Humble petition or demands?

MoreCoffee

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In the Lord's prayer are the petitions humble requests made of God or are they demands?
 

Rens

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Neither, it's prayer. Since that is what He wants you just pray His perfect will happens, it's asking because He tells us to ask. You don't demand something from God, you just have faith that He answers if it's according to His will.
 
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Christians pray in hopes that their prayers are in line with God's will.

Here is Luther's explanation of the Lord's Prayer:

The Introduction
Our Father who art in heaven.

What does this mean? With these words God tenderly invites us to believe that He is our true Father and that we are His true children, so that with all boldness and confidence we may ask Him as dear children ask their dear father.

The First Petition
Hallowed be Thy name.

What does this mean? God’s name is certainly holy in itself, but we pray in this petition that it may be kept holy among us also.

How is God’s name kept holy? God’s name is kept holy when the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity, and we, as the children of God, also lead holy lives according to it. Help us to do this, dear Father in heaven! But anyone who teaches or lives contrary to God’s Word profanes the name of God among us. Protect us from this, heavenly Father!

The Second Petition
Thy kingdom come.

What does this mean? The kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also.

How does God’s kingdom come? God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity.

The Third Petition
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

What does this mean? The good and gracious will of God is done even without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.

How is God’s will done? God’s will is done when He breaks and hinders every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature, which do not want us to hallow God’s name or let His kingdom come; and when He strengthens and keeps us firm in His Word and faith until we die.

This is His good and gracious will.

The Fourth Petition
Give us this day our daily bread.

What does this mean? God certainly gives daily bread to everyone without our prayers, even to all evil people, but we pray in this petition that God would lead us to realize this and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.

What is meant by daily bread? Daily bread includes everything that has to do with the support and needs of the body, such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home, land, animals, money, goods, a devout husband or wife, devout children, devout workers, devout and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, self-control, good reputation, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.

The Fifth Petition
And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

What does this mean? We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look at our sins, or deny our prayer because of them. We are neither worthy of the things for which we pray, nor have we deserved them, but we ask that He would give them all to us by grace, for we daily sin much and surely deserve nothing but punishment. So we too will sincerely forgive and gladly do good to those who sin against us.

The Sixth Petition
And lead us not into temptation.

What does this mean? God tempts no one. We pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us so that the devil, the world, and our sinful nature may not deceive us or mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great shame and vice. Although we are attacked by these things, we pray that we may finally overcome them and win the victory.

The Seventh Petition
But deliver us from evil.

What does this mean? We pray in this petition, in summary, that our Father in heaven would rescue us from every evil of body and soul, possessions and reputation, and finally, when our last hour comes, give us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this valley of sorrow to Himself in heaven.
 

tango

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In the Lord's prayer are the petitions humble requests made of God or are they demands?

I'd say they are requests rather than demands. Whichever they are, given the prayer is the way Jesus told us to pray I don't see how they can be inappropriate, so on that basis alone I'd say they are requests rather than demands.

"Give us this day our daily bread" is requesting little more than what we need to survive for the day. If it were along the lines of "give us this day our T-bone steak with pepper sauce and generous glass of vintage Bordeaux" the discussion over whether we were asking God for something a bit special or demanding it based on a sense of entitlement would be more relevant.

"Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us" seems as much of an acknowledgement as a request to me. It's a request for forgiveness paired with the acceptance that we, too, must forgive if we have been wronged.

"Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" seems more like a "help me through" request than a "get me outta here" demand.
 

MoreCoffee

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Check the voice in which they are given in the Greek text.
 
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Lamb

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We don't make demands of our Heavenly Father. Jesus already told the disciples how willingly the Father wants to give to us so that's encouragement from Him to us to pray.
 

MoreCoffee

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We don't make demands of our Heavenly Father. Jesus already told the disciples how willingly the Father wants to give to us so that's encouragement from Him to us to pray.

Children often make demands of their parents.
 

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Children often make demands of their parents.

If I tell my child, if you ask me for a doll for Christmas I'll give it to you.

Is that a demand on her part or my offer to encourage her to ask and it will be given?
 

Rens

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Children often make demands of their parents.

If it's from my kids to me: give me my daily bread, yes it's a demand. I take the orders. With food in the evening sometimes LOL they say: I didn't order that! Don't think Jesus meant we should talk like that to God too, but neither beg for a crumb when you can simply take bread out of His closet.
 

Rens

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Maybe you get more bold asking God if you're used to your parents giving you anything you want. My dad always gave any stupid thing I asked for or if I lost a bear I got two back.
Oh I just hear we're going to the toy store. Off we go.
 

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I had a really good kid who never asked for anything. It was so hard finding out what she wanted because she never asked. She waited for me to offer it. We were really connected well so I got good at figuring her out to a degree. At the store, she never begged, whined or pleaded. Happy child who smiled at people and they loved her.
 

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If I tell my child, if you ask me for a doll for Christmas I'll give it to you.

Is that a demand on her part or my offer to encourage her to ask and it will be given?

When Christmas arrives and she says "where's my dolly!" is that a demand? :smirk:
 

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When Christmas arrives and she says "where's my dolly!" is that a demand? :smirk:

My daughter would never say anything to me like that. She's a remarkable person :) And she has been very spoiled throughout her life! As God provides for our needs, her needs have been provided and I never hear my child complain about lacking anything.
 

Rens

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I never hear my kids complain either. They just get everything they want lol except when there's no money left.
Oh my last year with Santa Claus, my sister, my mother and I all thought the others wouldn't buy anything. It was nuts, so much presents they got, being the only young ones in the family. Her 20 some year olds got money or a computer and a pair of socks lol.
One month to go. I can't have more toys here. I went to the shop with them last year since they don't believe in Santa so they can just choose. My, a row of people behind us waiting. The oldest said: I want nothing anymore. Now it's enough.
 

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Do you find that you're the same way, Rens? You don't go on and on about wanting things? I tend to think my daughter takes after me because I'm really not into buying material things.
 

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Do you find that you're the same way, Rens? You don't go on and on about wanting things? I tend to think my daughter takes after me because I'm really not into buying material things.
Yes I think so. Although the youngest especially really loves it when he gets a toy. It may be a stupid cheap thing but he loves it. They rather get a toy than new clothes. Don't you want some new clothes? No who cares? We can buy legos instead.
 

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Well, now, Legos are different :) They actually encourage creativity!
 

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It is all about the attitude... in way we approach praying.. two people can be saying the same prayer, but one does it with brass while the other does it with contrite heart.. big difference.
 

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Do you pray for legos?
 

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