Sermon Audio:

Scripture Reading: 

Matthew 6:5-15 ESV 

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.

Introduction

Prayer, when done with the right heart and motivation, is an invitation into the presence of God Himself. It is a sacred conversation between a child and their Heavenly Father. Yet if we’re honest, many of us hesitate when it comes to prayer. We struggle with it. We either pray too little, or when we do pray, we feel uncertain. We wonder if we’re doing it right. We question whether we’re being heard. We may even doubt if God will answer.  

Why do we hesitate? For some, it’s a sense of unworthiness. We think, “Who am I to bring my needs before a holy and sovereign God? Are my concerns too small? Is my past too sinful?” Others may fear they don’t deserve His attention. “Have I failed too much? Have I prayed and been disappointed before?” Perhaps we wonder, “Does God really hear me? Does He truly care?” And then, there are those who simply don’t know how to pray. We hear others speak so eloquently, with such passion and depth, and we wonder, “Am I doing it wrong? Should I say more? Should I say less? What if I don’t have the right words?”

But Jesus tells us that our Father in heaven is not distant. He is not reluctant. He is not burdened by our prayers. He welcomes us. He delights in our voices, not because of the eloquence of our words, but because of the sincerity of our hearts. That is why Jesus gives us the Lord’s Prayer. Not as a rigid formula, but as a model and a guide that shapes our prayers into something deeper and more meaningful.

I. The Danger of Hypocritical Prayer (Matthew 6:5-6)

Before we get to the Lord’s Prayer, we should note that Jesus begins his teaching by warning us of  the danger of hypocritical prayer. There were those in Jesus day who prayed not to be heard by God, but to be seen by men. They position themselves where the crowd is thickest, where the eyes of the people are fixed on them, and they lift their voices, not in humble supplication, but in a grand performance. Their goal is not communion with God, but applause from men. And Jesus says, that is all the reward they will ever receive.

True prayer is not a public spectacle but a private surrender. It is not about eloquent words or impressive displays. It is about the heart. God is not moved by many words, but by genuine words. In a sense, prayer is not about informing God of something He does not already know, but about transforming us. When we pray, we are not changing God, rather we are being changed.

John Chrysostom, one of the great early church fathers, likened prayer to stepping into a heavenly palace. He said: “When you pray, it is as if you were entering into a palace—not a palace on earth, but far more awesome, a palace in heaven. When you enter there, you do so with complete attentiveness and fitting respect. You are in communion with angels, archangels, and the seraphim. You are not speaking to man, but to God Himself, who knows the secrets of your heart.”

What a powerful image! Imagine stepping into the throne room of the Almighty God, surrounded by the heavenly host, speaking directly to the King of Kings. At that moment, does it matter what others think? Does it matter if people notice you? Or is your heart so overwhelmed by the presence of God that everything else fades away?

Jesus instructs us, when you pray, “go into your room and shut the door.” This does not mean that public prayer is forbidden. Jesus Himself prayed in public many times. The issue is not location, but motivation. If the goal is to impress people, we will receive nothing from God. But if the goal is to seek the Father, He promises to reward us.

What is this reward? The reward of prayer is God Himself. It is the joy of His presence, the peace of His voice, the assurance of His love. Those who pray with sincerity will find their hearts aligned with His will. Their faith will be strengthened. Their burdens will be lifted.

This is why Jesus prayed in the wilderness. He prayed on the mountaintop. He prayed in the garden. Daniel prayed in his upper room. Jonah prayed in the depths of the sea. Hannah prayed in silent devotion. They were not looking for human approval. They were seeking divine encounter. So let us ask ourselves: Why do we pray? Are we truly seeking the face of God? Do we measure our prayers by their length and eloquence, or by the sincerity of our hearts?

II. The Error of Empty, Wordy Prayers (Matthew 6:7-8)

This may sound like a strange question, but has it ever occurred to you that God, who is all knowing, all powerful, and all mighty, has no obligation to listen to us? He chooses to listen, but there is nothing about us that could demand a Holy God to hear our words. If I were to call the White House today and ask to speak directly with the President of the United States, what are the chances he would take my call? Close to zero. I’m just one citizen and the President is the most powerful man on earth. And yet, the gap between me and the President is nothing compared to the infinite gap between me and God. And still, God hears me when I pray.  

King David had the right perspective when he asked in Psalm 8: “What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him?” The very God who spoke the universe into existence, the One who hung the stars and commands the seas welcomes us into His presence whenever we call on Him. May we never lose the awe and wonder of this truth. But how should we address a God who is so holy and righteous? 

Jesus’ answer may surprise 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.”  - Matthew 6:7-8  

The Gentiles that Jesus referred to were probably the Romans who occupied the land of Israel at this time. They viewed their gods as distant and indifferent, beings who needed to be persuaded or manipulated into action. Their prayers were filled with endless repetition, elaborate speech, and ritualistic formulas, as if the right words or sheer persistence would earn divine attention.  

But Jesus says, “Do not be like them.” The one true God is not distant. He is not reluctant. He is not an indifferent ruler who must be convinced to care. He is our Father; loving, present, and already aware of what we need. You do not have to persuade God to care about you. He already does. How amazing is that?  But if God already knows what we need, why do we pray? Surely not to inform Him, as if He were unaware. Not to instruct Him, as if He needed our counsel. We pray to draw near to Him. True prayer humbles us. It reminds us of our dependence on Him. It realigns our hearts with His will. It is taking our needs, wants, and concerns and laying them down at His feet. 

III. The Model Prayer: The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13)

Now that we have seen how not to pray, Jesus gives us a model prayer so that we can learn how to pray rightly. This prayer is commonly referred to as the Lord’s Prayer. This prayer is built upon two great movements. The first centers on God's glory: his name, his kingdom, and his will. The second centers on our needs: provision, forgiveness, and protection. 

Jesus begins by lifting our eyes upward: "Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name." (Matthew 6:9, ESV)

In this simple opening, Jesus transforms how we relate to God. He is not a distant ruler to be appeased, nor an impersonal force to be manipulated. He is our Father: intimate, loving, and compassionate. Yet, he is also in heaven: holy, sovereign, and reigning above all things. To call him "Father" is an act of faith; to recognize him as the One in heaven is an act of reverence.  

To "hallow" God's name is to honor and glorify him. This echoes the words of the angels in Isaiah’s vision who cried, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!" (Isaiah 6:3, ESV). Prayer is not first about getting something from God, it is about giving him the honor he deserves. Before we bring our requests, we acknowledge his holiness.  

Jesus then calls us to transition into a posture of humility and reverence: "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10, ESV) This is a prayer of surrender. We are not asking for our personal kingdoms to grow, but for God's kingdom to be established. This phrase carries an end times hope, longing for the day when Christ will return and set all things right. But it also has present implications. God’s will is done perfectly in heaven, and we pray for that same reality to take hold on earth. When we pray this way, we align our hearts with God's mission. Instead of trying to fit him into our plans, we surrender to his perfect plan.  

After we have acknowledged God’s holiness and humbled ourselves to His will, rule, and reign, then we bring our needs and requests before Him: “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11, ESV) This simple request acknowledges our dependence on God. In a world that prizes self-sufficiency, Jesus reminds us that all provision ultimately comes from him. Just as Israel gathered manna daily in the wilderness, we are to trust God to provide what we need today and leave tomorrow’s concerns in his hands.  

Yet, just as we need daily bread, we need daily grace. Jesus understood that every day, we would fall short. He understood that every day, we must come to God in humility, seeking his forgiveness. This is why the next part of his prayer is: “forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” (Matthew 6:11, ESV). However, we would do well to note that this prayer carries a challenge. We ask for God’s forgiveness in the same way we forgive others. 

Jesus knew that this would be a difficult teaching, which is why immediately following the Lord’s prayer, Jesus emphasizes the necessity of forgiveness:  "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." Matthew 6:14-15 (ESV)

Now let me stress this point. Forgiveness doesn’t mean that you don’t still feel anger, resentment, hurt, or heartache over what someone else did. Forgiveness also doesn’t mean that you have to pretend it never happened or that you have to go back to the way things were before. However, forgiveness does mean that you will choose not to return evil for evil, to trust that God will do justice, and to pray for both yourself and the person you are trying to forgive. We also need to be careful not to misconstrue this verse to say that God’s forgiveness is somehow earned by our actions. There is not a heavenly scoreboard where on the day of judgment you need more tally marks in the “I forgave” column than in the “I was forgiven” column. 

What I believe this passage does mean is that a heart that truly understands grace cannot withhold it from others. If we struggle to forgive, it may be because we have not fully grasped the depth of God's mercy toward us. More likely, we have forgotten that Jesus bled and died for our sins, and perhaps we need to remember that before we think that the call to forgive is too great. When we pray these words, “forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” we commit to being people of grace and reconciliation.  

Jesus wants to make it abundantly clear that forgiveness is not optional. It is central to our faith because our experience of God’s forgiveness is directly tied to our willingness to forgive others. When Peter asked how many times he should forgive, Jesus answered, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times” (Matthew 18:22). Some translations say “seventy time seven.” This does not mean that we can stop forgiving after seventy seven offenses, nor can we stop forgiving after four hundred and ninety times. This is a figure of speech calling for limitless grace. Again, forgiveness is not about excusing sin but about trusting God with justice and releasing our right to revenge. The key to forgiving others is remembering how much we have been forgiven.

Now let’s go back to the Lord’s Prayer, where Jesus concludes His model prayer by praying: “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (Matthew 6:13, ESV) This does not mean that God tempts us, for Scripture is clear:  "Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am being tempted by God,' for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one." James 1:13  Rather, this is a plea for God's guidance and protection. Temptation is inevitable, but we ask God to guard our hearts and strengthen us.   

God may allow trials to refine us, like he did with the saints of old, however he always provides a way to overcome our trials and temptations. First Corinthians 10:13 reminds us, "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."  

Conclusion: 

As we draw our sermon to a close, I would like to allow us some time to respond in faith to the message we have received. The Lord’s Prayer is a reflection of the gospel, reminding us that through Jesus Christ, we can call God our Father, not by our own righteousness but by His grace. It calls us to surrender to His kingdom, trust in His provision, receive and extend His forgiveness, and rely on His power to overcome sin and evil. At its heart, this prayer points us to the work of Christ; His life, death, and resurrection, which makes it possible for us to be forgiven and reconciled to God. So the question today is this: Have you truly embraced the gospel? Have you surrendered your life to Christ, received His grace, and allowed it to transform how you live and pray? If not, the invitation is open. Turn to Him today, and experience the joy of knowing God as your Father, walking in His will, and living in the freedom of His forgiveness.