Q. 193. What do we pray for in the fourth petition?
A. In the fourth petition, (which is, Give us this day our daily bread,[h]) acknowledging, that in Adam, and by our own sin, we have forfeited our right to all the outward blessings of this life, and deserve to be wholly deprived of them by
God, and to have them cursed to us in the use of them;[i] and that neither they of themselves are able to sustain us,[k] nor we to merit,[l] or by our own industry to procure
them;[m] but prone to desire,[n] get,[o] and use them unlawfully:[p] we pray for ourselves and others, that both they and we, waiting upon
the providence of God from day to day in the use of lawful means, may, of his free gift, and as to his fatherly wisdom shall seem best, enjoy a competent portion of them;[q] and have the same continued and blessed unto us in our holy and comfortable
use of them,[r] and contentment in them;[s] and be kept from all things that are contrary to our temporal support and comfort.[t]
In the fourth petition, (which is, Give us this day our daily bread,) we acknowledge that in Adam, and by our own sin, we have forfeited our right to all the outward blessings of this life, and deserve to be wholly deprived of them by God, and to have them cursed to us in the use of them;[i]
| [i]. Gen. 2:17; Gen. 3:17; Rom. 8:20-22; Jer. 5:25; Deut. 28:15-17
Genesis 2:17 "but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." |
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| Genesis 3:17 Then to Adam He said, "Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it': "Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. | |
| Deuteronomy 28:15-17 "But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: {16} "Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the country. {17} "Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. | |
| Jeremiah 5:25 Your iniquities have turned these things away, And your sins have withheld good from you. | |
| Romans 8:20-22 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; {21} because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. {22} For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. |
we acknowledge that in Adam, and by our own sin, we have forfeited our right to all the outward blessings of this life, and deserve to be wholly deprived of them by God, and that neither they of themselves are able to sustain us,[k]
| [k].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. |
we acknowledge that in Adam, and by our own sin, we do not merit,[l] all the outward blessings of this life
| [l].Genesis 32:10 "I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant; for I crossed over this Jordan with my staff, and now I have become two companies. |
we acknowledge that in Adam, and by our own sin, we have forfeited our right to all the outward blessings of this life, and deserve not by our own industry to procure them;[m]
| [m]. Deuteronomy 8:17-18 "then you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.' {18} "And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. |
we acknowledge that in Adam, and by our own sin, we are prone to desire,[n] all the outward blessings of this life unlawfully
| [n]. Jer. 6:13; Mark 7:21-22 Jeremiah 6:13 "Because from the least of them even to the greatest of them, Everyone is given to covetousness; And from the prophet even to the priest, Everyone deals falsely. Mark 7:21-22 "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, {22} "thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. |
we acknowledge that in Adam, and by our own sin, we are prone to get,[o] all the outward blessings of this life unlawfully
| [o].Hosea 12:7 "A cunning Canaanite! Deceitful scales are in his hand; He loves to oppress. |
we acknowledge that in Adam, and by our own sin, we are prone to use all the outward blessings of this life unlawfully[p]
| [p].James 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. |
In the fourth petition, (which is, Give us this day our daily bread,[h]) we pray for ourselves and others, that both they and we, waiting upon the providence of God from day to day in the use of lawful means, may, of his free gift, and as to his fatherly wisdom shall seem best, enjoy a competent portion of all the outward blessings of this life;[q]
| [q]. Gen. 43:12-14; Gen. 28:20; Eph. 4:28; 2 Thess. 3:11-12; Phil. 4:6
Genesis 28:20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, |
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| Genesis 43:12-14 "Take double money in your hand, and take back in your hand the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks; perhaps it was an oversight. {13} "Take your brother also, and arise, go back to the man. {14} "And may God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved, I am bereaved!" | |
| Ephesians 4:28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. | |
| Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; | |
| 2 Thessalonians 3:11-12 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. {12} Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. |
In the fourth petition, (which is, Give us this day our daily bread,) we pray for ourselves and others, and we may have all the outward blessings of this life continued and blessed unto us in our holy and comfortable use of them[r]
| [r]. 1 Timothy 4:3-5 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. {4} For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; {5} for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. |
In the fourth petition, (which is, Give us this day our daily bread,) we pray for ourselves and others, and we may have contentment in our holy and comfortable use of the outward blessings of this life[s]
| [s]. 1 Timothy 6:6-8 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. {7} For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. {8} And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. |
In the fourth petition, (which is, Give us this day our daily bread,) we pray for ourselves and others, that we may be kept from all things that are contrary to our temporal support and comfort.[t]
| [t].Proverbs 30:8-9 Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food allotted to me; {9} Lest I be full and deny You, And say, "Who is the LORD?" Or lest I be poor and steal, And profane the name of my God. |