![]() ![]() Verses 9-15 Christ saw it needful to show his disciples what must commonly be the matter and method of their prayer. Let us well study what is shown of the frame of mind in which our prayers should be offered, and learn daily from Christ how to pray. So far is God from being wrought upon by the length or words of our prayers, that the most powerful intercessions are those which are made with groanings that cannot be uttered. It is called a reward, but it is of grace, not of debt what merit can there be in begging? If he does not give his people what they ask, it is because he knows they do not need it, and that it is not for their good. Yet there is not a secret, sudden breathing after God, but he observes it. "Verily they have their reward " if in so great a matter as is between us and God, when we are at prayer, we can look to so poor a thing as the praise of men, it is just that it should be all our reward. The Scribes and Pharisees were guilty of two great faults in prayer, vain-glory and vain repetitions. You may as soon find a living man that does not breathe, as a living Christian that does not pray. Verses 5-8 It is taken for granted that all who are disciples of Christ pray. He will reward thee not as a master who gives his servant what he earns, and no more, but as a Father who gives abundantly to his son that serves him. When we take least notice of our good deeds ourselves, God takes most notice of them. ![]() The doom Christ passes, at first may seem a promise, but it is their reward not the reward God promises to those who do good, but the reward hypocrites promise themselves, and a poor reward it is they did it to be seen of men, and they are seen of men. But the duty is not the less necessary and excellent for being abused by hypocrites to serve their pride. It is a subtle sin and vain-glory creeps into what we do, before we are aware. In these verses we are cautioned against hypocrisy in giving alms. What we do, must be done from an inward principle, that we may be approved of God, not that we may be praised of men. Verses 1-4 Our Lord next warned against hypocrisy and outward show in religious duties.
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