From our Lord's "Sermon on the Mount of Olives," Mt. 5-7.
"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." Mt. 6: 5-7
It would be difficult for me to accept the possibility that
our Lord would answer, or even hear the petition of a man
as he is praying loudly, in a public place. The instruction
for prayer continues to indicate just that. He sees the heart
and knows our motivation for prayer. So, He might answer
such prayer, but many times as one stands in the congrega-
tion and is asked to pray, there is regard by that person for
people around him. That is less than prayer. For prayer to
be "effectual," it must be directed to the Father, in the name
of the Son. The Holy Spirit, through the Word, directs such
a prayer. Therefore, three persons of God are all involved
in the prayer. God will answer such prayer, since it began
in the heart of God. In the following, it is even more speci-
fic. "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." Matthew 6: 6 (There are manuscripts leaving
out the word "openly." While that word may be a part of the
original message of Scripture, it is not integral to understan-
ding the instruction.)
Next, verse 7-8; "But when ye pray, use not vain repetition,
as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for
their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for
your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye
ask him." I am not convinced commentary is needed here,
except to say... There are certain "catch phrases" one hears
continually from various persons who "lead" prayer within
our sanctuaries. That may be "vain" repetition. In the follo-
wing passage, vs. 9-13 we find the model prayer as given by
our Savior. This is a "pattern" and not, necessarily, prayer
to be repeated.
Finally, we see this; "For if ye forgive men their trespas-
ses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye for-
give not men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly
Father forgive your trespasses." Earlier, in this blog, there
is a comment something like this. One reason we must for-
give to be forgiven: Is there any scenario where one might
offend you to the level of your offenses against a Holy God?
How could we expect our Lord to forgive our large offenses
against him when we will not forgive small offenses commit-
ted against us? Many times as I have been "offended," the
offense was not on the part of another, but in the way it was
perceived. The offense, therefore, was mine and mine alone,
and I am the one who should seek forgiveness, first from the
one who was perceived wrongly by me, then from the Lord
who is quick to forgive if we will just repent and ask. When
we are offended by another, our responsibility is to clear a
matter with forgiveness, rather than take offense. (Scripture
in this post taken from the King James Version)
donporter,sr.) edited 9.07.17
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