Matthew 6:5-8, Prayer

Tod Kennedy, July 5, 2005

Introduction

Most believers want to serve God, but only in a advisory capacity. Jesus addresses this and other problems in Matthew chapter 6. Each chapter in the Sermon on the Mount can be broadly outlined under three topics. They are listed below. Chapter 6 emphasizes spiritual service and instructs about giving, prayer, fasting (the time set aside for intense spiritual thought and prayer), money, and worry. All of these are activities that we regularly must consider. Our motivation and attitude become fundamental tests for us. How and why we give; what kind of a prayer life do we have; do we ever take serious time to think and prayer; where does money fit into our lives and does it rule us; and then of course, worry is the little gremlin that chases all of us. Jesus knew that his disciples would face these same attitude and motivation tests, and so he instructed them in the biblical viewpoint.

1.     Spiritual service, motivation, and rewards in reference to prayer. Spiritual service (prayer), Motivation (why one prays), and rewards (the return on the spiritual investment of prayer).

2.     Matthew 6:5-15 outline and introductory comments on this passage.

a.      Warning about bad motivation for prayer, 6:5. Why do we pray? Why do we pray at the time we pray? Why do we pray where we pray?

b.     Instructions about private prayer between you and your heavenly Father, 6:6. He is our heavenly Father.  Interesting that Jesus teaches them to address him as such. John 13-17 uses Father 50 times.

c.      Warning about what you say in prayer—it should have genuine meaning and purpose, 6:7-8.

d.     Jesus gives his disciples a model prayer, the subject of which is the Old Testament future kingdom (9-10) and the disciples’ ministry of proclaiming that future kingdom (11-13).

i.        This prayer has six different requests: the first three are that the kingdom will come, and the second three are about the disciples as they proclaim the coming kingdom.

ii.      Read through used of kingdom in Matthew and review doctrine of kingdom of heaven.

e.      Clarification about forgiveness among people. This is not judicial forgiveness granted upon faith in Christ as savior, as in Acts 10:43. This is day to day forgiveness of others, without which they sin themselves and remain forgiven, 6:14-15.

3.     Other things to note from this passage.

a.      Note the use of the word “Father.” This emphasizes his responsible care for his own.

i.        Read through uses of father in Matthew and comment on relationship to this prayer and to believers today.

b.     Note the commands, either imperative or subjunctive: “Do not be as the hypocrites (5),…go into your inner room (6),…pray (6),…do not use meaningless repetition (7),…do not be like them (8),…pray, then, in this way (9).”

c.       Jesus did not give this prayer to be repeated. It was a model for the disciples to think about. To repeat this prayer as a ritual is doing just what Jesus said not to do in this passage (6:7).

d.     Warren Wiersbe has said that this prayer indicates what is of interest to God, not necessarily to man: God’s name, God’s kingdom, and God’s will. Robert Law has said, “Prayer is a mighty instrument, not for getting man’s will done in heaven, but for getting God’s will done in earth.”

4.     Matthew 6:5.  “Do not be as the hypocrites” (future middle indicative, imperatival future).

5.     Matthew 6:6.

a.      “go into your inner room” (aorist active imperative of command stressing a summary command). What is the inner room?

i.        Tameion warehouse, storehouse, closet, private room, where one cannot be seen. For concentrated prayer do not do as the Pharisees. Do not show off. All prayer does not have to be in private, e.g. Acts Acts 16:13; Jesus’ prayer in John 17. It is a matter of perspective and emphasis.

b.     “pray to your Father” (aorist middle imperative of command stressing a summary command). He is the father of all believers. Recall the doctrine of God the Father.

i.        Pray to our Father (John 15:16; Ephesians 3:14; 6:20).

ii.      Pray in the name of the Son (John 16:23-27; Ephesians 5:20).

iii.    Pray under the direction of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 6:18).

6.     Matthew 6:7.

a.      “do not use meaningless repetition” (aorist active subjunctive with the negative and used to indicate and prohibition).

i.        Religious phrases repeated over and over again.

ii.      Worshippers of idols, Muslims, and even Roman Catholics fall into this.

iii.    The Pagans thought that by endless repetitions and many words they would inform their gods as to their needs and weary them (‘fatigare deos’) into granting their requests” (Bruce)

iv.    Practically for us, this means that we should not use standardized prayers without thinking about the meaning.

7.     Matthew 6:8.

a.      “Therefore do not be like them” (aorist passive subjunctive with the negative and used to indicate prohibition).

i.        Do not be like the Pharisees and Scribes.

ii.      Do not pray like the Pharisees and Scribes.