Abstract
The Lord’s Prayer, in the form we find it in Matthew’s gospel, consists of seven petitions, carefully and chiastically arranged: the first three clauses go together and ask for God’s glory, the last three ask for help in our struggle with evil; the fourth is different, linking the two groups and asking the Father in heaven to supply our down-to-earth needs. This rarely noted structure reflects Matthew’s artistry, his belief in Jesus as the teacher and embodiment of God’s perfection and the Sermon on the Mount’s concern for God’s kingdom and the Father’s provision for his children.
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