The expression " Our** in the beginning of the Lord's prayer, should not be overlooked. It teaches belieYers that in all their prayers they should think of others as well as themselves. They should remember all the members of Christ's mystical body as their brethren and sisters in the Lord.
[Thy name.] To see the full- meaning of this expression, we should note the many places in which it is used in the Psalms. Such, for instance, as these, " I will declare thy name unto my brethren." Psalm xxii. 21. — "They that know thy name will trust in thee." Psalm ix. 22. — "I will wait on thy name." Psalm lii. 9. — " Unto thy name give the glory." Psalm cxv. 1. — " The righteous shall give thanks to thy name." Psalm cxl. 13. — In all these cases, and many more, the idea is evidently that of *' God's revealed character and attributes."
[Thy kingdom.] The plainest and simplest sense of this word is the promised kingdom which God is one day to take to Him- self over all the world, foretold by Daniel and the other pro- phets, when Satan shall cease to be *' prince of this world," and the millennium shall begin.
[Thy wiU be dovu, as in heaven $o in earth.] To see the fiill beauty of this prayer, we should read the description of angels, in Psalm ciii. 20, 21. Heaven is the only place now where God's will is done perfectly, constantly, unhesitatingly, cheerfully, immediately, and without asking any questions.
8. — [Give us day by day out daily bread!] The English transla- tion of the Greek words in this verse admits of some question. The literal sense appears to be, "Give us for the day, or day by day, the bread which is sufficient for our subsistence."
The Greek word which we have rendered "daDy," is only found in this place, and in Matt. vi. 11.
Some think that the words should be translated, " our super- substantial bread," understanding by it, the bread in the Lord's Supper. This is a most unlikely and improbable sense. Even Stella, the Spanish Commentator, remarks that the Eucharist is not bread for every day.
Some think that the words should be rendered, " Give us day by day our to-morrow's bread — a future bread." This seems a very harsh and awkward sense.
The true meaning appears to be that which has been already given, "the bread which is convenient, or sufficient, for our daily subsistence." This is the interpretation maintained by Chrysostom, Theophylact, and Suidas, and ably defended by Parxhurst
4. — [Forgive tu our «n«.] Let this expression be carefully noted. It provides an answer to those who say that the believer ought