The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 6 Part 6 Learning To Pray For Daily Bread

Practical guidelines for prayer from Jesus.

Matthew 6:8-10  Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. 9)  After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10)  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

We have been studying through the gospel of Matthew together. 

I trust that this study is a source of much blessing, joy and encouragement for you as much as it is for me.

Matthew writes to a predominantly Jewish audience and emphasized Jesus Christ as Israel's King and Messiah.

As we study the book of Matthew, we are hearing from our King about His kingdom rule and reign.

We are learning about the moral law of God being the standard for all the world as the will of the Father is done on earth, as it is in heaven.

In our last post we took a bit more time to think about hallowing the name of our Father and how this should impact our thoughts, words and actions.

The Lord's prayer concludes with three simple yet profound requests for help from our Father in heaven.

Praying to our Father that He will supply what is required for our basic needs to be met.

Matthew 6:11  Give us this day our daily bread. 

God knows what each one of us needs in order to live day by day.

Each one of us have basic, essential needs such as food, water, clothing and shelter.

Jesus taught that it is right for us to pray for basic essentials from our Father, because He loves us and will provide for those needs.

Although only Jesus mentioned "daily bread" it is clear that He referred to the necessities of life that each person needs in order to survive.

We need physical bread and spiritual bread in order to live by faith as God intended.

Matthew 4:4  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 

For example, Jesus rebuked the Devil for tempting Christ to turn rocks into bread because He was hungry after fasting.

Notice the substance of this petition. We are praying for the bread from God, the spiritual food needed by our inner man.

This prayer petition implies that we often do not seek daily bread from God. Too often we will listen to a man's voice because someone claims they figured something out about the Bible that no one else has.

If you think you see something new in the Bible that no one else has ever seen, it probably is not in the scriptures, but is coming from you mind.

We have two thousand years of church history and almost every single heresy or perversion of the gospel, began with someone claiming a new or novel position.

We must fill our minds with the truth of God's Word so that we avoid being snared by the bread of deceit.

Proverbs 20:17  Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel. 

The bread of deceit is listening to any other voice other than the voice of God as revealed in His Word.

Spiritual troubles begin whenever we set aside what God says to us and listen to a man's voice speaking deceitful things that appeal to our fleshly lusts.

Again, this is clearly applicable to lying televangelists propagating a health, wealth, prosperity and happiness gospel.

Remember what God said to do when we hear the bread of deceit. We must reject the bread of deceit and call it accursed because it is not the gospel of Christ (See Galatians 1:6-10).

Jesus' words were a direct quote from Deuteronomy 8:3. 

That text references Moses reminding the people that Jehovah faithfully gave His people manna, the bread from heaven each morning for 40 years. 

Jesus' apostles taught us to take all spiritual and temporal needs to our Father.

Philippians 4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Jesus taught us to pray to our Father in heaven and He guided His apostles to teach us the same truth.

Paul tells us not to hold anything back as being too much to ask or too trivial to bother our Father with.

We are exhorted to bring all of our requests to our Father, letting Him carry the burdens and challenges that we face.

We cast our cares upon our Father because He cares for us and wants to give us His best when we ask in accord with His will (See 1 Peter 5:7).

Thus, we may bring every care, every concern, every need both spiritual and temporal and give them over to our Father when we pray.

All created things belong to our Father in heaven and are at His disposal.

Philippians 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 

Notice the great confidence expressed by the apostle Paul.

God shall supply all our need because a child of God is blessed "in Christ" (See Ephesians 1:3).

All the worlds wealth, cattle, natural resources, and valuable ore belongs to God because He created it (See Psalm 50).

All of world we live in is filled up with the riches of things that God created (See Psalm 104:24-25).

The vast and infinite riches of His heavenly splendor and glory are impossible to fathom but we know God is perfectly capable of supplying our needs.

This is why our Lord told us to ask our Father in heaven for our daily bread, the necessary things of life.

Living by faith means taking God at His Word and obeying His commandments.

Deuteronomy 8:1-2  All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers. 2)  And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. 

The Bible teaches that the "just shall live by faith" which means believing what God says in His Word and acting accordingly.

Those who are justified and declared to be righteous by God, are those who believe God and prove that they have saving faith by obeying Him (See Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; Galatians 2:16; Hebrews 10:38).

God tested the Hebrew people during 40 years of wilderness wanderings and their faith was tested by whether or not they would obey Him.

Those who did not obey were those who did not have saving faith in Jehovah.

Those who took God at His Word trusted and obeyed with saving faith.

True faith is when we keep Christ's commands and walk humbly as Jesus walked.

1 John 2:3 -6 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4)  He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5)  But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6)  He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 

Proof that our faith is real and that we do indeed know God through repentant faith in Christ, is that we keep His commandments.

When Jesus gave us the Great Commission, He instructed His disciples to teach new converts to keep all things that He commanded them to observe (See Matthew 28:18-20).

Those who profess to have faith in Jesus Christ but do not keep His commandments, are liars. 

Those whose faith is genuine are those who keep His commandments and walk as Christ walked.

God provides for the physical needs of those who live by faith and keep His commandments.

Deuteronomy 8:3-10 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. 4)  Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years. 5)  Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee. 6)  Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him. 7)  For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; 8)  A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; 9)  A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass. 10 ) When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. 

God gave His people manna each day. He also provided abundant water from a rock during those forty years.

In addition, Moses recorded that their clothing did not wear out nor did their feet swell up from traveling in the wilderness.

Finally, notice that God was bringing them into a land filled with streams, abundant fountains and springs to supply them with water.

It is a land that will produce large harvests of wheat, barley, figs, grapes, olives and honey. 

In other words, the Father promised to meet all of their physical needs as they proved their faith in Him by keeping His commands.

This is the same spirit in which Jesus prayed to our Father for the daily provision He promises to supply.

Taste and see the goodness of Jehovah's salvation and provision for our lives.

Psalm 34:8 -10  O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. 9)  O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. 10)  The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing. 

It is good to notice how often the scriptures use food to describe the glorious things of God that are part of our inheritance in Christ.

The Word is compared with pure living waters that revive our soul (See Deuteronomy 32:1-2; Isaiah 55:1-13).

The Word is called the bread of heaven and the food of angels (Psalm 105:40; 78:25).

The Word is described as sweeter and more pure than the very best honeycomb that we might discover (See Psalm 119:103).

The Word is compared with pure, mother's milk that provides essential nourishment for an infant, and is what we must ingest in order to grow spiritually (See 1 Peter 2:1-3).

The Word is strong meat to us as we mature in our faith (See Hebrews 5:13-14).

We must learn to be content with whatever the LORD provides for us, whether much or little.

Proverbs 30:7-9  Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: 8)  Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: 9 ) Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain. 

Unsaved people are always clamoring for more and are never satisfied. 

Most people want more money, a bigger home, a better job, and more unique experiences.

Pursuing worldly things are like drinking saltwater. 

If you drink saltwater, it does not satisfy one's thirst, and it makes you crave more of it even though it still does not satisfy.

The apostle Paul teaches us that our goal should be pursuing godliness while learning to be content with what ever resources we have.

This is a profound lesson that each believer must learn because when we depend upon God for all things, we will say "No" to a culture that demands we seek more things.

Love of money is the root of all evil and those who profess faith in Christ while seeking to be rich, will find themselves in danger of destruction (See 1 Timothy 6:6-10).

Proverbs 15:16  Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith. 

King Solomon also shared the wisdom God gave him as he wrote about pursuing wealth.

His conclusion is that if one fears the LORD but has little material resources, that person is far better off than a wealthy man with great riches, because he also experiences much trouble (See Proverbs 16:8; 28:6).

Our steps are ordered by the LORD when we trust Him and He always provides what we need.

Psalm 37:23 -26 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. 24)  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. 25)  I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. 26)  He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed. 

Notice how beautiful and eloquent the Psalmist is. He never saw the seed of the righteous begging bread because the Father always provides for our needs. 

The picture of the Psalmist is that God supplies the needs of those who place their full trust in Him for eternal salvation and for their temporal needs.

We are reminded of the absolute faithfulness of God to keep His promises and of His care and provision for His redeemed children.

King David said that Jehovah prepared a table with a feast in the sight of his enemies, and that his head was anointed with oil and his cup of wine was full.

In thinking about the freely offered provision of God for his life, David concluded that mercy and goodness  from Jehovah would follow him all through his earthly life.

The king had a focus on the eternal things of God and exclaimed that he would dwell in Jehovah's house forever (See Psalm 23:1-6).

2 Thessalonians 3:11-12  For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 12)  Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. 

Paul was guided by the Spirit of God to warn lazy Christians to get off the couch and get to work as God intended them to do.

Our duty is to remember that God created us to work in order to provide food, clothing and shelter for our families.

Some Christians at Thessalonica had become lazy and failed to provide for their families.

They were busy spreading rumors or gossiping about the affairs of others (sounds like modern social media!).

Christ speaking through His apostles commanded them to work so that they might eat their own bread.

Thus, part of asking for our daily bread may include asking the LORD to help us find work, or for strength and health to be able to work, or to obtain better skills in order to be a better provider.

Jesus request "Give us this day our daily bread" shows us that we are dependent upon the Father for all of life.

Thus, we must bring this prayer petition to our Father each day, just as a child comes to his earthly father asking for food.

The words "give us" are plural in form indicating more than one person, possibly referring to a community of believers.

Most churches cannot assemble together each day because of work, school, or housekeeping duties.

However, a Christian family does assemble several times each day.

The petition "Give us this day our daily bread" seems most appropriate within the setting of our home with our family gathered together.

It is evident that this prayer contains an implied command for daily family prayer.

Thus, we see that seven simple words have a profound meaning for us to digest.

This petition teaches us about the faithfulness of God.

It instructs us about the promises of God to supply our needs.

It shows us that we are to cast our cares upon Him with a heart of dependency and thanksgiving.

May these truths help guide each one of us as we spend time in prayer.

Bob