“Our Father which art in heaven” — the prayer Jesus taught his disciples, broken down line by line.
When Jesus's disciples ask him to teach them to pray (Luke 11:1), he gives them this short prayer as a model — recorded in both Matthew 6:9–13, as part of the Sermon on the Mount, and a shorter version in Luke 11:2–4. It's likely the most recited prayer in Christian history, used in personal devotion and structured worship across nearly every Christian tradition.
Matthew 6:9–13, King James Version.
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
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. Matthew 6:9–13, King James Version
"Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name"Matthew 6:9, King James Version
Opens not with a request, but with relationship (“Our Father”) and reverence (“hallowed,” meaning holy, set apart) — establishing who is being addressed before asking for anything.
"Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven"Matthew 6:10, King James Version
The first request isn't personal — it's for God's rule and will to be realized on earth the same way it already is in heaven.
"Give us this day our daily bread"Matthew 6:11, King James Version
A request for immediate, practical need — not a lifetime's supply, but enough for today, echoing how God provided daily manna to Israel in the wilderness (Exodus 16).
"And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors"Matthew 6:12, King James Version
Links receiving forgiveness to extending it — the prayer ties God's forgiveness of the person praying to their own willingness to forgive others.
"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil"Matthew 6:13a, King James Version
A request for protection, both from being led into wrongdoing and from harm generally — some translations render “evil” as “the evil one.”
"For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen"Matthew 6:13b, King James Version
This closing doxology appears in later manuscripts and most translations used in worship, though many modern scholars believe it was added slightly after Matthew's original text, summarizing the prayer by returning focus to God.
Luke's version (Luke 11:2–4) is shorter than Matthew's, which many scholars take as evidence Jesus taught a version of this prayer more than once, adapting it slightly.
Despite deep differences elsewhere, the Lord's Prayer is used in Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant worship alike, often word-for-word.
Jesus introduces it by saying “after this manner therefore pray ye” (Matthew 6:9) — suggesting a pattern for prayer, not necessarily words to be recited only exactly as given.