Most people understand that prayer is an important aspect of Christian life. Jesus, during his ministry to the disciples who would be the foundation of his church, didn’t leave them without instruction on this important practice. We find such instruction in Matthew 6.
Not for Others
Before providing an example of prayer, Jesus knew it would be helpful to provide examples of their time which failed to accomplish the purpose of prayer. There is always a threat that the culture around us will inform how we view the faith, and how it might influence prayer is no different.
The first example he gives of bad prayer are the hypocrites. What we can know by the name alone is that we’re dealing with people who may appear to be doing things well, but actually have another motive.
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, they have received their reward. But 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.
Matthew 6:5-6
These would be people who play act at praying to God, but in reality are praying to be seen by their fellow man. They pick public locations and make a grand display of praying, because their audience is not God but those who will see them.
Jesus instructs his followers to pray privately, to ensure that their prayers are directed to God and not for the purpose of getting the attention of those around them. There are other places in scripture that encourage believers to pray together and plenty of examples of the apostles praying together, as well. This is not a contradiction.
Even when praying with other believers, the act of prayer should be as if it were between you and God. While our topics may be more matters of corporate concern while praying together, our focus is on the God to whom we pray.
Not A Spell
He then moves on to how the Gentiles of his time prayed.
And 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. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Matthew 6:7-8
These are superstitious prayers, where they believe it is the act of the prayer itself that accomplishes good rather than the one being prayed to. The secret ingredient, so the Gentiles thought, was in the repetition. Perhaps their God would miss their prayer or would need to be persuaded to their cause by persistent demands.
However, as followers of the only true God, we do not pray so that we can catch our Lord’s attention or convince him that our way is best. He already knows what is best for us and our prayers are simply our way of expressing that we trust him will our worries and are grateful for his care.
Some may argue this contradicts what Jesus taught in the parable of the dishonest judge. However, as I wrote here, this is about persisting in pursuit of justice and not about repetition to get your own desired end.
You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
James 4:3
Prayers which seek to satisfy our own passions will not be honored. Only when we are seeking God’s will for us will prayer be effective. Instead of repeatedly asking for something in hopes of obtaining it, be diligent in seeking God’s will persistently in prayer.
Lord’s Prayer
Having cleared up possible contemporary confusions regarding prayer, Jesus then gives an example of prayer which is rightly focused.
Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven,
Matthew 6:9-13
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.”
First, the focus of the prayer is on glorifying God. When you’re addressing the creator of all that exists, who is worthy of all praise, there is no better way to pray than to acknowledge his goodness. Since he is worthy of all praise, we must not forget to give it!
Then comes the will of every believer, that God’s Kingdom would be manifest on earth and his will done just as it is in heaven. God’s ways are good. Anything which deviates from these ways falls short and results in suffering. All the best intentions in the world mean nothing if we ignore the will of God. Because of this, we must diligently have as our own desire to see things done as God desires.
He instructs them then to ask for their daily needs, knowing that all good things ultimately come from God. Whether it is food, clothes, housing, or companionship, God is the one who made us needful of these things and knows we need them. He is also the one who created the means to meet those needs. Even when we labor to provide for those needs, we do well to acknowledge that we are dependent upon him for the rewards of those labors.
Knowing that his followers will wrestle with the desires of the flesh in a fallen world, he encourages them to ask for forgiveness in the same manner that they ought to be forgiving of those who have wronged them. They are going to fail and those around them will too. With that in mind, we recognize the human need for forgiveness. He even reiterates this in verses 14 and 15, saying that keeping a grudge against those who wrong us will actually cause God to withhold forgiveness from us.
That said, to love God means to hate our sin and long to be free. Knowing that God’s will is to deliver us from our sins, we pray that he keep us from temptation that we can honor our Lord with our lives.
God knows our prayers before we give them, but human relationships are built upon communication. We don’t pray because God needs it. He doesn’t need to be informed or convinced. Instead, we pray because we need it in order to have a healthy relationship that grows with the God who gives all good things. We pray because we love God.
