Introduction
The Lord's Prayer is the prayer Jesus taught his disciples, recorded in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. In a few lines, it invites you to approach God as a Father, to honor his name, and to ask for what you need, for forgiveness and for protection. Christians around the world pray it.
No prayer is as well known as the Lord's Prayer. Millions of people recite it, sometimes without grasping its full meaning. This page gives the text as it appears in the Gospel of Matthew, compares it with Luke's version, then explains each request in plain language, so you can pray it understanding what you are saying.
The Text of the Lord's Prayer: What Does It Say?
Jesus gives this prayer during a long teaching known as the Sermon on the Mount. Before it, he gives a warning: his followers should not pile up words, because God knows what they need. Here is the complete prayer, as Matthew records it.
Matthew 6:9-10
"Pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
Jesus suggests beginning with God: we call him Father, we honor his name, and we ask that his kingdom come. The Father is in heaven, which expresses his greatness, yet he is close enough to be called that way. Read all of Matthew 6.
Matthew 6:11-12
"Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors."
Then come the needs of the one praying: daily bread, then forgiveness. The request is simple and concrete. God cares about the ordinary needs of his children, and the forgiveness we receive goes hand in hand with the forgiveness we give. Read all of Matthew 6.
Matthew 6:13
"Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen."
The prayer ends with a plea for protection, then with praise that reminds us to whom the kingdom, the power and the glory belong. It closes where it began, on the greatness of God. Read all of Matthew 6.
The Lord's Prayer in Luke's Gospel: What Is the Difference?
Luke records a shorter version, given at another time: a disciple asks Jesus to teach them to pray. Jesus answers with the same essential elements, in a briefer form. There is no contradiction here: a teacher happily repeats his lessons, with slightly different words depending on his audience.
Luke 11:2-4
"He said to them, “When you pray, say, ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’"
The prayer begins with a simple word, Father. It includes the name to be honored, the kingdom to come, daily bread, forgiveness and protection. Luke speaks of sins where Matthew speaks of debts, two closely related words for what wrongs God and others. Read all of Luke 11.
Our Father Who Is in Heaven: Who Are We Speaking To?
The first request concerns the one we are speaking to. Calling God Father means recognizing that he is near and attentive, like a parent listening to a child. The word our reminds us that we never really pray alone: we come to him together with everyone who seeks him.
May your name be kept holy means: may your name be honored, respected and set apart as holy. Before asking for anything, the one praying puts God in his rightful place, above everything.
May Your Kingdom Come, May Your Will Be Done: What Are We Asking For?
A kingdom is the authority of a king. To ask that God's kingdom come is to hope that the justice, peace and goodness that mark it will spread across the earth, beginning with one's own life. It is not a prayer for getting what we want, but for aligning ourselves with what God wants.
This request calls for a certain humility: accepting that God's plans are better than our own. Many people find deep peace in it, because they no longer have to control everything.
Give Us Today Our Daily Bread: What Does This Request Mean?
Bread stands for everything we need to live: food, shelter, health, work. The word today matters: Jesus invites us to ask for the day, without worrying about the years ahead. It is a daily lesson in trust.
The words us and our also widen our view: we pray for ourselves, but also for those who do not have enough. Many believers turn this request into a call to share.
Forgive Us Our Debts, Deliver Us From Evil: Forgiveness, Protection and Praise
Forgiveness works in two directions. The one praying first acknowledges having wronged others and needing to be forgiven. Then he or she commits to forgiving those who have hurt them. Jesus stresses this connection later in his teaching, which shows it is not a minor detail.
Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one: the evil one refers to evil itself or to the one behind it. The sense of the request is to stay away from what would make us fall and to be kept safe. The closing words of the prayer are called a doxology, a term for a formula of praise. Some early manuscripts do not include it, and some traditions say it while others do not. Believers recognize its beauty without making it a point of dispute.
Matthew 6:14-15
"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
Jesus returns to the request for forgiveness so that no doubt remains. Receiving forgiveness and giving it are two inseparable acts in his teaching, and letting go of resentment sets the heart free. Read all of Matthew 6.
How Can You Pray the Lord's Prayer Today?
You can say it slowly, one phrase at a time, pausing at each request to put it into your own words. For example, after our daily bread, name one specific need for your day. After forgive us, think of a person you find hard to forgive.
You can also pray it out loud, alone or with others, in your own language. There is no required posture or moment. The point is not to recite quickly but to speak truly to God. Jesus gave this prayer as a model: once you know it, it can guide all your other prayers.
Further reading
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the full text of the Lord's Prayer?
The best-known version comes from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 6, verses 9 to 13, with requests about God's name, his kingdom, his will, daily bread, forgiveness and protection. Wording varies somewhat between translations and Christian traditions.
Why did Jesus teach the Lord's Prayer?
The Gospels explain it in two ways: Matthew places it in a teaching about sincere prayer, and Luke places it after a disciple asks to learn how to pray. It is a model given to guide and simplify prayer.
What is the difference between Matthew's and Luke's versions of the Lord's Prayer?
Luke's version is shorter: it leaves out the closing praise, 'For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory,' and it uses slightly different wording for some requests, such as 'sins' and 'day by day.' Both keep the same core: Father, name, kingdom, will, bread, forgiveness, protection.
Do you have to memorize the Lord's Prayer?
It is not required. Many believers know it by heart and pray it often, while others use it as a guide for praying in their own words. What matters to Jesus is the sincerity of the one who speaks to God.