Boundaries for Prayer

Matthew 6:5–15 NIV84

5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ 14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

1. Prayer is about Relationship, not Performance

Matthew 6:5 “5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.”

Sub Point 1.1: God desires intimacy, not a show

Psalm 51:16–17 “16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”

Sub Point 1.2: Authenticity in prayer builds relationship

John 4:23–24 “23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.””

Sub Point 1.3: Public recognition is not the goal of prayer

Matthew 6:1–4 “1 “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

2. God Values the Secret Place

Matthew 6:6 “6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Sub Point 2.1: Secret prayer nurtures our relationship with God

Psalm 91:1 “1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”

Sub Point 2.2: God rewards those who seek Him in secret

Hebrews 11:6 “6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

Sub Point 2.3: The secret place is a refuge from the world

Psalm 27:5 “5 For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.”

3. Prayer is not about Vain Repetitions

Matthew 6:7 “7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.”

Sub Point 3.1: God knows our needs before we ask

Matthew 6:8 “8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

Sub Point 3.2: Vain repetitions show a lack of faith

Hebrews 11:1 “1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

Sub Point 3.3: Genuine prayer is a conversation, not a monologue

Jeremiah 29:12 “12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.”

4. Prayer is Guided by God's Will

Matthew 6:10 “10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Sub Point 4.1: God's will is the foundation of our prayers

1 John 5:14 “14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”

Sub Point 4.2: Submitting to God's will brings peace

Philippians 4:6–7 “6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Sub Point 4.3: God's will is good, pleasing, and perfect

Romans 12:2 “2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”