Matthew 6:5-15

Transcript

Good morning, Saints. To those of you who are careful observers and notice I’m not Thomas Terry, and you see the text behind me is not Ecclesiastes chapter 10, we’re taking a slight detour this Sunday because Thomas hasn’t been feeling well. Our brother could use your prayers and needed a break. We’re grateful the Lord has given our church a number of preachers and, more importantly, a beautiful body that can adjust, serve, and love one another. Amen? Amen. So, you have to suffer with me this morning.

When I was a college pastor some years back, I had the chance to preach through Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount from Matthew chapters 5 through 7. Coming out of seminary and stepping into full-time ministry, this was the first series I preached. I fell head over heels in love with this stunningly deep, profound portion of Scripture where Jesus lays out the whole of life for the Christian. It was obvious that this is where we would spend our time, walking through it verse by verse, looking at these profound truths.

In this sermon, Jesus takes the broader themes of the Christian life and paints a picture of what the kingdom He’s ushering in looks like. He shows how a person is saved, addresses sins like hatred and lust, and discusses worship, piety, marriage, and anxiety. Here, He teaches His disciples how to pray. He tells them that if they are to talk to God and expect to be heard, this is what it looks like. Within this instruction, Jesus shows that we are to be fully and completely dependent on God, and this is reflected in how we pray.

I want to read Matthew 6:5-15 to set the stage. Please stand with me for the reading of God’s Word:

“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. 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. 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. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 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 the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Please be seated.

Would you pray with me? Our Father, guide us as we learn from Your Word, from the words of Your Son, how we are to pray to You. Help us, Lord, we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

In C.S. Lewis’ book Prince Caspian, Lucy encounters Aslan and says, “Aslan, you’re bigger.” He answers, “That’s because you’re older, little one, not because you are. I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger.”

Friends, the more mature we become in faith, the bigger God becomes in our eyes. The more we grow, the more beautiful, grand, mighty, and holy He appears. As our understanding of God’s magnitude deepens, we learn to rest on Him and trust Him because He has proven Himself trustworthy and reliable, even when His ways differ from our preferences.

In Matthew 6:11, Jesus communicates the reality of His people as dependent people—those who rely wholly on God. He points to the smallest things, the seemingly insignificant aspects of life, like daily bread. This request may seem odd to us, especially in our context of abundance. We often pray for bigger things, but Jesus teaches us to ask for the daily bread, the basic provision necessary for life.

Do you ever think about this? If God doesn’t provide, we starve. None of what we have is guaranteed. As Americans, we often take for granted our provision, but the Christian’s understanding of dependence on God is non-negotiable. Jesus says we must come to the Father dependent, not expecting to get what we want as a given, but trusting in His provision.

This prayer is often called the Lord’s Prayer, but it’s really the disciple’s prayer. Jesus, sinless Himself, teaches His disciples to pray. He addresses God’s glory first—“Hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done”—and then man’s need—“Give us this day our daily bread, forgive us our debts, lead us not into temptation, deliver us from evil.”

God must be in His proper place in our hearts before our needs are met. The priorities must be correct: God is at the center. Because God rules over our lives and knows us intimately, we can pray with confidence that He hears and will provide what we need. Our daily bread, forgiveness, protection from temptation and evil—all are expressions of God’s power and grace, and He alone deserves the glory.

If our prayer becomes selfish, it ceases to be true prayer. Prayer is not about getting something for ourselves but about allowing God to glorify Himself by doing what He knows is best, in His timing. John 14:13-14 tells us that when we ask according to God’s will, He answers and is glorified.

Jesus invites us to participate in His plans through prayer. When He answers, we see Him work. This theme of God’s provision fits beautifully into the Christian life. When we understand all we have comes from our loving heavenly Father, we can live with gratitude and joy, not chasing cheap happiness but resting in God’s provision.

I want to offer a simple acrostic to help us apply this truth: ASK—Affirm, Seek, Know.

First, Affirm who God is and what He does. Jesus models this by beginning the prayer with “Our Father,” affirming God’s holiness and kingdom. God is not just Jesus’ Father but ours too. His purposes and will are the best for us. Affirming God’s identity allows us to come humbly before Him, knowing He hears and honors our prayers.

Second, Seek Him at all times to deepen your knowledge of Him. Prayer is not a side lesson but central to the Christian life. We must be people of prayer, intentionally pursuing God and encouraging one another in prayer. If you have no desire to pray, ask yourself why. A relationship without communication is not a relationship. We must seek God continually, desiring to know Him more deeply.

Third, Know just how dependent you are on Him for everything. The word “daily” can also mean “necessary for existence.” Without God’s provision, we die. Everything we have—from the smallest comforts to the biggest blessings—comes from His hand. We must acknowledge our total dependence on Him.

This dependence brings joy. It’s liberating to know God is in control, that He loves and cares for us, and that He hears every prayer. So, do you come to God for all things, trusting His will? Do you stress needlessly or lay your anxieties before Him? Do you thank God for food, beauty, relationships, even difficult people who help you grow?

Most of us have more than we need and often take it for granted. James 1:17 reminds us every good and perfect gift comes from above. God is committed to caring for His people. Whether in the Old Testament or the New, God always provides for His own. What a comfort and joy this is!

Let us thank our Father for providing all we need for this life. Amen.

I want to give you a moment now to pray silently. Talk to God in your heart. If you need to ask for forgiveness for not trusting His provision or love, do so. If you need to reorient your prayer life, I encourage you to do that now.

Let us close together:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. Amen.