Gospel of Matthew Matthew 6:9-13 The King s Sermon Praying to Our Father in Heaven After Jesus taught His disciples to avoid praying like the hypocrites (6:5) and like the heathen (6:7-8), He taught them the model prayer, known as the Lord s Prayer (6:9-13). Because of the Scriptures and their rich spiritual heritage, the Jews should have valued the power and privilege of prayer more than any people, but something had gone wrong by the time Christ began His ministry. Prayer had become a mere formality and ritual, so Jesus gave simple instructions on the right motive and manner in prayer. Though the Lord s Prayer is often read and recited publicly, Jesus taught it as a guideline for our own prayers rather than a substitute for them (vs. 9, after this manner therefore pray ). In this lesson we will explore the first part of the prayer (6:9-10). 1. The relationship that believers have with our Father A. This relationship is the basis of all Christian prayer All Christians know God as our Heavenly Father. Scripture teaches us to pray to the Father through the Son in the Holy Spirit. Prayer is simply talking to God as our loving Heavenly Father. All believers have the same spiritual relationship with Him ( Our Father ). B. This relationship is the birthright of all believers God is our Father only when we come into His family through His Son. Jesus described eternal life as knowing the Father and His Son, John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. The Bible makes it clear that God becomes our Father when we receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. John 1:11-12 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. Unbelievers have a different kind of spiritual father, John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. C. This relationship gives us confidence and assurance in prayer Since God is our Father we can pray to Him boldly (with ease, freedom). Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. The entire model prayer can be understood through our relationship with the Father: We praise our Father s perfection (vs. 9) We desire our Father s purpose (vs. 10) We rely on our Father s provision (vs. 11)
We seek our Father s pardon (vs. 12) We need our Father s protection (vs. 13a) We realize our Father s power (vs. 13b) From beginning to end the focus is on our Heavenly Father. Scripture describes Him as the Father of lights (Jas. 1:17), the Father of mercies and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 1:3). He is the Father of spirits (Heb. 12:9) and of all who receive Christ as Lord and Savior. Believers are described as those who call on the Father (1 Pet. 1:17) and the believer s future home in heaven is called the Father s house (Jn. 14:2). In this prayer we are reminded that our Father is a King. As members of God s eternal family we have the sympathy of a Father and the sovereignty of a King. 2. The reverence that believers have for our Father God s name is "hallowed" (holy, set apart) from all others. A. God s name represents His essence and character He is set apart from all created beings and from all contamination of sin in His creatures. The Scriptures remind us to worship God s name (character): Psalms 34:3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. Psalms 103:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Scripture reminds us that the name of the Lord is holy. The third commandment forbids the abuse or trivial misuse of God s name, Exodus 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. The Lord knows all those who respect His holy name, Malachi 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. B. God s holiness is one of His fundamental attributes Theologians have referred to God s holiness as His primary attribute. As we recognize God s holiness we become aware of our own sinfulness and need of forgiveness, Isaiah 6:1-5 1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. As we think of God s holiness we praise Him, Psalms 30:4 Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints (holy ones) of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. We also come to share God s hatred of sin, Psalms 97:10 Ye that love the LORD, hate evil. 3. The request that believers offer to our Father
The first request in the model prayer is found in verse 10: Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Prayer was never intended as a means to demand things from God, to inform Him, or to persuade Him to do things He doesn t want to do. Prayer is not bending God s will to fit ours. Prayer is not coming to God like a vending machine and saying, I ll take this, and that. Prayer is not taking our shopping list to God. A. Believers want God s kingdom to come In prayer we should seek God s kingdom (control) in our world and in our lives. Asking for God s kingdom to come also has a future aspect to it. We are asking for God to bring His literal kingdom to earth and crush all rebellion against Him. Christ will reign as King and He will be exalted in the earth. We long for that day to come. We will explore the topic of God s kingdom again when we consider the phrase, thine is the kingdom (Mt. 6:13). B. Believers want God s will to be done In prayer we should desire God s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. God s will is always done in heaven by the holy angels. This portion of the model prayer is similar in thought to Psalms 103:20-22 20 Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. 21 Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. 22 Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul. Prayer doesn t change God; it changes us. When we pray like Jesus taught us, we are praying in a spirit that honors God and prepares us for His response. Praying like this reminds us that we must also be in God s will and obey it. Otherwise, we are hypocrites. For example, as we pray for others to be saved, we must be willing to share the Gospel with them. As we pray for wisdom, we must be willing to study God s Word. As we pray for God to bless our church, we must be willing to get involved and serve the Lord. Thomas Watson offered these thoughts on God s will: The great design of God in his Word is to make us doers of his will. Doing the will of God is evidence of sincerity and our love for Christ. Doing God s will is for our benefit and our own self-interest. It is as if a king commanded a subject to dig in a gold mine, but gave him all the gold he was able to dig. To be employed in doing God s will is the highest mark of honour that a mortal creature is capable of. Doing the will of God makes us like Christ: I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me (Jn. 6:38) (Voices from the Past, 343). How is God s will done in heaven? Angels obey God s will consistently and without wavering. Angels obey God s will completely and with nothing left undone. Angels obey God s will sincerely out of respect to God s command and with a genuine concern for His glory (Watson, Voices from the Past, 344).
Gospel of Matthew Matthew 6:9-13 The King s Sermon Praying to Our Father in Heaven After Jesus taught His disciples to avoid praying like the hypocrites (6:5) and like the heathen (6:7-8), He taught them the model prayer, known as the Lord s Prayer (6:9-13). Because of the Scriptures and their rich spiritual heritage, the Jews should have valued the power and privilege of prayer more than any people, but something had gone wrong by the time Christ began His ministry. Prayer had become a mere formality and ritual, so Jesus gave simple instructions on the right motive and manner in prayer. Though the Lord s Prayer is often read and recited publicly, Jesus taught it as a guideline for our own prayers rather than a substitute for them (vs. 9, after this manner therefore pray ). In this lesson we will explore the first part of the prayer (6:9-10). 1. that believers have with our Father A. This relationship is of all Christian prayer B. This relationship is of all believers God is our Father only when we come into His family through His Son. Jesus described eternal life as knowing the Father and His Son (Jn. 17:3). The Bible makes it clear that God becomes our Father when we receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (Jn. 1:11-12). All unbelievers have a different kind of spiritual father (Jn. 8:44). C. This relationship gives us in prayer The entire model prayer can be understood through our relationship with the Father: We praise our Father s (vs. 9) We desire our Father s (vs. 10) We rely on our Father s (vs. 11) We seek our Father s (vs. 12) We need our Father s (vs. 13a) We realize our Father s (vs. 13b) God is the Father of lights (Jas. 1:17), the Father of mercies and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 1:3). He is the Father of spirits (Heb. 12:9) and of all who receive Christ as Lord and Savior. Believers are described as those who call on the Father (1 Pet. 1:17) and the believer s future home in heaven is called the Father s house (Jn. 14:2). 2. that believers have for our Father
A. God s name represents He is set apart from all created beings and from all contamination of sin in His creatures. Scripture reminds us that the name of the Lord is holy. The third commandment forbids the abuse or trivial misuse of God s name (Ex. 20:7). The Lord knows all those who respect His holy name (Mal. 3:16). B. God s holiness is one of His As we recognize God s holiness we become aware of our own sinfulness and need of forgiveness (Is. 6:1-5). As we think of God s holiness we praise Him (Ps. 30:4), and we come to share God s hatred of sin (Ps. 97:10). 3. that believers offer to our Father A. Believers want In prayer we should seek God s kingdom (control) in our world and in our lives. Asking for God s kingdom to come also has a future aspect to it. We are asking for God to bring His literal kingdom to earth and crush all rebellion against Him. B. Believers want In prayer we should desire God s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. God s will is always done in heaven by the holy angels (Ps. 103:20-22). Praying like this reminds us that we must also be in God s will and obey it. Otherwise, we are hypocrites. For example, as we pray for others to be saved, we must be willing to share the Gospel with them. As we pray for wisdom, we must be willing to study God s Word. As we pray for God to bless our church, we must be willing to get involved and serve the Lord. Thomas Watson offered these thoughts on God s will: The great design of God in his Word is to make us doers of his will. Doing the will of God is evidence of sincerity and our love for Christ. Doing God s will is for our benefit and our own self-interest. It is as if a king commanded a subject to dig in a gold mine, but gave him all the gold he was able to dig. To be employed in doing God s will is the highest mark of honour that a mortal creature is capable of. Doing the will of God makes us like Christ: I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me (Jn. 6:38) (Voices from the Past, 343). How is God s will done in heaven? Angels obey God s will and without wavering. Angels obey God s will and with nothing left undone. Angels obey God s will out of respect to God s command and with a genuine concern for His glory (Watson, Voices from the Past, 344).