Humble prayer

 

 

Similar to today Christian communities today, prayer was commonplace in Jewish society. At the time of prayer, Jews would stop what they were doing and pray, some discreetly, but others with pretentious display. Jesus was not condemning all public prayer, as indicated by his own prayers in public. He was warning against having impure or hypocritical objectives when conducting public prayer. Private prayer is simply between an individual and God, and will not be susceptible to temptation which exist when praying publicly.

In the following verses, Jesus gives some tips on humble prayer; Matthew 5:7-8 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. ⁸ Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.”