How to Pray

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 13, 1898

Lesson V.—Sunday, January 30, 1898.

How to Pray

Note.—The instruction contained in this lesson is of the most vital importance to the Christian. Prayer is the most powerful weapon of the Christian warfare. Satan has cause to tremble when he sees a Christian on his knees before God; and this lesson contains the Saviour’s own word-of-mouth instructions for the wielding of this power. The underlying principles of worship which He lays down before giving the form of prayer are an important part of the lesson study.

Lesson Scripture, Matt. 6:5–15, R. V.

5 “And when ye pray, ye shall not be as the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto 6 you, They have received their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thine inner chamber, and having shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret shall recompense thee. 7 And in praying use not vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do; for they think that 8 they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not therefore like unto them; for your Father knoweth what things ye have 9 need of, before ye ask Him. After this manner therefore pray 10 ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. 11 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on 12 earth. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our 13 debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And bring us 14 not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also 15 forgive you. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Golden Text: “Pray to thy Father which is in secret.” Matt. 6:6.

Suggestive Questions.

(1) Whose example should the Christian avoid in the matter of prayer? Verse 5. (2) What is a characteristic of their praying? Same verse. Note 1. (3) What is their object in this manner of praying? Same verse. (4) What does the Saviour say of such? Same verse. Note 2. (5) What is His instruction to His followers upon this point? Verse 6. (6) To whom is their prayer to be directed? Same verse. Note 3. (7) What will be the result of such true praying? Same verse. (8) What practice of the heathen did Christ instruct His followers to avoid? Verse 7. (9) What false reasoning do such employ? Same verse. Note 4. (10) What further admonition does He give them? Verse 8. (11) What reason does Christ give for the uselessness of long prayers and repetitions? Same verse. (12) In what manner does the Saviour begin the prayer which He taught His disciples? Verse 9. (13) What should be their wish concerning the kingdom of God? Verse 10. (14) What concerning the will of the Father? Same verse. (15) How perfectly should we wish that His will be done? Same verse. (16) What is the prayer for temporal sustenance? Verse 11. (17) For what does the one who prays this prayer ask forgiveness? Verse 12. (18) How does he limit his own prayer in this respect? Same verse. (19) How does he pray to be led? Verse 13. Note 5. (20) From what does he ask deliverance? Same verse. (21) With what words does the prayer close? Same verse. (22) What promise does the man have who forgives those that trespass against him? Verse 14. (23) What will be the result of refusing to forgive those who injure us? Verse 15.

Notes.

1. In the corners of the streets.—Where they could be seen from four directions. This is not an injunction against praying in the streets or in any other place where God could be glorified or souls saved. The instruction is directed against hypocrisy—against the heartless prayer, poured forth in a conspicuous place, that the one who offers it may be seen of men and honored for piety. The Christian will not pray to be seen of men. He will pray for himself mentally at all times and places, audibly in the seclusion of his home or where prayer is wont to be made, and for others wherever it may be necessary to pray.

2. They have received their reward.—They receive it while praying—not from Him to whom their prayer is apparently addressed, but from men who see them and praise them for their piety.

3. Pray to thy Father.—He only should be in the thoughts while prayer is being offered. There is an intimation here that when the hypocrite prays, he is in reality praying to men, and it is then reasonable that his only reward should come from men.

4. Use not vain repetitions.—Set forms, repeated over and over; printed prayers in the real making of which the one who reads them has no part; or the petitions of the heathen which are attached to the prayer-wheels and set revolving by the hand or the motion of the wind.

5. Lead us not into temptation.—No true Christian,

however strong, should pray to be led into temptation. Temptations may be necessary to perfect the character, but we do not know what those temptations are. God only knows. He will leave nothing undone that is necessary for the perfection of the character of those who put their trust in Him. “Whosoever wishes to be led into temptation, and is not afraid lest he fall, is already more than half fallen.”—Peloubet.