Luke 11:1-4 Meaning: Why the Disciples Asked Jesus to Teach Them to Pray
1When he finished praying in a certain place, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.”
2He said to them, “When you pray, say, ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
3Give us day by day our daily bread.
4Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’”
1And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
2And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
3Give us day by day our daily bread.
4And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
1And it came to pass, as he was praying in a certain place, that when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, even as John also taught his disciples.
2And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Father, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come.
3Give us day by day our daily bread.
4And forgive us our sins; for we ourselves also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And bring us not into temptation.
1And it came to pass, in his being in a certain place praying, as he ceased, a certain one of his disciples said unto him, `Sir, teach us to pray, as also John taught his disciples.'
2And he said to them, `When ye may pray, say ye: Our Father who art in the heavens; hallowed be Thy name: Thy reign come; Thy will come to pass, as in heaven also on earth;
3our appointed bread be giving us daily;
4and forgive us our sins, for also we ourselves forgive every one indebted to us; and mayest Thou not bring us into temptation; but do Thou deliver us from the evil.'
1And it came to pass as he was in a certain place praying, when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, Lord, teach us to pray, even as John also taught his disciples.
2And he said to them, When ye pray, say, Father, thy name be hallowed; thy kingdom come;
3give us our needed bread for each day;
4and remit us our sins, for we also remit to every one indebted to us; and lead us not into temptation.
Meaning in one sentence
In Luke 11:1-4, the disciples see Jesus praying and ask Him to teach them. He gives the Lord's Prayer as a model for daily conversation with God.
Context
Luke often shows Jesus at prayer, sometimes alone for hours. In this chapter, Jesus has just finished praying, and the scene is ordinary. One disciple speaks for the group and asks for the same kind of instruction John the Baptist gave his own followers. This request is honest and simple, they want to learn. Jesus responds with a short pattern of prayer, shorter than the version in Matthew’s Gospel. He gives them words to say, but more than that, He shows them how to approach God: as Father first, then with requests for what really matters.
Key Words
The word for daily in “daily bread” (epiousios) appears only here and in Matthew’s version. No one knows exactly how to translate it. Some think it means “bread for the coming day,” others “bread that we need for existence.” Either way, it keeps us dependent on God one day at a time.
The verb for lead (eispherō) means “bring into.” Jesus does not teach that God tempts anyone, James says God tempts no one. This petition asks God not to let circumstances push us into a place where we might fall. It is a cry for protection.
The final word for evil (ponēros) can mean either “evil” in general or “the evil one.” Many early Christians understood it as a plea for rescue from the devil himself.
How Christians Read This Verse
Most Christians across traditions agree that Jesus gave this prayer as a model, not a rigid formula. Roman Catholics and many Protestants pray it weekly, often after worshipping. Orthodox Christians include it in every service and morning prayer.
A point of difference: Matthew’s version includes “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” while Luke’s text leaves that line out. Some see this as proof that Jesus taught the prayer on two separate occasions, once in Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount and again here in Luke. Others think Luke shortened it for his own readers, focusing on the most essential requests. Both views honor the prayer as Jesus’ own teaching.
A common misunderstanding
A common mistake is thinking the Lord’s Prayer is only a set of words to repeat by memory. In fact, Jesus gave it as a pattern, a skeleton you can fill with your own honest words. Repeating it without thinking loses the point: He wants us to mean what we say and trust God as Father.
Living This Out
This week, let the Lord’s Prayer shape your own praying. Start by saying “Father.” You might pause there, remember that you are speaking to Someone who wants to hear you. Then move through each petition slowly. Ask for daily bread before you eat your breakfast. Forgive someone quietly in your heart before you ask for forgiveness. End by asking God to keep you safe from whatever temptation you face today. Let the prayer be a guide, not a script.
Main takeaway: Prayer begins with approaching God as Father, trusting Him for daily bread, forgiveness, and deliverance from evil.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Jesus showed His friends how to talk to God. You can start by saying “Father,” then ask for what you need and say sorry for anything you did wrong. God loves to hear you.
For ages 9, 12
Jesus taught a short prayer that covers everything important. It starts with honoring God, then asks for food, forgiveness, and help not to get into trouble. The prayer reminds you that God cares about your everyday needs and wants you to forgive others too. You can use it as a guide every day.
Questions People Ask
Is the Lord’s Prayer in Luke 11 the same as the one in Matthew 6?
They are very similar but not identical. Luke’s version is shorter, it leaves out parts about God’s will and the kingdom. Many scholars think Jesus taught this prayer on two separate occasions, so the wording naturally varied. Both come from Him.
What does 'daily bread' really mean?
The Greek word is unique and rare, only used here and in Matthew. It might mean bread that is enough for today, or bread that we need to keep going. Either way, it teaches us to trust God for our real needs one day at a time.
Why does Luke say 'lead us not into temptation' if God never tempts anyone?
The word can also mean ‘testing’ or ‘trial.’ The prayer is asking God not to let us walk into a situation where we would be likely to sin. It is a request for protection, not suggesting God leads us to do wrong.
Did Jesus intend for us to repeat these exact words every time we pray?
Most Christians see this as a model to follow, not a fixed script. Jesus gave a pattern that covers praise, trust, confession, and protection. You can use the words as they are or let them guide how you talk to God in your own language.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study