Matthew 6:9 - Homilies By P.c. Barker

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 , AS SOON AS HE TURNS HIS HEART IN PRAYER TO GOD , TO CLAIM THE RELATIONSHIP OF GOD TO HIM AS THAT OF FATHER . In whatever way this relationship of God to man might be argued from the nature of things ( Psalms 103:13 ), or inferable from indirect permission in the teaching of God's favoured and chosen people since Abraham ( Isaiah 63:16 ), it is certain that, previously to this teaching of Christ himself, we read no direct authorization whatsoever of it. It is the gift of this prayer, therefore, that with this title we come "boldly to the throne of grace."

II. THE LOVING AND HOPEFUL TONE OF SUPPLIANCY IT AUSPICIOUSLY AVAILS TO AWAKEN . The spirit of demand, the temper of dictation, the mutterings of discontent, the murmurings of impatience, are all held in willing, sure, sweet abeyance, when on bended knees we say, "Our Father." "How," we say rightly," will he not give to his sons, to whom first he has given this greatest gift, that they should be, and be called, sons!" And, again, how shall not we desire, in practice as in prayer, to comfort ourselves in harmony with our new-given relationship—the Divine "adoption of sons"!

III. THE HEALTHFUL , INSPIRITING , UNLIMITED , CATHOLICITY WHICH THE TWO WORDS " OUR FATHER " BETOKEN AND AUGUR . It speaks in all innocent trustfulness, instinctive expectation , grateful expanded prospect, of the vast family, of an ever-swelling brotherhood, of the one Father's many-mansioned house. It strikes the key-note of the music of universal charity.

IV. THE ELEVATED LEVEL TO WHICH OUR CONCEPTIONS OF THE DIVINE RELATIONSHIP ARE SO SILENTLY AND , AS IT WERE , SO UNSUSPECTINGLY DRAWN UP — THE FATHER IN HEAVEN . HOW helpful to our hope and confidence, how salutary to our modesty and patience, how dignifying to all our spiritual tone and aspiration, to remember that this Father is in heaven, while as yet we are at heaven's footstool—the earth!—B.

Matthew 6:9 (end of verse)

The first petition.

The sentence in which this is contained cannot mean that God's own holiness can be added to or its sanctity improved; but that we "give thanks at the remembrance" of it; pause to observe the very highest conceivable rendering of the fifth commandment; and help to teach others to pay all most solemn homage to his Name.

I. THE PETITION IS AN INSTANCE AND EXPRESSION OF A MOST SIGNIFICANT ACT OF OUR REGENERATE NATURE , AKIN TO ITS VERY HIGHEST REACHES OF ACHIEVEMENT , WHEN , IRRESPECTIVE OF EVERYTHING ELSE , WE DESIRE THAT FIRST OF ALL GOD 'S HOLY NAME BE HELD SACRED AND BE GLORIFIED .

II. THE PETITION PURPORTS THE EXALTATION , IN MEN 'S REVERENT REGARD , OF THAT NAME , SO GREAT , ADDRESSED AND APPEALED TO IN PRAYER . The petition beautifully embraces the deep wish that that Name may be ever growing in adored sacredness in the silent heart of the individual petitioner first, as well as further in and through all creation.

III. THE PETITION MANIFESTLY POSTULATES SUCH SYMPATHY , HOWEVER ELEMENTARY , WITH THE HOLY NATURE OF THE FATHER , THAT ITS FULFILLING CANNOT FAIL TO BE ALSO A SURE FULFILLING OF GOOD TO HIM WHO PRAYS IT . It evidently proceeds on the ready and willing acknowledgment of the fact that the perfect holiness of the Father in heaven is the condition and the essential that lies at the very root of the welfare of the man who is praying, and of the vast universe.—B.

Matthew 6:10 (first part)

The second petition.

The words of this brief petition pray that; the kingdom of God may come in this world. And it would sufficiently satisfy the requirements of the words to understand them to pray for the further growth and more perfect developing and advance of the kingdom and the principles of it. So far also as the word "kingdom" might be considered equivalent to "rule," that rule had always been a reality and a very patent fact in the world. But in the light of the preaching of John the Baptist, and of the preaching entrusted to the twelve and the seventy disciples in Christ's commission, it is probable that the petition in this prayer describes the final and perfect form of God's kingdom, as growing out of the truth of Christ, in all its entirety, rooted in his incarnation, vital in the efficacy of his cross and blood, and triumphantly evidenced in his resurrection, ascension, and sending or the Holy Ghost. For a kingdom, a new kingdom, a reign of "abundance of peace," and of every most distinguished type of blessing, the favoured but degenerate nation had now long been looking with very mistakenly directed vision; while the truer and the really devout of them had been earnestly longing and waiting for it—not, indeed, much better informed in their mind, but very much better disposed in their heart. These, therefore, were to some real degree disposed to understand Christ's kingdom, differently conditioned as even to them it was compared with their expectations. And now the petition is enthroned that purports this— May the kingdom of God in Christ come ! Dwell on—

I. THE SPIRITUAL CHARACTER OF THIS KINGDOM . Explain what is really meant by a spiritual character , illustrating this by:

1 . The wonders of the way in which the kingdom was founded on earth.

2 . The methods by which it gains and holds its own.

3 . The objects which it seeks both near at hand and ultimately.

II. THE SPIRITUAL FORCES WHICH GIVE IMPULSE TO THIS KINGDOM AND WHICH RULE IT , AS MANIFEST AS THEY ARE INVISIBLE . Give here leading illustrations of the mighty presence of the Holy Spirit working at the same time with human servants, but himself unchallengeably the mainspring.

III. THE CATHOLICITY OF THIS KINGDOM . Point out the implications of this fact. Show the enormously strong, growing indications, or evidences, or already concluded proofs of it.—B.

Matthew 6:10 (latter part)

The third petition.

Beautifully does Chrysostom note how, in this petition, following closely upon "Thy kingdom come," Jesus would" bid us, before we come to heaven, make this earth into heaven." Dwell, in this simplest petition, on the following simplest but greatest and most significant facts. If the will of God is done on earth as it is done in heaven, so—

I. IT WILL IT BE DONE BY ALL . It is done by all in heaven, and the very form of this petition is not worded for the individual, but for all the wide, the various, the saddened but the beautiful world.

II. IT WILL BE DONE WITH THE FULLEST CONSENT OF THE HEART , AND WITH THE UNITED , UNDISTRACTED CONSENT OF ALL THE POWERS .

III. IT WILL BE DONE WITH AN EVER - GROWINGLY SYMPATHETIC UNDERSTANDING OF IT . It is beyond us to say that God's will is done even in heaven with (or much less for the mere reason of) a perfect understanding of it. Nay, some of its value may result there, as here, from its being both accepted and "done" in spite of its not being understood. But how much of our understanding of it is blocked by weak sympathy with it, or by absence of sympathy with it; and surely these obstacles will be gone, or ever be giving way! The clearness of sight and of understanding that a perfect sympathy gives, as compared with fitful and imperfect sympathies, must be all gain to the doing of God's will on earth as in heaven.

IV. IT WILL BE DONE WITHOUT THAT BITTER PAIN , THAT WORST WEARINESS , THAT COME OF VAIN ENDEAVOUR AND EFFORT SO OFTEN FAILURE . Such descriptions, or even such mere glimpses, as are given to us in Scripture of the worship or the work in heaven are ravishing indeed to meditate. To these we can never absolutely attain "in earth.". To them, nevertheless, we may ever be approximating. The petition teaches us this; and, as offered by countless millions of lips, generation after generation, it is gradually and blessedly leading on to this.—B.