Read chapter in full: www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6&version=ESV
Nov 24
Sermon on the Mount – Christian Prayer
Matt 6：7-15 （ESV）
7 “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. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 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.
14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Meditation:
The basic difference among different type of prayers lies in our different understanding of God. The Lord’s Prayer was a format of prayer taught by Jesus to His disciples. According to Matt 6:9 “Pray then like this,” the Lord’s Prayer is also an example for people to follow. According to Lk 11:2, “When you pray, say,” the Lord’s Prayer are the words we should use when we pray. However, they are not mutually exclusive and we could use both. We could use the Lord’s Prayer as our prayer, or use it as a format of our prayer. Jesus not only teaches us how to pray, He also show us a deeper understanding when we call “Our Father in heaven.”
- Today do you make the mistake of “unintentional prayer” and “meaningless prayer”?
- “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name” (v9). In the culture of self-inflation, our heart is occupied by our reputation, career and will. How can we overcome this inclination?
- What is the relationship between the God’s forgiveness for us and our forgiveness for others (v12, 14-15)?
- In what area your prayer should be closer to the example of the Lord’s Prayer? Pray according to the format of the Lord’s Prayer now.