Yes—Les Feldick teaches that the prayer in Matthew 6 is rightly called the disciples' prayer because it was given as an example to the disciples, while the true Lord's Prayer is Jesus' own prayer in John 17.
The evidence shows that Les distinguishes between the prayer Jesus gave His disciples as a model for approaching the Father and the prayer Jesus Himself prayed. In John 17, the Lord pours out His heart to the Father for His own, which is His own prayer rather than a pattern directed to the disciples. Matthew 6 gives the disciples a format that includes recognizing God as their Heavenly Father.
Matthew 6:9 — This is the verse that begins the model prayer Jesus gave to His disciples, showing it is directed to them as a pattern.
Scripture records two distinct kinds of prayer involving the Lord Jesus. In Matthew 6, Jesus instructs His disciples, saying, 'After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name' (Matthew 6:9). This is given as a direct teaching to His disciples, a pattern for how they should pray. It is not spoken as Jesus' own personal prayer to the Father but as instruction to those who follow Him. In John 17, the Scripture presents Jesus Himself speaking to His Father. He says, 'I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me' (John 17:6). Here the Messiah is not giving a model for others to repeat; He is personally interceding for the men the Father gave Him, which are a picture of all who would become the Lord's by salvation. Thus, the Scripture itself shows a difference: one is a prayer pattern given to disciples, and the other is the Lord's own high priestly prayer to His Father.
Les Feldick makes a clear distinction between the prayer in Matthew 6 and the prayer in John 17. He teaches that the prayer in Matthew 6 is properly called the disciples' prayer because it was never the Lord praying His own prayer to the Father. It was the Lord giving His disciples an example and instruction for how they should pray. It provides them a pattern, not a requirement to repeat the exact wording every time they pray. The true Lord's Prayer, Les teaches, is John 17. There the Lord pours out His heart to the Father on behalf of His chosen ones, with particular emphasis on the leaven. That is His own prayer, whereas the prayer in Matthew 6 is directed to the disciples as a model for their approach to God. Even though the setting of Matthew 6 is still under the Law with Israel under temple worship, Les points out that the basic format has value beyond that setting. As believers approach God's throne room, they should acknowledge Him as Heavenly Father and recognize His rightful place, giving Him the honor that is due Him as the Almighty.
Les teaches that in John 17, Christ's high priestly prayer, the Lord is praying to the Father for the men whom the Father gave Him. He says John 17 probably makes it as clear as any portion in Scripture. In John's Gospel chapter 17, verse 6, Jesus is praying to the Father and saying, 'I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world. Thine they were, and thou gavest them to me.' This is the Lord's own prayer, not a model given to the disciples.
The disciples' prayer in Matthew 6 was given by the Lord as an example and instruction for His disciples in how they should pray. It provides them with a pattern rather than requiring that every prayer begin with the same exact wording. This pattern teaches that those who pray should recognize God properly as their Heavenly Father and give Him the honor that is due Him as the Almighty.
The setting is still under the Law, with Israel under temple worship, but Les indicates that the basic format has value beyond that setting. As people approach God's throne room, they should still acknowledge Him as Heavenly Father and recognize His rightful place.
The distinction is important because praying is a personal activity. The prayer in Matthew 6 is a model for how to approach God, not a prayer that the Lord Himself prayed. The true Lord's prayer in John 17 is the Lord's heart cry for His people. Understanding this distinction helps readers apply the prayer correctly.
Teaching Through Matthew and the Disciples' Prayer
Les teaches that the prayer in Matthew 6 is the disciples' prayer given as a pattern, not a prayer Jesus prayed Himself. It shows how to recognize God as Heavenly Father and honor Him as Almighty.
Synoptic Gospels Show Jesus Praying to the Father
Les explains that in the Synoptic Gospels Jesus prays to the Father, but in John's Gospel He speaks to the Father as God. This supports the distinction between the prayer in Matthew and the prayer in John.
Difference Between Synoptics and John
Les reinforces that John's Gospel focuses on Christ as God, whereas the Synoptics show His humanity and His praying to the Father. This undergirds why John 17 is the Lord's own prayer.
Why God Says Pray About Everything — Philippians 4:6-7
Verse 19, O Lord, hear, O Lord, forgive, hearken and do, defer not for thy own sake. O my God, can you hear the heart cry of this young man? He's not just uttering words. He's not just spinning a prayer wheel. He's not just counting beads. This man is pouring out his heart. And remember, it's the same God that you and I pray to today. We're under a whole different economy, granted.
John 17 as the True Lord's Prayer
Les teaches that John 17 is Christ's high priestly prayer, where He prays to the Father for the men given to Him. This is the Lord's own prayer, as opposed to the model prayer in Matthew 6.
Christ the Rock: Spiritual Warfare & The Battle with Amalek
In fact, let me take you back even to Matthew, and it's a verse that has, I think, been twisted all out of context in order to make it say something that it doesn't, again simply because people do not maintain a biblical rule of order, and that is that when a word is used in a particular way, it is never used out of that context.
Why the New Testament Starts With Abraham — Matthew 1:1 Explained
Nothing could be further from the truth. And Matthew 1 verse 1 immediately tells us that you can't do that, because, and I want you to read it with me, Matthew 1 verse 1, the book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham. And that's where it stops. It doesn't go back to the forebears before Abraham. It doesn't go back to Adam.
What Happened When Adam Sinned? Genesis 3:14-24 Explained
You're in Matthew now, I think. Chapter 16, Matthew 16. And let's come down to verse 13. And here we have the setting of Jesus and the Twelve shortly before He'll be going up to Jerusalem to be crucified. It's coming toward the end of His three years of earthly ministry.
Matthew 6:9: After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Jesus instructs His disciples how to pray, giving this as a pattern directed to them.
John 17:6: I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me, and they have kept thy word.
Jesus prays to the Father for the men given to Him, showing this is His own prayer.
John 17:9: I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
Jesus explicitly states He is praying for His own, not giving a pattern for others.
It is a common tradition to call it the Lord's Prayer because the Lord gave it, but Les Feldick points out that it was never the Lord praying His own prayer. It was given to His disciples as an example and instruction for how they should pray. Therefore it is better called the disciples' prayer.
According to Les Feldick, the true Lord's Prayer is John 17. There the Lord pours out His heart to the Father on behalf of His chosen ones, with particular emphasis on the leaven. This is His own prayer, whereas the prayer in Matthew 6 is directed to the disciples as a model for their approach to God.
Les teaches that the basic format of the disciples' prayer has value beyond the Law setting. As people approach God's throne room, they should still acknowledge Him as Heavenly Father and recognize His rightful place, giving Him the honor that is due Him as the Almighty.
Watch the Teaching: The Disciples' Prayer Explained: Matthew 6 Verse by Verse