Our Father sees us in secret

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January 9, 2022

Jesus gives some practical instructions for his followers about how to pray and fast. He firstly gives a warning when one prays with the wrong heart motivation, hoping to be seen by other people and secondly he gives a wonderful promise when one prays and fasts in secret. Jesus reveals who our Father in heaven is, that He sees us in secret, knows what we need and rewards us when we pray and fast in secret for Him.

Andy Farrer

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Matthew 6:5–18 (Listen)

The Lord’s Prayer

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this:

  “Our Father in heaven,
  hallowed be your name.1
10   Your kingdom come,
  your will be done,2
    on earth as it is in heaven.
11   Give us this day our daily bread,3
12   and forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13   And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from evil.4

14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Fasting

16 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Footnotes

[1] 6:9 Or Let your name be kept holy, or Let your name be treated with reverence
[2] 6:10 Or Let your kingdom come, let your will be done
[3] 6:11 Or our bread for tomorrow
[4] 6:13 Or the evil one; some manuscripts add For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen

(ESV)

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Text provided by the Crossway Bibles Web Service.

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