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The Seventeenth Sunday After Trinity
The Sermon on the Mount, 12th Sermon
September 22, 2002
 
NKJ Matthew 6:5 " And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 "But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 "Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 "In this manner, therefore, pray: 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 forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. 14 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 "But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
 
TEXT: 5 " And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
 
Jesus’ lesson on prayer is a parallel to the lesson last week concerning giving
 
Just as some give to obtain the attention of men—look at all I give—I am a great man for giving so much
 
So it is also that there are some who pray before man to attract the attention of man
 
Look at me—I pray louder—longer—and more eloquent prayers than other men
 
These were men that would walk at prayer time and time it so they were in a very prominent—and very public and populated place—then they would pray aloud
 
They would pretend that they were caught at that place accidentally—but they were transparent to Jesus
 
Jesus knew these men were not praying—but were imitating prayer
 
Prayer is a very powerful thing—and the devil must be pleased when he can stop sincere and earnest prayer—and replace it with men imitating prayer
 
TEXT: 6 "But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
 
Much the same instruction Jesus gave us on the giving to the poor—do it privately—and get your reward from God
 
Do it publicly—and get the attention you sought from men—but no reward from God
 
Notice this instruction is the private prayer of men—not corporate prayer of a congregation
 
            There is a difference—Jesus offers us a very different promise concerning corporate prayer
 
NKJ Matthew 18:19 "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."
 
True prayer is our personal connection with God—our soul connected to our Heavenly Father
 
For corporate prayer we attach ourselves to our brothers and sisters in Christ and pray in the unity of the Spirit
 
But when we pray as individuals—that is strictly between us and God—it’s personal—and we must keep it that way
 
TEXT: 7 "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
 
Now Jesus begins to instruct on how to pray—and how not to pray—don’t babble like the heathens do
 
This is probably a reference to the pagan prayers to their false gods and idols—they would pray to these pagan gods for hours—Luther said it was as if they thought they could perhaps tire them out and get what they were praying for—if they only prayed long enough
 
Our God is an eternal God—your chances of tiring Him out to get your way is zero
 
So our lesson thus far is—pray in private—and keep your prayer direct and pertinent
 
TEXT:  8 "Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
 
The bad example of the Pharisees praying loudly in public should serve as a warning to us
 
But it should not stop us from praying—it should get us to understand what God-pleasing prayer is
 
If God knows what our needs are before we even pray—why bother—won’t He give us what we need anyway??
 
Think about that for a moment—yes God knows what our needs are—but if we decide not to pray—we turn away from the promises of God—and we deprive ourselves of the blessings of prayer
 
Listen to these words of James as he tries to explain things to the Jewish Christians who struggle with maintaining faith in Christ
 
NKJ James 4:1 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"?
 
James makes several excellent points—you don’t receive because you don’t ask—and when you do pray—you ask for things of this world for your own pleasure and your own wealth and comfort
 
TEXT: 9 "In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
 
Now Jesus continues His lesson—He instructed us on how to pray—now He gives us an example of what to pray
 
He begins with Our Father in heaven—words that can only be spoken by one who has faith
 
And we notice that we pray using the plural—each time we pray this as a congregation—we pray in unity to the One and only God—when we pray in private by ourselves—we pray recognizing that there are other believers who share our faith
 
Only a true believer in Christ—with faith—can pray this prayer—all others—those who do not believe Jesus died for their sins—those who do not understand that Jesus is the Son of God—will not be recognized by God
 
Remember Jesus’ discussion with the Pharisees and scribes
 
NKJ John 8:42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me
 
NKJ Matthew 7:21 " Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
 
Only true believers can pray this prayer—and that believer will be heard—AS PROMISED!!
 
TEXT: 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
 
Once again we go to the words of Paul to enhance our understanding of what Jesus is teaching
 
NKJ 1 Corinthians 15:24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 27 For "He has put all things under His feet." But when He says "all things are put under Him," it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. 28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.
 
When we pray these words—we are looking forward to the end time—Judgment Day—and again—the only ones who can look forward to that day are those who have faith—and know they are going to heaven
 
Thy will be done—is our prayer that all  on earth might come to proper understanding and have faith—that all men might be saved—just as God’s Word tells us—God wants all men to be saved
 
NKJ 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
 
And when man comes to repentance—he comes to faith—and will be saved—so we pray as Jesus taught us that all believers will be resurrected  on that Last Day
 
NKJ John 6:40 "And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day."
 
TEXT: 11 Give us this day our daily bread.
 
This petition of our Lord’s prayer does not simply mean give us bread or food—but provide for us all that is required to sustain us—bread—water—shelter—and so on
 
TEXT: 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.
 
Here we ask that God forgive our sins—and if we consider our sins—and the magnitude of what we are asking God to forgive—we see that unless our sins were forgiven out of love—we could never afford to pay the price of that forgiveness
 
We sin everyday—and we deserve to be condemned for all eternity—but God forgives us through Jesus Christ—His perfect Son
 
            When God looks at us—He sees us through Christ—through the perfection of Christ
 
            And God indeed forgives us our sins—in the name of Christ—who paid the price
 
Before we leave this verse—please note the consistency of the plural language—Our Father—and now “forgive us our sins”  Prayer is intended to be in unity with all believers—selfless and for the good of the body of Christ
 
TEXT: 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.
 
God will allow us to be tempted in this life—but He will limit that temptation to what He knows we can stand
 
If you are tempted greatly—it is because God knows you are strong enough to withstand great temptation
 
NKJ 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
 
James tells us in his inspired writing—that enduring the temptations of this earth is rewarded with the crown of life
 
NKJ James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing….12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
 
We face temptation everyday—face it—endure it—defeat it—all with the help of God
 
We all dread temptation—and the torment of the devil—but God assures us in His Word that we will win the battle—and we will be rewarded
 
TEXT:  For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
 
Jesus closes His perfect prayer with recognition of God’s limitless power and glory—thus each time we pray this prayer—we are reminded of what awaits us in heaven—for all eternity
 
TEXT:  14 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 "But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
 
Why did Jesus choose this petition of His prayer to expand upon—and not one of the others
 
Give us our daily bread—as we give daily bread to our children—or lead us not into temptation—as we do not lead others into temptation
 
Jesus gives this addition to forgive the sins against us or our sins will not be forgiven—almost as if we had the power to prevent another person’s sins from being forgiven
 
Let’s let Scripture answer Scripture—we begin with the parable of the unmerciful servant—we’ll read just the end of the parable—and you can read the parable in its entirety later
 
NKJ Matthew 18:32 "Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 'Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?' 34 "And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. 35 "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."
 
NKJ Ephesians 4:32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.
 
NKJ 1 John 2:9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. 10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.
 
NKJ 1 John 3:11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, … 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. … 18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. … 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. 22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. 24 Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
 
There is only one Church on this earth—no matter how many religions the mind of man comes up with—all believers are members of that ONE Church—and Christ is the head of that Church
 
And part of the prayer of that Church is to love one another—and that love will be demonstrated by the forgiveness of others—which comes about by the Holy Spirit—and by our loving heart God recognizes us as His own—forgives our sins—and provides us with the inheritance of eternal life in heaven