Christian Prayer
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Introductory thoughts:
What should prayer look like in the life of a Kingdom subject?
The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 8: Matthew, Mark, Luke B. First Discourse: The Sermon on the Mount (5:1–7:29)
The unifying theme of the sermon is the kingdom of heaven.
,
,
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to Matthew C. The Sermon on the Mount, 5:1–7:29
For some this is an impossible ideal, demanding such a lofty ethical standard that no one can possibly attain it; as a result they dismiss it from the world of practical living.
(1) What should the New Testament believer understand from the Sermon on the Mount?
(1) What should the New Testament believer understand from the Sermon on the Mount?
the force of the Law - ;
the fulfillment of the Lord -
This means that, despite the antitheses in 5:17–48 (“You have heard … but I tell”), these should not be read as tokens of confrontation but in the light of the fulfillment themes richly set out in chapters 1–4 and made again explicit in 5:17–20: Jesus comes “to fulfill” the Law and the Prophets (i.e., the OT Scriptures).
The Kingly line of Jesus Christ -
The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 8: Matthew, Mark, Luke B. First Discourse: The Sermon on the Mount (5:1–7:29)
This means that, despite the antitheses in 5:17–48 (“You have heard … but I tell”), these should not be read as tokens of confrontation but in the light of the fulfillment themes richly set out in chapters 1–4 and made again explicit in 5:17–20: Jesus comes “to fulfill” the Law and the Prophets (i.e., the OT Scriptures).
This means that, despite the antitheses in 5:17–48 (“You have heard … but I tell”), these should not be read as tokens of confrontation but in the light of the fulfillment themes richly set out in chapters 1–4 and made again explicit in 5:17–20: Jesus comes “to fulfill” the Law and the Prophets (i.e., the OT Scriptures).
- Exiled out of Egypt
Carson, D. A. (1984). Matthew. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke (Vol. 8, p. 128). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.
- Where Israel failed in the wilderness, Jesus does not fail
SLIDE: This means that, despite the antitheses in 5:17–48 (“You have heard … but I tell”), these should not be read as tokens of confrontation but in the light of the fulfillment themes richly set out in chapters 1–4 and made again explicit in 5:17–20: Jesus comes “to fulfill” the Law and the Prophets (i.e., the OT Scriptures). Carson, D. A. (1984). Matthew. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke (Vol. 8, p. 128). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.
Carson, D. A. (1984). Matthew. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke (Vol. 8, p. 128). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.
the favorable evidence in life of the kingdom subject (grace) - ,
SLIDE:
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to Matthew C. The Sermon on the Mount, 5:1–7:29
The teaching in this sermon certainly sets a high standard. If we take it seriously we realize that we cannot attain it and therefore cannot merit salvation. It is the end of the way of law and drives us to seek salvation in Christ. But when we have received this salvation as God’s free gift, the sermon shows us how we should live in the service of our gracious God. It shows us what life is like in the kingdom of God. The sermon removes all complacency. The follower of Christ cannot say, “I have done all I should; I am the complete servant of God.” No matter how far we have gone along the Christian road the sermon tells us that there is more ahead of us.
(2) What should the New Testament believer understand about prayer in the Sermon on the Mount?
(2) What should the New Testament believer understand about prayer in the Sermon on the Mount?
that prayer was one of three major forms of piety in Judaism -
SLIDE: To attempt to live in accord with the righteousness spelled out in the preceding verses but out of motives eager for men’s applause is to prostitute that righteousness. Carson, D. A. (1984). Matthew. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke (Vol. 8, p. 162). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.
To attempt to live in accord with the righteousness spelled out in the preceding verses but out of motives eager for men’s applause is to prostitute that righteousness
Carson, D. A. (1984). Matthew. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke (Vol. 8, p. 162). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.
that the pattern of prayer is given to contrast hypocrisy -
that hypocrisy in prayer can be due to lack of faith in the most important details (next point)
(3) What should the New Testament believer understand (believe) about the details of prayer as given on the Sermon on the Mount?
(3) What should the New Testament believer understand (believe) about the details of prayer as given on the Sermon on the Mount?
Quote: First, God’s concerns will be given priority … (‘your name, your kingdom …, your will …’). Secondly, our own needs, though demoted to second place, will yet be comprehensively committed to him (‘Give us …, forgive us …, deliver us …’). Stott, J. R. W., & Stott, J. R. W. (1985). The message of the Sermon on the mount (): Christian counter-culture (p. 146). Leicester; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
First, God’s concerns will be given priority … (‘your name, your kingdom …, your will …’). Secondly, our own needs, though demoted to second place, will yet be comprehensively committed to him (‘Give us …, forgive us …, deliver us …’).
Stott, J. R. W., & Stott, J. R. W. (1985). The message of the Sermon on the mount (): Christian counter-culture (p. 146). Leicester; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
that prayer should begin with a concern for God’s glory (his name, rule, will) -
Quote: The kingdom of God is his royal rule. Again, as he is already holy so he is already King, reigning in absolute sovereignty over both nature and history. Yet when Jesus came he announced a new and special break-in of the kingly rule of God, with all the blessings of salvation and the demands of submission which the divine rule implies. To pray that his kingdom may ‘come’ is to pray both that it may grow, as through the church’s witness people submit to Jesus, and that soon it will be consummated when Jesus returns in glory to take his power and reign. Stott, J. R. W., & Stott, J. R. W. (1985). The message of the Sermon on the mount (): Christian counter-culture (p. 147). Leicester; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
The kingdom of God is his royal rule. Again, as he is already holy so he is already King, reigning in absolute sovereignty over both nature and history. Yet when Jesus came he announced a new and special break-in of the kingly rule of God, with all the blessings of salvation and the demands of submission which the divine rule implies. To pray that his kingdom may ‘come’ is to pray both that it may grow, as through the church’s witness people submit to Jesus, and that soon it will be consummated when Jesus returns in glory to take his power and reign.
Stott, J. R. W., & Stott, J. R. W. (1985). The message of the Sermon on the mount (): Christian counter-culture (p. 147). Leicester; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
that prayer should continue with a concern for our dependency (material, spiritual, moral) -
Quote: The offense is here seen as a debt (in we have “sins”), which recognizes that we owe to God our full obedience. Morris, L. (1992). The Gospel according to Matthew (p. 147). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.
The offense is here seen as a debt (in we have “sins”), which recognizes that we owe to God our full obedience.
Morris, L. (1992). The Gospel according to Matthew (p. 147). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.
that prayer is only genuine when we’ve conferred the grace we’ve received -
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to Matthew b. Prayer, 6:5–15
cf. Buttrick, if anyone says, “I’ll never forgive you!” that person “is not penitently aware of his sins, but only vengefully aware of another man’s sins”
SLIDE: cf. Buttrick, if anyone says, “I’ll never forgive you!” that person “is not penitently aware of his sins, but only vengefully aware of another man’s sins”
Morris, L. (1992). The Gospel according to Matthew (p. 147). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.
Conclusion/Application Points:
Conclusion/Application Points:
Why does all of this matter?
(1) Christian prayer in the kingdom is marked by a genuine recognition of the Father’s glory
(2) Christian prayer in the kingdom is marked by a genuine recognition of our dependency
(2) Prayer is an opportunity to express our genuine dependency upon our Father
(2)
(3) Christian prayer in the kingdom is marked by genuine requests of forgiveness
(3) Prayer, how we approach our Father, cannot be sincere
(1) Our confession of Jesus Christ as King means that we believe Him to be the fulfiller of the Law.
(1) Our confession of Jesus Christ as King means that we believe Him to be the fulfiller of the Law.
The impossible is accomplished in Christ
The impossible is accomplished in us (in Christ)
(2) As people who are recipients of God’s grace, we have been enabled to live out the ethics of the Sermon on the Mount
(2) As people who are recipients of God’s grace, we have been enabled to live out the ethics of the Sermon on the Mount
We are enabled by deliverance from the guilt and condemnation of the Law
We are enabled by the dwelling presence of the Holy Spirit
(3) As we live out the ethics of the Sermon on the Mount (specifically in prayer), we can do so now sincerely
(3) As we live out the ethics of the Sermon on the Mount (specifically in prayer), we can do so now sincerely