This book explores the relationship between the Lord’s Prayer and the Temple. Jesus frequented the Temple and referred to it as his Father’s house. The prayer addresses God as our Father in heaven and blesses his Name (Yahweh). It petitions him for his kingdom to come on earth, for daily bread, forgiveness of sins, and deliverance from evil. These petitions relate to the artifacts of the Temple.
The petition for the coming of God’s kingdom to earth relates to The Ark of the Covenant, which was regarded as the footstool of God’s throne in the heavens. The petition for daily bread relates to The Table of Showbread. The petition for forgiveness of sins relates to the Altar of Sacrifice. The petition for deliverance from evil relates to the Menorah. The whole prayer relates to the Incense Altar upon which incense was offered at the times of prayer to carry the petitions heavenward.
The Temple was the center of Jewish life in Jesus’ day, and always in the hearts and minds of the devout. Indeed, since Solomon dedicated the First Temple the devout directed their prayers towards this place. Soon after Jesus’ death a crisis befell the Jews. The Second Temple that existed in Jesus’ day was destroyed and has yet to be rebuilt. Jesus predicted its destruction and this may be one reason he taught his disciples this prayer. When they could no longer enter the Temple’s courts, they could imaginatively recreate them following the structure of the prayer. Then, too, Jesus had taught that the day had come when true worshippers would worship God in spirit and in truth. Those who worship in spirit and in truth would effectively become a temple for God’s presence. The locus of God’s presence, therefore, would be in such worshippers, wherever they might be. And since such worshippers are found among the Gentiles that receive the Spirit from the Father as well, just as the Temple was a house of prayer for all peoples, so the prayer is suitable for all true worshippers, whether Jews or Gentiles.
The book is a phrase by phrase commentary upon the Lord’s Prayer, making connections to significant events in the history of Israel and to Jesus’ own ministry. It also shows the connection between the three temptations of Jesus, and the petitions for daily bread, forgiveness of sins, and deliverance from evil. The temptations were tests relating to the three aspects of the human person – the body, the soul, and the spirit.
