Sermon on the Mount, Part 2: Prayer

2007-10-05

The Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6 has been recited in almost every church to which I have ever been. But is there a possibility we miss some of the aspect to which Jesus speaks? Previously I had written about how the context of the Sermon on the Mount is Jesus expounding from the Law a deeper meaning so that people could see their sinfulness, their need for a Savior, and to recognize there is a high standard for living for Christ. I think this portion of the Sermon is no different. Having been saved by a Savior, an objective historical event, our prayer should change.

“Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name...” This is very true before our holy God. His name cannot be anything else but holy. “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done...” Though we have not seen the fulfillment of the Kingdom as it will be in the Millennium, we know Jesus defeated the enemy at Calvary and know God’s will has been done. Jesus is the King, and the King makes the kingdom. There is no kingdom without the King. The lowly people mentioned in the Beatitudes who have grasped the true purpose of the Law and see their hopelessness before a holy God can rest in the fact that the King of the Kingdom has come and taken away their sin.

“Give us this day our daily bread...” But Jesus later says that He already knows our needs and will provide them. As His eye is on the sparrow, His grace will provide us all our real needs. “Forgive us our debts...” This was completed at Calvary once-for-all ultimately. We should confess our sins also, recognizing our condition before God and remembering Christ so that we may abide in Him. Our asking doesn’t change our status as permanently saved. In light of this, we now ought to forgive our debtors since Christ has forgiven everybody’s debts. To really forgive others, we must really understand how Jesus has forgiven us.

“Lead us not into temptation...” In James, it says that God doesn’t test people; it is our own passions that draw us away. We have been delivered from the evil one unless we give him power. Everything is Christ’s: the Kingdom, the glory, and the power to accomplish all things. In Christ God has defeated the world system and its evil ruler. Be encouraged that in Christ our ultimate need has been met and that the enemy has seen defeat.