Matthew 6:5-15 Times of turmoil and concern often compels us to pray. But how is it that we should pray?
Prayer…
5“And when you pray...,
CONTEXT: Matthew 6:1
1“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
More on this specific text soon - gracious seeing, generous giving - as I have been given, promoting and protecting dignity of others, truly being aligned with and attuned to God, while being others-centered
What is that righteousness? Paul explains it in Corinthians when he says that Jesus is our righteousness. That being said then, is that righteousness is everything we are meant to be, and created to be, in Christ Jesus. In other words, our righteousness, is our likeness to Jesus – what he said how he said it, what he did and how we did it, we are created in Christ Jesus to be like Christ Jesus and our righteousness is his righteousness and his righteousness is the incredible kindness goodness humility gentleness and grace with which he lived – and that by mercy.
And that is how we are to be and act.
An act of righteousness is an act of grace in response to grace - it is a humble recognition of having been made righteous through no act of my own - that righteousness is grace, the gift of grace, by grace
NOW THE REST:
Do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9“This, then, is how you should pray:
“ ‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11Give us today our daily bread.
12And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13And lead us not into temptation, a
but deliver us from the evil one. b ’
14For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
And how did Jesus pray?
Mark 1:35 very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, went off to a solitary place, where he prayed
Mark 6:46-48 and when he had sent them away, he departed to the mountain to pray
Matt 14:13, 23 Jesus withdrew… privately to a solitary place; He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone.
Luke 4:42 At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place…
Luke 5:16 ...He frequently withdrew to the wilderness to pray
Hebrews 5:7-9 7During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him
As for us…
Psalm 5:2-3 attend to my words, hear my cry, consider my/our suffering, Hear my cry for help, My King and my God, for to you I pray. you will hear in the morning, Lord, in the morning I will look up and direct my prayers to you - I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.
When we act, how are we to act? “Who” are we to act (like)? Like Jesus! Being imitators of God as dearly loved children - because that is what we are! (Matt 5:48; Luke 6:36; John 1:12; Rom 8:16; Eph 1:5; 5:1; Phil 2:15; James 1:18; 1Pet 1:23; 1John 3:1-3)
So...
What is an act of righteousness? It is the living out of Jesus’ character - His righteousness and goodness - that He has made us to be. In other words, it is living out our newly born and created nature - the nature of Jesus in us by the power of the Holy Spirit. Our actual and real freedom in Christ! (John 1:12-13; 3:3,5,16; 2Cor 5:17; Gal 6:16; Eph 2:8-10; then: Rom 1:17; 3:21; 1Cor 1:30; 2Cor 5:21; Gal 5:1,5, 13-14, 16, 22-25; 2Peter 1:1-5)
Humbly and modestly: Humble ourselves
Go to the Father: Seek God’s face
Heartfelt and simple: Pray to Him
Petition
Pray
Intercede
Be grateful
Repentant: Turn from our own sinful ways, not only by stopping but returning to our Father turning toward Him and His way and ways
Open to hear
Ready to stop
Quick to confess
Willing to change
Raring to go
And, God will hear and respond… (2Chron 7; Jer 29; Isa 58; Ps 51; Ps 1)
When? When will God act? When we act: approach Him with a humble heart, seeking His face, express to Him our hearts, and turn back toward Him - He will respond according to His will and we will be glad.
