So then, this is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Sermons I. IN FORM IT IS BRIEF, CLEAR, AND SIMPLE. This is offered in contrast to the vain repetitions of the heathen. It is not the length of a prayer, but the reality of it, that finds acceptance with God. He does not need to be urged with piteous entreaties, the frantic shrieks, leaping, and gashing with knives that the dervishes of Baal resorted to. He is close at hand; he is always ready to hear; he knows what we need. Some prayers are sermons preached to God. We have neither to inform God as though he were ignorant, nor to persuade him as though he were reluctant to help. We have simply to make him the confidant of our hearts' desires. II. IT IS ADDRESSED TO THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD. The "Pater noster" has its key-note struck in its two opening words. 1. God's fatherly nature. The character of our prayer depends on our conception of God. Christ delighted to set before us the picture of God as our Father. Here is the basis of faith. All confidence is justified by this great face. 2. Our relation to God. He is not merely the "All-Father." He is "our Father;" this personal appropriation of God is necessary for the most real prayer. III. IT HONORS THE HOLINESS OF GOD. God loathes adulation, but he accepts adoration. High-sounding titles and elaborate ascriptions of praise mar the simplicity of genuine worship. It is enough to address God as "our Father." Still we must remember that he is in heaven. The familiarity of love must not forget the reverence due to holiness. The essence of prayer is worship. IV. IT SEEKS THE GLORY OF GOD. Thoughts of God come first - that his Name may be treated with reverence; that his kingdom may come, his will be done. Many prayers are too narrow, selfish, and worldly. The model prayer fills our minds and hearts with large thoughts of God and his kingdom. If we have the Christian spirit in us, these thoughts will lie very near to our hearts; if that spirit is developed and enlarged, they will be predominant, so that we shall more eagerly wish for the coming of the kingdom and the doing of God's will than for the satisfaction of our personal desires. But, alas! few of us have reached that standard. V. IT TRUSTS GOD'S DALLY CARE. Now we come down to the personal prayer. It begins with a most simple, universal want - daily bread. 1. Bodily food. This comes from God, who makes the corn grow, and finds us the providential means of a livelihood. Christ recognizes the need of common earthly things; God supplies them. 2. Necessaries. Merely "bread." 3. The moment's need. "Daily" bread. We can leave the morrow. VI. IT CONFESSES SIN AND ASKS FORGIVENESS. This is of universal application. The saint must confess sin as well as the sinner. This is of daily necessity. We sin daily. But this recognizes God's forgiving grace - to cover all sin. Yet it is conditioned by our forgiving spirit. VII. IT CRAVES DELIVERANCE FROM EVIL. If possible we would be spared temptation. If we must be tempted, we pray to be saved from the power of the evil one. Our Father is our great Deliverer. in view of darkest dangers we cry for his raving help. - W.F.A.
Our Father which art in heaven. I. IN WHAT SENSE GOD IS A FATHER.1. With relation to Christ, as the Son of God: so the first Person is called the Father, as He is the fountain of the Deity. 2. With respect to us: for the first Person is not only the Father of Christ, but our Father. We share with Christ in all His relations: as God was His God by covenant, so He is our God. II. By CREATION God is a Father. To establish the relation of a Father, there must be a communication of life and likeness. A painter that makes an image or picture like himself, he is not the father of it; for though there be likeness, yet no life. III. What ADVANTAGE have we in prayer from this common interest, or general respect of God's being a Father by virtue of creation? 1. This common relation binds us to pray to Him. All things which God hath made, by a secret instinct they are carried to God for their supply. 2. It draweth common benefits after it. Christ saith where God hath given a life, He will give food. 3. It giveth us confidence in the power of God. The Creator who made you out of-nothing can keep and preserve life when you have nothing. IV. How WILL GOD PERFORM THE PARTS OF A FATHER? 1. In allowing us full leave to come to Him in all our necessities. 2. In supplying all our wants (Isaiah 49:16). 3. In pitying our miseries. Many times we forget the duty of children, but God will not forget the mercy of a Father. 4. In disciplining us, and treating us with much indulgence, wisdom, and care. A father takes a great deal of pains in forming his child, fashioning its manners and behaviour: so God doth with His children. 5. In providing able guardians for His children. None so attended as God's children are. They have a guard of angels to watch over them. 6. In laying up an inheritance for them. (Thomas Manton, D. D.) I. That we should in our prayers consider and acknowledge the universality of God's power and goodness.II. That we should not in our conceit proudly and vainly appropriate or engross the regard of God unto ourselves, but remember that our brethren have an equal share with us therein. III. That in all our devotions we should be mindful of those common bands which knit us together as men and Christians. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) IV. That we should bear such hearty goodwill and charitable affection toward others as not only to seek and desire our own private and particular good, but that of all men. (1) (2) (Isaac Barrow, D. D.) I. The Divine Fatherhood.II. Christian sonship. III. Human brotherhood. What great lessons in such little compass. (T. Spencer.) 1. In prayer we address One who sustains the relationship of Father to us.2. In prayer we direct our thoughts to One who is above us. 3. In prayer we confess that we form members of one family. 4. In prayer we depend upon and confide in God as children. (F. Edwards, B. A.) I. The CHARACTER in which God is represented as approachable in prayer. The common Parent of all men, the bountiful supplier of their wants, His people's covenant God and Father in Christ.II. The PRIVILEGE which this title imports, Relationship, access, protection, direction, expectations. III. The DUTY connected with this privilege. To pray to Him, to glorify Him, reverence, trust, submit, love Him, and look for His coming. (Dr. Cope.) I. THE DIVINE FATHERHOOD.II. The Fatherhood of God by CREATION. III. The Fatherhood of God by REDEMPTION. IV. The BLESSINGS INVOLVED in the Divine Fatherhood. 1. Love. 2. Sustenance. 3. Protection. 4. Education. 5. Discipline. 6. Consolation. 7. Intercourse. 8. Inheritance. V. UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD in the Divine Fatherhood. We pray for others; we share in the prayers of others. This brotherhood extends to the various conditions of social life. It embraces nations. What a bond to our otherwise dissevered humanity is this word " our." VI. The MAJESTY of the Father. These were added that there may not be anything earthly in our conception of the heavenly majesty of God. "In heaven": — (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) VII. PRACTICAL LESSONS: 1. Filial confidence. 2. Reverence. 3. Gratitude. 4. Resemblance. 5. Assurance. 6. Hope. 7. Prayerfulness. (Newman Hall, LL. B.) In our nature are quenchless affections. These call for something more than God the Creator, the Ruler.1. We should recognize that God is our Father, in order that we may have right views of religion. 2. It is important to realize the truth of God's paternity, because of its consolations. 3. This truth furnishes us with the profoundest motives to obedience. (E. H. Chaplin.) I. From the title FATHER we know that God is a Person.II. OUR Father belongs to God as the Father of all mankind. III. God is our Father through Jesus Christ. IV. In teaching us to pray "Our:Father," Jesus would remind us of our brotherhood. 1. The fellowship that knits together God's elect. 2. It is a word of love that takes in all men. V. Which art in heaven, means Father in perfection. 1. Perfection of love. 2. Perfection of help. 3. Perfection of nearness and observation. 4. Perfection of homeliness. (Dr. Stanford.) 1. God is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in Him the Father of all who believe in the Saviour.2. Jesus is the firstborn among many brethren, Head of the Church, the centre of union. In Him we say "Our Father." 3. Jesus has opened to us heaven; and, risen with Christ, we seek the things which are above, we pray to our Father in heaven. 4. "We say Our Father, because the Holy Ghost is given unto us, as the Spirit of adoption. (Dr. Saphir.) I. The FILIAL spirit.1. It rests upon the Fatherhood of God as the source of all blessings. 2. It is a childlike .spirit, earnest, unsuspicious, submits to discipline in faith. 3. As a spirit of dignity and perfection. 4. A spirit of separation from the world. II. The BROTHERLY spirit. III. The HEAVENLY spirit. All spiritual blessings are treasured up for us in :heaven. Our storehouse can never fail. (Dr. Saphir.) 1. Power.2. Authority. 3. Omnipresence. 4. Wisdom unsearchable. 5. Mercy unspeakable. (Downame.) 1. A revelation.2. When faith says "Father," love says "Our." 3. Contrast between earth and heaven. 4. We can speak to our Father in heaven, and yet be audible. (Dr. C. J. Vaughan.) I. The views here furnished of the CHARACTER OF GOD.1. The title "Father" belongs to God essentially: as part of His nature He must be the Parent of all being. We are indebted to Him not only for life, but for likeness; He made .'us partakers of a spiritual nature. II. The affections and EMOTIONS these views of the Divine character are fitted to inspire. 1. Admiring gratitude. 2. Confidence and trust. 3. Submission. 4. Contentment. 5. Reverent awe. 6. Purity and elevation in our desires. 7. We should remember that our inheritance is "in heaven." (D. Moore, M. A.) 1. Christ confirms the fact of God's Paternity.2. Christ was also the personal and visible representation of the Father. 3. Christ also reveals the Paternal character of God. 4. Christ also revealed the Paternal heart of God.Father: — 1. It is the language of the believing heart. 2. It is the language of filial love. 3. It is the language of the spirit of adoption in prayer. 4. The filial spirit exhibited not less in times of trial than in seasons of communion. (Dr. O. Winslow.) The catholic spirit of the Lord's Prayer. The Paternal relation involves the fraternal; no engagement so uniting as prayer. Considerations for fraternal union: —1. The equality of love with which the Father regards all His family. 2. The same spirit of adoption dwells alike in all the children of God. 3. That our Father is bringing us all to one parental and eternal home. 4. This topic belongs essentially to practical Christianity. 5. How uniting this truth upon the family institution. (Dr. O. Winslow.) In ascribing locality to God we must not forget that He is everywhere. How appropriate heaven as the dwelling-place of God.1. Heaven is a glorious place. 2. It is a holy place. 3. It is a happy place. 4. It is a prepared place.Practical lessons: 1. We are instructed to look up, the whole soul should be in the ascent. 2. To seek heavenly blessings. (Dr. O. Winslow.) Prayer a most exalted privilege — connected with the richest blessings; but is liable to abuse.1. Christ admonishes His disciples to avoid the ostentatious formalities of the Pharisees. 2. To avoid the vain tautologies of the heathen.This is to be our model prayer: — 1. Simplicity. 2. Brevity. I. The FATHERHOOD of God. 1. By an act of creation. 2. By an act of adoption. 3. God is in heaven. II. The BROTHERHOOD of men. 1. The whole human race constitutes one family. They belong to different classes, climes, ages; all sprung from one Father. 2. All Christians constitute one family. (J. Morgan.) 1. It confers noble privileges (1 John 3:1; Romans 13:7; Psalm 113:5; 1 Samuel 2:8).2. Such a name and title we could never have dared to take upon us had not God permitted. 3. This is no barren title (Romans 1:21; Isaiah 49:14, 15; Isaiah 63:16). 4. This first word of the Lord's Prayer is designed to give us access with confidence to God (Ephesians 3:12; Psalm 81:10). 5. This sonship has its duties. (F. C. Blyth, M. A.) It is recorded of Alexander the Great that to one who bore his name he gave this admonition, "Remember thy name is Alexander;" implying that such a remembrance would keep him from doing anything that would stain and tarnish, and so render him unworthy to hold it.Luther was one day catechising some country people in a village in Saxony. When one of the men had repeated these words, "I believe in God the Father Almighty," Luther asked him what was the meaning of "Almighty"? The countryman honestly replied, "I do not know." "Nor do I know," said the catechist, "nor do all the learned men in the world know; however, you may safely believe that God is your Father, and that He is both able and willing to save and protect yourself and all your neighbours."You never say Father, to a force; Father, to a law; Father, to a mist; Father, to a mile, nor to infinite millions of miles in a line; "Father " is not the name for Thought apart from the Thinker, nor for Friendship apart from the Friend; nor for a Link, though the first link in a long chain of grand phenomena. If we mean more than a figurative father, we mean by that word a living Person.(Dr. Stanford.) It was a law among the Romans that no one should approach the Emperor's tent at night, under penalty of death. One night, however, a soldier was found near the royal tent, holding in his hand a petition which he meant to present to his master and thereupon he was sentenced to death. But the Emperor, hearing voices, and asking what was amiss, and hearing that a soldier had intruded within the forbidden bounds to present a petition, and that they were about to deal with him according to the law, said — "If the petition be for himself, let him die; but if for another, spare his life." It was found that it was for two of his fellow-soldiers that he had come to intercede, who had been taken asleep while they were posted on the watch. The Emperor, well pleased, commanded that he should escape death, and that they also should escape punishment.It is related of Cicero when he was banished from Italy, end of Demosthenes when he was banished from Athens, that they wept every time they looked towards their own country, so great was their love for their fatherland, and so keen their desire to return thither: so should our soul long after our home above.I. The RESIDENCE of God. Heaven is the seat of His government; the region of holiness and enjoyment; the abode of angels and saints.II. His STUPENDOUS CONCERNS. Arranging all the affairs of the universe; receiving the homage of the celestial inhabitants (Revelation 4:2); issuing His commands and executing His threatenings; attending to the supplication of His people; protecting His Church" (Zechariah 2:5). III. THE INFLUENCE OF THE SUBJECT UPON OUR MIND. Humility, reverence, spiritual desires, confidence, expectation, joy. (Dr. Cope.) "in heaven," showeth us: —(1) Prayer is an act of the heart, not of the lips. It is not the sound of the voice which can enter into the ears of the Lord of Hosts, but sighs and groans of the Spirit .... The commerce and communion of spirits is not hindered by local distance.(2) The work of prayer is to lift up the heart to God; to withdraw the heart from all created things, that we may converse with God " in heaven."(Thomas Manton, D. D.) I. Our Saviour, to oppose narrowness of opinion, requires us to pray to our Father which art in heaven, showing by this, that our petitions have equal access to Him from all places.II. This acknowledgment of our Father in heaven, shows His great kindness in suffering us to approach Him. Though distant in station, and unprofitable in our service. III. By calling God our Father we express the greatness of those blessings we have received; and by professing this our Father to be in heaven, we own the great dignity of the person that hath conferred them upon us; and the sense of both these together will naturally prepare our hope, reverence, and attention, to send up the following prayer. (Thomas Mangey.) Hallowed be Thy name. (1)(2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) 1. Be holy. 2. Study His name if ye would sanctify it. 3. Submit to His providence without murmuring. 4. Live to public ends. Allure others, and recommend God to them. 5. Be fully sensible when God's name is dishonoured by yourselves and others; not enduring the least profanation of it. (Thomas Manton, D. D.) As to the substance of this particular, we may consider, that sanctity implying —I. A Discrimination; II. A distance; III. An exaltment in nature or use of the thing which is denominated thereby. (Isaac Barrow, D. D.) I. THE OBJECTS of the petition. The name of God denotes His titles, perfections, etc. To hallow His name denotes — A reverential acknowledgment of God; profound veneration for His Being, attributes, ordinances, word, etc.; sanctification of Him in thought, word, and action; the diffusion of His name through the world; removal of the causes which prevent His name from being hallowed.II. THE SINS DEPRECATED. A thoughtless and irreverent use of His name; appeals to God in common conversation; perjury. III. The grounds on which this petition rests. God is jealous of the glory of His name; He has commanded it to be reverenced; punishment is annexed to a violation of that command. (Dr. Cope.) 1. This prayer is a confession of our ignorance.2. It is a supplication for knowledge. 3. It is an acknowledgment of our sin. 4. It is an entreaty for holiness in ourselves. 5. It ought to be increasingly comprehensive. (F. Edwards, B. A.) I. The PLACE of this petition.II. The MEANING of the petition. III. What is involved in this petition. 1. Honour to Jesus, as revealing the name of the Father. 2. Appropriate thoughts of God. 3. Suitable emotions towards God. 4. Reverential use of the name. 5. Confession of the name. 6. Private and public worship of the name. 7. Observance of special institutions: sacraments. 8. Subjection to the name. 9. Making known the name. IV. REASONS for offering this petition. 1. The welfare of the world. 2. For the good of ourselves. 3. For the glory of God. (Newman Hall, LL. B.) I. WHAT DO WE MEAN BY THE NAME OF THE FATHER.1. His name is the expression of Himself through the language of nature. 2. It includes the further expression of Himself through the medium of inspired words. 3. His name is perfectly expressed in the language of the Incarnation. II. How CAN WE HALLOW IT? 1. In the language of the Old Testament to hallow a thing is to set it apart ceremonially, as a thing sacred. 2. Hallowed be Thy name by the indwelling of the Holy Ghost in us. 3. By our trust. 4. In the spirit of our prayers. 5. In our lives. 6. In our language. 7. In Thy Church by the ascription to Thee alone of honours due. 8. In the overthrow of idolatry. (Dr. Stanford.) I. In breathing this prayer we ask THAT GOD WOULD HALLOW HIS OWN NAME, or cause it to be hallowed. It is not the tribute which we pay to mere power and magnitude. Nature appears in forms of greatness; we do not reverence her. Nor do we reverence mere kindness. A full knowledge of God is necessary in order to hallow His name. To avoid superstition. Terror is not reverence. Some view the Divine Being as too good-natured to punish; the guilt of sin is not felt. By this theory God's name is acknowledged, but not hallowed.II. We can also pray THAT WE AND ALL MEN MAY HALLOW THE NAME OF GOD. We should consecrate His name — 1. On our lips. 2. In our lives. 3. In our hearts. (E. H. Chaplin.) I. WHAT IS MEANT BY THE NAME OF GOD? God has revealed His name —1. In creation. 2. In Israel. 3. In His Law. 4. In the sacrifices. 5. In the names of His servants. Elijah means, Jehovah is my strength. 6. In the face of Jesus. II. HALLLOWED be Thy name. All the works of God glorify His name. The petition implies — (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (Dr. Saphir.) This petition takes precedence in the Lord's prayer: all things must resolve themselves into a manifestation of the Divine glory.1. God's name is Holy (Leviticus 22:2). 2. He is jealous of it (Ezekiel 39:25). 3. God notices the hallowing of His name by His people (Matthew 2:5). 4. God has hallowed His own name (1) (2) (3) (1) (2) (3) (4) (Dr. O. Winslow.) This prayer directory for the matter and order of our desires.I. What we should INCLUDE in this prayer. 1. Just and worthy apprehensions of the Divine character and attributes. 2. That fresh accessions of glory may be constantly accruing to that name from the Person and work of Christ. 3. That in everything which pertains to God, due regard may be had to the sanctities of His holy nature. 4. To emphasize the utterance of the sacred name by some act of mental worship. 5. A reverent observance of His ordinances. II. What we may LEARN from this petition. 1. That in all our prayers, regard must be had to certain fixed principles of moral government. 2. The law of subordination according to which we are to frame our desires. 3. He may not allow praise to be given to any other name. (D. Moore, M. A.) I. The NAME.II. The HOLY name. Who so worthy of honour: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) III. How can we honour Jesus? 1. By giving Him the first place in our thoughts and affections. 2. By a reverential use of all the appellations by which He is distinguished from all other beings. 3. By solemn and grateful acts of worship. 4. By keeping holy the Sabbath day. 5. By living holily before our fellow men. 6. By praising, and recommending Him to all who dwell around us. (J. Morgan.) People Jesus, SolomonPlaces GalileeTopics Hallowed, Heaven, Heavens, Holy, Kept, Manner, Prayer, Sanctified, ThusOutline 1. Giving to the Needy5. The Lord's Prayer 16. Proper Fasting 19. Store up Treasures in Heaven 25. Do Not Worry 33. but seek God's kingdom. Dictionary of Bible Themes Matthew 6:9 1040 God, fatherhood 1115 God, purpose of 8603 prayer, relationship with God Library The Distracted MindEversley. 1871. Matthew vi. 34. "Take no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." Scholars will tell you that the words "take no thought" do not exactly express our Lord's meaning in this text. That they should rather stand, "Be not anxious about to-morrow." And doubtless they are right on the whole. But the truth is, that we have no word in English which exactly expresses the Greek word which St Matthew … Charles Kingsley—All Saints' Day and Other Sermons The Lord's Prayer June 16. "Ye Cannot Serve God and Mammon" (Matt. vi. 24). August 27. "Take no Thought for Your Life" (Matt. vi. 25). November 21. "Consider the Lilies How they Grow" (Matt. vi. 28). June 10. "Your Heavenly Father Knoweth Ye have Need" (Matt. vi. 32). February 12. "But Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God, and his Righteousness, and all These Things Shall be Added unto You" (Matt. vi. 33). Consider the Lilies of the Field 'Thy Kingdom Come' 'Thy Will be Done' The Cry for Bread 'Forgive us Our Debts' 'Lead us not into Temptation' 'Deliver us from Evil' 'Thine is the Kingdom' Hearts and Treasures Solitary Prayer The Structure of the Lord's Prayer 'Our Father' 'Hallowed be Thy Name' Trumpets and Street Corners Fasting Two Kinds of Treasure Anxious Care Links Matthew 6:9 NIVMatthew 6:9 NLT Matthew 6:9 ESV Matthew 6:9 NASB Matthew 6:9 KJV Matthew 6:9 Bible Apps Matthew 6:9 Parallel Matthew 6:9 Biblia Paralela Matthew 6:9 Chinese Bible Matthew 6:9 French Bible Matthew 6:9 German Bible Matthew 6:9 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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