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Sunday School Lesson: Praying Properly

Sunday School Lesson: Praying Properly
February 02
14:00 2025

By Elder Richard Wayne Wood

Scriptures: Matthew 6:5-15

By the end of this lesson, we will: 

*List Jesus’ key preaching about prayer in Matthew 6:5-15;

*Explain the purpose(s) of the prayer’s six parts;  

*Resolve to devote more prayer time to one area identified in Matthew 6:5-15 that may currently be lacking.

Background: The disciples were hungry to connect with God through prayer. Jesus could have used any prayer from Old Testament scripture but He knew that they would not properly understand examples of prayer without first understanding the principles of prayer. The prayer we commonly refer to as “The Lord’s Prayer” could more aptly be named “The Model Prayer” or “The Disciple’s Prayer.”  Jesus gave this prayer to keep us from babbling on. He did not say, “Pray in these words.” He said, “Pray like this”; that is, “Use this prayer as a pattern, not a substitute.”  Prayer is about communication with God, not public performance and not many words. In this concise prayer Jesus gives a guideline that may be used for all prayers. The details of this prayer demonstrate reverence to God, a firm belief in His purposes for our lives and dependence on His provision. 

Lesson: Directives for Prayer (Matthew 6:5-8). “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward” (verse 5). Jesus warned the disciples about hypocrites who valued people’s opinions more than God’s. Hypocrites in this context refers to actors who play a part involving a public role of compassion but not genuine concern. They pray for the applause of people and that’s all the reward they will get. “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly” (verse 6). Jesus tells the disciples that their prayer should be done in a private place to impress no one except God. The reward for secret prayer is the prayer itself, the blessing of resting in the presence of God. “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do, for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking” (verse 7). “Vain repetition” translates as “keep on babbling.” A request becomes babbling if it is only words to impress the hearer and without a sincere heart that desires to please God. “Prayer requires more of the heart than of the tongue” (Clarke). “Be not ye therefore like unto them, for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him” (verse 8). Prayer is not designed to inform God. The disciples were reminded that they do not need wordy prayers because God already knows what they need. Then why bother praying if God knows what we need before we ask Him? Jesus wanted them to understand that prayer is not just a means of presenting our requests, it is more importantly, a means of pursuing a relationship with our Father in heaven. If we want to build a strong bond with our Creator, we must continually communicate with Him, keeping in mind Ecclesiastes 5:2. “God is in heaven, and you are on earth; therefore let your words be few.” – “Brevity.”

The Prototypical Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13). “After this manner therefore pray ye:” (verse 9a). Again, this prayer is a model – not a prayer to be recited every day. It’s a model of brevity, simplicity and comprehensiveness. There are six petitions presented in this model, three are directed to God (verses 9-10) and three toward human needs (verses 11-13) and each element can be divided into most instructive heads.

“Our Father which art in heaven” (verse 9b). Addressing God as “Our Father” makes us ever mindful of our relationship with God and that we are a part of His worldwide family of believers. “In heaven” reminds us of reverence due His name and says “I am a child away from home.” “Hallowed be thy name” (verse 9c) acknowledges that God is to be given the unique reverence that His holiness demands. “I am a worshipper.”  “Thy kingdom come” (verse 10a). Is expansive, Jesus is teaching the disciples to petition their heavenly Father to expand His rule over the territory of their hearts. It also means that Christ has already won the war, but the reality of His reign is not fully recognized. “I am a subject.”  “Thy will be done” (verse 10b)  recognizes the sovereignty of God and asks that He bring us into conformity with His will. “In earth, as it is in heaven” (verse 10c). We are to live with heaven in mind. “I am a servant.” “Give us this day our daily bread” (verse 11). A request for daily provision – real bread or spiritual – “I am a beggar.” “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (verse 12). Sin is represented as debts; sinners are debtors to God for their violation of His laws – these are spiritual debts. “I am a sinner.”  “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (verse 13a). This element of prayer acknowledges again that God is sovereign over all things, including the temptations of Satan. “I am a sinner in danger of being a still greater sinner.”  “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen” (verse 13b). God is credited and praised in the proper prayer.

Addendum on Forgiveness (Matthew 6:14-15). “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (verses  14-15). Jesus is teaching that God will use your standard of forgiveness for others when you ask Him to forgive you. We should cultivate a forgiving spirit toward others. (Standard Lesson Commentary 2024-2025, The MacArthur Study Bible, The Tony Evans Study Bible, The Wiersbe Study Bible, The Spurgeon Study Bible, Experiencing God Bible, The New Interpreters Study Bible and The Oxford Bible Commentary). 

For Your Consideration: Are your religious practices motivated by the people who see you in church or the God who sees you in secret?

Application: Do a self-check. Resolve to devote more prayer time to one area identified in Matthew 6:5-15 that may currently be lacking. 

FYI: Forsyth County Sunday School Union meets in person every third Sunday, 1:30 p.m. at a member church. Contact your Sunday School superintendent for more information.



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