Why doesn’t the Lord’s Prayer include thanksgiving?

The Bible does not explain why thanksgiving isn’t mentioned in the Lord’s Prayer. However, thanksgiving is an appropriate place from which to pray the Lord’s Prayer.

what does the bible say?

The Lord’s Prayer may not include thanksgiving explicitly, but throughout Jesus’ ministry, He demonstrates thankfulness. For example, in Matthew 11:25–26, He thanks God for withholding the truth from those who were considered wise, such as the Jewish religious leaders of the day, and giving the truth to those who accepted Him as “little children.” Jesus also set an example of accompanying thanksgiving with supplication when Lazarus was resurrected in John 11:41, as well as giving thanks to God before eating a meal when He fed thousands of people (Matthew 14:19; 15:36) and in the presence of His disciples at the Last Supper (Matthew 26:26–27). Besides Jesus’s examples of being thankful, Paul advised believers in Thessalonica to “give thanks in all circumstances,” which would, of course, include prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18). Clearly, our prayers should come from a heart of thanksgiving, and thanksgiving should be included in our prayers since there is much to be thankful to God for.

from the old testament

In praising God for all that He provided and the temple that He would let Solomon build, David said, “And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name” (1 Chronicles 29:13).
The psalmist thanks God for His enduring love: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever” (Psalm 136:1–3).

from the new testament

Jesus thanked God for revealing truth to the poor, ignorant, and obscure (Matthew 11:25–26).
Jesus modeled prayer numerous times, and many of His prayers included thanksgiving. For example, Jesus gave thanks prior to the feeding of the five thous and and of the four thous and (Matthew 14:19; 15:36) and gave thanks at the Last Supper (Matthew 26:26–27).
Jesus gave thanks as He prayed for Lazarus to be resurrected (John 11:41).
Paul advised believers in Thessalonica to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

implications for today

Despite numerous exhortations and commands in the Bible to give thanks, the Lord’s Prayer includes no direct expression of gratitude to God. As Jesus teaches the disciples to pray using the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9–13, He isn’t forgetting or overlooking anything. He is contrasting sincere prayer with the public, repeated, and self-piousness of the Pharisees’ and Gentiles’ routine prayers. Jesus instituted a new way to pray—privately, addressing God with the familiar “Father,” and with humility. His prayer first focuses on God Himself. God is above in heaven. He is to be honored. His will is invited. Then, Jesus’s prayer shifts to our prayers for ourselves. First, a prayer of recognition of God’s provision every day. Then, for forgiveness. Finally, for deliverance from evil. While thanksgiving is not specifically spelled out in the Lord’s Prayer, it seems implicit in the prayer—from recognition of God as our heavenly Father to a reliance upon Him for provision and protection. We can and should pray the Lord’s Prayer with a thankful heart.

Recap

understand

Although Jesus doesn’t overtly thank God in the Lord’s Prayer, thanks is implicit.
Thanksgiving is part of many of Jesus’ other prayers.
We can and should pray the Lord’s Prayer with thankful hearts.

reflect

How can you seek to pray the Lord’s Prayer with thanksgiving?
How are you intentional about thanking God in your prayers?
How has giving thanks to God impacted your life?

engage

What elements of the Lord’s Prayer imply thanks?
How can we help others cultivate an attitude of thanks in prayer?
How might believers’ attitude of thanksgiving be a powerful witness to a watching world?