Matthew 6:12
“And forgive us our trespasses, as we also forgive those who trespass against us.”
This verse from Matthew 6:12 is part of the prayer that the Lord Jesus taught His disciples. When we read the prayer in its entirety, we realize that Jesus was not merely presenting sentences to be recited in prayer, but a way of life to be lived—namely, in the lives of believers. The preceding verses in Matthew chapter 6 affirm that the prayer taught by Jesus must be manifested in behavior, not merely in words, phrases, or prayer narratives.
Matthew 6:5 says, “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.” Praying—or dialoguing with God—is a way of life for believers. It is a very personal space between a believer and their God, with no need for anyone else to know. Why is there an impression of hypocrisy in matters of dialoguing with God? Because human beings have a great potential to be dishonest before the Lord. Therefore, we must be truly alert and avoid hypocrisy when we speak with God in prayer.
If the Bible addresses the presence of hypocrisy in prayer, it means that this potential genuinely exists among believers. We must be vigilant over ourselves so that we do not fall into such hypocrisy. Hypocrisy—pretense, acting, wearing a mask, and having a double face—is very possible in spiritual life. This is why the Lord Jesus’ message in Matthew 6:5 was delivered to His disciples then and remains relevant for believers today.
Prayer is a dialogue between us and God, our Father in heaven. Its nature is profoundly personal and reflects an intimate relationship. “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.” This message emphasizes that prayer is a person’s private time with God. Then what about when someone is asked to pray to open a worship service attended by many people? This is where spiritual stability is required of believers. Remember, prayer is a personal dialogue with God. Pray before many people in the same way you pray privately. What is being offered is not a series of prayer sentences, but a dialogue with God.
Believers need to avoid praying with ulterior motives—for example, praying academically, seeking to be seen as skilled in worship, or speaking in tongues to appear more spiritual. The writer is not saying that speaking in tongues in prayer is wrong, but it must be done strictly under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Do not let prayer become a means of performing, building a platform, or seeking popularity, recognition, or the admiration of listeners. Pray with the heart, not merely with the mouth. The words of prayer must be in harmony with one’s conduct. Otherwise, a person is spending time offering prayers that God does not hear.
Believers certainly desire their prayers to be heard and answered by God. Believers are children of God, and God surely hears the conversations of His children. However, there is an important matter to consider when we pray to God: we must be in a state of purity, free from sin and transgression. Isaiah 59:2 says, “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.” This statement from the prophet Isaiah, inspired by the Holy Spirit, gives a severe warning about how we deal with God. God cannot draw near to evil and sin.