333. JESUS TEACHES HIS DISCIPLES HOW TO PRAY
"Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name"
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave to his followers a pattern of what prayer should be like. God speaks to man through His Word, and man replies in prayer. The Word reveals our God as a loving heavenly Father, Who cares for man and upon Whom man can depend. Prayer then is the outworking of faith and should increase as we perceive God working in our lives in answer to our petitions.
The aim of this lesson is to be led by Jesus to the right way to pray.
Matthew 6
WRONG AND RIGHT WAYS TO PRAY (Matt. 6:5-8).
Jesus begins his instructions about prayer with a warning: "When thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men". While they appeared to be worshipping God, they were really cultivating the admiration of men. They loved to be seen of men, and this was clear from their choice of prominent places in which to pray. They were like play actors who take upon themselves a role foreign to their real lives. As their ostentatious piety received from men their desired reward, they could not expect from God a future one: "They have their reward".
The place of true prayer is in secret when the door is shut and the soul alone with God. Such prayer by Elisha received the desired response from God in the case of the Shunamite (2 Kgs. 4:33-37). Already Jesus had taught his disciples this by example as well as precept. They had searched and found him in a "solitary place", gain ing strength in prayer to pursue the arduous tasks of another day (Mk. 1:35) and they became aware of his relationship with his Father and his dependence upon Him.
Jesus adds a second warning: "Use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking". We must avoid "mechanical" praying in which the same things are said over and over again in parrot-like repetition. Our words must be the expression of the sincere desire of our hearts. God "searches the heart" and if our prayers bear little resemblance to our inmost desires, then they will repulse Him. Repetition implies that God is not all-knowing because He does not hear the first time, or "know our needs before we ask". In itself it evidences a lack of faith. Thereby worship is relegated to the level of "the heathen". Then the response from God will be the same as Baal's, when his worshippers were put to shame before Elijah (1 Kgs. 18:26).
THE LORD'S PRAYER (Matt. 6:9-15).
After the Lord had given two warnings about prayer, he directed the disciple's attention to the right way to pray. The importance of this "model prayer" can be seen from the fact that on a different oc casion, when the Lord was asked how to pray, he repeated in essence the same prayer (Lk. 11:1-4). It should be noted that the language is SIMPLE, as of a child speaking to his father, and is COMPREHENS IVE, though brief. When the Lord said that prayer should be "after this manner", he did not mean that all prayer should be exactly the same as this one, but that the general lines € the balance of emphasis, the perspective, the simplicity € should approximate this one. Because the prayer is brief, we can analyse it easily and learn much about man's place before God and his dependence upon Him, for in it God's glory and purpose are placed ahead of human needs.
The prayer breaks up into four parts: €
1. Opening Address € "Our Father, which art in heaven":
The prayer begins with worship, not asking. The disciple can join with Jesus in addressing God as "Father". Although God on four occasions is so addressed under the Old Covenant (cp. 1 Chron. 29:10; Isa. 63:16; 64:8; Deut. 32:6), with the coming of the Son of God there is a new emphasis € believers are encouraged to call God, "Father": "because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father" (Gal. 4:4-6). In Christ we enjoy the intimacy and privileges that exist in the "father-son relationship" € care (6:26, 30, 32; 7:11), pity (Psa. 103:13), heirship (Rom. 8:17) and even chastisement (Heb. 12:4-9). The mention of His dwelling-place, "in heaven", at once makes us contemplate His power and holiness, and so cautions familiarity (cp. Ecc. 5:2).
2. Three Petitions Relating to God €
i) "Hallowed be thy Name": These words seem to be drawn from the opening verse of Psalm 103, which is a meditation on the name or character of God as revealed to Moses (Ex. 34:6-8). Notice how many of the thoughts of this Psalm are also found in the Lord's prayer. The Psalmist "hallows" the Father's name by recalling His wonderful qualities which are the basis of human redemption (v.12) € forgiveness, loving kindness, tender mercies € and which must also be found in the characters of those who profess to be His sons. But today God's name is profaned by men at large because they disregard Him and disobey Him (cp. Amos 2:7; Isa. 52:5). In effect this petition seeks for the day of the Kingdom when men will "know Yahweh" and worship Him in holiness. The words of our hymn well express the idea: "Thy name be hallowed far and near: To thee all nations bow".
ii) and Hi) "Thy Kingdom Come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven": Instead of personal requests, again the Father is put to the fore. So attuned is the disciple's mind to the purpose and glory of God that he earnestly desires its fulfilment. Human governments have failed to bring justice and equity; divine government is essen tial.
Only one who "seeks first the kingdom of God and His righteousness", as Jesus later advised (v.33), can with clear cons cience utter these words. Jesus said "not my will but thine be done" and this must be the maxim for all his disciples. We cannot sincerely pray for God's will to be done upon earth in the future, if today we fail to do it ourselves.
- Three Petitions Relating to Man's Need €
i) "Give us this day our daily bread": "Our daily bread" is translated "our bread for the morrow" in the RSV margin. The "daily bread" seems to have been the amount of food given to slaves, soldiers or labourers and allotted a day beforehand (cp. Lk. 12:42). In this petition the disciple acknowledges his dependence upon God for his immediate needs. He has learned to trust in God and to be content with food and raiment. Too much concern about future security shows a lack of faith in the Father's care and ability to provide. Do we have that faith in our heavenly Father that gives us contentment, and enables us to limit our requests to immediate needs, in the knowledge that He loves us and will preserve us?
But men are not only in need of the bread of the cornfield; they need also the "bread of heaven" to be sustained unto eternal life. A loving heavenly Father has provided both.
ii) "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors": Here there is the acknowledgement of the need for God's mercy and grace, which is now freely available to those who are baptised in the Name of Jesus Christ: there is no forgiveness outside of him (Jn. 8:24; Acts 4:12). True prayer must be cast in a tone of humility and repentance. But, alas, the extent that God will forgive is dependent on the petitioner's own willingness to forgive. He can limit the ex tension of God's grace toward himself by his harshness and bit terness towards others! "He shall have judgment without mercy, that hath showed no mercy" (Jas. 2:13). So important is this matter that the Lord comes back to it, and it alone, at the conclusion of the prayer (verses 14 and 15 read naturally on from verse 12). All disciples, however highly esteemed they might be by men, must remember that they are both forgiven and in need of forgiveness, and therefore must grant it to others. The parable of the Unforgiv ing Creditor brings this lesson home in the most poignant way (Matt. 18:23-35, see Lesson 16) and the apostle Paul extends this vital teaching in Eph. 4:32 and Col. 3:13. The parable of the Pharisee and the Publican essentially portrays one man who prayed without being aware of his sins and needs and the other who was, and so, despite his sin, he was justified "rather than the other" (Lk. 18:11-14).
iii) "Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil": The disciple is conscious of his weaknesses in trial and that he is liable to fail. For this reason he eschews temptation, and desires that he might not be led into it. But he knows too, that it is "through much tribulation" that he must enter into the Kingdom (Acts 14:22), and that "whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth" (Heb. 12:6). Therefore he prays to be "delivered from evil". The lessons are € be aware of your weaknesses and when in trouble pray to God (cp. 2 Tim. 4:18; Psa. 34:6-7, 17-18).
- Conclusion: Praise to God € "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen": As the prayer begins, so it ends, with praise and worship to God. God must "enclose" and govern all of our requests: He must pervade our hopes because His "kingdom" shall fulfil them € His sons shall be redeemed by His "power", and His "glory" shall be shared by them (Rom. 2:7; 5:2; 8:18). These final words are the same as those spoken by King David on the occasion when he and Israel gave willingly and liberal ly for the Temple and Solomon was made king. David's grasp, as seen in this prayer, of the smallness of man in the light of the greatness of God, provides us with profitable reflection (see 1 Chron. 29:10-19).
FURTHER INSTRUCTION ABOUT PRAYER.
The Lord's prayer is our guide; it is important to apply its lessons to ourselves. The Lord had other things to say about prayer, as did also the apostles, and it will be good for us to summarise them briefly:
- We must pray to God in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the ap pointed mediator, priest, and advocate (Jn. 16:23; 1 Tim. 2:5; Heb.7:25; 1 Jn. 2:1).
- We must be earnest and frank in prayer (Jas. 5:16-18; Matt.7:7-11).
- We must pray often (Lk. 18:1; 1 Thess. 5:17).
- We must persist in prayer as an evidence of genuine desire (Lk.11:5-13).
- We must offer petitions in faith and without any doubt about God's ability and willingness to give (Matt. 7:9-11; Mk. 11:24; Jas.1:6-8).
- We must ask for that which is in accordance with the Father's will (1 Jn. 5:14; Jas. 4:3).
- We must remember to be thankful for all of God's gifts (Eph. 5:20; Phil. 4:6; 1 Tim. 4:3-5).
- We must be watchful and not sleepy (Col. 4:2).
There will be no answer to prayers if they are mechanical and for mal; if the motive is carnal, if there is disobedience (1 Sam. 28:6), or if there is wavering and doubt.
LESSONS FOR US:
- Jesus has given us a model prayer in which the right attitude of the worshipper before God can be seen.
- We must take account of what Jesus says, for as we grow in Christ, this prayer should more truly express our feelings: we can never "improve" upon it
- Prayer evidences trust in God, and is a barometer of our spiritual growth.
- Whatever we do or decide, should first have been taken to the Father in prayer.
- Prayer should be frank, sincere, simple, strenuous, humble, unceasing and watchful.
- Prayer is a need we cannot afford to neglect. Our little strength, our inability to comfort others, must be fortified by fervent daily prayer. It must become part of our lives, not just routine but always vital and important. We are assured that then our prayers will be heard by an ever-loving heavenly Father.
REFERENCE LIBRARY:
"Teaching of the Master" (L. G. Sargent) € Part IV, Chapters 2-7
"A Life of Jesus" (M. Purkis) € Pages 143-144
"A Prayer: Studies in Principle and Practice" (M. Purkis and C. Tennant)
"Making Prayer Powerful" (H. P. Mansfield)
"The Sermon on the Mount (J. Luke) Pages 25-41
PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:
- What did Jesus say in the Sermon on the Mount about our attitude of mind when we pray?
- What is the value of prayer?
- "Hallowed be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom Come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven". Comment on these phrases in the Lord's prayer.
- Jesus taught his disciples to pray: "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors". What does this teach us? Illustrate your answer by referring to the parable of the Unforgiving Creditor (Matt. 18).
ESSAY QUESTIONS:
- Choose three of the phrases in the Lord's prayer and comment upon them, showing the lessons which they teach us.
- Quote the Lord's prayer and show how it places man in his correct relationship to God.
- Write an essay about how the principles shown in the Lord's prayer have affected your outlook.
Section 3
PROCLAIMING THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Early in his public ministry, Jesus quoted Isaiah's summary of his mission on a sabbath day at Nazareth:
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord".
(Luke 4:17-19; Isa. 61:1-2).
When all eyes were fastened upon him, Jesus said, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears" (4:21). This was no son of Joseph in their midst. This was the Son of God, Immanuel ('God with us') who, as Peter later said of him, "went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him".
For 3 years the Lord faithfully fulfilled his work, teaching the good news of the Kingdom, giving encouragement to the poor, setting forth hope to those who had been bowed down with sin, healing some to show his divine authority, until finally he set his face towards Jerusalem and death. Section 3 of our lessons spans this period in the life of the Lord.