Sermon on the Mount: The Lord’s Prayer

In Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge vowed “I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” I am going to keep Christmas all the year by remembering my Savior and studying His life each week. Scrooge isn’t the only one who can make a change for the better. I can and you can. Elder Richard G. Scott promised, “The best way to make a permanent change for good is to make Jesus Christ your model and His teachings your guide for life” (“He Lives! All Glory to His Name!”). Please join me and invite your family and friends to join us in keeping Christmas all the year.

Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, 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 thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. 

And when thou prayest, thou shalt 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 thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. 

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:1-13.)

Points to Ponder:
  1. How has serving in secret blessed your life, either as the giver or receiver?
  2. If our Heavenly Father knows what we need, why must we ask Him for them in prayer?
  3. What does The Lord’s Prayer teach you about how to pray and how to improve your prayers?

Click here for additional New Testament posts.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *