Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciples, “Be you therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect”, and he continued, “take heed that you do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise you have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when you do your alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when you do alms, let not your left hand know what your right hand does. That your alms may be in secret: and your Father which sees in secret himself shall reward you openly.” Jesus added, “And when you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But you, when you pray, enter into your closet, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father which is in secret; and your Father which sees in secret shall reward you openly.” Jesus continued, “But when you pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking”, and in chapter six and verse eight of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciples, “your Father knows what things you have need of” where we read:
Be not you therefore like unto them:
for your Father knows what things you have need of, before you ask him.
The verse reads, “Be not you therefore like unto them:” Matthew began with the words, “be you not therefore” which means “consequently, accordingly and these things being so the disciples were not to be” “like unto” or “similar to or imitate” “them” which refers to “the people who pray using vain repetitions”. Jesus told His disciples not to “imitate” or be “similar” to the “hypocrites” who use “vain repetitions” while praying.
The verse continues, “for your Father knows what things you have need of, before you ask him.” Matthew added the word, “for” which means “because, since, on account that and consequently” “your Father” or “the disciples generator and originator who is God” “knows” which means “sees, perceives, notices, discerns and discovers” “what things” or “whatever” “you have need of” which means “the disciples demand, require or want”, “before” or “in front of and in advance of” “you ask him” which means “the disciples request, beg, crave, desire and require of God”. Jesus shared how God already “knows” what His disciples “have need of” in advance of their requesting from Him.
When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we should understand that God already knows what His disciples need before they come to Him in prayer, and this assurance should let them know that whatever they “pray” to Him, He is precognitive to their request. God desires an intimate relationship with every person through His Son Jesus Christ, and when they understand that He is well aware of their “needs”, they shall know when they come to Him in prayer He already has His answer in mind.
Next time Jesus tells His disciples to pray, “Our Father which are in heaven”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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