More Than Just An Amen Series

More than Just an Amen!

Matthew 6:13b

Chenoa Baptist Church

Pastor Jefferson M. Williams

04-07-19

Stand Up

If you have ever attended Handel’s Messiah, you know what happens when the Hallelujah Chorus begins. As one, the audience rises to their feet. Legend has it that a king was so moved by the work that he stood and royal protocol stated that when the king stands, everyone stands. It’s way of showing honor and respect the musicians and ultimately to the Messiah Himself, Jesus.

Full Circle

The disciples were so stunned by Jesus’ intimacy with the Father that they asked Him to “teach them to pray.” He gave them a model prayer, just 57 words in the Greek and it takes 20 seconds to pray. But for the last two thousand years, believers on every continent have prayed these words.

Many weeks ago, we began this series by concentrating on God’s Name being hallowed. The Lord’s Prayer begins with praise and, as we come to the last words of the prayer today, we will see that it ends with praise as well. Between these two bookends of praise, are requests for His kingdom to come, His will be done, our daily bread be provided, that we would forgive in the same way we are forgiven, and that God will protect us from temptation and the Evil One.

This morning we will look at the last words of the prayer. Let’s start by taking the pew Bibles and placing our fingers on this verse so we can get our bearings.

Where is it?

As you may have figured out, it’s not there. This verse is not in the NIV or ESV. It is in the NKJ but is put into brackets in the NASB. What is going on here?

We do not have any of the original documents of the books of the Bible. We have copies, many of them very early copies. This verse is not found in the Latin versions of the early manuscripts but it is found in the early Greek manuscripts. This is one of reasons that Catholics are often surprised when they attend a Protestant Church and hear us in the prayer with, “Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever and ever, Amen.”

Some commentators believe that a scribe or translator added these words later. But we know that a Jewish teacher would not end a prayer with our attention on the “evil one.” They would end it with a doxology.

What is a Doxology?

One commentator defines a doxology as “an ascription of praise that is at the same time a plea to be heard and answered.”

The Bible is full of doxologies. The Old Testament is full of doxologies:

Daniel wrote:

“How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation.” (Dan 4:3)

Paul often breaks out into praise in the middle of his letters:

“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (I Tim 1:17)

“To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:21)

Peter cannot contain himself when writing about the grace of Jesus:

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” (2 Peter 3:18)

John was given front row seats to the doxology of heaven:

“Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” (Rev 5:13)

But the doxology that I think that Jesus had in mind when He gave this ending is David’s words in I Chronicles 29. David had asked God if he could build a temple for him but God says that it would be his son Solomon that would ultimately build the temple. David asked the people to help his son by giving an offering and he was so overwhelmed by the generosity of the people that he breaks out into worship.

“Praise be to you, Lord, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.” (I Chron 29:10-13)

Jesus and his disciples very well knew these words well and it would have been fitting to end such an incredible prayer with words of worship.