KJV

KJV

Click to Change

Return to Top

Return to Top

Printer Icon

Print

The Blue Letter Bible

Heidelberg Catechism of 1563: The Third Part - Of Prayer

Choose a new font size and typeface

45th Lord’s Day

Question 116. Why is prayer necessary for Christians?

Answer: Because it is the chief part of thankfulness which God requires of us:a and also, because God will give his grace and Holy Spirit to those only, who with sincere desires continually ask them of him, and are thankful for them.b

References:
(a) Psa 50:14-15
(b) Mat 7:7-8; Luk 11:9-10; Luk 11:13; 1Th 5:17


Question 117. What are the requisites of that prayer, which is acceptable to God, and which he will hear?

Answer: First, that we from the heart praya to the one true God only, who has manifested himself in his word,b for all things, he has commanded us to ask of him;c secondly, that we rightly and thoroughly know our need and misery,d that so we may deeply humble ourselves in the presence of his divine majesty;e thirdly, that we be fully persuaded that he, notwithstanding that we are unworthy of it, will, for the sake of Christ our Lord, certainly hear our prayer,f as he has promised us in his word.g

References:
(a) Jhn 4:24; Psa 145:18
(b) Rev 19:10; Jhn 4:22-24
(c) Rom 8:26; 1Jo 5:14; Jam 1:5
(d) 2Ch 20:12
(e) Psa 2:11; Psa 34:19; Isa 66:2
(f) Rom 10:14; Jam 1:6
(g) Jhn 14:13-14; Jhn 16:23; Dan 9:17-18 Mat 7:8; Psa 27:8


Question 118. What has God commanded us to ask of him?

Answer: All things necessary for soul and body;a which Christ our Lord has comprised in that prayer he himself has taught us.

References:
(a) Jam 1:17; Mat 6:33


Question 119. What are the words of that prayer?a

Answer:

  • Our Father which art in heaven,
  • 1 Hallowed be thy name.
  • 2 Thy kingdom come.
  • 3 Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
  • 4 Give us this day our daily bread.
  • 5 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
  • 6 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

References:
(a) Mat 6:9-13; Luk 11:2-4



46th Lord’s Day

Question 120. Why has Christ commanded us to address God thus: “Our Father”?

Answer: That immediately, in the very beginning of our prayer, he might excite in us a childlike reverence for, and confidence in God, which are the foundation of our prayer: namely, that God is become our Father in Christ, and will much less deny us what we ask of him in true faith, than our parents will refuse us earthly things.a

References:
(a) Mat 7:9-11; Luk 11:11-13


Question 121. Why is it here added, “Which art in heaven”?

Answer: Lest we should form any earthly conceptions of God’s heavenly majesty,a and that we may expect from his almighty power all things necessary for soul and body.b

References:
(a) Jer 23:23-24; Act 17:24-25; Act 17:27
(b) Rom 10:12



47th Lord’s Day

Question 122. Which is the first petition?

Answer: “Hallowed be thy name”; that is, grant us, first, rightly to know thee,a and to sanctify, glorify and praise thee,b in all thy works, in which thy power, wisdom, goodness, justice, mercy and truth, are clearly displayed; and further also, that we may so order and direct our whole lives, our thoughts, words and actions, that thy name may never be blasphemed, but rather honoured and praised on our account.c

References:
(a) Jhn 17:3; Jer 9:24; Jer 31:33-34; Mat 16:17; Jam 1:5; Psa 119:105
(b) Psa 119:137; Luk 1:46-47; Luk 1:68-69; Rom 11:33-36
(c) Psa 71:8; Psa 115:1



48th Lord’s Day

Question 123. Which is the second petition?

Answer: “Thy kingdom come”; that is, rule us so by thy word and Spirit, that we may submit ourselves more and more to thee;a preserve and increase thy church;b destroy the works of the devil, and all violence which would exalt itself against thee; and also all wicked counsels devised against thy holy word;c till the full perfection of thy kingdom take place,d wherein thou shalt be all in all.e

References:
(a) Mat 6:33; Psa 119:5; Psa 143:10
(b) Psa 51:18; Psa 122:6-9
(c) 1Jo 3:8; Rom 16:20
(d) Rev 22:17; Rev 22:20; Rom 8:22-23
(e) 1Co 15:28



49th Lord’s Day

Question 124. Which is the third petition?

Answer: “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”; that is, grant that we and all men may renounce our own will,a and without murmuring obey thy will, which is only good;b that every one may attend to, and perform the duties of his station and calling,c as willingly and faithfully as the angels do in heaven.d

References:
(a) Mat 16:24; Tts 2:11-12;
(b) Luk 22:42; Eph 5:10; Rom 12:2
(c) 1Co 7:24
(d) Psa 103:20-21



50th Lord’s Day

Question 125. Which is the fourth petition?

Answer: “Give us this day our daily bread”; that is, be pleased to provide us with all things necessary for the body,a that we may thereby acknowledge thee to be the only fountain of all good,b and that neither our care nor industry, nor even thy gifts, can profit us without thy blessing;c and therefore that we may withdraw our trust from all creatures, and place it alone in thee.d

References:
(a) Psa 104:27-28; Psa 145:15-16; Mat 6:25-26
(b) Jam 1:17; Act 14:17; Act 17:27-28
(c) 1Co 15:58; Deu 8:3; Psa 37:3-5; Psa 37:16; Psa 127:1-2
(d) Psa 55:23; Psa 62:11; Psa 146:3; Jer 17:5; Jer 17:7



51st Lord’s Day

Question 126. Which is the fifth petition?

Answer: “And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors”; that is, be pleased for the sake of Christ’s blood, not to impute to us poor sinners, our transgressions, nor that depravity, which always cleaves to us;a even as we feel this evidence of thy grace in us, that it is our firm resolution from the heart to forgive our neighbour.b

References:
(a) Psa 51:1-7; Psa 143:2; 1Jo 2:1-2; Rom 8:1
(b) Mat 6:14-15



52nd Lord’s Day

Question 127. Which is the sixth petition?

Answer: “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”; that is, since we are so weak in ourselves, that we cannot stand a moment;a and besides this, since our mortal enemies, the devil,b the world,c and our own flesh,d cease not to assault us, do thou therefore preserve and strengthen us by the power of thy Holy Spirit, that we may not be overcome in this spiritual warfare,e but constantly and strenuously may resist our foes, till at last we obtain a complete victory.f

References:
(a) Jhn 15:5; Psa 103:14
(b) 1Pe 5:8; Eph 6:12
(c) Jhn 15:19
(d) Rom 7:23; Gal 5:17
(e) Mat 26:41; Mar 13:33
(f) 1Th 3:13; 1Th 5:23


Question 128. How dost thou conclude thy prayer?

Answer: “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever”; that is, all these we ask of thee, because thou, being our King and almighty, art willing and able to give us all good;a and all this we pray for, that thereby not we, but thy holy name, may be glorified for ever.b

References:
(a) Rom 10:11-12; 2Pe 2:9
(b) Jhn 14:13; Jer 33:8-9; Psa 115:1


Question 129. What does the word “Amen” signify?

Answer: “Amen” signifies, it shall truly and certainly be: for my prayer is more assuredly heard of God, than I feel in my heart that I desire these things of him.a

References:
(a) 2Co 1:20; 2Ti 2:13



DISCLAIMER: Creeds, catechisms, and confessions do not replace Scripture, nor the authority of Scripture. The creeds, catechisms and confessions are included herein for purposes of reference. Blue Letter Bible aims to provide resources that cover a range of traditional, orthodox, conservative Christianity, for the benefit of all of our users. The inclusion of the creeds, catechisms, and confessions does not necessarily mean that the ministry agrees with each and every point in each, since some are coming from different Christian perspectives of faith, practice and worship. The user may find them useful as tools to assist in understanding or teaching the Scriptures, since they were drafted based upon Scripture. Used in their proper context, they can continue to aid us as much today as they did for our forefathers in centuries past.

BLB Searches
Search the Bible
KJV
 [?]

Advanced Options

Other Searches

Multi-Verse Retrieval
x
KJV

Daily Devotionals
x

Blue Letter Bible offers several daily devotional readings in order to help you refocus on Christ and the Gospel of His peace and righteousness.

Daily Bible Reading Plans
x

Recognizing the value of consistent reflection upon the Word of God in order to refocus one's mind and heart upon Christ and His Gospel of peace, we provide several reading plans designed to cover the entire Bible in a year.

One-Year Plans

Two-Year Plan

CONTENT DISCLAIMER:

The Blue Letter Bible ministry and the BLB Institute hold to the historical, conservative Christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy of Scripture. Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a range of evangelical traditions, all of the ideas and principles conveyed in the resource materials are not necessarily affirmed, in total, by this ministry.