What doth the conclusion the Lord's prayer teach us?

Question 107: What doth the conclusion the Lord's prayer teach us?

Answer: The conclusion of the Lord's prayer, which is, "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever, Amen." teacheth us, to take our encouragement in prayer from God only, and in our prayers to praise him, ascribing kingdom, power and glory to him.

And, in testimony of our desire, and assurance to be heard, we say, Amen.

Dear Neighbor,

When the Westminster Puritan’s wrote their confession and this catechism, they did so from the English Version authorized by King James. The King James Bible was translated by the Puritans from the Textus Receptus. All early English translations of the Bible, except for Wycliffe’s, (The Wycliffe English Bible of 1382 was translated into English from the Latin Vulgate) were translated into English from the Textus Receptus. The Textus Receptus was a Greek New Testament by Erasmus in 1516. Erasmus was a Dutch philosopher and Christian scholar. Since the time that Erasmus put together what would be called the Textus Receptus (meaning, received text), several older Greek manuscripts of the New Testament were discovered in Northern Africa. 

So, what am I driving at? Matthew 6:13, “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” This clause is not found in the early Greek manuscripts. It is likely a later addition to the text. Perhaps, it was tradition to say these words after reciting the Lord’s prayer. I do believe, however, that there is nothing theologically incorrect about them. In fact David said very similar words to these when blessing the Lord in sight of all the people. 

1 Chronicles 29:11

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.

I have enjoyed going through these 107 questions and answers of the Westminster Shorter Catechism. I hope that it aides your following the Lord Jesus Christ.

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake