Matthew 6:5-13 Basic Instructions in Prayer
Introduction: If you wanted to learn golf or carpentry, you
would wish someone who knows how to teach you.
Luke 11:1 says that the disciples asked Jesus to teach them. We would do well to do the same. No one knows more about prayer than
Jesus. In this lesson Jesus teaches the
basics.
I. He first teaches how not to pray.
A. Do not pray for
the purpose of impressing others with your piousness, verses 5-6.
(He cites the Pharisaic hypocrites as an
example).
B. Do not pray
using vain (useless) repetitions, verses 7-8.
1. He
cited the heathen (Gentiles) as an example.
2. The
contest between Elijah and the priests of Baal is a Biblical example.
(They repeated the same prayer
from morning till evening).
II. Then He teaches us how to
pray.
A. This is a
sample or model for us to follow.
1. It
is not “the Lord’s Prayer.” The Lord had
no sin and would not need to ask forgiveness.
2. It
is but a model and does not need to be followed word for word.
B. We are to pray
acknowledging God as our Heavenly Father, verse 9.
1.
This prayer is for those already saved.
2. It
acknowledges God as being in authority.
3. It
acknowledges God as being our Provider.
4. It
acknowledges God as being our Protector.
C. We are to pray
“hallowed be they name.”
1. The
word “Hallowed” is from “holy.”
2.
Thus “Let thy name be holy.” (Let
it be separate or set apart from all other names in that it is
exalted
above all other names).
3.
“Help us as a people to exalt thy name; help me as an individual to
exalt they name; help
more and
more people to come to exalt thy name.”
D. We are to pray
“thy kingdom come,” verse 10.
1.
This is a prayer for the millennium.
2. The
world is in a mess. (Send
Jesus).
3. Let
Jesus be King; Let Him be exalted; Hasten the day.
E. We are to pray
“thy will be done,” etc., verse 10.
1.
This is a prayer for the heaven ages when God’s will will
be done in the new earth just as
it now
is in heaven.
2. It
implies: “Help me even now to do your
will.”
F. We are to pray
“Give us this day our daily bread,” verse 11.
1.
Note that we are to first pray, “they name: thy kingdom; thy will”, and
then for self.
(“Give us … forgive us… lead us…”)
2. It
honors God for us to ask for self.
3. We
are to ask for our daily food. (Day by
day this is not a selfish prayer).
4. The
implication is “Not my bread only, but all daily needs.”
G. We are to pray
“Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors,” verse 12.
1.
This part is why it should not be called “the Lord’s prayer.”
2.
This part acknowledges sin on our part. (Not merely before we are saved,
but afterwards).
3. This
is not needed in order to keep our salvation, but in order to keep our
fellowship.
4. It
acknowledges a need for us to forgive others.
H. We are to pray,
“Lead us not into temptation, etc.,” verse 13.
1.
This prayer acknowledges our own weakness to yield to temptations.
2. It
calls upon God to help us to resist.
III. The basis of our prayer.
A.
“Thine is the kingdom and the power and
the glory forever,” verse 13.
B. You have the authority
(kingdom). You have the power. You get all the glory.
Conclusion:
First, let me ask “Are you saved?” If not, then the prayer you need to pray is;
“Lord, have mercy on my soul, save me and keep me out of the fires of
hell.”
If you are saved, let me ask you to put this prayer into
practice. As your pastor, I have asked
many things of you. But I have never
asked anything more important than this:
Excel in prayer!
Preached as
Preached as Texas Baptist
Institute
Preached at
Heritage M.B.C.