The Our Father is Pure petition – the oldest manuscripts do not contain the doxology, scripture scholars conclude that the doxology probably was added when the Our Father became part of the Eucharistic celebration.

Why didn’t Jesus teach His disciples a prayer of praise, because

He gave them a prayer that deals with the reign of God

breaking forth, pure petition.

The Our Father is a very short prayer without the doxology has 55 words [in English], with the doxology it has 14 additional and with the

Amen = 70

In St. Luke’s version without the doxology and conclusion it has 23

Words, the Our Father gets right to the point.  God is addresses in the Our Father as Abba, that address is familial, family intimacy, the Jewish Kaddish is similar; difference is the Kaddish is not pure petition, and it did not stand alone.

With the Our Father God’s interest comes first. Initially we have three your / thou askings: 1. hallowed be your name, 2. Your kingdom come and 3. Your will be done.

Then we have three or four we petitions: 1. give us today our daily bread, 2. forgive us our trespasses, 3. lead us not into temptation and 4. deliver us from evil. 

Part one of the Our Father deals with the name, reign and the will of God, and part two part deals with the disciples’ interests.

Pray an Our Father today three times: morning, noon and night.

May God Be Praised!