The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 6 Part 3 Follow The Pattern Of Prayer From Jesus

Jesus gave positive and negative instruction about how to pray rightly.

Matthew 6:5-8  And 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. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6)  But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 7)  But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8)  Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him

Jesus exposed the hypocritical prayer pattern of the Pharisees and scribes.

He also gave clear negative and positive instructions to His disciples about how to pray.

For negative examples, Jesus said we must not pray seeking attention for ourselves by standing on street corners so others see us when we pray. 

We must not pray using repetitious words or phrases as if God did not hear us or thinking that He will respond to our torrent of words. 

For positive examples, we are to pray remembering our Father in heaven knows our needs and problems before we begin to pray. 

We are to pray privately with sincerity and humility in our heart, knowing that our Father will answer in accord with His will for us.

Jesus gave us a pattern for prayer which brings honor and glory to God.

Matthew 6:9  After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 

Forms of prayer were frequent among the Jews and every rabbi gave one to his disciples. 

Some forms were drawn out to a considerable length, taking much time to recite because many repetitious words or phrases were used.

Jesus gave a clear imperative. Just as He said we must "take heed" to how we pray, He taught us the pattern we must follow when we pray.

This is a clear and concise outline for our prayers and it puts the focus right where it needs to be.

This passage contains the Lord’s prayer which is a composition unequalled for comprehensiveness and for beauty. 

This prayer was given as a model. 

It is designed to show us the “manner” in which we are to pray.

It is a heavenly template for prayer from our Lord that we can follow and as such, Jesus did not intend that we pray only these words.

It is a form or pattern or template for prayer and our words, petitions and pleadings with the Lord should follow the pattern.

"Our Father which art in heaven" demonstrates that God is our Father as He is the Creator and the source of all life.

It reminds us when we pray that God is our audience and this should impact the sincerity and transparency with which we pray.

Our Father is the Divine Preserver of all humanity and the Divine Provider for our needs (See Matthew 5:45; 6:32).

Born again Christians are called the sons and daughters of the father.

2 Corinthians 6:16 -18 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17)  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18)  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 

In a tender and special sense God is the Father of all who are adopted into His family by exercising repentant faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. 

Thus, each child of God is an heir of eternal life (See Romans 8:14-17).

When we pray to our Father, we are reminded that He is the Creator, Sustainer and Sovereign Ruler of our lives.

We have been translated from the kingdom of darkness into His kingdom of eternal light (See Colossians 1:12-14). 

He has given us all spiritual blessing from heaven in Christ (See Ephesians 1:1-3).

Therefore, we should allow this truth to impact our moral choices because a child of God should never live like a child of the devil!

"Hallowed be thy name" is the grand object of a Christian's life and conduct.

The word “hallowed” means to render or pronounce something as holy. 

God’s name is holy and the meaning of this petition is asking for the Father's name to be celebrated, revered, and esteemed as holy everywhere by all people. 

Hallowing the name of God is an expression on our part that His name and Being should be held in the highest regard.

Thus, we are asking God to change our own heart so that we seek to hallow His holy name in all that we think say and do. 

Then, we are asking our Father to keep saving souls for His kingdom until the whole world knows Him.

Examples of hallowing the Father's name as individuals and ultimately, by all creation.

1 Chronicles 17:24  Let it even be established, that thy name may be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel: and let the house of David thy servant be established before thee. 

King David prayed that the holy name of Jehovah be magnified forever, that it be hallowed in his own heart, in the heart of all Israelites and ultimately, in the heart of all nations.

Nehemiah 9:5 -6 Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, Stand up and bless the LORD your God for ever and ever: and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise. 6)  Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee. 

When the rebuilt temple and wall at Jerusalem were dedicated, the spiritual leaders prayed that Jehovah Elohim would be blessed by all people.

They prayed that His name would be blessed which means the same thing as His name being hallowed. 

His glorious name should be honored and exalted among men as an act of the highest, most reverent worship.

The reason for His name being hallowed connects with what Jesus taught.

Our Father in heaven is Creator and Sustainer and is worthy of all our honor and praise.

Habakkuk 2:14  For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. 

The prophet Habakkuk prayed and longed for that future day when the whole world will overflow with the presence of God as Christ rules and reigns on earth and heaven.

At that time, the knowledge of Jehovah will permeate all creation and all people just as the waters of the ocean cover its vast space and depths. 

Zechariah 14:9  And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one. 

The prophet Zechariah prophesied about the future glory when God creates a new heaven and a new earth and establishes His universal rule.

Jehovah shall be king over all the earth and every nation and people will be governed by Christ.

In that day, His name will be universally hallowed and there will be no false religions at all.

Malachi 1:11  For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts. 

The prophet Malachi also longed for that day when Jesus, whose name means Jehovah saves, will be universally praised and honored and worshiped by all people everywhere.

I hope that this is our attitude, having a great longing for Jesus to return to take His church home to heaven.

After the 7 years of terrible tribulation on earth are over, Jesus will return in flaming fire to take vengeances upon all who rejected the gospel.

We also must recognize our duty of being faithful witnesses for Christ, being ready to share the gospel with those souls we interact with.

May God see fit to use us for His kingdom purposes and may we strive to live for His glory until He calls us home.

Bob