Sermon On The Mount Series - The Lord's Prayer
- Grant Watts
- Aug 3
- 6 min read
Updated: Aug 18
Being A Part Of The Kingdom
Please use whatever section you feel you need to cover. These studies are written to cover a wide range of people at various points along their faith journey, as such some sections may not be relevant to you or your group, feel free to use whatever is helpful. - GRANT
Each study is broken topical section then into:
· information and context sections
· followed by practical life questions
Ending with a look at the general themes in the overall passage for discussion.
Finally there are some extra questions that can be used.
Matthew 6:5-15: The Motive and Model for Prayer
A. The Motive for Prayer (Matthew 6:5-6)
The Warning Against Hypocrisy (v. 5): "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward."
"Hypocrites": As discussed before, these are "actors" who perform their religious duties for an audience.
"Love to stand and pray... to be seen": The issue isn't public prayer itself, but the motive – seeking human praise and recognition rather than communion with God.
"They have received their reward": Their only reward is the fleeting praise of people. This human applause is empty and means they forfeit the true, eternal reward from God.
The Command for Secret Prayer (v. 6): "But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."
"Your room and shut the door": This emphasizes privacy, intimacy, and sincerity. It's about cultivating a personal, unostentatious prayer life where God is the sole audience. It's about removing distractions and focusing entirely on God.
"Your Father who is in secret": This highlights God's omnipresence and His ability to see the heart. He values genuine, hidden devotion over outward show.
"Will reward you": The true reward comes from God – a deeper relationship, spiritual blessings, and answered prayer in accordance with His will.
Practical Application:
Do you ever find yourself praying with an awareness of who might be listening, or how your prayer sounds?
What is your ‘secret’ place for praying?
B. The Caution Against Empty Phrases (Matthew 6:7-8)
The Warning (v. 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."
"Heap up empty phrases" (battalogesete): This means to babble, say meaningless repetitions, or use vain repetitions. It's not about the length of prayer, but the quality and sincerity. It refers to rote, mechanical prayer, or trying to impress God with a quantity of words or specific formulas, as if God needs to be convinced or informed.
"As the Gentiles do": Many pagan religions believed their gods could be swayed by elaborate rituals, lengthy incantations, or constant repetition.
The Rationale (v. 8): "Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."
This is a profound theological truth. God is omniscient; He knows our needs before we even articulate them.
Implication: Prayer isn't about informing God or twisting His arm. It's about:
Relationship: Communicating with our loving Father.
Dependence: Expressing our reliance on Him.
Alignment: Aligning our desires with His will.
Obedience: Fulfilling His command to ask.
Practical Application:
Do your prayers sometimes feel like a laundry list for God, or a performance?
Do we fall into repetitive patterns without heartfelt engagement?
What are you thoughts on pre written prayers, or the use of a prayer book using old prayers from the past?
Is there a difference between ‘free range’ prayer and pre thought out prayers?
C. The Model Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13)
This is not meant to be a rigid incantation, but a pattern or template for prayer. It covers essential categories of prayer.
Reverence for God (v. 9-10):
"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name."
"Our Father": Highlights intimacy, love, and access. We come as children to a loving parent.
"in heaven": Emphasizes God's transcendence, power, and holiness. He is both intimate and sovereign.
"hallowed be your name": The first priority is God's glory and holiness. We pray that His name (His character, His reputation) would be honoured, set apart, and revered by all.
"Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."
"Your kingdom come": A prayer for God's sovereign rule to be fully established, both globally and in our hearts now.
"Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven": A submission to God's perfect plan and purpose.
Requests for Ourselves and Others (v. 11-13):
"Give us this day our daily bread."
A prayer for basic provisions – not for luxury, but for what is necessary for this day. It teaches daily dependence on God for physical needs.
"And forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us."
The Condition: Our forgiveness from God is directly linked to our willingness to forgive others.
"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."
"Lead us not into temptation": A prayer for God's guidance and protection, asking Him to keep us from situations where we might be overwhelmed by temptation, or to strengthen us to resist when temptation comes. It acknowledges our weakness and dependence on His strength.
"Deliver us from evil": A prayer for deliverance from sin, from the power of Satan, and from all that is morally corrupting.
Practical Application:
How does your prayer life align with this model?
Do you prioritize God's glory and kingdom before your own needs?
Do you regularly confess sin and extend forgiveness to others?
Do you rely on God for daily provisions and protection?
D. The Cruciality of Forgiveness (Matthew 6:14-15)
Reiteration and Emphasis: "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
This is a strong restatement of the conditional aspect of the forgiveness petition in verse 12.
Not Earning Forgiveness: This is not a "works-based" salvation. We are forgiven by grace through faith in Christ's sacrifice. However, a genuinely forgiven heart will manifest the character of God, which includes forgiving others. An unforgiving spirit indicates a heart that has not truly grasped or received God's forgiveness. It reveals a lack of true repentance and a barrier in our relationship with God.
Reflecting God's Character: Our ability to forgive others is a demonstration that we have truly encountered and been transformed by God's forgiveness.
Practical Application:
Is there anyone in your life you are holding a grudge against, refusing to forgive, or harbouring bitterness towards?
What helps you to forgive others, what lessons have you learnt from forgiving?
Key Themes
Intimacy with God: Jesus invites us into a deep, personal relationship with God as "Our Father."
Dependence on God: We rely on Him for daily sustenance, spiritual cleansing, and protection from evil.
The Power of Forgiveness: Forgiveness is not optional for the believer; it's a fundamental characteristic of those who have received God's grace and essential for maintaining a right relationship with Him.
Authenticity over Ostentation: God values sincere, private devotion over public performance.
Prayer as Relationship, Not Ritual: Prayer is meant to be a genuine conversation and connection with God, not a mechanical recitation or a means to manipulate Him.
Reflection Questions
When you pray, what is your primary motivation? Do you ever find yourself concerned with how your prayers sound to others?
How does the phrase "Your Father who sees in secret will reward you" encourage or challenge your prayer life?
What are some "empty phrases" or vain repetitions you might fall into in your prayers? How can you make your prayers more sincere and heartfelt?
Break down "The Lord's Prayer" (v. 9-13). Which petitions do you emphasize most in your own prayer life, and which do you tend to overlook?
How does praying "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" impact your perspective on current events or personal struggles?
The link between our forgiveness of others and God's forgiveness of us (v. 12, 14-15) is very strong. Is there anyone you need to forgive today? What steps can you take to do so?
How can you integrate the principles of this passage (motive, sincerity, humility, forgiveness) more deeply into your daily prayer habits?
See Video from Bible Project on Wisdom Within oaths, retaliation and enemy love in the Sermon On The Mount: https://bibleproject.com/videos/lords-prayer
