Matthew 6:5-15 NIV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 6:12

And forgive us our debts ,.... Nothing is more frequent in the Jewish writings than to call sins חובי , "debts"; and the phrase, of forgiving, is used both of God and men. Thus the prayer of Solomon is paraphrased F25 Targum in 2 Chron. vi. 21. by the Targumist: "and hear thou the petition of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, which they shall make before this place; and do thou receive it from the place of the house of thy Shekinah, from heaven; and do thou accept their prayer... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 6:13

And lead us not into temptation ,.... Such a petition as this is often to be observed in the prayers of the Jews F1 Seder Tephillot, fol. 3. 1. Ed. Basil. fol. 4. 2. Ed. Amstelod. Shaare Zion, fol. 73. 1. T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 60. 2. , אל תביאני , "do not lead me" neither into sin, nor into transgression and iniquity, ולא לידי נסיון , "nor into temptation", or "into the hands of temptation";' that is, into the power of it, so as to be overcome by it, and sink under it; in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 6:14

For if ye forgive men their trespasses ,.... Christ here refers to the petition in Matthew 6:12 which is enforced with this reason and argument, "as", or "for", so Luke 11:4 "we forgive our debtors"; which he repeats and explains: and the reason why he singles out this particularly is, because he knew the Jews were a people very subject to revenge; and were very hardly brought to forgive any injuries done them: wherefore Christ presses it upon them closely to "forgive men their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 6:15

But if you forgive not men their trespasses ,.... On the other hand, where men are not of a forgiving temper to their fellow creatures and fellow Christians, how can they expect forgiveness at the hands of God? or what sense of pardoning grace can there be upon their minds? Had they any right apprehensions of the grace and goodness of God, in the forgiveness of their sins, this would influence their minds, and engage their hearts to forgive such who have offended them: wherefore, where this... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:5

And when thou prayest - Οταν προσευχη. Προσευχη , prayer, is compounded of προς with, and ευχη a vow, because to pray right, a man binds himself to God, as by a vow, to live to his glory, if he will grant him his grace, etc. Ευχομαι signifies to pour out prayers or vows, from ευ well, and χεω , I pour out; probably alluding to the offerings or libations which were poured out before, or on the altar. A proper idea of prayer is, a pouring out of the soul unto God, as a free-will... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:6

But thou, when thou prayest - This is a very impressive and emphatic address. But Thou! whosoever thou art, Jew, Pharisee, Christian - enter into thy closet. Prayer is the most secret intercourse of the soul with God, and as it were the conversation of one heart with another. The world is too profane and treacherous to be of the secret. We must shut the door against it: endeavor to forget it, with all the affairs which busy and amuse it. Prayer requires retirement, at least of the heart; for... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:7

Use not vain repetitions - Μη βαττολογησητε , Suidas explains this word well: " πολυλογια , much speaking, from one Battus, who made very prolix hymns, in which the same idea frequently recurred." "A frequent repetition of awful and striking words may often be the result of earnestness and fervor. See Daniel 9:3-20; but great length of prayer, which will of course involve much sameness and idle repetition, naturally creates fatigue and carelessness in the worshipper, and seems to suppose... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:8

Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of - Prayer is not designed to inform God, but to give man a sight of his misery; to humble his heart, to excite his desire, to inflame his faith, to animate his hope, to raise his soul from earth to heaven, and to put him in mind that There is his Father, his country, and inheritance. In the preceding verses we may see three faults, which our Lord commands us to avoid in prayer: - 1st. Hypocrisy. Be not as the hypocrites. Matthew 6:5 . ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:9

After this manner therefore pray ye - Forms of prayer were frequent among the Jews; and every public teacher gave one to his disciples. Some forms were drawn out to a considerable length, and from these abridgments were made: to the latter sort the following prayer properly belongs, and consequently, besides its own very important use, it is a plan for a more extended devotion. What satisfaction must it be to learn from God himself, with what words, and in what manner, he would have us pray... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:10

Thy kingdom come - The ancient Jews scrupled not to say: He prays not at all, in whose prayers there is no mention of the kingdom of God. Hence, they were accustomed to say, "Let him cause his kingdom to reign, and his redemption to flourish: and let the Messiah speedily come and deliver his people." The universal sway of the scepter of Christ: - God has promised that the kingdom of Christ shall be exalted above all kingdoms. Daniel 7:14-27 . That it shall overcome all others, and be at... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 6:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 6:13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 6:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 6:15

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:10

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