Our Father, Who From Heaven Above
Our Father, Who From Heaven Above is a hymn text. Found in elw 746, lsb 766, lw 430, tlh 458. Sung to VATER UNSER.
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 746
- Lutheran Service Book — 766
- Lutheran Worship — 430
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 458
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Law to Gospel: from human dependence and sinfulness through petition for daily provision and forgiveness, to confident trust in God's fatherly care and doxological affirmation of the Trinity
Background Research
LSB 766 (Hymn of the Day for Proper 12, Year C; Easter 6, one-year; Day of Supplication and Prayer). Martin Luther, 'Vater unser im Himmelreich', nine six-line stanzas; first issued as a broadsheet, then in Valentin Schumann's Geistliche Lieder (Leipzig, 1539), where it was paired with a tune from a Bohemian Brethren hymn (Canterbury). One of Luther's Catechism hymns, alongside those on the Commandments (LSB 581), the Creed (954), Baptism (406) and the Sacrament (617). Stanza 1 takes the Introduction, stanzas 2–8 each explain a petition, so singing it is 'singing the catechism' (LSB study); the study suggests reading it side by side with the Small Catechism (LSB p. 323).
Sources: Canterbury Dictionary, 'Vater unser im Himmelreich' (preview); LCMS Worship, The Word in Song: Hymn of the Day Studies (Bruce E. Keseman).
In the Church Year
Suggested in the one-year series
- Easter 6 (7×)
Suggested in the three-year series
- Proper 12 (3×)
- Easter 6 (1×)
From LCMS Worship's published hymn suggestions, 2014–2026. The count is how many of those yearly lists suggested this hymn for that day.
Overview
Luther's catechism hymn on the Lord's Prayer: one stanza for the Introduction, one for each of the seven petitions, and one for the Amen. Singing it is singing the Small Catechism, and the LCMS study suggests reading the two side by side. Luther's hymn gives each petition a pastoral and communal turn: the Introduction asks to pray from the heart as one family, the Fifth Petition joins forgiveness to life together, the Seventh asks for a peaceful death, and the Amen confesses that what is asked in Christ's name will be received. Only the public-domain stanzas (1, 6, 8, 9) are analysed here; stanzas 2–5 and 7 need the LSB text.
Central theme: God our Father invites his children to pray together from the heart, and he will surely hear what is asked in his name
Structure
Nine stanzas of 88 88 88 following the Catechism: Introduction (1), the seven petitions (2–8), Amen (9). Each stanza takes the petition's words and adds Luther's explanation in compressed form.
Law & Gospel Shape
Each petition implies a need (sin, temptation, evil, death) and each rests on the Father's promise. The Fifth Petition stanza is the hinge: God's forgiveness received, and our forgiveness of others flowing from it.
Confessional Connections
The hymn is a sung form of SC III. St. 1 matches the Introduction's teaching that God 'tenderly invites us to believe that He is our true Father and that we are His true children' and adds Luther's emphasis on praying as one family. St. 6 confesses that we daily sin and need forgiveness, and that we will 'gladly forgive' others (SC III, Fifth Petition). St. 8's prayer for a blessed death follows the Catechism's Seventh Petition ('when our last hour comes, give us a blessed end'). St. 9 is the Catechism's Amen: 'we should be certain that these petitions are pleasing to our Father in heaven, and are heard by Him'.
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Proper 12, Year C (Luke 11, Hymn of the Day); Easter 6, one-year (Rogate, Hymn of the Day); Day of Supplication and Prayer; catechesis; Rogation days.
Historical Notes
Luther's 'Vater unser im Himmelreich', nine six-line stanzas, appeared as a broadsheet and then in Valentin Schumann's Geistliche Lieder (Leipzig, 1539). It is one of Luther's catechism hymns with those on the Commandments, the Creed, Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Hymnary credits LSB's sts. 1, 6, 8–9 to The Lutheran Hymnal (1941), altered, and sts. 2–5 and 7 to Concordia (1980). LCMS study by Bruce E. Keseman.
About the Tune
VATER UNSER, paired with the text in 1539 and taken from a Bohemian Brethren hymn (Canterbury).
Scripture References
Matt 6:9-13 Luke 11:1-4 Rom 8:14-17 Gal 4:6 Matt 6:7 Eph 4:32 Matt 18:21-35 Col 3:13 2 Tim 4:18 Eph 5:16 Luke 2:29 John 14:13-14 John 16:23-24 Mark 11:24 2 Cor 1:20
Stanza by Stanza
Our Father in heaven bids all of us to live in love as members of one family and to pray to him together; teach us not to say thoughtless words but to pray from our inmost hearts.
Luther's stanza on the Introduction stresses 'Our'. As the study observes, the Catechism emphasises that God is our Father; the hymn emphasises that he is our Father, the Father of one family who pray together (Rom 8:14-17; Eph 3:14-15). Prayer is the act of the household of faith, never merely private. The second half echoes Jesus' warning against empty phrases (Matt 6:7) and the need to pray from the heart (Matt 15:8). The Father 'bids' us pray: prayer begins with his command and invitation, not our initiative.
- Scripture
- Matt 6:7, 9, Rom 8:14-17, Gal 4:6, Eph 3:14-15, Matt 15:8, 1 John 3:1
- Imagery & language
- Family imagery; contrast of thoughtless words and inmost heart.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel: God invites us as his children to pray together.
- Connection to previous
- Opening stanza: the Introduction.
Forgive our sins, Lord, so that they may trouble us no more; we too will gladly forgive those who hurt us by the way they live. Help us in our community to serve each other willingly.
The Fifth Petition. 'That they may trouble us no more' names the burden of a guilty conscience that forgiveness lifts (Ps 32:3-5). Luther's Catechism says we pray this because we daily sin much and deserve nothing but punishment. The promise to 'gladly forgive' others is not a condition we meet to earn forgiveness, but the fruit of being forgiven (Matt 18:21-35, the unforgiving servant; Eph 4:32). The final couplet is distinctively communal: forgiveness makes common life possible, and the forgiven serve one another (Gal 5:13).
- Scripture
- Matt 6:12, Ps 32:3-5, Matt 18:21-35, Eph 4:32, Col 3:13, Gal 5:13
- Imagery & language
- Plain speech; 'gladly' and 'willingly' frame the response of the forgiven.
- Law / Gospel
- Law: our sins and the hurts others do. Gospel: God's forgiveness, freeing us to forgive and serve.
- Connection to previous
- Follows the petitions for daily bread (st. 5, not analysed).
Deliver us from evil, Lord; the times are dangerous. Redeem us from eternal death, and when we breathe our last, console us, grant us a calm release, and take our souls to you in peace.
The Seventh Petition. Luther's Catechism says it sums up all the others: that God would rescue us from every evil of body and soul, and finally, when our last hour comes, give us a blessed end. The hymn says this directly. 'The times and days are perilous' (Eph 5:16; 2 Tim 3:1) is realism about the world. The deepest evil is 'eternal death', and the final deliverance is a peaceful death: 'grant us calm release' is the Nunc Dimittis, 'Lord, now you let your servant depart in peace' (Luke 2:29), and 'take our souls to You' is Jesus' and Stephen's last prayer (Luke 23:46; Acts 7:59).
- Scripture
- Matt 6:13, 2 Tim 4:18, Eph 5:16, 2 Tim 3:1, Rom 6:23, Luke 2:29, Luke 23:46, Acts 7:59
- Imagery & language
- The dying breath; peace and release.
- Law / Gospel
- Law: evil and death. Gospel: redemption from eternal death and a peaceful end.
- Connection to previous
- Follows the Sixth Petition on temptation (st. 7, not analysed).
Amen means 'so shall it be'. Strengthen our faith in you so that we do not doubt but trust that what we ask we will receive. So, in your name and at your Word, we say 'Amen, O hear us, Lord!'
Luther's explanation of the Amen: 'Yes, yes, it shall be so.' The stanza asks God to strengthen faith so that we pray without doubting (Jas 1:6; Mark 11:24). The ground of confidence is not our feeling but his name and his Word: 'Thus in Your name and at Your Word'. Jesus commanded and promised that whatever we ask in his name will be given (John 16:23-24). All God's promises are 'Yes' in Christ, and through him we say our 'Amen' (2 Cor 1:20).
- Scripture
- 2 Cor 1:20, Jas 1:6, Mark 11:24, John 14:13-14, John 16:23-24, 1 John 5:14-15
- Imagery & language
- Definition of 'Amen' in the text itself; the closing prayer as refrain.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel: the certainty of being heard, grounded in Christ's name and Word.
- Connection to previous
- Closing stanza: the Conclusion.