It is a moving scene as King David prepares for the building of the temple, and then offers a prayer as he turns the throne over to his son, Solomon. 1 Chronicles 29:11 forms the basis for the conclusion to the Lord’s Prayer.
Pray to God alone. Why do we include the conclusion to the Lord’s Prayer? The earliest (and likely better) manuscripts do not include this conclusion in Matthew 6:13, although a great many later manuscripts do include it. Luke omits it, see Luke 11:4. There is real question as to whether the words were included in Matthew’s Gospel as he wrote it.
Yet, the content of the conclusion is thoroughly Biblical. A source may be 1 Chronicles 29:11. It fits other passages: Nehemiah 9:5; the conclusions of Psalms 145–150; John 17:5; 2 Timothy 4:18; Revelation 4:11; and 5:13. The conclusion is appropriate to the Lord’s Prayer, and may be an authentic saying of Jesus, compare Acts 20:35. The conclusion has been used by the church from very early days, and is appropriate for you to use in prayer.
What does the conclusion tell you? God alone will answer your prayer. No one else can answer. God alone has all the power. He is King. The glory is his. Don’t bring your prayers to anyone else. Don’t try to live as though you are self-sufficient. God is eternally God. Kingdom, power, and glory belong to God eternally. He is unchanging, and thus able to hear and answer your prayer. Do not neglect to praise God for who he is. Ascribe praise to him as you pray, see 1 Chronicles 29:1–12.
“This clause… teach[es] us, that our prayers, which are here dictated to us, are founded on God alone, that we may not rely on our own merits.” (
John Calvin, Commentary on the Gospels
Both as you pray and in your life, acknowledge God’s kingdom, glory, and power. The kingdom belongs to God. God is your King. He is sovereign. All authority is his, including the right to answer your prayer. The theocracy, especially under David and Solomon, revealed the kingdom. It becomes clearer in Jesus’ teaching. It comes to its fulfillment in the death and resurrection of the Second Adam, who is now exalted in kingly rule at the right hand of the Father. God’s kingdom will be revealed in all of its fullness in the last day, when every knee will bow. Acknowledge God’s rule in the way you conduct your daily life. Submit each decision, each thought, to his Word. The phrase applies to each petition in the prayer. Hallow the name of the King. His kingdom must come and his will must be done. The sovereign king feeds you and pardons you. He can and will deliver you.
The power is God’s. God has the power to do what you request. Not only the kingly authority and right, but also the ability to act belongs to him. God is omnipotent. Power is the word from which we get dynamite. This phrase also applies to each petition. God has the power to further his name, kingdom, and will. He has the strength and ability (as well as the willingness) to meet each of your needs. It is particularly important as you look at the sixth request. In Romans 6 Paul explains that you died with Christ and have been raised with him. Thus you have been set free from the enslaving power of sin. You now have the ability to serve God.
“Creation, providence, Israel’s deliverance from Egypt, nature with its laws, the history of Israel with its marvels—all loudly and clearly proclaim the omnipotence of God. Psalmists and prophets alike constantly revisit these might acts to humble the proud and to comfort believers.”
Herman Bavinck, Reformed Dogmatics, Vol. 2, p. 246
The glory belongs to God alone. All glory belongs to God. God’s own glory is the purpose behind all that he does, Ephesians 1:3–12. His glory should be the motivating force in your life. Ascribe glory to God always. You join in the prayer, which is also a song of praise, in Revelation 5. God is pleased with this. Praise him because he does hear and answer your prayers in Jesus Christ. Say “Amen!” May it be so. Conclude your prayer with the trust that God will hear and answer. “Amen” is a profound expression of trust, of faith.
God can and will hear you, for he is your God in Jesus Christ. The kingdom, power, and glory are his forever and ever. Amen.