The Lord’s Lessons in Prayer

From the Pastor: Dr. M. J. Seymour, Sr.

“But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, 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. After this manner therefore pray ye; Our Father …” (Matt. 6:7-9a)

Many wrongly assume that the words beginning with “Our Father” are the “Lord’s Prayer.” This is not consistent with correct Bible analysis and interpretation. The real “Lord’s Prayer” is found in the whole of John chapter 17. What Christ is delivering here is a lesson the “how-to,” or what are the contents of real Godward prayers. Simply, there are three crucial segments in heavenward prayer: 1. Honesty, 2. Acknowledgements, 3. Seeking; and those verses before and after 6:9b-13 are an expounding of what he said.

First – Honesty – It is required of the one praying to be in full humble honesty with God, even in the presence of men. This is covered in 6:5-7, 16-18, and 7:1-6.

Second – Acknowledgements in 6:9b-12 – The one praying is to acknowledge his heavenly birth (Our Father), the Father’s holiness and purity (Hallowed be thy name), His sovereignty over heaven and earth (v.10), His divine preservation of His own (v. 11), and how God has conformed us to is likeness, “like Father, like son” (v. 12). Acknowledgements are expanded on in 6:7-10, 19-34, and 7:7-12.

Third – Seeking Divine leadership in verse 6:13 – They are to seek the Father’s leadership because of His sovereignty, because of His boundless power, for the purpose of His glorification, and because of His infinite nature – He has always been, He is, and He will always be God – “Our Father which art in heaven,”. Who else could have such love, wisdom, and ability to lead His children? More elaboration of seeking the Father’s leadership is in 7:13-27.

“Ask,” but ask in humble honesty; “seek,” but seek to follow the Father’s leadership because of His omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence; then, “knock,” but knock acknowledging in deep and holy respect with a full awareness of Whom you wish to address in your asking and seeking. The Father is the only one that can give salvation to the uttermost, preserve to the end, and light the way of righteousness, because of this His children bring Him eternal Glory.