Sermon Tone Analysis

5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites.

For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men.

Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.

6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do.

For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

8 “Therefore do not be like them.

For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 In this manner, therefore, 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 this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts,

As we forgive our debtors.

13 And do not lead us into temptation,

But deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.

Amen.

14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Personal prayer it typified in the earnest plea for the forgiveness of sins.

Not ours alone, but for the sins of all of God’s elect.

More than this, we are to seek the good of our neighbors, to seek to reconcile with them quickly over disputes and disagreements, ultimately taking into account the importance of blessing them, praying for them, in short doing everything YOU can do as those who are poor in spirit, who mourn, who look forward to inheriting the earth, who hunger and thirst after righteousness, who are merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, that is YOU WHO ARE BELOVED.

As the children of Christ YOU AND I, are to actively and consistently do more than merely know, intellectually or through memorization the WORD of God, we are to be doers of the word (), not merely hearers or knowers.

Thankfully Christ prepares his disciples.

BELOVED that is YOU.

The Context of our message is the concept of blessedness, blessings and is a broader sense the LOVE of God for You as HIS people.

Because of His unfathomable LOVE for you, He has taught YOU through Christ instruction not only how to PRAY, but WHAT to PRAY, FOR WHOM to PRAY, SO THAT YOU MIGHT GROW IN LOVE.

Historically we see our text in Matthew, as the Lord’s Prayer, part of the teachings from the sermon on the mount ().

Let that sink in for a moment.

The account which parallels the prayer portion found in is a different account, something worthy of being taught, taught by Christ on more that one occasion.

The Matthew text speaks to us in a clarifying sense.

Christ following the depth of teachings beginning in , follows

If you have a study bible we will find that the context of the Lord’s Prayer follows a very specific pattern, and comes in a very specific place in the Sermon on the Mount,

(NKJV)

43“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’

Love

44But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’

44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you?

Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others?

Do not even the tax collectors do so?

48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

,

46For if you love those who love you, what reward have you?

Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

47And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others?

Do not even the tax collectors do so?

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’

44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you?

Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others?

Do not even the tax collectors do so?

48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

48Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

We may ask for forgiveness, which is only provided by the shed blood of Christ, not only for our personal sins, but also for the corporate guilt of those who are found in Christ as true believers.

We ask that the imputation of sins might never be accounted to our indebtedness, but that we as guilty and polluted sinner might with overwhelming joy express the daily blessedness of our position in Christ, as David wrote,

“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered.

Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit.”

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We may ask for forgiveness, which is only provided by the shed blood of Christ, not only for our personal sins, but also for the corporate guilt of those who are found in Christ as true believers.

We ask that the imputation of sins might never be accounted to our indebtedness, but that we as guilty and polluted sinner might with overwhelming joy express the daily blessedness of our position in Christ, as David wrote, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered.

Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit.”

().

To carry the weight or burden of owed indebtedness against a neighbor, is to be enslaved to the debt which is owed.

This is most often a debt, experienced and internalized as resentment, animosity, or even hatred.

1Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered.

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Moreover, we are to extend this blessing upon all our neighbors, for we from forgiven hearts, are to extend heartfelt forgiveness toward those who transgress against us.

To carry the weight of owed indebtedness against a neighbor, is to be enslaved to the debt which is owed.

To forgive all trespasses and sins it to live openly demonstrating love it to embrace the understanding of both “guilt and compassion.”

To forgive all trespasses and sins is to live a life openly demonstrating love it to embrace the understanding of both “guilt and compassion.”

2Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit.

().

Moreover, we are to extend this blessing upon all our neighbors, for we from forgiven hearts, are to extend heartfelt forgiveness toward those who transgress against us.

To carry the weight of owed indebtedness against a neighbor, is to be enslaved to the debt which is owed.

To forgive all trespasses and sins it to live openly demonstrating love it to embrace the understanding of both “guilt and compassion.”

1. Confessing Indebtedness (; ; )

12 And forgive us our debts,

καὶ ἄφες (forgive) ἡμῖν (our / we) τὰ ὀφειλήματα (debts) ἡμῶν (our / we)

Our obligations as sinners.

Recognizing we increase our debt day by day.

They may be discontentment, anger which reflects murder, lust in out hearts, simply questioning the sufficiency which is found in our daily provision of life.

, or struggle is with sin all our lives.

Christ is the only solution to our debt of sin:

“For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.

But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.” (, NKJV)

When David speaks in of the blessedness of the man to who the LORD will not impute sin, he is addressing the state of forgiveness, or what it means to be surrounded, embraced, wrapped up and covenantally kept by the LOVE of YHWH, which this petition to God recognizes.

No less does he address the same forgiveness in :

“Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.

For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me.

Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight— That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge.”

(, NKJV)

What is debt toward God?

This fastest answer is to be Perfect as Out Heavenly Father is Perfect.