Approach: Studying the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6.

Hermeneutic objective: Using a table to focus our observation of the text.

Theological objective: When Jesus informs us on what we should pray for, He implies what our hearts and attitudes should be:

Jesus prays with simplicity, without meaningless repetition, yet with persistence. This reflects our dependence on God.

Jesus prays in praise. This reflects the sovereign authority of God and, in light of our sinful state, we approach God humbly in submission and obedience. He gave us the right to pray.

Jesus prays for daily provision. This reflects our daily need to communicate with God – we pray for our needs one day at a time.

Jesus prays for pardon. This acknowledges our daily struggle with salvation from the power of sin. When you experience the unfathomable love God demonstrated by sacrificing His only Son for you, you realize the immensity of your sins. Whatever sins others have done to you pale in comparison.

Jesus prays for salvation. We cannot deliver ourselves from evil by our own power; we acknowledge the need for God.