Matthew 6

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:5-8

As to the duty of prayer. As, in those duties of religion which take the shape of charitable action towards man, the first law of all is that they be rendered with purity of motive and with directness of aim, free from self-consciousness and free from consciousness, either morbid or calculated upon, of the gaze of others, so certainly in that duty (identical at the same time with highest privilege) which marks the intelligent personal approach of men to God, viz. their approach in prayer, is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:5-8

Prayer. The duty of prayer is assumed. To be without prayer is to be without religion. "Behold, he prayeth," is another way of saying," He has become a Christian" ( Acts 9:11 ). Prayer is the language and homage of dependence. The idea is that of coming to God for a blessing with a vow ( προσεχῦη , from πρὸς ," with," and εὔχη ," a vow"), viz. to fulfil the conditions upon which his blessings are promised. The elements of acceptable prayer are— I. SINCERITY . 1 . The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:5-15

Prayer. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:6

But thou (emphatic) when thou prayset, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray, etc. An adaptation of Isaiah 26:20 (cf. also 2 Kings 4:33 ). The prophet's language describing the action befitting a time of terror is used by our Lord to express what ought to be the normal practice of each of his followers. Observe that the widow of one of the sons of the prophets so acted when she was about to receive the miraculous supply of oil ( 2 Kings 4:4 , 2 Kings 4:5 ). ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:6

Secret prayer. These words are not intended to discourage the practice of public worship. The contrast they afford to the ostentatious worship of the Pharisees. makes it clear that our Lord is not alluding to the general prayers of a congregation. For with the synagogue he associates the street corner ( Matthew 6:5 ), thus showing that he is thinking of a man's personal devotions throughout, although in the case of the Pharisee these are made indecently public, and therefore do not deserve... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:6

The law of personal prayer. That which relates to the individual. Private prayer. "Prayer is the offering up of our desires to God, for things agreeable to his will, in the Name of Christ, with confession of our sins, and thankful acknowledgment of his mercies." Our Lord assumes that his disciples will recognize the need for private prayer, and feel the impulse to private prayer, as distinct from the claim to join in the public prayers of synagogue and temple. "Come, let us worship and bow... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:7

But when ye pray ( προσευχόμενοι δέ ). The Revised Version, and in praying , shows that our Lord is only continuing the subject, and not turning to a new one, as in Matthew 6:2 , Matthew 6:5 , Matthew 6:16 . But while he has thus far thought of prayer as an external act, he now speaks of the substance of the prayers offered, the δέ indicating a transition to another aspect of the same subject. Use not vain repetitions; "Babble not much" (Tyndale). The word used ( ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:8

Be not ye therefore like. Revised Version omits "ye," as the emphatic personal pronoun is not expressed. The connexion of thought is—Seeing you are expected to shun heathen error (Meyer), do not allow yourselves to reproduce heathen practices. By observing these you would be taking a definite way of becoming like (passive, or rather middle, ὁμοιωθῆτε ) those who ordinarily practise them. For ; i.e. you stand on a different footing altogether from the heathen; you are intimately... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:9

After this manner therefore . Therefore ; in contrast to the heathen practice, and in the full confidence which you have in your almighty Father's intuitive knowledge of your needs. After this manner ( οὕτως ) . Not "in these words;" but he will most closely imitate the manner who most often reminds himself of it by using the words. Pray ye . "Ye" emphatic—ye my disciples; ye the children of such a Father. Our Father . In English we just lack the power to keep, with a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:9

As to the manner of prayer. The occasion was one in which our Lord knew that the teaching of his lips would be best brought home to the mind by an example to illustrate his meaning. What a sequel that example of prayer has itself had! and what fruitfulness it has had in teaching the "manner of prayer"! This "manner" taught by our Lord gives us first a name, or title, by which to address God in prayer. In this notice— I. THE GRACIOUS AUTHORITY IT GIVES TO THE CREATURE , ... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:5-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:5-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:5-15

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:6

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:6

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:6

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:7

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:8

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:9

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:9

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