An Exegetical Analysis Of Matthew 6:6-14

          1.) In prayer, our principal focus must be on Him. We are in His divine presence. God answers one's prayer based on sincerity and faithfulness (v. 6).

          2.) We are not to pray in the same manner that pagans do. Prayer should be intelligent and coherent. It is not done with the intent of impressing other people. We ought not be boisterous or in a state of ecstasy. We are not to utter rash sayings in offering up our prayers to God. He will not accept prayer tainted with self-righteousness (v. 7). 

          3.) God knows everything, which includes our prayer requests, even before we even go to Him (v. 8). We do not know ourselves as well as He does.
          4.) We acknowledge that God is the Creator and Lord of all. It follows from that premise we are to give Him rightful honor and worship (v. 9). We must approach Him in humility and respect.
          5.) We pray (with knowledge beforehand that He is sovereign) God's kingdom conquer the evils of this world. He has a plan which cannot be thwarted. It will be fully brought to fruition when Christ returns for a second time. That is what we as Christians long for.
          6.) We live in a world that overflows with tragedies; poverty, wars, slavery, diseases, etc. Only goodness can exist in the kingdom of God. Our wills should be one in the same with God's. They should function in perfect harmony together (v. 10). In prayer, we give thanks for the things which God has given to us and have assurance that He will continue to provide according to His will (v. 11).

          7.) In prayer, we humbly ask God for the forgiveness of our sins. All sin is ultimately an offense against God. We have repeatedly violated His perfect standard of morality, the Law. We must pray for sins committed even after conversion. This does not mean we must approach God with a list of our sins because we could not possibly remember all of them or realize the degree to which we are sinful. God is merciful.
          8.) We must follow the example of God forgiving our trespasses against Him (v. 14). This means that we ought not hold anger or resentment towards other people. We do not hold bad deeds committed in the past over other people's heads. We must forgive the sins of other people because that is what He has done for us (v. 12). Forgiveness is the essence of the Christian message. It eliminates all human pride and boasting.
          9.) We pray to God that He protects us from succumbing to the influence of evil. Temptation is inevitable in the Christian walk. God will prevail over the forces of evil when all is said and done. He is therefore entitled to perpetual glory (v. 13). Jesus Christ was giving to His disciples a proper model for prayer in contrast with the empty and vain words of the scribes and Pharisees of the Law.