Blogger’s note: This is the seventh and final post in a series of posts about The Lord’s Prayer (read first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth). I’d love to hear your thoughts about magnifying God. Please comment below.
The controversial ending to The Lord’s Prayer does not appear in some of the manuscripts of the gospel of Matthew. In many Bibles, footnotes mark this fact.
Biblical scholars fill in the details from history. The words echo 1 Chronicles 29:11, a psalm of thanksgiving written by David in response to the outpouring of offerings for the construction of the temple. The worlds became the response of God’s people in the synagogue. After a prayer was offered, the people would respond, “For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.”
Christians carry on the tradition even today.
Bible commentator Matthew Henry highlighted this verse. The temple was built for the glory of God, David’s psalm points to the worship of God, and those who say these words are intended to be conduits of praise to God.
Praise is integral to prayer. The model prayer begins by ascribing praise to God. How appropriate that the disciples would respond with the words of praise they had been taught since childhood.
When you praise God, you magnify him. When Mary, the mother of Jesus, discovered God’s plan, she said, “My soul magnifies the Lord.” Sherlock Holmes magnified clues with his magnifying glass and scientists magnify the cell with a microscope.
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| Photo courtesy of Jasmine Mathews |
When you magnify God, you are not a microscope; you don’t make the very small a little larger. Instead, you are like a telescope that magnifies a celestial object hundreds of light years away and larger than our entire solar system. The naked eye can see it, but magnification sharpens the details and inspires more awe of its beauty.
God is larger than you can imagine and your praise brings the details of his majesty into clearer focus and stirs your heart to even more worship.
In prayer, step up to the telescope and become amazed with God. Don’t sit on the couch and let others look through the lens.
What the Bible Says
In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
Ephesians 1:5–6 NIV, emphasis added
“The time is coming when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, and that time is here already. You see, the Father too is actively seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Jesus speaking in John 4:23–24 NCV
Praise God Because He Is
| Quality | Reference | Quality | Reference | Quality | Reference | Quality | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent | Exodus 15:7 | Great | 1 Chronicles 16:25 | Merciful | 2 Chronicles 20:21 | Powerful | Psalm 21:13 |
| Majestic | Psalm 96:2–6 | Truthful | Psalm 138:2 | Holy | Isaiah 6:3 | Faithful | Isaiah 25:1 |
| Good | Jeremiah 33:11 | Full of glory | Ezekiel 3:12 | The hope of glory | 1 Peter 1:3–4 | Wise | Jude 1:25 |
Praise God for His
| Quality | Reference | Quality | Reference | Quality | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promises | 1 Kings 8:56 | Deliverance | Psalm 40:1–3 | Protection | Psalm 59:17 |
| Judgment | Psalm 101:1 | Works | Psalm 150 | Consolation | Isaiah 12:1 |
| Counsel | Jeremiah 32:19 | Forgiveness | Hosea 14:2 | Salvation | Luke 1:68–69 |
This chapter written by W. Mark Whitlock. Content Copyright GRQ, Inc. Material appears in the book, The Indispensable Guide to Practically Everything About Prayer completed and edited by Marcia Ford, published by GuidePostsBooks. Purchase the book here.
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