Matthew 6:5-18
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Hi good morning church.
Let’s pray.
As a kid, I grew up in a Christian home. And, as would be the case for my life, even still, I wrestled with prayer. How to do it. What made it effective. How it worked. When should I do it? Should it be out loud? In my head? As I grew in my faith, more questions came up. Why does God want me to pray? What type of prayer will bring me closer to God? Will praying a certain way help Him hear me better? Respond more?
See, like so many other believers, I wanted to be closer to God. I wanted more of Him. Guidance for how to live as a Christian. Help to make prayer a time where I experienced God, where He would make me more like Him.
The questions stemmed from those desires, and others like that.
Sometimes, those desires led to expressions in prayer that were, in a way, a petition for answers.
When I was little, I remember flexing really hard while praying. Closing my eyes so tight, God must know I’m praying super hard.
Maybe that would make the difference.
Or maybe it’s how my hands are intertwined. Oh no, the pastor is praying with is palms together and fingers straight. What was I thinking!?
As I got older, those efforts became more dramatic, as I tried to conjure up better prayer tactics, prayer vibes. Whatever it would take for God to have to respond.
Once, when driving down the freeway at 70mph, in a moment of desperation to pray harder and more faithfully, I took my hands of the steering wheel and proclaimed, “Jesus, take the wheel.”
I mean, with my logic, if God saw how reckless I was for His name, this move would definitely force the type of closeness and faith that I was hoping for.
I tried a lot of different things.
Evidently I became convinced that my prayer life would improve if I just did all the right maneuvers. Spoke in the perfect tone, and said the words, just right. And with such a performance based philosophy, I thought I had to do everything just right. As a result, I looked at those around me for queues on prayer. Those that appeared to be the best prayers.
Undoubtedly, my understanding of “how” to pray, and “what” to pray was largely based on a worldly experience. Not because those around me weren’t godly in their practice of prayer. Rather, because I treated their prayer practices as the primary source for my knowledge of prayer.
As a result, I eventually found myself seeking the attention of others when I prayed. I noticed what made other people “good” at praying, so, why wouldn’t that be the same measure to use for my own prayer life.
I became like the hypocrites and Gentiles that Jesus spoke about in today’s passage.
“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
It’s easy to project a silliness onto the hypocrites and Gentiles here. To imagine someone praying with extravagant shouts outside of a business, or crazy babbling on the sidewalk. But what Jesus is warning against doesn’t require extravagant gestures or crazy talk.
What Jesus warns against, I was doing it, and trust me, there was not shouting. Definitely some rambling, for sure. But let’s be honest, Jesus doesn’t give examples like this because the lesson only pertains to the select few acting exactly as described.
So, for those of you who are soft spoken, and succinct with your words, stay with me, okay.
Because, the illustration is meant to illuminate Jesus’ point. In this case, the state of our hearts when we pray.
The illustration should lead us to ask questions like, Who am I praying for? Whose effort and ability do my prayer requests rely on?
I have, and at times still give into, the temptation to pray like the hypocrites and gentiles.
Of course since having kids, I no longer take my hands off the steering wheel while driving on the freeway.
But despite my shortcomings, there is something that I learned that has radically transformed my prayer life.
It wasn’t just “how” to pray. It wasn’t even necessarily “what” to pray. Before this I had seen and heard the prayers of many godly men and women, followed their examples, and spoken similar words. I had even prayed through parts of scripture. And that’s not to say that those examples didn’t make a difference. They often did. But there was something that was missing.
The change came when I began to understand what I prayed. To grasp what I was praying, what it meant, why I was instructed to pray certain things. Why we’re told to pray. Prayer itself, and the things we pray. To know about who we are praying to. About who the Bible says we are. About our relationship with God.
John 17:3 “This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and the one you have sent—Jesus Christ.”
No doubt, to know the triune God, we must know about Him. His ways. His characteristics. His holiness.
So by no surprise, it was in scripture that I started to learn these things.
And what better place to begin than the Lord’s Prayer. The very place with which Jesus says, “pray like this.” Because, as we’ll see, the prayer itself actually says a lot about who we are praying to, who we are, how to pray, and what to pray.
And how do we know that this truth can transform our prayer lives, and us? How can knowledge and understanding be such an important part our prayers and our lives? Because it is the Holy Spirit’s work in you.
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
This knowledge isn’t trivial. It’s the truth of God’s Word.
John 8:31–32 “If you continue in my word, you really are my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
My prayer today, is that we might learn more of the truth that Jesus reveals in this prayer, and his teaching on how to pray.
So, let’s learn what Jesus says here.
He begins the prayer this way;
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Jesus calls God “our Father.”
God, the creator of the universe, marvelous beyond comprehension. All-Powerful, beginning and the end.
That God.
Jesus could have chosen for this opening address from a long list of titles of God from the Old Testament;
God Most High
Everlasting God
The Lord of Hosts
Instead, He instructs that we personally address God as our Father. A personal address that is not found in the Old Testament. God is referred to as Father, yes. But it is not until Jesus’ teachings that God is addressed as Father. And here, Jesus tells us to address God as such.
Whether the disciples, or Jews, or Pharisees. Anyone that heard this at the sermon on the mount would have been shocked. For many, the idea of addressing God as father was jarring.
Jesus changed how believers relate with God.
Father is a personal and intimate role that denotes a call for both our dependence and our affection. And, if we are to call God Father, we are, therefore, calling ourselves God’s children.
As believers in Christ, we are God’s children. He is our Father.
It’s why God sent His son Jesus to earth. Jesus, paid the price for all the wrong we’ve done. He took our place on the cross, to receive the punishment for our sins, which is death. And then, Christ is raised from the dead, giving new life to all who believe in Him.
Through Jesus, God incarnate, everything was done that is needed to save believers in Christ from eternal damnation, and spend eternity in paradise with God.
Everything was done so that we could call God Father.
For this reason, when we pray, “Our Father,” we are praying the truth of the Gospel. That God has made you His own. That He wants a relationship with you. Wants for you to experience His love, and be loved by you.
In saying “our Father”, we come to prayer not as sinners separated from God but as His children. He is our perfect Father, never distant or harsh.
He cares for us, disciplines us in love, He will never leave us nor forsake us.
He is the perfect Father.
Therefore, what we can learn about and pray in this verse is
God’s Fatherhood, and our identity: Matthew 6:9b “Our Father in heaven”
See, with each truth about God, there are also truths about us. When we understand what we pray about, our prayers become shaped by these truths. Our hearts, minds, and souls become molded by the Word of God. The truth of His Word will change us.
And with each line of the prayer, we learn more about what we pray. More about who we pray to and who we are.
And the passage continues.
Matthew 6:9 “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” In other words, your name be made holy.
This is not because God needs us in order for Himself to be glorified. God will be glorified, regardless of our efforts.
Rather, we pray for His holiness because all things are created for the glory of God, us included. We were created, as we read in Ephesians "according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace… to the praise of His glory."
And it was for His glory that He sent His Son, and that He would die for us. For His glory that He saved us, and calls us children.
God does everything for His glory. And with all creation, we are made for His glory. That’s our purpose, His Glory.
And we are to pursue that in prayer. To pursue and understand
God’s Glory, and our purpose: Matthew 6:9b “...hallowed be your name.”
It’s in these truths, not only when we pray them, but also begin to understand them as we pray, that the Holy Spirit works in us. Changes us. Belief and understanding of God’s Fatherhood, and our identity as His children will change how we pray. As will understanding that God is for His glory, and that His glory is our purpose.
It’s no wonder then in the section just before the prayer, that Jesus warns us not to pray for the sake of earthly reward. Not to pray the attention of others.
The greatest reward is relationship with our Father. That attention should be for God’s glory, not ours, for only He deserves the glory.
That’s why Jesus’ instruction leading up to the prayer itself says more than just “what not to do” when it comes to prayer. There’s actually two actions mentioned that we ARE to DO in connection to prayer. And if there is something to do, there is something to be understood.
But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Our prayers always have an audience. For the hypocrites, their audience was people. Even if they were praying “to” God. He wasn’t their audience.
Jesus says to make God our audience, and God alone. What better way to ensure that we set our hearts, mind, and soul on God our Father, for His glory, than to pray alone, in secret; the one place where only God can hear.
Whether it is a private room at home. Driving alone in the car with your radio off, or maybe it’s a quiet whisper from the kitchen as your toddler plays in the other room.
Jesus knew the importance of this. That’s why He made solitary prayer such a priority in His time here on earth.
And He did it for good reason; He valued His relationship with God over everything else.
We see Him do it throughout scripture.
Mark 1:35 “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he got up, went out, and made his way to a deserted place; and there he was praying.”
Jesus knew that there is nothing greater than relationship with God. And His actions proved it.
As all good Father’s do, God wants a close, and personal, relationship with His children.
That means God wants a relationship with you. Even in the midst of knowing everything about you, all your mistakes, all the things that you don’t want anyone to know , the hurts, the anger, the heartbreak. God wants a personal relationship with YOU. Not because of anything you did, but because of who He is. He loves you.
Therefore, the first and most foundational place that we commune with God, follow His commands, serve others, is IN PRIVATE.
The place where we can do nothing for anyone but God. Because hallowed be HIS name. He deserves all the glory.
And what does this private relationship with God produce in us? Is it meant to be kept secret always? Is there ever public place for our faith and relationship with God?
Jesus says concerning those who put their faith in God,
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, you who have this light to share,
Who lights the lamp that is to give light to all who are in the house? For whose glory do we shine? From what source do we get the light that shines like a city on a hill?
It is GOD, OUR FATHER! The one whose name is Holy.
So, that 2nd action connected to prayer?
That we are to forgive others before we pray.
And this one isn’t easy.
I mean, they really hurt me. I’m broken over what they did. How could I forgive them, especially when they haven’t made it right. They haven’t even said they’re sorry.
Those are real feelings. Maybe even feelings you’ve felt.
Read Matthew 6:12
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
It’s implied in the prayer that we’ve already done this. Furthermore, Jesus puts it even more plainly in Mark 11.
And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
Forgive others before we pray.
God doesn’t say get your act together before you pray. “Stop sinning, or don’t talk to me.”
No, Jesus paid for your sins on the cross. If you put your faith in Him, the obstacle of sin between you and God is no more. You don’t need to clean up your act before coming to God in prayer.
Admittedly, though, Jesus also says in todays passage.
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Jesus does not say this as a tit-for-tat, temporary sequence of Billy must forgive Bobby before God can forgive Billy. Rather, it addresses an attitude. How can someone with an unforgiving spirit expect to enjoy the forgiving spirit of Christ?
There have been a lot of times have I wondered, “why is my prayer life struggling? Why do I feel far from God?” While simultaneously, I harbor hatred and unforgiveness for the way with which someone has offended me. Friend. Family member. Coworker. And, on some occasions, I’ve even made a case to God for why I was right to be angry and withhold grace.
Whatever the explanation, my heart refused to show grace and forgive.
Thing is, through Christ, we are forgiven all our debts. We are called children of God, by grace alone. And all this was done for God’s glory, we are forgiven for God’s glory. Not ours. Not because we deserved it. We deserved death.
Who am I, then, say to a friend, a brother or sister, spouse, or child, boss, or neighbor. Who am I to say in my heart, “Jesus died for you, and has forgiven your sins… But, I, Brian Kent, condemn you.”
Jesus forgives them. But I don’t?
I won’t forgive them, yet I still expect to show up at my Father’s feet, withholding forgiveness to someone that God, my Father, sent His son to die for? And I want to pray “God, your name be made holy.”
I expect a rich prayer life by the grace of God, while I refuse to show love and grace to others?
Romans 5:8 “But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Jesus died for me, to forgive my sins, knowing all them. How else could I embrace that truth other than giving that same forgiveness to anyone that has wronged me. That is why we must forgive others in our hearts. Even if we can’t, or shouldn’t, forgive in person. It is your heart that God cares about so much.
And if you are struggling to forgive, pray for help. Surrender it to the Lord.
God uses prayer. Even when they start out small.
Lord, help me to forgive.
Matthew 6:9b “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”
Our grasp of what we pray, has already informed what we do.
God is our Father, a truth that informs us of our identity. So that when we pray through tough times, spiritual struggles, our sin, our life, we are reminded of who we pray to, and who we are. Saved, children of God. And with that, it is no wonder that our prayer life is rooted in secret, with our Father. He is all we need.
And as children of God, we are oriented towards a life lived for His glory. And that is why we must not contradict His glory, by being for our own glory, in withholding forgiveness.
And this continues throughout the entirety of the Lord’s Prayer. Look at the next line
God’s Reign, and our hope: Matthew 6:10a “Your kingdom come.”
It’s about God’s reign, and our hope. God our Father reigns in heaven, and one day, He will return and completely crush the works of the evil one. And even now, His kingdom is coming. Jesus proclaimed, the kingdom of God is at hand. And with whom will God dwell?
Revelation 21:3 “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.”
Friends, when we believe in His reign, know that we are children of God, we can pray with and about the hope that we will not only see God’s kingdom come, but even better, we will enter that kingdom and spend eternity there with our Father. And what’s more, when we pray with this hope, we are reminded of and shaped by it, because of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us.
And even today, through the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, we experience in part God’s kingdom. Paul calls the Holy Spirit the down payment of our inheritance. The guarantee of our eternal establishment in Christ.
And the prayer doesn’t stop there. Verse 10 continues
God’s Will, and our mission: Matthew 6:10b “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
To understand and pray for God’s will, and our mission.
When we read Matthew 6:10 “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” We see that we are to pray for God’s Will to be present in this world. That we should seek the ways of our Father, the things that bring Him glory. And as the good Father He is, He teaches us those ways, through His Word, that we might live according to His will. That means, if we are to pray for God’s will, than what other response should we have than for our life mission to be obedience to God.
When we know about what we pray, we are changed, we align with God’s will.
And what about when we bring to God our needs? Our troubles. Our pleas and petitions. When we pray, give us today our daily bread, we are praying for God’s provision, and putting our trust in Him.
God’s Provision, and our trust: Matthew 6:11 “Give us today our daily bread.”
Jesus likely used the example of daily bread because many of His listeners at that time were paid wages daily. Each day, they relied on something they did not yet have. They had to daily attain their needs.
Just because we live in a world where many of our needs are met days, weeks, even months in advance, does not change from whom our provision originates.
Philippians 4:19 “And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
When we bring our needs to the Lord, request His provision, we are reminded from the supply comes. Reminded of whom we must put our trust in, even for the most basic of needs. Even the skills with which we do our jobs that pay the bills, comes from God. He is our Father. He will provide our needs. He will be glorified in it.
In verse 12, we return to the topic of forgiveness
God’s Forgiveness, our status: Matthew 6:12 “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
And as we already saw, God’s forgiveness has become our status. Whether we come to prayer in repentance, or conviction, sorrow and hurt, or even pain from the sins of others. Our status is not as ones sentenced to death.
Rather, we can approach our Father without shame, for He does not condemn us. Instead, in prayer we find grace, and mercy. We are forgiven.
Our confessions and repentance can be prayed through tears of thankfulness, because we are not defined by our sin. And when we can do nothing but mourn over that sin, or the sin of others, we are comforted by our Father. A Father heartbroken over sin, and for His glory, on a mission to conquer darkness, and wipe away every tear.
You need only to believe. Your status is forgiven.
And the last section of the prayer.
God’s Deliverance, and our need: Matthew 6:13 “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”
We must know about God’s deliverance, and our need.
Although we are forgiven, we still live in this world. Sin still works in us to turn us away from God.
Jesus reminds us that only God can deliver us from evil. We can’t do it on our own.
Jesus Himself said, Mark 7:20–23 “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of people’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders, adulteries, greed, evil actions, deceit, self-indulgence, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a person.””
If it is from within that evil things come, than there is no way that we, us, the heart, mind, and soul, the stuff on our insides, could ever deliver us from evil.
But God our Father, for His glory. He can deliver us. Only he can rescue us from evil and temptation . And it is His Spirit in us, that does that change from the inside. As scripture tells us, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. So as we pray in weakness, we can know that the Holy Spirit is our strength. When it feels like we cannot overcome the sin within, there is a Spirit that is stronger.
And what’s even more, in these moments of temptation where we cannot find the words to pray.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
Whether your experience with prayer feels more like the hypocrites and Gentiles, or you have daily experienced the closeness of the Father as you pray in private. In moments of weakness, when we can’t even speak words, our Father cares for us, and is glorified through His strength when we are weak. So much so, that even when our need is prayer, and we can but only groan, He provides.
