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A Prayer To Our Father
A Prayer to Our Father is the exciting journey of faith of a Jewish Bible scholar and an African American pastor who join forces to uncover the truth about the most beloved prayer in the Christian world. Their gripping adventure begins in the ancient city of Jerusalem and takes them to the very spot in Galilee where Jesus taught the multitudes to pray. Along the way they discover a Hebrew version of the Lord's Prayer, preserved in secret by Jewish rabbis for over a thousand years. The richness of meaning that the Hebrew unlocks reveals a powerful message of spiritual growth for Jew and Christian alike. Join them on this provocative exploration of the Hebrew origins of the Lord's Prayer!
- GenresReligion
175 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2009
44 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 23, 2009
Ever watch The Discovery Channel? Picture two guys going on multiple journeys to Israel to find the places where Jesus gave his Sermon on the Mount and where Jesus was tested in the desert. Their writing style was colorful and I wished they had filmed their expedition for others to see.
But why did they spend nearly half the book chronicling their expedition? It played an essential inspirational role to discover the meaning behind the words.
What also made this book unique was that they relied heavily on Hebrew Matthew, not the Greek or Latin versions that were derived afterward. Things that are ambiguous in Greek were crystal clear in Hebrew.
I was happy to see that in the chapter titled, “May Your Kingdom Be Blessed” they recognized the fact that God’s kingdom is both present and future. It’s not just a future event, but a present reality. Very good kingdom theology.
I also loved how they used so much Hebrew scripture to shed light on the Lord’s prayer. Very Hebraic! I will pass along this book to my Messianic Jewish friends. I know they’ll love it.
But why did they spend nearly half the book chronicling their expedition? It played an essential inspirational role to discover the meaning behind the words.
What also made this book unique was that they relied heavily on Hebrew Matthew, not the Greek or Latin versions that were derived afterward. Things that are ambiguous in Greek were crystal clear in Hebrew.
I was happy to see that in the chapter titled, “May Your Kingdom Be Blessed” they recognized the fact that God’s kingdom is both present and future. It’s not just a future event, but a present reality. Very good kingdom theology.
I also loved how they used so much Hebrew scripture to shed light on the Lord’s prayer. Very Hebraic! I will pass along this book to my Messianic Jewish friends. I know they’ll love it.
March 24, 2019
Manna from on high!
I have the book 5 stars because it editors me so much. Especially the sections that brought out what The Avinu prayer actually meant. I couldn't put the book down. I had to put it down though to chew and to meditate and digest the depth of understanding that they give in this book. I recommend this book to all Christians and Jews seeking truth.
I have the book 5 stars because it editors me so much. Especially the sections that brought out what The Avinu prayer actually meant. I couldn't put the book down. I had to put it down though to chew and to meditate and digest the depth of understanding that they give in this book. I recommend this book to all Christians and Jews seeking truth.
September 20, 2017
This was such a pleasure to read. It relates miraculous events that went into the making of the book, and it explicates with sweet encouragement old familiar words that will enrich the way you pray those old familiar words.
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February 14, 2020Finally I Understand
This book was well written out and a lot of work and traveling was put in order to complete this rich source of understanding of the Our Father Prayer so I give it 5 stars.
This book was well written out and a lot of work and traveling was put in order to complete this rich source of understanding of the Our Father Prayer so I give it 5 stars.
June 30, 2017
Excellent! Took a couple months break in the middle of it though. Lots to process.
January 6, 2023
Fascinating book. It brought new and fresh insight into Scripture, especially our “Lords Prayer”.
October 17, 2025
Great insights
For a non-Hebrew reader, these insights add a dimension of clarity to scripture. Nehemiah and Keith make a needed bridge between Jews and Christians.
For a non-Hebrew reader, these insights add a dimension of clarity to scripture. Nehemiah and Keith make a needed bridge between Jews and Christians.
October 20, 2009
I decided to read this book primarily because I was intrigued by the prospect of the sort of synergy and dialog that might happen when a Jew and a Christian meet together to study scripture. If the book had more deeply explored that synergy and dialog it might have been a more worthy read. Unfortunately it did not.
This is not to say the book is not without its merits. The best part of the book, and what I presume was meant to be its primary focus, is its exploration of the Lord’s Prayer.
Using a little known manuscript the authors refer to as Hebrew Matthew, they explore the Hebraic origins of the Prayer that Jesus taught his disciples. I think the book does a good job of showing the various complexities related to biblical interpretation that an average church-going English reader of the text most likely would not be exposed to.
There is not a lot of ground breaking work done on the Prayer that the average mainline seminary trained person is not going to have some working knowledge of. However, I was pleased that the book did address a number of popular misconceptions in the church about Judaism. Like the fact that Jesus was not breaking any new ground in referring to God as Father. This fact alone, I am sure would be eye-opening for your average layperson.
There is much that I did not like about this book. For instance why is over half of it devoted to an exploration of where Jesus might have given the sermon on the mount and taught the prayer? I’ve never understood the purpose of this sort of exercise. It seems to me to be nothing more than a big waste of time and effort. It may be interesting to some folks, but it does absolutely nothing for me.
The other thing that was troubling is that there was little interface in this book with modern biblical scholarship. The authors primarily build the argument of this book by working solely with a little know manuscript they refer to as “Hebrew Matthew.” Contending, based on the work of George Howard, a scholar at Macon University, that Matthew was originally written in the Hebrew language.
I am the first to admit that I am not a biblical “scholar” by any means, but you can’t just throw that sort of claim out there and build the basis of your book on it without also interacting with other already established theories of how the various texts as we know them came into being. It’s irresponsible to do so and it will not engage an educated audience in your work.
My recommendation? Use and read the last third of the book that explores the Lord’s Prayer. It will give you some insight into Judaism and the devotional aspects of this material may help deepen and enrich your prayer life. However, you can just go ahead and skip the rest of the book.
This is not to say the book is not without its merits. The best part of the book, and what I presume was meant to be its primary focus, is its exploration of the Lord’s Prayer.
Using a little known manuscript the authors refer to as Hebrew Matthew, they explore the Hebraic origins of the Prayer that Jesus taught his disciples. I think the book does a good job of showing the various complexities related to biblical interpretation that an average church-going English reader of the text most likely would not be exposed to.
There is not a lot of ground breaking work done on the Prayer that the average mainline seminary trained person is not going to have some working knowledge of. However, I was pleased that the book did address a number of popular misconceptions in the church about Judaism. Like the fact that Jesus was not breaking any new ground in referring to God as Father. This fact alone, I am sure would be eye-opening for your average layperson.
There is much that I did not like about this book. For instance why is over half of it devoted to an exploration of where Jesus might have given the sermon on the mount and taught the prayer? I’ve never understood the purpose of this sort of exercise. It seems to me to be nothing more than a big waste of time and effort. It may be interesting to some folks, but it does absolutely nothing for me.
The other thing that was troubling is that there was little interface in this book with modern biblical scholarship. The authors primarily build the argument of this book by working solely with a little know manuscript they refer to as “Hebrew Matthew.” Contending, based on the work of George Howard, a scholar at Macon University, that Matthew was originally written in the Hebrew language.
I am the first to admit that I am not a biblical “scholar” by any means, but you can’t just throw that sort of claim out there and build the basis of your book on it without also interacting with other already established theories of how the various texts as we know them came into being. It’s irresponsible to do so and it will not engage an educated audience in your work.
My recommendation? Use and read the last third of the book that explores the Lord’s Prayer. It will give you some insight into Judaism and the devotional aspects of this material may help deepen and enrich your prayer life. However, you can just go ahead and skip the rest of the book.
July 21, 2009
This is really two books in one.
The first half of the book is a fascinating story of collaboration between a Jew and a Christian in the land of Israel, searching for the facts of history and how they enlighten their interpretation of ancient Hebrew manuscripts.
The second half of the book describes the result of this collaborative effort, and offers new insights into the most famous prayer of the Christian Bible, based upon the Jewish context of its author, Jesus.
If you're interested in history, languages, Christianity, Judaism, inter-faith cooperation, or tips for researching, you will enjoy this book. It definitely has something for everyone!
The first half of the book is a fascinating story of collaboration between a Jew and a Christian in the land of Israel, searching for the facts of history and how they enlighten their interpretation of ancient Hebrew manuscripts.
The second half of the book describes the result of this collaborative effort, and offers new insights into the most famous prayer of the Christian Bible, based upon the Jewish context of its author, Jesus.
If you're interested in history, languages, Christianity, Judaism, inter-faith cooperation, or tips for researching, you will enjoy this book. It definitely has something for everyone!
July 18, 2009
Very good book! I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about "The Lord's Prayer"!
September 25, 2010
Analytical. Academic Word orgins and word derivatives. I was in a certain mind frame to enjoy this book. Not a story, but I really liked it.
March 2, 2015
ONE GREAT BOOK BY TWO GREAT MEN (AMEN ! )
This is one of the best translations of the
LORD'S PRAYER I HAVE EVER READ ! "AMEN AMEN I SAY UNTO YOU ! "
This is one of the best translations of the
LORD'S PRAYER I HAVE EVER READ ! "AMEN AMEN I SAY UNTO YOU ! "
February 1, 2016
Review
Easy and useful read. Recommended for everyone who wants to add a little more understanding in their faith; and particularly Word of God work.
Easy and useful read. Recommended for everyone who wants to add a little more understanding in their faith; and particularly Word of God work.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews