This is another example of how the proper interpretation of the Bible based upon “rightly dividing the word of truth” … conflicts with that taught by traditional Christian religious church organizations of today who fail to ‘rightly divide the word of truth.’

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, Rightly Dividing The Word Of Truth” (2 Timothy 2:15)

Note how that in His earthly ministry, Jesus of Nazareth was plainly speaking to His Jewish Apostles and disciples concerning “the lost sheep of the house of Israel,” exclusively [not the Gentiles].

²⁴ But he [Jesus] answered and said, I am not sent but [except only] unto the lost sheep of the House of Israel. Matthew 15:24 (KJV)
⁵ These twelve [Apostles] Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go NOT into the way of the GENTILEs, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: ⁶ But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Matthew 10:5-6 (KJV)

Jesus’ “command” to His 12 Apostles and disciples applies also to the following.

Jesus said; “But when ye [you Jewish disciples] pray, Use Not Vain Repetitions, as the heathen [pagan’s] do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them…”  (Matthew 6:7-8).

We should say the so-called “Lord’s prayer” is really to be the prayer of Jesus’ disciples during the “Great Tribulation.” As you might realize there are so-called Christian sects who simply recite the same memorized prayers over and over. Jesus said this is a common Pagan practice. We see in the RCC (Roman Catholic Church). I was raised in the Roman Catholic Church and witnessed it first-hand.

The ‘Our Father’ prayer is often repeated among Catholics as well as unintelligized Protestant Christians today, but few stop to think about the real significance of the ‘Our Father’ prayer’s words.

The verses below were spoken to Jesus’ to His Jewish disciples only, before the cross.

Matthew 6:10 – Jesus said: “Thy kingdom come” [on earth].

But the Gentiles church today is to be looking for an earthly kingdom on earth, but rather to ‘appear and abide with Christ in heaven’s glory.’  

⁴ When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in [heaven’s] glory. Colossians 3:4 (KJV)

Matthew 6:11 – Jesus said: “Give us [Israel’s believing remnant] this day our daily bread.”

This is a ‘prayer request’ for Israel’s future in the Tribulation period when God will preserve His believing Jewish “Little flock” remnant. The “woman” being fed in Revelation 12:6 is the future ‘believing remnant of Israel’ of the last half of the Tribulation period (cf. Matt. 24:16-18).

Matthew 6:12 – Jesus said: “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”

By contrast, The Christian today already has the forgiveness of ALL his sins through His blood. We have forgiveness according to the riches of his grace! Our iniquities are once for all time forgiven, and the Lord will not impute [not count] our sins (cf. Ephesians 1:7; Romans 4:7-8).

“Having [already] forgiven you all trespasses” (Colossians 2:13)

⁷ In whom [In Christ] We Have Redemption Through His Blood, The Forgiveness Of Sins, according to the riches of his grace; Ephesians 1:7 (KJV)
⁷ Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. ⁸Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute [not count] sin. Romans 4:7-8

Jesus then went on to say this concerning ‘forgiveness’;

Matthew 6:14-15 – “For IF YE forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:  But IF YE FORGIVE NOT men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

So, Jesus told His Jewish disciples, “IF YOU” Don’t Forgive others FIRST, then God will not forgive you?

Sadly, most Christians today are told the same thing Jesus said to Israel as if it applies to us Gentiles during today’s “dispensation of the grace of God” (Eph. 3:2). They need to know since Christ’s death of the Cross for all our sins of the world, Jesus’ words of Matthew 6:14-15 do NOT apply to grace age Gentile believers.

After the Cross and after the Acts period ended, Paul taught his Gentile grace believers as follows;

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, Forgiving one another, even as [in the same way as] God for Christ’s sake hath [past-tense, hath already] forgiven you [grace believers].” Ephesians 4:32

Paul admonishes us to do the same good work of forgiving others but now on a different basis. We forgive others in grace … because we have already been forgiven freely not based upon our good works (cf. Eph. 2:8-9)!

⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹ Not of [religious] works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV)

So, Jesus on earth was speaking to the 12 apostles and Israel about something different from what Paul later spoke to the Gentiles.

These differences are not contradictions, they are simply just different instructions at a different time for the two different people groups of God.

The kingdom of heaven to come on earth that Jesus preached has not come since was postponed while God revealed a “Mystery [Secret]” gospel to Paul for the Gentiles. This was after Jesus had died and rose from the dead. Paul’s grace gospel is God’s purpose for ALL men today. It temporarily supersedes the prophetic earthy kingdom promised to Israel (Ephesians 3:1-12). That kingdom to come on earth awaits a future day after the Gentile church is Taken To heaven.

We can only know such truths when we “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, Rightly Dividing The Word Of Truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).