Lesson 11: Jesus’ Guide to Prayer
This Week's Bible Study: Matthew 6:5-15
Thank you for joining me today for another step in our journey through the Sermon on the Mount. In this episode, we’re diving into Matthew 6:5-15, where Jesus continues shaping the hearts of his followers by teaching them how to pray. These verses contain both a strong warning and a beautiful invitation. We’re called away from performative religion and into intimate, reverent relationship with our Father in Heaven. I hope today’s study strengthens your personal prayer life and draws you into deeper communion with God.
The Hidden Life of Prayer
In Matthew 6:5-15, Jesus turns to the subject of prayer - a vital discipline for Kingdom citizens. He begins by warning his listeners against praying like the hypocrites, who loved to make public displays of piety (Matthew 6:5). In contrast, Jesus calls his followers to seek privacy and sincerity in prayer: “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret” (v. 6). God isn’t impressed by religious showmanship. He desires hearts that genuinely seek him.
This theme of hidden devotion connects back to the Beatitudes. Those who are poor in spirit, who hunger and thirst for righteousness, aren’t seeking applause but the approval of God. The disciple’s prayer life flows from this inward posture - one marked by humility, trust, and a longing for God’s will. Jesus challenges us not only to pray, but to pray rightly: not for human attention, but for the pleasure and presence of the Father.
Avoiding Empty Words
Jesus also warns against “heap[ing] up empty phrases” like the Gentiles (v. 7), who believed that many words would force their gods to respond. But our heavenly Father isn’t manipulated by repetition. He knows our needs before we even ask (v. 8). This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t pray persistently (Luke 18:1-8), but rather that our prayers should be rooted in relationship, not ritual.
Prayer is a sacred conversation, not a performance or a negotiation. God invites us to approach him as beloved children, not anxious servants. The Apostle Paul echoes this in Romans 8:15, saying, “you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’” This kind of prayer - honest, intimate, and dependent - is what Jesus models in the next section.
A Pattern for Kingdom Living
In verses 9-13, Jesus gives what we now call “The Lord’s Prayer” - not as a mantra to mindlessly repeat, but as a model to guide our praying. Notice how it begins with God: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name” (v. 9). True prayer starts with worship and reverence. We acknowledge God’s holiness, his otherness, and yet draw near because he’s our Father.
Then we align ourselves with God’s will: “Your kingdom come, your will be done” (v. 10). Before we ask for anything, we submit to his rule. This echoes Jesus’ own words in the garden: “not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). The order of this prayer teaches us that disciples pray with a heart oriented toward God’s glory and his purposes.
Next come the personal petitions: for daily provision (“Give us this day our daily bread”), for forgiveness (“forgive us our debts”), and for protection (“lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”). These requests remind us of our constant dependence on God - for physical needs, spiritual cleansing, and strength against sin.
The Importance of Forgiveness
Jesus adds a sobering commentary in verses 14-15: our willingness to forgive others is intimately tied to our experience of God’s forgiveness. “If you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” This doesn’t mean salvation is earned by forgiving, but that an unforgiving heart is evidence that we haven’t truly grasped the mercy we’ve received.
Throughout Scripture, forgiveness is both a gift and a calling. Colossians 3:13 says, “As the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” True prayer not only draws us closer to God, it transforms our relationships with others. The vertical shapes the horizontal.
Grace-Filled Intimacy
These verses are both a comfort and a challenge. Jesus shows us that prayer isn’t about performance or eloquence, but about relationship. We pray to a Father who knows us, loves us, and delights in our trust. And yet this Father calls us to be changed by our time with him - becoming more aligned with his will, more dependent on his provision, and more merciful toward others.
Our prayer life, like every part of our Christian walk, must be rooted in grace. Even when we fail, even when our hearts are distracted or cold, we’re invited to return. As Hebrews 4:16 reminds us: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Bible Study Questions
According to Matthew 6:5, what motivated the hypocrites to pray in public, and how can we guard against similar motivations in our own lives?
Why does Jesus emphasize praying in secret (v. 6)? How does this reflect our relationship with God?
What are “empty phrases” in prayer (v. 7), and why does Jesus warn against them?
How does knowing that “your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (v. 8) affect your approach to prayer?
What does addressing God as “Our Father in heaven” (v. 9) reveal about the nature of prayer and of God?
What does it mean to pray for God’s name to be “hallowed” and his Kingdom to come (v. 10)? How can you pray this meaningfully?
Why is daily dependence important in the petition for “daily bread” (v. 11)?
How do the themes of forgiveness and humility surface in verses 12-13?
Why is forgiving others so central to the Christian life, according to verses 14-15?
How does the Lord’s Prayer serve as both a personal and communal prayer?
Questions for Discussion and Personal Reflection
What distractions or motivations hinder your personal prayer life?
How do you approach God - as a distant authority or as a loving Father?
What does your prayer life reveal about what you truly value?
How has the Lord’s Prayer shaped or challenged your understanding of prayer?
Are you more focused on asking for things or aligning with God’s will in prayer?
How do you respond when God doesn’t answer your prayers the way you expect?
Is there anyone you’re struggling to forgive? How might prayer help you move toward reconciliation?
What steps can you take to build a more consistent and intimate prayer life?
In what ways does praying in secret protect your spiritual integrity?
How do your prayers reflect the priorities of God’s Kingdom?
Action Steps
Set aside a daily time and place for secret prayer - no fanfare, no audience, just you and your Father. Start with the Lord’s Prayer as a framework and expand from there.
Use your prayer time to bring before God any people you need to forgive. Ask for the grace to release bitterness and to mirror the mercy God has shown you.
Before making personal requests, begin your prayers with worship, surrender, and a desire for God’s will. Let “your kingdom come” shape your vision and your actions throughout the day.
Thank you for the breakdown of the Lord’s Prayer. Being reminded of the true purpose and beauty of each verse is always a great blessing.