Matthew 6:9-13 contains a section of text which has been dubbed, “The Lord’s Prayer.” The thought is certainly not that it was a rarity for Jesus to pray, for as we’ve discussed previously, Jesus was constant in prayer. Nor is the idea that Jesus desired for His disciples or any other to use His words as a periodical recital. In fact, He cautioned His disciples about vain repetitions shortly before wording this prayer (v 7). This is an example of how to pray. It is given to model or display prayer to His followers – a short and simple prayer which would serve as a starting place for those who seek to learn to pray.
Exaltation of God
In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. (Mt 6:9)
If one is in the presence of royalty or authority, a certain measure of respect and deference is expected. We should present ourselves in a humble and obeisant manner. How much more when we approach God in prayer? He is the Creator of the universe. The authority over all authorities. He is also our heavenly Father, which involves an emotional, family-like relationship, but that does not make void or nullify the obligation to approach Him with the utmost respect. If anything, the greater affection and devotion for God should ignite a higher degree of awe and reverence in us. Our heavenly Father is not “the man upstairs,” “the big guy,” or other lax or insolent titles some have used. Jesus’ address was respectful and exalted the Father.
Consider this glorious opportunity which we have. We, who are feeble and insignificant creatures in the vastness of creation, are able to approach and obtain an audience with the Creator of all things. And not only that, but our ability to do so is in no way limited by His schedule or willingness to hear us, for He is always ready to hear the petitions of His children. Only two things get in the way – our failure to schedule time to pray and sin, for His ears are not open to those who are in defiant opposition to His way.
Jesus used the word “hallowed.” This word is not used with much frequency in our modern language. It means “to separate, consecrate; cleanse, purify, sanctify; regard or reverence as holy” (1). It speaks of that which is exalted and praiseworthy. It is an acknowledgment of the character and very nature of God, that He is holy, He is pure, He is sanctified, and He is to be venerated. It is equally an expression of praise – hallowed be Your name. We see multiple times the Psalmist exalting the name of God (Psalm 8:1, 9; 54:6; 63:4; 145:1-3; etc.).
Focus on God’s Will
Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)
Some treat God as though He were Santa Claus and prayer like their personal wish list. I’m not suggesting we not bring our prayer requests to the Lord – the Bible tells us to petition God. But we should be careful how we approach petitions. Is our focus on things for self – are our petitions selfish? Does our focus tend toward things which are physical and temporal in nature? Do we express our concern for others in our prayer requests? Are our prayers centered upon spiritual and eternal things? May our prayers come from a focus on God’s will and a desire to see His will done on the earth.
James very bluntly revealed that selfish pursuits are not the right approach to prayer:
You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. (James 4:2-3)
Sometimes the legitimate answer to a prayer is no, and we must learn to trust that God knows what is best for us. But James indicates that if our prayer is coming from a selfish spirit, it all but guarantees a “no” response.
The Lord Jesus prayed that God’s will be done on earth. The fact is, God’s will is not always done on the earth. That is not a faithless statement – it is reality. Jesus wouldn’t have prayed for God’s will to be done on earth if that were already the case. The fact is, if God’s will were always done on earth, there would be no sin.
Concerning God’s will, may I stress the need for caution when stating “this” or “that” is (or is not) the will of God. In April of 2010, we had a potential adoption fail. The birth mother decided against the adoption because the child was born ill. Seeking to comfort us, we had some good brethren tell us, “It just wasn’t God’s will.” I know their intention was good, but their words provided no consolation. Just over a month later, we had another adoption fall through. I’ll spare you the details, except to say it was presented to us as a “sure thing.” In fact, much of the young child’s belongings were sent home with us. He would remain with the foster family until the paperwork was settled. We received a call from the adoption agency – the birth father had changed his mind and wanted to go with a different family. We were blindsided and devastated. Again, some tried to comfort us by saying, “It wasn’t God’s will.” Why was this little boy kept from our home? Because the birth father decided we were too religious. Friends, Satan’s will was done that day – not God’s will.
We need to pray for God’s will to be done, but we must be careful in stating unequivocally what is and what is not God’s will in the ebb and flow of life. Was Cain killing Abel God’s will, so He could use Seth’s lineage to bring about the Messiah? Was Joseph’s sale by his brothers God’s will so He could save the family of Jacob in Egypt? God can exercise His will despite the wicked actions of man; but that doesn’t make man’s wickedness God’s will.
Another thought regarding God’s will being done – the LORD does not have a personal, individual will pre-planned and established for each of us. That is a Calvinistic thought. Is He concerned with us? Absolutely. Has He mapped out our lives? No! He gives us the freedom to make choices, and in many cases, one choice or path is just as valid as the next. And God can bless us, whichever road we choose. We most certainly should seek God’s direction, bringing our petitions to Him and seeking the principles in His word to direct our way. And when the Lord opens or closes a door, may we acknowledge His wisdom and continually seek to bring our walk and will into subjection to His way.
Jesus expressed His desire to see a specific facet of God’s will accomplished – “Your kingdom come.” In Mark 9:1, Jesus declared,
Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.
What Jesus prayed about would come to pass, and it has come to pass. The kingdom has come. It would be senseless for us to cite these words. To do so would either demonstrate a lack of understanding or a rejection of the fact God has fulfilled His word – His kingdom has come and has been established (Ephesians 3:9-11). Acknowledging this, it would be appropriate for us to pray concerning the return of Christ, the time of judgment, and for the kingdom to be received into eternity.
God’s Provisions
Give us this day our daily bread. (Matthew 6:11)
We live in a society enamoured with self-sufficiency. In this midst of this, we need to acknowledge that God is the source of what we have, that He has blessed us and continues to do so. The retort may be, “But I bought it! I worked for it!” And indeed, that may be true. But God is the source of life, breath, health, strength, abilities, and opportunities. Without the provision of God, we wouldn’t even exist!
Consider the simplicity and humility of Jesus’ request. “Give us this day our daily bread.” Not this week, this month, or this year; but this day. We don’t need tomorrow provisions today. But further, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Certainly, the word “bread” can be used by way of metonymy to represent any and all food (Acts 2:46; 20:11; 27:35; 2 Corinthians 9:10; 2 Thessalonians 3:8, 12), and thus the request is not limited to an edible made with flour and water, but I doubt steaks and fancy delicacies were on the Lord’s mind. It is a request for sustenance, for what is needed to nourish the body. That said, our experience is so often that God gives beyond what is needed.
Have you ever been in a situation where you didn’t know how a need would be met, and then God supplied in one way or another? My family has experienced this multiple times. Jesus assured us in Matthew 6:32 that our Father in heaven is aware of our needs, and we can have assurance that God will provide. Perhaps in His provision, the Lord doesn’t meet our wants – maybe He won’t fulfill our perceived needs – but we can have confidence that He knows what we need and will sustain those who trust in and serve Him.
Forgiveness and Forgiving
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. (Matthew 6:12)
Being forgiven and us forgiving others are connected. Notice Matthew 6:14-15:
For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
We need God’s forgiveness. Our hope of heaven depends upon it. But to be recipients of forgiveness, we must ourselves be forgiving people. As such, the hope of heaven demands that we forgive others.
Forgiveness is not automatic. Some hold to a doctrine of “continual cleansing,” which has been aptly described in this way:
Continual cleansing is the concept that Christians are Teflon-coated, so sins don’t stick to them; instead, the blood of Christ continually cleanses them of all sins, even if they don’t ask for forgiveness. It is based on a misunderstanding of 1 John 1. (2)
The Bible does not support the idea of continual cleansing. Forgiveness is given when repentance and confession of sin has occurred.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
As noted in Matthew 6, there is one condition, aside from repentance – a forgiving spirit. Remember the parable Jesus told of the master who showed mercy by forgiving a servant who was indebted to the tune of 10,000 talents. However, that servant went out and demanded immediate payment from a fellow servant who owed him 100 denarii. For clarity, one talent is 6,000 denarii. This servant, who was forgiven a debt of 60 million denarii, was unwilling to forgive a fellow servant who owed him 100 denarii. When the master was made aware of it, he revoked the forgiveness of debt and delivered the wicked servant “…to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him” (Matthew 18:34). Jesus closed the parable with the following application:
So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses (Matthew 18:35).
Sustained in the Battle
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. (Matthew 6:13)
Don’t misunderstand the meaning due to the wording – God is not going to lead set temptation to sin before us. James 1:13 affirms,
Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
The focus here is on relief or shelter from temptation. Temptation is generally an appeal to misuse our desires. God’s word is given as a defense against such. In Matthew 4, each time the Lord Jesus was faced with temptation by the devil, He responded by saying, “It is written…” Here is what My Father says about that. Paul assured the Corinthians,
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
Deliverance from the evil one is available, and the Lord delights to guard and sustain His people. But we cannot pray “deliver us from the evil one” and then walk without concern into the serpent’s lair. Victory over the devil requires that we subscribe to God’s way, not our own. Those who follow the Deliverer will find deliverance.
Conclusion
For Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen (Matthew 6:13)
Jesus ended His pattern for prayer by acknowledging the authority and power which belong to God and the glory which is due Him. It is right that we exalt the Father for who He is, for what He does, and for what He has promised to us. Indeed, He is faithful and true; He is worthy of our praise and devotion, for He has out greatest good in mind – the salvation of our souls.
Matilda E. Andross observed,
Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin will entice a man to cease from prayer.
This is an astute observation. Those who are in perpetual communication with the Lord and pursuing the will of God, though they may face manifold temptation, will seek God’s help and direction and protection. Conversely, those who shamelessly yield to temptation, who are intrigued by the draw of sin, will find it difficult and undesirable to approach a holy God in prayer.
Friends, let us be people of prayer.
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Sources
– Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary (via e-Sword)
– lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/could-you-explain-continual-cleansing/
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This article appeared in Meditate On These Things, 2024-10
Links: YouVersion | GROW magazine
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