Matthew 6:8-9

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:1-18

The third part of the sermon: the danger of unreality. I. THE FIRST EXAMPLE : ALMSGIVING . 1. The spiritual estimate of actions. The Christian's righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees. They did their righteousness, their good works, before men, to be seen of them. It must not be so with us. Indeed, we are bidden to let our light shine before men. A holy life hath a persuasive eloquence, more persuasive far than holy words; it must not be hidden; its... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:1-18

Sermon on the mount: 4. Ostentatious religion. After indicating the righteousness which admits to the kingdom of heaven, our Lord proceeds to warn against a flaw that vitiates the goodness of many religious people, and to illustrate it in connection with three chief characteristics of the religious life of those days—alms-giving, prayer, and fasting. I. ALMSGIVING has been recognized as one of the first duties by most religions. Under the Jewish Law the poor were well provided for. It... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:5-8

Matthew only. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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 6:8

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:9-10

The Lord's Prayer (part 1). In the Gospel of Luke this prayer is given in still briefer form. The occasion there was that the disciples, after the Lord had prayed, said to him, "Lord teach us to pray, even as John also taught his disciples. And he said unto them, When ye pray, say. " Here, however, "After this manner pray ye." The use of forms is sanctioned; so is extemporary prayer. Better a " form of sound words" than no family worship. Consider— I. THE ADDRESS TO ... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:1-18

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:1-18

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:5-8

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 6:8

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:9

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:9

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 6:9-10

Verse of the Day

Daily Devotional

Group of Brands