‘Inquiry Approach’
26th August 2019
Three Worlds of the Text
The world behind the text:
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As recorded by Matthew, the Lord’s Prayer falls in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount. This sermon is for Jesus’s disciples (Matt 5:1), and in chapter six Jesus is teaching about spiritual practices and values. For a watching world, these are crucial aspects of life that denote one of Jesus’s followers.
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In Matthew 6:1–18, Jesus is concerned with the disciples’ religion. And Jesus contrasts the children of God with the hypocrites and Gentiles. The overarching command is this: “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven” (Matt 6:1).
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When you give to the poor, don’t draw attention to yourself like the hypocrites. Rather, give to the poor in secret. (Matthew 6:2–4)
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When you pray, don’t draw attention to yourself like the hypocrites. Rather, pray to your Father in secret. (Matthew 6:5–6)
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When you fast, don’t draw attention to yourself like the hypocrites. Rather, fast in secret. (Matthew 6:16–18)
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In each of these situations, Jesus says the hypocrites will reap the reward they seek (honor or praise from people) but nothing else. Those whose practices are done in private—without concern for notoriety—will be rewarded by God.
The Lord’s Prayer falls in the middle of this instruction. It is not a prayer that is prayed to attract attention, but it is private, trusting communication between a disciple and God.
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References:
https://www.knowableword.com/2018/08/20/context-matters-the-lords-prayer/
https://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/the-lords-prayer-bible-verses-and-study/
Outcome 1.2 & 2.3
The world in front of the text:
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The passage from Matthew 6:5-19 has a lot of relevance and application:
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Prayer is important! Us speaking to God and is vital in building a relationship/connection with God.
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Provides a model as to ho we can pray and aspects we can include in our prayers
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It is a prayer we often say as a congregation- but God also calls us to pray in the secret place and by ourselves as well
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This prayer and praise can be done in different ways such as singing- ‘Our Father’ Bethel Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FCel-VnX6k
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Through the annotation of The Lord's Prayer there different parts of the prayer- here is a good reminder of different aspects you can include in personal prayers and prayers with others. Knowing that everyone prays differently.
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Make sure the purpose of your prayer is to praise and acknowledge God, not to make yourself feel and look good.
The world of the text:
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