In Chapter 6 the Lord takes up His people’s relationships with their fellowmen and with the heavenly Father. All their activities are known to Him and they are to conduct themselves accordingly. “Take heed that ye do not your alms [or your righteousness] before men, to be seen of them.” The giving of alms is first mentioned. It is to be done in secret: “let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth.” Those who do these things openly to be seen of others are called hypocrites, for it is “that they may have glory of men.” The same principles are applied in the matter of prayer. It is to be done in secret before the Father. It is not a question here of the prayer meeting. Among the Jews it was a custom at a certain hour of the day to be engaged in prayer, even in public. There were those who desired the praise of men for their devotions and so they did these things on the street corners, using empty repetitions. Such, the Lord said, were like the heathen, who were without God, and idolaters.
He then tells them how the Father should be addressed. This was appropriate to His coming kingdom and His moral character, which the Lord was revealing to His disciples. When the kingdom was come there was to be perfect obedience. His will would be done on earth as it was in heaven. Needless to say His kingdom has not come in that manner yet. The King was rejected by those who should have received Him. When He does take up the kingdom in power and reigns, His will will be carried out on earth as it is in heaven. He will put down all rebellion against Himself when He takes that place.
In the meantime there exists through the forbearance of God a moral kingdom, the King Himself being absent. In the Gospel of Matthew it is called the kingdom of heaven. The rule of heaven is respected by His disciples. However the world rejects Him, so suffering and persecution become the lot of His disciples.
Prayer for a Disciple
Then we have what is commonly called “the Lord’s prayer.” This prayer expresses daily dependence, need of pardon and the desire to be kept from the evil one. These principles apply to the Lord’s people at all times. But the prayer itself was really for those disciples individually who needed to be instructed in the first principles of Christianity, or part of that which is spoken of as “the word of the beginning of the Christ” (Hebrews 6:11Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, (Hebrews 6:1) JND): “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection.” There was that which Christ here below brought out and this was perfectly suited to His disciples in their state then. There is no thought of giving up those blessed truths, but now believers ought to go on to the understanding of Christ as He now is above. He was made “perfect through sufferings” and is now glorified in heaven. We believe that this prayer will be more suitable to the condition of the Lord’s own in that time of tribulation which is to follow after the Lord has removed His church to heaven. Those of this present dispensation know the Lord as the One who has redeemed them by His blood shed on the cross, and they know their sins are forgiven.
Further Meditation
1. What is unique about a Christian’s prayers?
2. You would most likely find Prayer by H. P. Barker to be an excellent introduction to the subject.
3. For a more in-depth consideration of prayer you might read Prayer and the Prayer Meeting by C. H. Mackintosh.