“And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this:

Our Father who art in heaven....”                               (Matthew 6:7-9)

The Lord’s Prayer is given in Matthew 6 and in Luke 11. In Matthew Jesus includes it along with other corrections of unspiritual behaviour by the hypocrites. In Luke it is given in response to a request:

He was praying in a certain place, and when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” And he said to them, “When you pray, say:  Father, hallowed be thy name....”

                                                                                  (Luke 11:1-2)

Because it is a specific prayer given by Jesus, it is still said often, though too frequent repetition risks dulling its impact. The Didache enjoined that it should be said three times a day.

Pray as the Lord enjoined in His Gospel, thus: “Our Father, who art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy Name, Thy kingdom come....” 

Say this prayer three times every day.                       (Didache, 8)

 Did Jesus expect this prayer to be used as a set prayer in this manner?

It was the custom of rabbis to teach their disciples a special prayer. This prayer was not the only prayer they would use, which may account for the lack of any expression of thankfulness or intercession in the Lord’s Prayer.  Devout Jews would say about twenty set prayers each day.  There were special times for prayers, 9 am, noon and 3 pm. The early believers continued to take part in these (Acts 3:1) and it could be that the Didache was thinking of these three times when it said: “Say this prayer three times daily.”.

The Lord’s Prayer specifically dealt with important aspects of Jesus’ teaching, and whether we pray using it regularly or not, we certainly ought to incorporate its details in our own prayers. There are several dangers in using set prayers. One is that familiarity reduces awareness of what is being said. Another is the feeling that for a prayer to be acceptable to God, it must be in the same set pattern. The danger in not using a set prayer like the Lord’s Prayer is that important aspects might be left out, and supposedly ex tempore prayers might become too routine in their expression. It is easy to repeat the same words over and over again, as can happen when saying Grace before a meal.

After giving the Lord’s Prayer in Luke 11 in response to the request from his disciples, Jesus continued with further teaching on prayer: the parable of the man who asks to borrow bread at midnight is used to underline the need for persistence. We cannot be thought to be in earnest, if we only occasionally engage in prayer. Then Jesus assures that God will answer prayer:

“And I tell you, Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”     

(Luke 11:9-10)

What will we receive if we ask in prayer? The parallel passage in Matthew might make it appear that we will receive good material possessions:

“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”                                                  (Matthew 7:11).

But the account in Luke explains that Jesus is talking in spiritual terms:

“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”                                                                        (Luke 11:13)

In addition to what Jesus says about prayer, here are many other details in the New Testament, of which the following are only a few.

Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.    (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

… the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. And he who searches the hearts of men knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.                                                                             (Romans 8:26-27)

I appeal to you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints….        (Romans 15:30-31)

… I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions …

                                                                                  (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

Likewise you husbands, live considerately with your wives, bestowing honour on the woman as the weaker sex, since you are joint heirs of the grace of life, in order that your prayers may not be hindered.

                                                                                  (1 Peter 3:7)

None of the details elsewhere in the New Testament makes specific mention of the Lord’s Prayer, and there are obviously many aspects of prayer which are not covered in it. This is as we would expect, if it is a particular prayer to be included by his disciples along with all the other elements such as intercession and thanks.  Whether we use this form of words directly or not, the spiritual concepts incorporated in the Lord’s Prayer should certainly form part of our prayers too.