2015.2.22 礼拝

176th Life Church Service
Message from Matthew 6:5-15 – “Lord’s Prayer”
In the New Testament, there is much evidence that Jesus prayed a lot. The “Lord’s Prayer” is one of them and is also known as “Disciple’s Prayer” since disciples were taught how to pray with this prayer.
“Our Father who is 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.”
People with different religion give prayers. In Japan, even atheists also pray a lot on various occasions. During Jesus’ time, Jews prayed as well, but Jesus warned his disciples not to overact being religious. Prayer is to have relationship with God and not for the sake of religion.
Matthew 6:5 – When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
Hypocrites are not praying sincerely but overacting religion to attract attention on themselves.
Matthew 6:6 – But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
Jesus not only told his disciples to pray in privacy. He acted out his advice in many instances. Prayers need only to be heard by God and not necessarily by other people.
Matthew 6:7 – And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.
Gentiles meaning non-Jews who had various religions and worshiped different gods hoping one of the gods would hear their words. Similarly, if Christians were to pray repeating the same words on and on as if by habit, then it would be meaningless.
Matthew 6:8 – So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. 9 Pray, then, in this way: Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
There may be people who do not hold good impressions of their earthly father and when they reach a certain age, they tend to keep distance.
However, fathers still love their children and wish to hold them and waiting for their children to talk to them. More so does our Father in heaven who is waiting to hear our prayers. God is the only one to be praised and honored. We are still left here on earth even after our baptism so that we may spread the words of God and let His name be known everywhere.
Matthew 6:10 – Your kingdom come, Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
There are many differences between heaven and earth but God is here on earth with us as in heaven. We must pray for His kingdom and work to spread His name instead of moving away from Him.