps 29:1-2

29:1 A psalm of David.

Ascribe to the LORD, O mighty ones, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.

Ps 72:18-19

18 Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.

19 Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory.

Amen and Amen.

Luke 1:68

68 "Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,

Ps 41:13

13 Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.

Ps 103:20-22

20 Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.

21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will.

22 Praise the LORD, all his works everywhere in his dominion.

Praise the LORD, O my soul.

Ps 150

1 Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.

2 Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.

3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre,

4 praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute,

5 praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.

6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.

Praise the LORD.

Matt 11:12

12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.

Matt 13:45-46

45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

Matt 18:8-9

8 If your hand or your foot causes you to sin cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

Mark 10:45

45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Col 2:15

15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Eph 2:5

5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved.

Heb 7:16

16 one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life.

John 1:14

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 17:5

 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

John 17:22

22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one:

Rev 3:14

14 "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation.

2 Cor 1:20

20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.