Note 28 at Mt 6:9: The word "manner" is translated from the Greek adverb "HOUTO," and it means "in this way" (Strong's Concordance). It is different from the Greek noun "ETHOS" that is also translated "manner," and it means "habit" or "custom" (Vine's Expository Dictionary). Some have adopted the reciting of this prayer and made it nothing more than custom or a "vain repetition," which Jesus was teaching against. This prayer, commonly called the Lord's Prayer, is more accurately called the model prayer. It was given as a model of what prayer should consist of.

First, "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name" admonishes us to recognize our relationship with God and praise Him for it. Second, Mt 6:10 shows us to intercede for the furtherance of God's kingdom in the hearts of people (Lu 17:21) and their affairs. Third, Mt 6:11 tells us to ask for our daily needs (Joh 16:24). Fourth, Mt 6:12 shows us to confess our sins (1Jo 1:9) for the purpose of forgiveness and that we should also forgive others (Mr 11:25-26). Fifth, Mt 6:13 says to resist the devil (Jas 4:7) by receiving God's protection (Ps 91). And finally, the prayer should be ended with praise once again (Mt 6:13), because if we ask, we receive (Mt 7:7-8).

Note 29 at Mt 6:9: Although God is referred to as Father twelve times in the Old Testament (De 32:6; 2 Sa 7:14; 1 Ch 17:13, 22:10, 28:6; Ps 68:5, 89:26; Isa 9:6, 63:16, 64:8; Jer 31:9; and Mal 2:10), Jesus’ frequent use of this title brought in a whole new understanding of our relationship with God. Jesus referred to God as His Father over 150 times, and He spoke of God as being our Father 30 times. This infuriated the religious Jews of Jesus’ day who considered it blasphemy to call God their Father, because they understood that to mean they were equal with God (Joh 5:17-18).

This title has become so common in the church today that many times, we don’t perceive its real significance. The revelation that we are instructed to call God our Father reveals the kind, gentle, loving nature of our God (1 Joh 4:8). Paul amplified on this by using the term “Abba Father” (Ro 8:15 and Ga 4:6), which is an affectionate term that young children would use for their fathers, corresponding to our term “daddy.” “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God” (1 Jo 3:1).