Nov. 20, 2024
TEXT: Matthew 6:5-16

I. Jesus is teaching His disciples how to pray (vv. 5-15)
A. Jesus teaches them how not to pray (vv. 5-8)
1. He expresses His expectation of them praying (vv. 5, 7)
Jesus said when thou prayest, not if thou prayest (v. 5a)
Jesus said when ye pray, not perhaps you might pray (v. 7a)
2. He declares His expectation of how they should not pray (vv. 5, 7)
3. He exclaims His expectation of how they should pray (vv. 6, 8)
B. Jesus includes a model for them of how to pray (vv. 9-15)
1. Pray to God the Father in Heaven (v. 9)
2. Pray for God’s will to be done on earth (v. 10)
3. Pray for our physical needs (v. 11)
4. Pray for our spiritual needs (vv. 12-15)
Our need of forgiveness for our sins against God (vv. 12, 14-15)
Our need to forgive others of their sins against us (vv. 12, 14-15)
Our need of His direction in our lives (v. 13a)
Our need of His deliverance in our lives (v. 13b)
5. Pray for our submission to Him (v. 13c)
II. Jesus includes teaching on fasting (vv. 16-18)
A. He includes teaching on fasting with teaching on praying
B. He teaches about fasting and praying in the same ways
C. He teaches about the goal of fasting and praying the same
III. Jesus states fasting as an expectation (vv. 16-18, 5-7)
A. When ye fast, not if ye fast (v. 16)
1. This wording is just like earlier about praying (vv. 5-7)
2. Jesus is teaching them to pray
3. Jesus is teaching them similarly to fast
B. When thou fastest, not perhaps you might (v. 17)
1. Jesus expects them to pray
2. God wants His children to pray
3. Jesus expects us to fast as well
C. Fast for God not man (vv. 18, 16)
1. Praying is for God most of all not man
2. Fasting is for God most of all not man
3. All we do should be for God most of all not am
To the glory of God (I Corinthians 10:31)
Whatsoever as to the Lord (Colossians 3:23)
As to the Lord, and not to man (Ephesians 6:6-7)