After exposing false motives behind giving, Jesus turns His attention to prayer—a deeply personal and spiritual discipline. But in His day, as in ours, prayer had become performative for many. Jesus corrects this with one of His most powerful teachings, including the model we now call the Lord’s Prayer.
Let’s explore Matthew 6:5–15 and rediscover the intimacy and intention behind Kingdom-level prayer.
Who Is Jesus Speaking To?
Jesus is speaking to His disciples and the listening crowd, many of whom had only seen prayer as a public ritual done by religious leaders. Some had likely never been taught to pray personally to God as Father.
Jesus strips away the show and brings prayer back to its essence: a relationship with the Father.
What Jesus Said: Matthew 6:5–15 (NASB)
5 “And 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 will be seen by people. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 6 But as for 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. 7 And when you are praying, do not use thoughtless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. 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. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’ 14 For if you forgive other people for their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive other people, then your Father will not forgive your offenses.”
When You Pray… Not If
Jesus assumes we will pray.
But He also assumes we might be tempted to pray for approval, not intimacy.
“Go into your inner room…”
Here, Jesus teaches that true power is found in private prayer, not public performance.
Action Step: Choose a private place to pray daily. No spotlight. Just you and your Father.
Thoughtless Repetition vs. Heartfelt Connection
Jesus warns against mindless phrases and ritualistic mumbling. He’s not against repetition—He’s against empty words without heart.
“Your Father knows what you need before you ask…”
Prayer isn’t informing God. It’s inviting Him into your heart, aligning your will with His.
Action Step: Speak honestly with God. Use Scripture, but don’t be afraid to pray with your own words. Be real.
The Lord’s Prayer: A Model, Not a Mantra
This prayer is a pattern, not a prescription. Each line carries deep spiritual meaning:
1. Our Father, who is in heaven
– Relationship. We’re loved children, not outsiders.
2. Hallowed be Your name
– Reverence. His name is holy—set apart.
3. Your kingdom come, Your will be done…
– Submission. We want His agenda, not ours.
4. Give us this day our daily bread
– Dependence. Trust God for what you need today.
5. Forgive us… as we forgive others
– Grace. We need it and must give it.
6. Lead us not into temptation…
– Protection. We walk closely to avoid falling.
Action Step: Meditate on each part of the Lord’s Prayer. Let it reshape how you communicate with God.
Forgiveness: The Only Part Jesus Repeats
“If you forgive… your Father will forgive you.”
“If you do not… your Father will not…”
This is strong. Jesus ties receiving forgiveness to our willingness to extend it.
Forgiveness is not optional—it’s essential.
Action Step: Ask the Holy Spirit: “Who do I need to release?” Then do it, even if you must repeat it daily.
Mood of the Scene
Tender, relational, liberating.
Jesus isn’t giving a lecture. He’s inviting His followers into closeness with the Father—the kind that changes your heart before it changes your circumstances.
Response from the People
For many, this was the first time they were taught to pray personally to God.
Not through a priest. Not for attention.
But directly—to a loving Father who sees and responds.
What This Means for Us in 2025
Today’s world is:
- Distracted by digital noise,
- Addicted to performance,
- Spiritually hungry but relationally distant from God.
But Jesus still calls us:
“Come away. Shut the door. Speak with your Father.”
Practical Prayer Tools:
- Set a consistent prayer time and place.
- Write your prayers in a journal to stay focused.
- Start with the Lord’s Prayer, then speak freely.
- Be silent and listen.
- Keep it honest, not polished.
Final Prayer
Our Father, who sees in secret, teach me to pray with sincerity. Strip away the pressure to perform. I want Your presence, not people’s praise. Align my heart with Yours. Let Your Kingdom come—in me and through me. I forgive as I’ve been forgiven. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
