Tag: faith

The Lord’s Prayer as the Law Written on the Heart: A Jewish-Covenantal Interpretation of the New Covenant

Dr Jito Vanualailai

Abstract

This post argues that the Lord’s Prayer, often interpreted through a Greek-linguistic lens as a personal petition, is in fact rooted in Jewish covenantal theology. Drawing upon the prophetic promises in Jeremiah 31:31–34 and reinforced by numerical parallels in Hebrew gematria and number theory, we demonstrate that the Lord’s Prayer is not only a model of prayer but the actual fulfillment of the New Covenant—the Torah written on the heart. This reframes the prayer not merely as supplication but as a covenantal declaration—a daily vow to uphold God’s law and will as internalized by the Spirit. The conclusion is clear: the Lord’s Prayer is the sacred voice of covenant renewal for the remnant people of God.

1. Introduction

The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9–13) is often seen by Christians as a general model of devotion and supplication. However, when viewed through the lens of Jewish covenant theology, particularly the prophecy of Jeremiah 31:31–34, the prayer takes on a much deeper significance.

Jeremiah proclaims the coming of a New Covenant, unlike the one given at Sinai. This new covenant is defined by internal transformation:

“I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts.” (Jer. 31:33)

This paper contends that the Lord’s Prayer is the very law God promised to inscribe on the hearts of His people. We will show this theologically and mathematically—proving that this ancient Jewish prayer is foremost a covenantal act.

2. The New Covenant in Jeremiah 31:31–34

Jeremiah 31:31–34 is the only place in the Old Testament where the phrase “new covenant” appears. It reads:

“I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” (v.33)

This covenant is defined by:

  • Internal Torah (not tablets of stone)
  • Intimate relationship (“I will be their God…”)
  • Universal access to God (“They shall all know Me…”)
  • Total forgiveness (“I will forgive… I will remember sin no more.”)

It is a heart-centered Torah, infused by the Spirit (cf. Ezekiel 36:26–27), realized not through ritual, but through transformed inner life.

3. The Lord’s Prayer as Torah Written on the Heart

From a Jewish perspective, Torah refers to:

  1. The Five Books of Moses
  2. God’s instruction and moral guidance
  3. The covenantal framework shaping Israel’s spiritual identity

The Lord’s Prayer encompasses all these:

Line of the Lord’s PrayerTorah Principle Fulfilled
“Hallowed be Your name”Holiness code (Lev. 19:2)
“Your will be done…”Submission to divine law (Deut. 6:5)
“Give us daily bread”Trust in provision (Exodus 16)
“Forgive us… as we forgive”Justice and mercy (Lev. 19:18; Micah 6:8)
“Deliver us from evil”Moral purity and covenant protection

Thus, praying the Lord’s Prayer is an act of living the Torah from the inside out. It is God’s law written on the heart—not in tablets or scrolls, but in breath and commitment.

4. Mathematical Confirmation: A Hidden Covenant

The Hebrew gematria reveals a stunning correspondence:

PhraseHebrew Gematria
The Lord’s Prayer (Hebrew)10,838
Jeremiah 31:338,198

Using the Euler Totient function, we find (see the previous article Proof that the Lord’s Prayer is the Covenant of Jeremiah 31:33):

  • φ(10,838) = 1026
  • φ(8,198) = 4098
  • Mean of 4098’s divisors = 1026

The sanctified remnant number 1026 is embedded in both:

  • The covenant promise (Jeremiah 31:33)
  • Its fulfillment (The Lord’s Prayer)

Conclusion: The Lord’s Prayer is mathematically and spiritually the Torah written on the heart.

5. Covenant vs. Petition: A Theological Reframing

In Greek thought, the Lord’s Prayer is often treated as:

  • A petition (requests to a deity)
  • An individual act of devotion

But in Jewish thought, prayer is:

  • A covenantal declaration
  • A communal response to divine grace
  • A renewal of vows

Each line of the Lord’s Prayer contains a dual covenantal exchange:

God’s PromiseOur Response
“I will be your God”“Your kingdom come…”
“I will forgive…”“As we forgive…”
“I will write my law…”“Your will be done…”
“I will provide…”“Give us this day our daily bread…”

✨ The Lord’s Prayer is not just prayer—it is covenant renewal.

LineRitual MeaningCovenant Meaning
“Our Father in Heaven”A generic intro to prayerI acknowledge God as my Sovereign Father, and I commit to act as His child.
“Hallowed be Your Name”A statement of reverenceI pledge to honor God’s name in my actions, speech, and daily life.
“Your Kingdom come”Hope for the futureI surrender my own rule and pray: “Rule through me today.”
“Your will be done on earth…”Let God do what He wantsI align my life with His will—my desires, plans, and decisions become His.
“Give us today our daily bread”Ask for physical provisionI rely on God alone for provision, and I commit to contentment and trust.
“Forgive us… as we forgive…”Ask for mercyI commit to be an agent of mercy, living in forgiveness as a lifestyle.
“Lead us not into temptation”Keep me safeI declare war on sin, and invite God to discipline and direct me.
“Deliver us from evil”Protect me from harmI trust God for rescue and spiritual warfare, knowing the battle is real.
Doxology (Matt. 6:13)Formal endingI reaffirm God’s sovereignty, power, and glory over my life forever.

💥 When one prays this way, the Lord’s Prayer becomes a daily covenant renewal.

6. The Last Supper and the Inauguration of the Covenant

At the Last Supper, Jesus said:

“This cup is the new covenant in my blood…” (Luke 22:20)

He was directly referencing Jeremiah 31. His death would inaugurate this new internal covenant, not just for Israel but for the remnant of the nations.

Thus, the Lord’s Prayer, given by Jesus before His death, becomes the daily voice of this covenant.

7. Conclusion

The Lord’s Prayer is not a mere model of piety, nor a series of requests. It is:

✅ The Torah internalized
✅ The New Covenant activated
✅ A daily sanctification of the remnant
✅ A vow to live by God’s law
✅ The spiritual bridge between Jeremiah 31:33 and Matthew 6:9–13

To pray the Lord’s Prayer is to renew covenant—to say “yes” to the will of God etched on the heart, and to step into the divine destiny of the remnant.

References

  • The Holy Bible (Masoretic Text and Greek NT)
  • Jeremiah 31:31–34
  • Matthew 6:9–13
  • Luke 22:20; Hebrews 8–10
  • Vanualailai, J. (2025). Covenantal Prayer
  • Strong’s Concordance, Hebrew Lexicon
  • Bullinger, E.W. Number in Scripture

Prayer Times Acceptable to God

Dr Jito Vanualailai

In Psalm 69, we read of a soul-searching prayer credited to King David. Verses 10 to 14 are provided below (KJV):

10 When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach. 11 I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them. 12 They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards. 13 But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O Lord, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation. 14 Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.

In this prayer, verse 13 is revealing. The New International Version gives the following:

13 But I pray to you, Lord, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation.

The Benson Commentary provides the following interpretation of verse 13:

Psalm 69:13. But my prayer is unto thee — While they scoff, I will pray, and not be driven from thee, nor from prayer and other duties, by all their reproaches, or any other discouragements. In an acceptable time — Hebrew, עת רצון, gneet ratzon, in a time of grace, of good will, or good pleasure. These words may be joined, either, 1st, With the following, by way of limitation, thus: Hear me in thy accepted time, that is, I do not limit thee to any time; but when thou seest it will be best, hear and help me. Or rather, with the foregoing, as an argument to enforce his prayer: as if he had said, I pray in a time of grace, or acceptance; I seek thee when thou mayest be found, (see Psalm 32:6; Isaiah 55:6,) in a good day, as they said, 1 Samuel 25:8, in the day of grace and mercy: or, in a time of great trouble, which is the proper season for prayer, Psalm 50:15; and while I have thee engaged to me by promises, which thy honour and truth oblige thee to perform. I come not too late, and therefore do thou hear me. In the truth of thy salvation — That is, for, or according to, thy saving truth, or faithfulness; whereby thou hast promised to deliver those who trust in thee.

King David, filled with humility, left it to God to decide when God would listen to him. The verse is telling us that there is a time of prayer that is acceptable or favorable to God!

Indeed, we can deduce the same from 2 Corinthians 6:2. which reads:

2 For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 

This verse is part of Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, specifically in a section (2 Corinthians 5:20–6:10) where Paul passionately appeals to the Corinthians to be reconciled to God. Paul emphasizes the urgency of responding to God’s grace and reminds them of their responsibility as recipients of God’s salvation.

Purpose: Paul is urging the Corinthians to recognize that the gospel they have received is not something to be taken lightly or postponed. The “day of salvation” is now, and they must live as those reconciled to God.

Old Testament Reference: Paul quotes from Isaiah 49:8, where God speaks of a future time when He will deliver and restore His people. Paul reinterprets this prophecy, declaring that the time of fulfillment has arrived in Christ.

Isaiah 49:8 reads:

8 Thus says the Lord: “In an acceptable time I have heard You, And in the day of salvation I have helped You; I will preserve You and give You As a covenant to the people, To restore the earth, To cause them to inherit the desolate heritages;

This verse is part of the second Servant Song in Isaiah (Isaiah 49:1–13), a passage that describes the mission of God’s Servant, who is widely interpreted as the Messiah. This Servant is called by God to bring salvation not only to Israel but also to the Gentiles, extending God’s covenant and restoring His creation.

Now, here is the most astonishing result. When we calculate the identifiers of Isaiah 49:8 and 2 Corinthians 6:2, we get:

1. Isaiah 49:8

  • Book Number: Isaiah is the 23rd book of the Bible.
  • Chapter Number: 49
  • Verse Number: 8

Identifier=23+49+8=80

2. 2 Corinthians 6:2

  • Book Number: 2 Corinthians is the 47th book of the Bible.
  • Chapter Number: 6
  • Verse Number: 2

Identifier=47+6+2=55

Total Sum of Identifiers

Thus, the total sum of the identifiers is 80+55=135.

Psalm 69:13 serves as a precursor to the themes developed in Isaiah 49:8 and 2 Corinthians 6:2. It introduces the concept of an “acceptable time” when God’s mercy and salvation are particularly accessible. Isaiah expands this theme, tying it to God’s covenant promises, and Paul ultimately declares its fulfillment in Christ, urging believers to respond without delay. Together, these verses underscore the importance of recognizing and acting upon God’s appointed times of grace and favor.

There is no contradiction between the early Christian and ancient Jewish understanding of recognizing God’s appointed times and Paul’s urging to pray continually in 1 Thessalonians 5:17—“Pray without ceasing”— because praying “without ceasing” necessarily include prescribed times of prayer. In other words, these ideas complement each other beautifully, illustrating different dimensions of spiritual awareness and discipline.

Conclusion: The eight prescribed times to pray the Lord’s Prayer, namely, {10.35am,10.53am,1.35pm,1.53pm,3.15pm, 3.51pm, 5.13pm, 5.31pm}, are times acceptable to our Father in heaven to listen to our prayers.

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

Dr Jito Vanualailai

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.

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

Dr Jito Vanualailai

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.

Psalm 79 and the Lord’s Prayer

Dr Jito Vanualailai

The entirety of Psalm 79 astonishingly points to the Lord’s Prayer. Here’s the table for Psalm 79, including the verse enumeration, verse citations, verse texts, identifiers for each verse, and their accumulated sums:

No.VerseTextIdentifierAccumulated Sum
1Psalm 79:1O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple; they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.9999
2Psalm 79:2They have given the bodies of your servants to the birds of the heavens for food, the flesh of your faithful to the beasts of the earth.100199
3Psalm 79:3They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury them.101300
4Psalm 79:4We have become a taunt to our neighbors, mocked and derided by those around us.102402
5Psalm 79:5How long, O LORD? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealousy burn like fire?103505
6Psalm 79:6Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not know you, and on the kingdoms that do not call upon your name!104609
7Psalm 79:7For they have devoured Jacob and laid waste his habitation.105714
8Psalm 79:8Do not remember against us our former iniquities; let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low.106820
9Psalm 79:9Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name’s sake!107927
10Psalm 79:10Why should the nations say, ‘Where is their God?’ Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of your servants be known among the nations before our eyes!1081035
11Psalm 79:11Let the groans of the prisoners come before you; according to your great power, preserve those doomed to die!1091144
12Psalm 79:12Return sevenfold into the lap of our neighbors the taunts with which they have taunted you, O Lord!1101254
13Psalm 79:13But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.1111365

There are 16 divisors of 1365, namely, {1, 3, 5, 7, 13, 15, 21, 35, 39, 65, 91, 105, 195, 273, 455, 1365}. The sum of the divisors is 2688. Hence, the arithmetic mean of the divisors is 2688/16 = 168. Since 168 is the identifier of the Lord’s Prayer in the Gospel of Luke, the themes and moral lessons of Psalm 79 are encapsulated by the Lord’s Prayer.

Discussion

The themes and moral lessons of Psalm 79 center on the relationship between the community and God during times of extreme adversity. They teach the importance of turning to God in honest lament, seeking justice from a divine perspective, acknowledging communal and ancestral sins, and understanding the broader implications of God’s actions for His global reputation. Additionally, they reinforce the value of praising God for His deliverance and faithfulness, emphasizing a stance of gratitude and recognition of God’s mercy. They connect well with several elements of the Lord’s Prayer, offering a deeper understanding of how these scriptures complement each other in the broader context of faith and reliance on God.

Acknowledgment of God’s Sovereignty

  • Psalm 79. The Psalmist begins by acknowledging the devastation brought upon by foreign nations, yet it is clear that they turn to God as the ultimate authority and deliverer.
  • Lord’s Prayer. This is echoed in the opening of the Lord’s Prayer with “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,” which recognizes God’s ultimate sovereignty over all things.

Seeking Deliverance and God’s Kingdom

  • Psalm 79. The Psalm appeals to God for deliverance from enemies and for the manifestation of His justice and mercy, showing reliance on God’s power to save.
  • Lord’s Prayer. Similarly, the prayer includes “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,” seeking God’s righteous rule and divine intervention in the world.

Request for Forgiveness

  • Psalm 79. The Psalmist pleads for forgiveness for past sins, recognizing that their current plight might be a consequence of these actions. They seek reconciliation and mercy.
  • Lord’s Prayer. This aspect aligns with “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors,” emphasizing the need for divine forgiveness and the importance of forgiving others as a reflection of God’s forgiveness.

Protection from Evil

  • Psalm 79. The psalm ends with a plea for protection and deliverance from the evils that have befallen the people, hoping that God will not let their foes triumph over them permanently.
  • Lord’s Prayer. This is paralleled in “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one,” where there is a petition for guidance away from sin and protection from evil influences.

Call for Justice and Retribution

  • Psalm 79. The psalm specifically asks for God’s retribution against those who have wronged them, reflecting a desire for divine justice to prevail.
  • Lord’s Prayer. While the Lord’s Prayer does not explicitly call for retribution, the appeal for God’s kingdom and will implies a restoration of justice according to divine standards.

Conclusion with Praise and Hope

  • Psalm 79. Despite the lament and pleas for help, the Psalm concludes with a vow to give thanks and praise to God forever, showing trust in God’s faithfulness.
  • Lord’s Prayer. The prayer also concludes with a doxology in some traditions: “For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.” This encapsulates the praise and acknowledgment of God’s eternal sovereignty and power.

Integration

Both Psalm 79 and the Lord’s Prayer encapsulate a profound reliance on God in times of distress, a plea for divine intervention, and an acknowledgment of God’s rule. They collectively teach about the relationship between human vulnerability, divine power, and the role of faith in navigating life’s challenges. Through these prayers, believers are reminded of the importance of turning to God, seeking His justice, and trusting in His eternal goodness and mercy.