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“And When You Pray…”
Matthew 6:5-15
Introduction: When we stop and give serious contemplation to worship, it should scare us. Ecclesiastes 5:1, “Keep your foot when you go to the house of God; for to draw nigh to hear is better than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they do not know that they do evil” (ASV).
As with all worship, when we go before God in prayer, we need to “keep our foot,” that is, guard our steps. Otherwise we can offer a sacrifice of fools and not know we are doing evil.
- Matthew 6:5-15 Getting the Big Picture
- “And when you pray…” Jesus uses the phrase twice. The assumption is that we will pray. It was evident the Jews prayed. It was a public regimen. If you didn’t, you look weird. But Jesus exposes a danger: it is possible to pray and not be heard! In other words, are you praying because you want your Father to hear? Or, are you just praying because you are suppose to pray? That is a critical question.
- Considering verses 5-8, we easily understand the point Jesus is making. Pharisees are praying in public in order to impress others of their dedication to God. But take a closer look. Notice the words, “they love to stand and pray [out loud] in the synagogues.”
- Therefore, notice the contrast. They love public prayer. It is evident they were “good with words.” Their prayers sounded smooth and holy. A person who was not so fluid in public speaking might have avoided public prayer. But here is what they didn’t love – they didn’t love prayer! In other words, they didn’t love to be alone just with God, talk to God, and connect their hearts with God’s heart.
- It is as Jesus said later in John 5:42, 44, “But I know that you do not have the love of God within you…How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?”
- Therefore, public prayer should be a result of the prayer that happens when we go into our room and shut the door and pray to our Father in secret. Why should our public prayer sound different than our private prayer? If it does, we must question our motives. It is true that in public we are leading the church in collective prayer, but it should not sound as if we are giving a speech, a sermon, or a presentation. Just talk to God. Otherwise, the prayer is worthless. Is how you pray in public different than how you pray in private?
- Jesus also speaks about their “many words” and “empty phrases.” It seems that the Pharisees thought if they talked a lot by adding in all sorts of superfluous words and phrases, God would be impressed and listen. Jesus said that is what the Gentiles do. Remember Elijah and the prophets of Baal!
- In fact, that is what is so striking about Jesus’ model prayer. It is simple, brief, and to the point. Certainly, we should express our heart and emotions to God. David’s example in the Psalms give us beautiful pictures of this. But the “flower is off the rose” when our words are more than our heart’s desire expressed from the depth of our love for God.
- Answering the Question: Teach Us to Pray
- Remember, in Luke’s account, when the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, Jesus began with this model. But how does the model teach us to pray?
- When we consider what Jesus tells us to pray, we are first seeing where Jesus wants our heart. I cannot imagine praying the content of this model prayer without having the understanding and passion that is deeply expressed in the prayer’s requests. That must be our approach in studying and applying the prayer.
- The prayer begins with, “Our Father…” There are two points that are foundational here:
- First is the plural. It is not “my Father,” but “our” Father. We see it throughout the prayer. Prayer is personal, but for the Christian, it is never exclusive. Paul said, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people…That is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim. 2:1, 3-4). I’m sure most of us would realize that too often our prayers and selfish; it’s just about me.
- Second, especially foundational to prayer is addressing God as Father. When our children are little, we all love to hear when their first words are daddy or mommy. But when it is really meaningful is when they are grown and a deep respect and love has been earned and both your lives are centered on your hope in God. What did God say he desired? “I desire steadfast love, not sacrifice.” That is when “our Father” is meaningful. It is when it comes from one’s steadfast love for the one has begotten us to a new birth and a new life.
- The first three requests reflect the Father’s desires. The second three the Father’s concern for our earthly existence and future life.
- We should place great significance on the order. It is first the concerns of Father, for his eternal purpose that he be glorified above all else. To do all things “to the praise of his glory” is above all else in God’s mind because it has to do with what is best for all his creation. God knows that without him, the world will suffer.
- Therefore, “Hallowed be your name.” That is not an introductory title. It is a prayer, a request that comes from a burning desire in our hearts. Can you think of anything more important than the Father’s name/character being the foremost in the lives of every person?
- The importance of God’s name being honored foremost in the world is evident when we see what Satan does in the tower of Babel. Instead of the people after the Flood spreading abroad to fill the earth with God’s name, they built a tower to make a name for themselves. That has always been the battle of man against God. Man desires to have his name exalted. But when man is exalted, the world comes to ruin.
- Your kingdom come: There are two principles we should note:
- Christians often omit this part of the prayer because they believe that since the kingdom came in Acts 2, there is no need. However, the context of the prayer indicates the reception of the kingdom, not the establishment of it. The kingship of Jesus was established, but the kingship of Jesus has not been received into the hearts of men. Just like “hallowed be your name,” this is an evangelistic request. Ezekiel 36:37-38. “I will let them ask me…” Are we asking?
- While it is certainly appropriate to pray for a church, a local group of Christians and especially those of whom we are a part, the prayer is about the Kingdom. This is emphasis of the Gospel accounts. The word “church” is only used once. The realm of the kingdom is the world. We have become too limited in our care, concern, and love for all people when we think only of our local area. God’s concern is his eternal Kingdom.
- Your will be done: Notice how Jesus prays that God’s will is done– “on earth as in heaven.” How is God’s will done in heaven? It is done perfectly. Jesus is teaching us to pray that men and women respond to the gospel. Since God has given man free will, this can only be a prayer that men will submit their will to the will of God. It is again an evangelistic request.
- When we combine all three of these requests, what are we actually praying? We are praying for people. We are praying that the hearts of people are changed so that they honor God above all else, they submit to the Kingship of Jesus, and they do the will of the King.
Conclusion: Why did Jesus give such a simple prayer? The Jews called it an “index prayer.” Each category offers us a bullet point from which numerous, important requests should be made. Thus the prayer is easily memorized so that as we pray it is easy to start with each request and expand to many details that need to be expressed before God. It we will use this as our pattern, we will put the emphasis where it belongs and we will be thorough in conversation with God. In Luke’s account, this was the first answer Jesus gave to the question, “Lord, teach us to pray.”
Berry Kercheville