The site hosts discussions on the astonishing findings pertaining to the Lord's Prayer detailed in our book "The Lord's Prayer: A Mathematician's Creed."
Author: Dr Jito Vanualailai
Dr Jito Vanualailai obtained his PhD in Applied Mathematics (Systems and Control Theory) from Kobe University, Japan, in 1994. He is currently Professor of Applied Mathematics at the University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji.
Psalm 31:17-18 is a powerful plea to God for deliverance and justice. The verses express a deep trust in God’s protection and a request for vindication.
17 Do not let me be ashamed, O Lord, for I have called upon You;Let the wicked be ashamed;Let them be silent in the grave.18 Let the lying lips be put to silence,Which speak insolent things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.
Psalm 31:17-18
Encapsulated within these verses is a heartfelt invocation for God’s guiding hand in delivering justice and protection.
The identifiers for these verses are (19+31+17=67) and (19+31+18=68), respectively. Hence, the sum is 135.
Conclusion. When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we plea for divine intervention and justice, seek protection from shame, call for the accountability of the wicked, and pray for the end of their harmful actions and words against the righteous.
Discussions
The Lord’s Prayer and Psalm 31:17-18, while distinct in their focus and context, share underlying themes of reliance on God for deliverance, protection, and justice. Here’s how they can be related:
Seeking God’s Intervention and Will: The Lord’s Prayer includes the petition “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” This reflects a desire for God’s righteous rule and will to prevail in the world, aligning with the plea in Psalm 31:17-18 for God to act against the wicked and protect the righteous. Both passages express a trust in God’s sovereignty and justice.
Deliverance from Evil: In the Lord’s Prayer, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” echoes the sentiment of Psalm 31:17-18, where there’s a plea for protection from the harm and influence of the wicked. Both prayers seek God’s guiding hand to navigate and be safeguarded from the presence of evil.
Protection and Provision: The Lord’s Prayer asks for daily provision (“Give us this day our daily bread”) and implies a need for God’s ongoing protection and guidance. Similarly, Psalm 31:17-18’s appeal not to be put to shame and for the wicked to be silenced indicates a dependence on God for protection and justice, ensuring the well-being of the faithful.
Justice and Righteousness: The plea in Psalm 31:17-18 for the wicked to be ashamed and silenced reflects a yearning for divine justice, where the righteous are vindicated, and wrongdoers face consequences. The Lord’s Prayer, through its appeal for God’s kingdom and will, implicitly supports a world where God’s justice and righteousness are manifest, aligning with the themes of accountability and protection in the psalm.
In essence, both the Lord’s Prayer and Psalm 31:17-18 articulate a deep reliance on God for guidance, protection, and the establishment of His justice. They reflect a spiritual posture that acknowledges God’s sovereignty and seeks His intervention in the face of adversity and evil.
Psalm 25 is a prayer of David expressing trust in God, seeking guidance, forgiveness, and protection. It highlights themes of divine guidance, the plea for forgiveness of sins, and the desire for personal guidance and protection from enemies. David emphasizes his trust in God, asking for God’s mercy and guidance while acknowledging God’s goodness and steadfast love. He prays for protection from shame and the treachery of his enemies, expressing confidence that those who wait for the Lord will not be put to shame. The psalm reflects a deep yearning for a closer relationship with God, grounded in humility and a recognition of God’s mercy and truth. Verse 4, in particular, is reflective of the former: Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths. In this article, we show how the Lord’s Prayer is actually a means to ask our Father in Heaven to teach us His ways.
The value of each Hebrew word in Psalm 25:4 is provided in the table below:
Psalm 25:4 Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths.
The sum of the statement “Your ways, Yahweh, show me” is (254+26+155)=435. The divisors of 435 are in the set {1, 3, 5, 15, 29, 87, 145, 435}. The sum of the divisors is 720; hence the Aliquot Sum is 720 – 435 = 285, which is the identifier of the Lord’s Prayer in the Gospel of Matthew.
Book
Chapter
Verse
Sum
40
6
9
55
40
6
10
56
40
6
11
57
40
6
12
58
40
6
13
59
285
The identifier of the Lord’s Prayer in the Gospel of Matthew is 285
Conclusion. When we are praying the Lord’s Prayer, we are also petitioning our Father to show us His ways.
Discussions
The verse from Psalm 25:4, “Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths,” resonates with themes found in the Lord’s Prayer, which is taught by Jesus in the New Testament (found in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4). The connection between this verse and the Lord’s Prayer can be seen in the shared themes of seeking guidance, reliance on God’s will, and the desire for spiritual growth and understanding.
In the Lord’s Prayer, the petition “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” directly parallels the plea in Psalm 25:4 for God to reveal His ways and paths. Both passages emphasize the importance of aligning oneself with God’s will and seeking divine direction in life. The request to be taught God’s paths suggests a desire to live in accordance with God’s commandments and to fulfill His purposes, mirroring the call in the Lord’s Prayer for God’s will to be paramount in the believer’s life.
Furthermore, the Lord’s Prayer includes requests for daily provision (“Give us this day our daily bread”), forgiveness (“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors”), and guidance away from temptation and evil (“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”). These elements can be seen as expanding on the desire expressed in Psalm 25:4 for guidance and teaching, indicating a holistic reliance on God for physical, spiritual, and moral support.
Both the verse from Psalm 25 and the Lord’s Prayer encapsulate a deep dependence on God, highlighting the believer’s need for divine direction, sustenance, and protection. They reflect a spiritual posture of humility and trust, acknowledging that true guidance and wisdom come from God alone.
During Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness, as recorded in the Gospels of Matthew (Matthew 4:1-11) and Luke (Luke 4:1-13), He responded to Satan’s temptations by quoting verses from the Old Testament, specifically from the book of Deuteronomy. Here are the verses He quoted:
First Temptation (Turning Stones to Bread):
Satan’s Temptation: Satan challenges Jesus to turn stones into bread to prove His divinity and to satisfy His hunger after fasting for 40 days and 40 nights.
Jesus’ Response: “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”
This is a quotation from Deuteronomy 8:3. Jesus emphasizes the importance of spiritual nourishment over physical sustenance.
Second Temptation (Pinnacle of the Temple):
Satan’s Temptation: Satan takes Jesus to the pinnacle of the Temple in Jerusalem and challenges Him to throw Himself down, quoting Psalm 91:11-12 about God’s protection.
Jesus’ Response: “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’”
Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:16, stressing the principle that one should not test God’s faithfulness or demand miraculous signs as proof of His care.
Third Temptation (Kingdoms of the World):
Satan’s Temptation: Satan shows Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and offers them to Him in exchange for worship.
Jesus’ Response: “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”
This is taken from Deuteronomy 6:13. Jesus reaffirms the commandment to worship and serve only God.
In each instance, Jesus counters Satan’s temptations by citing Scripture, demonstrating His deep understanding of the Scriptures and His commitment to living in accordance with God’s will. This narrative also serves as an example of using Biblical truth to resist temptation.
Astoundingly, Jesus’ responses narrated in the two Gospels point to the number 153, as follows:
Verse
Jesus’ Response (NKJV)
Identifier
Matthew 4:4
But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”
40+4+4=48
Matthew 4:7
Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ”
40+4+7=51
Matthew 4:10
Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”
40+4+10=54
48+51+54=153
Temptation of Christ in the Gospel of Matthew, which is the 40th book of the Bible
Verse
Jesus’ Response (NKJV)
Identifier
Luke 4:4
But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’ ”
42+4+4=50
Luke 4:8
And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”
42+4+8=54
Luke 4:12
And Jesus answered and said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ”
42+4+12=58
50+54+58=162
Temptation of Christ in the Gospel of Luke, which is the 42th book of the Bible
Surprisingly, the two Gospels yield 153+162=315, the digits of which form a permutation of {1,5,3}.
Jesus was quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, 6:13, and 6:16:
Verse
New King James Version (NKJV)
Identifier
Deuteronomy 8:3
So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.
5+8+3=16
Deuteronomy 6:13
You shall fear the Lord your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name.
5+6+13=24
Deuteronomy 6:16
You shall not tempt the Lord your God as you tempted Him in Massah.
5+6+16=27
16+24+27=67
During His temptation, Jesus quoted verses in the Book of Deuteronomy, which is the 5th book of the Bible.
The sum of the identifiers is 153 + 162 + 67 = 382, which is the 306th composite number.
It is astounding that 306 = 153 + 153.
Conclusion: If one is unable to remember Scripture to resist Satan’s temptation, reciting the Lord’s Prayer is both effective and essential in countering such temptation.
Discussions
In the biblical narrative, Jesus’ encounter with Satan in the wilderness, as recounted in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark1 and Luke, is a profound demonstration of His mastery and deep understanding of Scripture. In this account, Jesus effectively counters Satan’s temptations by citing relevant passages from the Scriptures. This act is particularly noteworthy considering the context of His time.
During the era in which Jesus lived, literacy rates were generally low, and the ability to read and interpret Scripture was typically confined to a specific societal group, primarily the priests and scribes who served in the temple.2 These religious leaders were not only literate but also extensively trained in the complexities of religious law and the Hebrew Scriptures. For the average person in the streets of Judea or Galilee, access to the Scriptures was limited, and the skill to read, much less memorize and interpret these texts, was rare. Hence, the ability to recall and accurately cite Scripture, as Jesus did, would have been an exceptional feat, highlighting His extraordinary knowledge and spiritual authority.
Even in contemporary times, memorizing and appropriately applying Scripture is a challenging task for many. The Bible, comprising a vast array of books, chapters, and verses, requires dedicated study and understanding to recall and apply its teachings effectively. This challenge underscores the significance of Jesus’ adept use of Scripture in His ministry and His teachings.
Recognizing the challenges his disciples and followers would face, Jesus provided them with tools to navigate spiritual challenges, including the Lord’s Prayer. This prayer, taught by Jesus as a model of prayer in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, encapsulates key elements of Christian faith and practice. It is a succinct and profound prayer that encompasses praise, submission to God’s will, requests for daily needs, forgiveness, and guidance away from temptation.
In teaching the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus provided a practical and accessible way for His followers to connect with God and seek divine assistance in overcoming temptation and living according to God’s will. It serves not only as a guide for prayer but also as a spiritual resource that believers can easily memorize and recall, especially in times of need or spiritual struggle. The Lord’s Prayer, therefore, stands as a testament to Jesus’ understanding of the human condition and His desire to equip His followers with the spiritual tools necessary for their journey of faith.
Mark’s account is very brief, merely noting the event. ↩︎
… our Lord Jesus Christ instructed His followers to dwell on the basic theology of our faith when he asserted that we should daily pray the prayer he taught His disciples. Christians may be surprised to learn that the Lord’s Prayer is not a magic incantation of perfect words, but an exercise in understanding Christian theology while we ask the all-powerful God of the universe to listen to our pleas. In other words, if all we do when praying the Lord’s Prayer is mouth the words without a deep understanding of the meaning, we have become the very thing Jesus told us not to be: Gentiles (heathen or pagans). Matthew tells us that Jesus said, “And in praying do not heap up empty phrases [italics mine] as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words” (Matthew 6:7).
Let us study, then, the theology, the meaning, of the Lord’s Prayer.
Dr. K. Irish is a Professor of American History at George Fox University. His paper can be downloaded here.
Psalm 113:3 is a beautiful proclamation of our love of our Father in Heaven!
Since the Book of Psalms is the 19th book of the bible, the identifier of Psalm 113:3 is 19+113+3=135.
Conclusion: The Lord’s Prayer is a means to praise the name of the Lord from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets.
Discussions
The essence of Psalm 113:3, which calls on the faithful to praise the name of the Lord from the rising of the sun to its setting, resonates deeply with the spirit of the Lord’s Prayer. The Lord’s Prayer, given by Jesus as a model for how to pray, begins with the words “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,” which is a call to reverence and praise the name of God, much like the Psalm invites us to do continuously throughout the day.
The unceasing praise of Psalm 113:3 reflects the ongoing and eternal nature of God’s kingdom, which is invoked in the Lord’s Prayer through the line “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Both texts invite the believer to participate in a perpetual state of worship, recognizing God’s sovereignty and holiness in every aspect of life, from the daily cycles of the sun to the broader hope of God’s will being realized in the world.
Moreover, the Lord’s Prayer requests daily sustenance — “Give us this day our daily bread” — paralleling the daily rhythm of praise in Psalm 113:3. This daily dependence on God for physical needs becomes an act of praise and trust in His provision.
The Psalm’s emphasis on God’s enduring faithfulness from dawn till dusk also complements the concluding lines of the Lord’s Prayer, “For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.” This doxology echoes the eternal praise described in the Psalm, underscoring the timeless and infinite dominion of God, to whom praise is due at all times.
In this way, Psalm 113:3 and the Lord’s Prayer are linked by their shared themes of reverence, constant worship, divine providence, and the eternal nature of God’s kingdom. For those who deeply love God, both passages inspire a life lived in continuous adoration, shaped by prayer and the acknowledgment of God’s glorious presence from morning till evening and beyond.
The Lord's Prayer: A Mathematician's Creed 