Prayer n 8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.

Prayer n Why does our knowledge of what God knows change the manner in which we pray?

Prayer n Consider the elements of prayer, praise, petition, confession and intercession.

Prayer n Why does our knowledge of what God knows change the manner in which we pray? n Consider the elements of prayer, praise, petition, confession and intercession. n How can we better pray?

Prayer n n What satisfaction must it be to learn from God himself, with what words, and in what manner, he would have us pray to him, so as not to pray in vain! A king, who draws up the petition which he allows to be presented to himself, has doubtless the fullest determination to grant the request. We do not sufficiently consider the value of this prayer; the respect and attention which it requires; the preference to be given to it; its fullness and perfection: the frequent use we should make of it; and the spirit which we should bring with it.

Prayer n n “Lord, teach us how to pray!” is a prayer necessary to prayer; for unless we are divinely instructed in the manner, and influenced by the spirit of true devotion, even the prayer taught us by Jesus Christ may be repeated without profit to our souls.

Prayer n n Hallowed—a thing separated from the earth, or from earthly purposes and employments. As the word sanctified, or hallowed, in Scripture, is frequently used for the consecration of a thing or person to a holy use or office, as the Levites, first- born, tabernacle, temple, and their utensils, which were all set apart from every earthly, common, or profane use, and employed wholly in the service of God,

Prayer n n so the Divine Majesty may be said to be sanctified by us, in analogy to those things, viz. when, we separate him from, and in our conceptions and desires exalt him above, earth and all things.

Prayer n n Thy name—That is, God himself, with all the attributes of his Divine nature—his power, wisdom, justice, mercy, etc. n n We hallow God’s name,

Prayer n n Thy kingdom come—The ancient Jews scrupled not to say: He prays not at all, in whose prayers there is no mention of the kingdom of God. Hence, they were accustomed to say, “Let him cause his kingdom to reign, and his redemption to flourish: and let the Messiah speedily come and deliver his people.”

Prayer n n The universal sway of the scepter of Christ:—God has promised that the kingdom of Christ shall be exalted above all kingdoms. Daniel 7: That it shall overcome all others, and be at last the universal empire. Isaiah 9:7. Connect this with the explanation given of this phrase, Matthew 3:2.

Prayer n n Thy will be done—This petition is properly added to the preceding; for when the kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy, in the Holy Spirit, is established in the heart, there is then an ample provision made for the fulfillment of the Divine will. The will of God is infinitely good, wise, and holy; to have it fulfilled in and among men, is to have infinite goodness, wisdom, and holiness diffused throughout the universe; and earth made the counterpart of heaven.

Prayer n n Give us this day our daily bread- There is probably an allusion here to the custom of travelers in the east, who were wont to reserve a part of the food given them the preceding evening to serve for their breakfast or dinner the next day. But as this was not sufficient for the whole day, they were therefore obliged to depend on the providence of God for the additional supply.

Prayer n n And forgive us our debts—Sin is represented here under the notion of a debt, and as our sins are many, they are called here debts. God made man that he might live to his glory, and gave him a law to walk by; and if, when he does any thing that tends not to glorify God, he contracts a debt with Divine Justice, how much more is he debtor when he breaks the law by actual transgression!

Prayer n n It has been justly observed, “All the attributes of God are reasons of obedience to man; those attributes are infinite; every sin is an act of ingratitude or rebellion against all these attributes; therefore sin is infinitely sinful.”

Prayer n 13And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. 14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Prayer n n And lead us not into temptation - The word not only implies violent assaults from Satan, but also sorely afflictive circumstances, none of which we have, as yet, grace or fortitude sufficient to bear. Bring us not in, or lead us not in. This is a mere Hebraism: God is said to do a thing which he only permits or suffers to be done.

Prayer n n The process of temptation is often as follows: n n 1st. A simple evil thought. n n 2ndly. A strong imagination, or impression made on the imagination, by the thing to which we are tempted. n n 3dly. Delight in viewing it. n n 4thly. Consent of the will to perform it. Thus lust is conceived, sin is finished, and death brought forth. James 1:15.

Prayer n n See also on Matthew 4:1 (note). A man may be tempted without entering into the temptation: entering into it implies giving way, closing in with, and embracing it.

Fasting n 16 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Fasting n What is fasting? n It is from a word that means: “to abstain from eating”. n It is not however just a diet or any occasion of eating. It always involves a focused mind. n There are two kinds of “focused mind”: voluntary and involuntary. n Occasions for fasting include: loss of a loved one, guilt of sin, a burden of great responsibility and concern for others in their sin. n 4. Fasting is a result of a focus and mourning that causes food to have little n appeal. n 5. Prayer is often connected to it. This is where burdened hearts find relief. n B. There were also occasions for a “proclaimed fast”. Even here the individual n was to focus on issues that would produce this burden that would lead them to n pray.

Fasting n Occasions for fasting include: loss of a loved one, guilt of sin, a burden of great responsibility and concern for others in their sin. n Fasting is a result of a focus and mourning that causes food to have little appeal. n Prayer is often connected to it. This is where burdened hearts find relief. n There were also occasions for a “proclaimed fast”. Even here the individual n was to focus on issues that would produce this burden that would lead them to n pray.

Fasting n There were also occasions for a “proclaimed fast”. Even here the individual was to focus on issues that would produce this burden that would lead them to pray.