Our Calling to Pray (Garrett Wong, 3/5/2011)
9 Pray then like this: “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 also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For me, extended prayer tends to be a struggle many times along with the busyness of the day. I really cherish the prayer time that is emphasized at UC Riverside’s AACF which helps encourage believers to open up to one another and spend designated time in prayer.
In Matthew 6:5-8, Jesus says, “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, that they have received their reward. 6But 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. 7And 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. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
This definitely sets the tone. Jesus’ words show the disciples both how to and how not to pray, thus providing a framework for prayer. I believe through these verses, that as believers are prayer lives should first be:
1) We must be Genuine in Prayer (v.5-6)
Jesus says in verse 5, that when we pray we must not be like the hypocrites. Jesus is referring to that of the Pharisees. In the chapter prior, Matthew Chapter 5, Jesus says in 5:20, “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Essentially this verse sets up an impossible barrier to salvation by works. In 6:5, Jesus is exposing the hypocrisy exhibited by the Pharisees. In 6:1-6:4, Jesus talks about giving to the poor, in 6:5-6:15, prayer, and in 6:16-6:18, fasting. The purpose of all these acts are to bring worship to God and not meant to receive self-righteousness to gain the admiration from others.
In 6:6, Jesus provides a great example by telling the disciples to pray by going into your room and shutting the door and praying to your Father who is in secret. By being in your room and shutting the door, you close off the chance of being seen or heard by others, nullifying the chance for others to see you as “self-righteous”. Instead, by isolating yourself, allows you to genuinely let your requests be made known to God.
The means for our prayer should be time for us to present our requests to God, and should by in any means be used to present ourselves as righteous to impress others.
Just because we don’t have a place of isolation doesn’t mean we shouldn’t pray. These verses tell us to not pray with the intention of being seen by others. These verses encourage the believer to be genuine in times when he or she prays. The intention of prayer is communion with God and never should be used to look good to others.
2) We must be Honest in Prayer (v.7-8)
In 6:7-6:8, Jesus instructs, “not to heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.” We shouldn’t purposely use big and fancy words that impress anyone, but in a straightforward and honest way we should make known to God our requests. In verse 8, Jesus says “for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” This is very direct and to the point. There honestly is no need to purposely embellish our words when we pray to look good in front of other believers or non-believers. God knows exactly what we need before we even ask Him. Just because we may pray with small words, doesn’t mean our prayers will not be heard. There is no need for us to over think and fancy our words to God. He knows what we need. God is concerned with the condition of our heart and we are instructed to honest to Him in prayer.
3) We must be Kingdom-Minded when we Pray (v.9-13)
Jesus instructs us to pray:
9 Pray then like this: “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 also have forgiven our debtors.13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
In 6:9-10, Jesus shows us three petitions directed to God and in 6:11-13, three petitions toward human needs. This prayer is a model for prayer.
In 6:9, we see “Our Father in heaven, hallowed by your name.” Hallowed means to “set apart as holy, consecrated”. This basically sets the ground for prayer. Our prayer is directed to God, who is perfect in holiness. This also allows us to admit our complete inadequacy and depraved sinful condition before God as it states in Romans 3:23 that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” God is perfect and on the other hand, we are so imperfect and deserving of wrath and hell. So this verse allows essentially us to pray viewing God as a perfectly holy God.
In 6:10, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is heaven.” These two petitions show that prayer should be a willful submission to God’s purposes, plans and His glory. Matthew 26:39 presents a prime example of submission to God’s perfect purposes, plans and glory in Jesus’ prayer prior to His crucifixion. “39And going a little farther he fell on his face(A) and prayed, saying, ”My Father, if it be possible, let(B) this cup pass from me;(C) nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
In 6:11, “Give us this day our daily bread”, essentially presents a petition to God for our daily sustenance.
In 6:12, “and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” In the parallel passage in Luke 11:4, debts can be interpreted as violations of God’s laws and thus meaning “sins”. In 6:14-6:15, we are commanded to forgive others their trespasses. It reads, “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.” This request is the heart of prayer as it is what Jesus stresses immediately following 6:13.
Lastly, in 6:13, we need to petition, “And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.” We need to understand that God does not tempt men, in James 1:13 it says “13Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.” In 1 Corinthians 10:13 it states, “13No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” Though temptation will come, our aim as believers is presented by this verse in the passage, that we wouldn’t be lead into temptation, but delivered from evil.”
In 6:11-6:13, these petitions to God will ultimately assist us in living for the kingdom, setting our lives, physically(6:11), mentally and emotionally,(6:10, 6:12-6:13) and spiritually (6:9-13).
In conclusion, I believe that it is clear that God has called us as believers to pray to God being genuine in prayer, honest in prayer, and kingdom-minded in prayer. As encouragement from Philippians 4:6-7, “6(A) do not be anxious about anything,(B) but in everything by prayer and supplication(C) with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And(D) the peace of God,(E) which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”