LIVE BEFORE GOD
Matthew 6:1-18
Key Verse: 6:9b,10
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Read verse 1-4. What are some ways that people practice their righteousness before others? Why does this cancels out a reward from God? When we give to the needy, how should it be done? What does it mean to not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing?
Read verses 5-6. How do hypocrites pray? Why? What reward do they receive? How does God want us to pray? Read verses 7-8. How do the pagans pray? Why should we not be like them?
Read verses 9-13. What should be our prayer topics and petitions? Think about each one: First, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” What does this teach about who God is? About how we should approach him? What does it mean to hallow his name?
Second, “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” What does this teach us about God’s great vision and heart’s desire? About Jesus’ mission and purpose? About the nature of God’s kingdom?
Third, “Give us today our daily bread.” Why “our”? Why do we ask for “daily” bread? Why for “bread”? What does this teach us about our relationship to God and to our fellow human beings?
Fourth, “Forgive us our debts as we have forgiven our debtors.” What is meant by “debts”? (14-15) Why is it so important to forgive and to be forgiven? Why won’t our Father forgive us if we refuse to forgive others?
Fifth, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one?” What does temptation have to do with the evil one? Why do we need God’s help and protection in this matter?
Read verses 16-18. What do these verses teach about living before God and not before men? How does the Lord’s prayer help us to live before God?