The Lord’s Prayer is a Precise Summary of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Mathematical Proof

Biblical scholars and theologians have long known that the Lord’s Prayer was a precise summary of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. See some references in the Scholarly Comments section of this website.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ refers to the good news of God’s redemptive plan for humanity, accomplished through the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ. It is the proclamation of salvation and eternal life available to all who believe in Him. It can be summarized under the following four categories of messianic prophecies in the Old Testament, as they comprehensively encapsulate the major themes and events central to His mission. Here’s how each category relates to the core message of the Gospel:

  1. Prophecies About Jesus’ Birth:
    • These prophecies highlight the miraculous and divine origins of Jesus, emphasizing His identity as the promised Messiah. His birth fulfills God’s promises to bring salvation to humanity, establishing the foundation of the Gospel.
  2. Prophecies About Jesus’ Life and Ministry:
    • Jesus’ teachings, miracles, and the way He lived demonstrate the nature of God, His love, and His kingdom. His life provides the model for righteous living and the manifestation of divine power and compassion.
  3. Prophecies About Jesus’ Death:
    • The death of Jesus is the climax of the Gospel, showing the ultimate sacrifice for humanity’s sins. This act of atonement is central to Christian belief, as it reconciles humans with God and provides a way for salvation.
  4. Prophecies About Jesus’ Resurrection:
    • The resurrection is the triumphant victory over sin and death, proving Jesus’ divinity and ensuring eternal life for believers. It is the cornerstone of Christian hope and the promise of a future resurrection for all who follow Him.

These categories collectively narrate the Gospel story—from the anticipation of the Messiah, His life on earth, the sacrificial death, and His victorious resurrection. They align with the essential message of the Gospel as expressed in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4:

“Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”

Thus, the Gospel can be meaningfully summarized under these four categories.

Mathematically, it is sufficient to show that the total sum of the identifiers of any set of pertinent messianic prophecies in the Old Testament about Jesus Christ under the four categories points to the Lord’s Prayer, whose identifier is 168 in the Gospel of Luke and 285 in the Gospel of Matthew.

Accordingly, let us identify the pertinent verses and their identifiers:

1. Prophecies About Jesus’ Birth

  • Born of a Virgin: Isaiah 7:14 – “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” Identifier=22.
  • Born in Bethlehem: Micah 5:2 – “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel.” Identifier=40.
  • Descendant of Abraham: Genesis 22:18 – “Through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed.” Identifier=41.
  • From the Line of David: Jeremiah 23:5 – “I will raise up for David a righteous Branch.” Identifier=52.
  • Herod’s Slaughter of Innocents Foretold: Jeremiah 31:15 – “A voice is heard in Ramah… Rachel weeping for her children.” Identifier=70.
  • Called Out of Egypt: Hosea 11:1 – “Out of Egypt I called my son.” Identifier=40.

Sum of all identifiers: 22+40+41+52+70+40=265.


2. Prophecies About Jesus’ Life and Ministry

  • Proceeded by a Messenger (John the Baptist): Isaiah 40:3 – “A voice of one calling in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way for the LORD.’” Identifier=66.
  • A Light to the Gentiles: Isaiah 9:2 – “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.” Identifier=34
  • He Will Teach in Parables: Psalm 78:2 – “I will open my mouth with a parable.” Identifier=99.
  • Perform Miracles: Isaiah 35:5 – “Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.” Identifier=63.
  • Zeal for God’s House: Psalm 69:9 – “Zeal for your house consumes me.” Identifier=97.
  • The King Comes on a Donkey: Zechariah 9:9 – “See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey.” Identifier=56.

Sum of all the identifiers: 66+34+99+63+97+56=415.


3. Prophecies About Jesus’ Death

  • Betrayed for Thirty Pieces of Silver: Zechariah 11:12 – “So they paid me thirty pieces of silver.” Identifier=61.
  • Silent Before His Accusers: Isaiah 53:7 – “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth.” Identifier=83.
  • Pierced Hands and Feet: Psalm 22:16 – “They pierce my hands and my feet.” Identifier=57.
  • Crucified with Criminals: Isaiah 53:12 – “He was numbered with the transgressors.” Identifier=88.
  • Mocked and Insulted: Psalm 22:7 – “All who see me mock me.” Identifier=48.
  • Given Vinegar to Drink: Psalm 69:21 – “They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.” Identifier=109.
  • His Side Pierced: Zechariah 12:10 – “They will look on me, the one they have pierced.” Identifier=60.
  • Cast Lots for His Clothing: Psalm 22:18 – “They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.” Identifier=59.

Sum of all identifiers: 61+83+57+88+48+109+60+59=565.


4. Prophecies About Jesus’ Resurrection

  • Raised on the Third Day: Hosea 6:2 – “After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us.” Identifier=36.
  • Not Abandoned to the Grave: Psalm 16:10 – “You will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay.” Identifier=45.
  • Ascends to Heaven: Psalm 68:18 – “When you ascended on high, you took many captives.” Identifier=105.
  • Seated at God’s Right Hand: Psalm 110:1 – “The LORD says to my lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’” Identifier=130.

Sum of all the identifiers: 36+45+105+130=316.

Hence, the total of all the sums is 265+415+565+316=1561.

Now, there are 215 sphenic numbers less than or equal to 1561. We can also get 215 if we consider the fact that 1561 is the 1314th composite number and that an approximation of the function Prime Pi evaluated at 1314 is 215.

But the astonishing result is that the Euler Totient function evaluated at 215 is precisely 168, the identifier of the Lord’s Prayer in the Gospel of Luke.

BookChapterVerseSum
4211255
4211356
4211457
  168

The identifier of the Lord’s Prayer in the Gospel of Luke is 168

Conclusion. The Lord’s Prayer is a precise summary of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Journeying Together in Faith:Uniting Christians in Christ throughthe Lord’s Prayer and the Last Supper on the Path to Eternal Life

Journeying Together in Faith: Uniting Christians in Christ through the Lord’s Prayer and the Last Supper on the Path to Eternal Life is the title of a new booklet by Jito Vanualailai et al. It offers readers a profound exploration of two cornerstones of Christian worship, revealing how these practices can unify believers in a journey toward eternal life.

New insights presented in these pages unveil specific prayer times associated with the Lord’s Prayer, as well as an intentional rhythm in the observance of the Last Supper. Together, these practices forge a pathway that brings believers closer to Christ and to one another in faith.

The Lord’s Prayer, given by Jesus as a template for daily communion with God, holds timeless spiritual significance. Traditionally seen as a personal act of devotion, this prayer now takes on new dimensions with the discovery of precise times for recitation. These times reflect the final hours of Jesus’ suffering, inviting believers to enter into a deeper resonance with Christ’s journey, and providing a daily, intentional structure that embodies the devotion and surrender Jesus exemplified.

Similarly, the Last Supper, central to Christian fellowship, is explored here in relation to its frequency, revealing how its observance not only memorializes Jesus’ sacrifice but also strengthens the unity of His followers. This enriched understanding of the Last Supper ties individual devotion with communal worship, mirroring the bond Jesus established with His disciples at His last meal.

In presenting these new findings, this booklet guides believers to walk a unified path of faith. By following the prayer times of the Lord’s Prayer and engaging in the renewed observance of the Last Supper, readers are invited to join a continuous, sacred rhythm that leads toward “Life Eternity,” aligning their lives with Christ’s own journey and the eternal promise it holds.

What is Jesus’ Church in Matthew 16:18-19?

Matthew 16:18-19 states (NKJV):

18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

It is clear from verse 19 that Jesus, in giving the “keys of the kingdom of heaven to Peter”, approves of Peter in (1) proclaiming the gospel (opening the kingdom to believers), and (2) exercising discipline and judgment (forbidding and permitting practices and teachings).

One of the very first things that Peter taught was the definition of Jesus’ Church, describing it as a community of believers referred to as “living stones” being built into a spiritual house, with Christ as the cornerstone.

The Church as a Spiritual Building (1 Peter 2:4-8)

  • Peter writes:”As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood…” (1 Peter 2:4-5).

Peter emphasizes that Jesus is the “cornerstone” (1 Peter 2:6-8), the foundation upon which the Church is ultimately built.

6 For in Scripture it says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
will never be put to shame.”

7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,
“The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,”

8 and,
“A stone that causes people to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall.”

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.

The theme of The Church as a Spiritual Building in 1 Peter 2:4-8 aligns closely with Jesus’ teaching to the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4:21-24. Both passages emphasize the transition from worship tied to physical locations to a spiritual and faith-centered relationship with God.

Key Parallels Between 1 Peter 2:4-8 and John 4:21-24:

  1. Jesus’ Teaching to the Samaritan Woman:
    • John 4:21-24:“Believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. … Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
    • Theme:
      • Jesus emphasizes that true worship is no longer tied to physical locations (e.g., Mount Gerizim or Jerusalem) but is based on worship “in Spirit and truth.”
      • The focus shifts to a spiritual relationship with God, accessible to all through faith.
  2. Peter’s Description of the Church as a Spiritual House:
    • 1 Peter 2:4-8:“… you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
    • Theme:
      • Believers are described as “living stones,” forming a “spiritual house” built on Christ, the cornerstone.
      • Worship becomes an offering of spiritual sacrifices, aligning with God’s will rather than physical rituals or temple-based worship.

“My Church”

From Matthew 16:18, it is clear that the expression “my church” is referring to Jesus Christ’s Church. The Greek expression for “Jesus Christ’s Church” is:

ἡ ἐκκλησία τοῦ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ
(hē ekklēsia tou Iēsou Christou)

The total value of this expression is 3440, as shown in the table below:

#GreekEnglishGreek ValueCumulative
1ἡ (hē)The88
2ἐκκλησία (ekklēsia)Church294302
3τοῦ (tou)of [the]7701072
4Ἰησοῦ (Iēsou)Jesus6881760
5Χριστοῦ (Christou)Christ16803440

It is astonishing that the that Carmichael Lambda function evaluated at 3440 is exactly 168, which is the identifier of the Lord’s Prayer in the Gospel of Luke. Indeed, the name “Christ” itself carries the number 168, given that the equivalent Greek word, Χριστοῦ, has the value 1680=168 x 10.

The implication is astounding. Jesus Christ named His very own Church after His prayer!

Conclusion: The Church of Jesus Christ, referred to in Matthew 16:18, is the spiritual body of believers (a visible, Spirit-filled community of believers), worshiping the Father in spirit and truth, and united by faith in Jesus Christ through the Lord’s Prayer (and by, extension, the Last Supper).

The Lord’s Right Hand Is Lifted High! (Psalm 118)

Psalm 118 is a joyful declaration of God’s steadfast love and the triumph of His righteousness. This psalm is a part of the Hallel, a series of psalms (Psalms 113–118) traditionally sung during Jewish festivals, particularly Passover. It is a communal and personal celebration of deliverance and thanksgiving to the Lord.

Verse 16 reads (NIV) : The Lord’s right hand is lifted high; the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!

Since the Book of Psalms is the 19th book of the Bible, the identifier of the verse is (19+118+16=153).

Conclusion: When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we declare that the Lord’s right hand is lifted high; the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!

In the Lord’s Prayer, we say, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). This petition acknowledges God’s supreme authority and power to accomplish His will. Similarly, Psalm 118:16 exalts the Lord’s “right hand,” a symbol of His sovereignty, which performs “mighty things” to fulfill His divine will.

The Lord’s Prayer and the Number 153

From Bible Hub, we have the following Greek text for the Lord’s Prayer according Matthew 6:9-13:

9 Οὕτως οὖν προσεύχεσθε ὑμεῖς Πάτερ ἡμῶν ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς Ἁγιασθήτω τὸ ὄνομά σου
10 Ἐλθέτω* ἡ βασιλεία σου Γενηθήτω τὸ θέλημά σου Ὡς ἐν οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς
11 Τὸν ἄρτον ἡμῶν τὸν ἐπιούσιον δὸς ἡμῖν σήμερον
12 Καὶ ἄφες ἡμῖν τὰ ὀφειλήματα ἡμῶν Ὡς καὶ ἡμεῖς ἀφήκαμεν τοῖς ὀφειλέταις ἡμῶν
13 Καὶ μὴ εἰσενέγκῃς ἡμᾶς εἰς πειρασμόν Ἀλλὰ ῥῦσαι ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ τοῦ πονηροῦ ⧼Ὅτι σοῦ ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία καὶ ἡ δύναμις καὶ ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας Ἀμήν⧽

Removing the diacritics, full stops, commas, brackets, and other non-Greek letters (such as *, ⧼ and ⧽ ), mapping ῷ to ωι and ῃ to ηι (used in calculating standard isopsephy), and starting from Πάτερ in verse 9, we obtain the following table, with the number of Greek words and letters.

VerseGreekWordsLettersEnglish
Mat 6:9Πάτερ ἡμῶν ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς Ἁγιασθήτω τὸ ὄνομά σου1043Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Mat 6:10Ἐλθέτω ἡ βασιλεία σου Γενηθήτω τὸ θέλημά σου Ὡς ἐν οὐρανκαὶ ἐπὶ γῆς1457Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Mat 6:11Τὸν ἄρτον ἡμῶν τὸν ἐπιούσιον δὸς ἡμῖν σήμερον838Give us this day our daily bread.
Mat 6:12Καὶ ἄφες ἡμῖν τὰ ὀφειλήματα ἡμῶν Ὡς καὶ ἡμεῖς ἀφήκαμεν τοῖς ὀφειλέταις ἡμῶν1363And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Mat 6:13Καὶ μὴ εἰσενέγκς ἡμᾶς εἰς πειρασμόν Ἀλλὰ ῥῦσαι ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ τοῦ πονηροῦ  Ὅτι σοῦ ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία καὶ ἡ δύναμις καὶ ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας Ἀμήν27114And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory for ever Amen

Astonishingly, the total number of Greek letters is 315. In our book, The Lord’s Prayer: A Mathematician’s Creed, we showed that Jesus died at 3.15pm. The relationship betweem the Lord’s Prayer and the number 153 hence follows.

Conclusion. The Lord’s Prayer is the 153 net that brings all God’s chosen people to the feet of His Son, Jesus Christ, to judge in the last days.