Matthew 6:8
Verse
Context
Sermons






Summary
Commentary
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him--and so needs not to be informed of our wants, any more than to be roused to attend to them by our incessant speaking. What a view of God is here given, in sharp contrast with the gods of the heathen! But let it be carefully noted that it is not as the general Father of mankind that our Lord says, "Your Father" knoweth what ye need before ye ask it; for it is not men, as such, that He is addressing in this discourse, but His own disciples--the poor in spirit, the mourners, the meek, hungry and thirsty souls, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, who allow themselves to have all manner of evil said against them for the Son of man's sake--in short, the new-born children of God, who, making their Father's interests their own, are here assured that their Father, in return, makes their interests His, and needs neither to be told nor to be reminded of their wants. Yet He will have His children pray to Him, and links all His promised supplies to their petitions for them; thus encouraging us to draw near and keep near to Him, to talk and walk with Him, to open our every case to Him, and assure ourselves that thus asking we shall receive--thus seeking we shall find--thus knocking it shall be opened to us.
John Gill Bible Commentary
Be not ye therefore like unto them,..... Do not be imitators of them, and follow their ways, who have only the dim light of nature to guide them; it would be shameful in you to do as they do, when you have a divine revelation for your direction; and especially, because your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him; and therefore have no need to make use of many words, or much speaking, or long prayers. The omniscience of God is a considerable argument, and a great encouragement to prayer; he knows our persons and our wants before hand; and as he is able to help us, we have reason to believe he will; especially since he stands in the relation of a Father to us.
Matthew 6:8
The Lord’s Prayer
7And when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard.8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
The Power of Forgiveness
By Scott Volk1.6K49:34ForgivenessGEN 45:1ISA 43:25JER 31:34MAT 5:27MAT 6:8JHN 3:16ROM 12:19In this sermon, the speaker tells a story about a criminal who steals from a priest and knocks him out. The next day, the criminal is caught by the police and accuses the priest of giving him the stolen items. However, instead of denying it, the priest admits to it. The speaker then poses the question of how we should respond when faced with those who have wronged us. He refers to the story of Joseph in the Bible, who forgave his brothers for selling him into slavery and even reassured them that it was part of God's plan. The main message is to let go of resentment and extend forgiveness to those who have hurt us.
Christ Is All - in Scripture
By Bill McLeod1.6K46:28Fulness Of ChristPSA 2:10PSA 40:7PSA 41:9MAT 1:21MAT 28:19MRK 14:62COL 3:11TIT 3:7PHM 1:1In this sermon, the speaker begins by referencing Mark 16 and Luke 1 from the Bible. He highlights how Jesus reproached his disciples for their lack of belief in his resurrection and then commanded them to preach the gospel to the world. The speaker also mentions that some versions of the Bible omit miracles and end with Jesus' death on the cross, portraying him as a good man and advocate of peace. However, the speaker emphasizes that the Bible is truly all about Jesus and explores the significance of his ministry and his role as the Son of God.
(Genesis) Genesis 12-13
By Joe Focht1.3K1:02:02GenesisGEN 12:10EXO 16:4MAT 6:8MAT 6:331CO 2:21CO 10:112CO 12:9In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of making decisions based on God's word rather than worldly influences. He highlights the constant bombardment of worldly standards and the temptation to rely on our own resources. The speaker encourages listeners to turn to prayer when faced with difficult situations and to seek new revelations about God's character and provision. Drawing from the example of the Israelites in the wilderness, the speaker emphasizes the necessity of learning from God's discipline and relying on His word for sustenance rather than worldly sustenance.
Understanding Dead Works
By Zac Poonen1.3K59:06MAT 6:8MAT 23:8LUK 10:42JHN 5:191CO 4:2This sermon emphasizes the importance of understanding and following God's ways as demonstrated by Jesus. It highlights the need to listen to God, wait on Him, and do exactly as He commands without relying solely on human reasoning. The speaker stresses the significance of avoiding dead works, making needs known only to God, and following the example set by Jesus and the apostles in all aspects of life and ministry.
New Covenant - Jesus Revealed Father - Part 4
By Zac Poonen1.2K10:21MAT 6:8This sermon emphasizes how God feels for His children, understanding their daily struggles and trials. It reflects on Jesus' own experiences of facing troubles and challenges while on earth, highlighting the importance of being secure in God's love to overcome insecurities and sins. The message encourages believers to seek to please God and live a life of faith and trust, knowing that His approval is what truly matters.
Resurrected and Seated in Heaven
By Zac Poonen49745:19PSA 1:2MAT 6:8LUK 15:20ACT 24:15ROM 8:15ROM 14:171JN 2:28This sermon emphasizes the importance of understanding and experiencing the love of the Father, as demonstrated through the story of the prodigal son. It highlights the need to maintain a blameless conscience before God and men, to be prepared for the resurrection of the righteous, and to live a life of readiness for the return of Christ.
An Anchor for Our Faith
By David Wilkerson0God's ProvisionFaithMAT 6:8MAT 6:33LUK 12:22LUK 12:28David Wilkerson emphasizes that a single verse from God's Word can sustain us through difficult times, particularly Matthew 6:8, which reassures us that our Father knows our needs before we even ask. He encourages believers to trust in God's provision for essentials like food, clothing, and shelter, reminding us that if God cares for the grass, He will certainly care for us. Wilkerson highlights that our focus should be on God's knowledge and care, which alleviates worry about our lives and families. He reassures that God cares for our loved ones even more than we do and urges us to seek God's kingdom first, promising that all our needs will be met. Ultimately, he calls us to anchor our faith in the certainty of God's provision and love.
Compared View of the First Three Gospels, Etc.
By John Nelson Darby0The GospelsChrist's MinistryMAT 1:1MAT 4:17MAT 5:1MAT 9:35MAT 11:28MAT 28:19MRK 1:14LUK 3:23LUK 4:18John Nelson Darby discusses the distinct characteristics and purposes of the first three Gospels, emphasizing that Mark presents a chronological account of Christ's service, while Matthew focuses on the presentation of Jesus as the Messiah and the implications of His rejection. He notes that Luke, while generally following Mark's order, includes moral teachings that are unique to his Gospel. Darby highlights the importance of understanding the genealogies and the context of Christ's ministry, particularly in relation to Israel's expectations and the establishment of the church. He concludes that the Gospels collectively reveal the nature of Christ's mission and the unfolding of God's plan for humanity.
Receiving the Gift of the Spirit
By Chuck Smith0The Holy SpiritFaith and PrayerPSA 139:23JER 17:9MAT 6:8MAT 7:7LUK 11:13JHN 20:22ACT 2:15ACT 2:37EPH 5:18JAS 4:2Chuck Smith emphasizes the significance of receiving the Holy Spirit as a divine gift promised by God, which is available to all believers regardless of their spiritual maturity. He explains that this gift cannot be earned or deserved, but must be received through faith and prayer, encouraging believers to ask for the Holy Spirit without being hindered by feelings of unworthiness. Smith highlights the importance of recognizing God's will in our requests and the necessity of thanking Him for the gift once it is received. He reassures that the Holy Spirit empowers believers to overcome sin and be effective witnesses for Christ, rather than merely providing ecstatic experiences. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit, urging believers to seek and receive this gift with confidence and gratitude.
Our Intercessor
By David Wilkerson0IntercessionChrist's Role as High PriestMAT 6:8JHN 14:13ROM 8:34EPH 4:16PHP 4:19COL 2:91TH 5:17HEB 7:25JAS 5:161JN 2:1David Wilkerson explores the profound concept of Jesus as our intercessor, emphasizing that His role is not merely to plead for mercy on our behalf but to actively support and strengthen us in our daily lives. He reflects on the depth of intercession, suggesting that it transcends a simplistic view of Christ begging the Father for our needs, as God already knows and provides for us. Wilkerson encourages believers to understand that Christ's intercession is about the growth and empowerment of His body on earth, highlighting the intimate relationship between Jesus and the Father. He acknowledges the mystery of this divine intercession while affirming its significance in our spiritual journey.
The Preventing Love of the Lord
By David Wilkerson0God's LoveDivine ProvisionPSA 18:19PSA 21:3PSA 34:10PSA 46:1ISA 65:24MAT 6:8ROM 8:31EPH 3:20PHP 4:191JN 5:14David Wilkerson explores the profound meaning of God's 'preventing love' as expressed in Psalms 21:3, emphasizing that God anticipates our needs and blesses us even before we ask. He illustrates how God's love is proactive, fulfilling our needs with mercy and grace ahead of time, as seen in Isaiah 65:24. Wilkerson highlights that David experienced victory and joy through God's prior provisions, which allowed him to focus on God's loving kindness rather than his struggles. This message reassures believers that, despite challenges, God has already secured their victory and delights in them. Ultimately, God's love is a source of strength and assurance in times of trouble.
"Preventing" Love
By David Wilkerson0Divine ProvisionGod's Anticipatory LovePSA 21:3PSA 23:1PSA 34:10ISA 65:24MAT 6:8ROM 8:32EPH 3:20PHP 4:19JAS 1:171JN 5:14David Wilkerson explores the profound meaning of the word 'prevent' in Psalms 21:3, revealing that it signifies God's anticipation and fulfillment of our needs before we even ask. He emphasizes that God's blessings and lovingkindness are bestowed upon us in advance, showcasing His eagerness to bless and provide for us. Wilkerson illustrates this with Isaiah 65:24, highlighting God's readiness to answer our prayers even before we voice them. The sermon conveys that God's love is so abundant that He grants us victory and joy before we even approach Him with our requests. Ultimately, it reassures believers of God's proactive grace and mercy in their lives.
Shall Any Teach God Knowledge?
By F.B. Meyer0Trust in God's PlanGod's OmniscienceJOB 21:22PSA 139:1ISA 55:8MAT 6:8ROM 8:28F.B. Meyer emphasizes that God possesses complete knowledge and understanding of our lives, rendering our prayers a means of communion rather than a way to inform Him. He reassures us that God's responses to our prayers are based on His infinite wisdom, not on our limited understanding or requests. Meyer encourages believers to trust in God's perfect plan, acknowledging that His ways and thoughts surpass our own. He reminds us that we cannot teach God anything, and thus, we should surrender our desires and trust in His divine guidance.
Ii Chronicles 16:9
By Chuck Smith0God's ProvisionPrayer and Heart AlignmentPSA 37:4MAT 6:8PHP 4:19JAS 1:171JN 5:14Chuck Smith explores the different ways in which people give and contrasts them with how God gives. He emphasizes that while humans may give based on urgency, need, or investment, God's giving is rooted in His desires for humanity and His intention to bless through human vessels. Smith reassures that God has already planned to provide for our needs even before we ask, highlighting the importance of aligning our hearts with God's will to receive more from Him. The sermon encourages believers to focus on having a heart turned towards God rather than merely asking for more.
Matthew 7:7
By Chuck Smith0God's ProvisionPrayerMAT 6:8MAT 7:7LUK 11:13JAS 4:21JN 5:14Chuck Smith emphasizes the nature of God's giving in his sermon on Matthew 7:7, explaining that while our asking does not influence God's purpose, it does influence His actions. He illustrates how God's giving is not like human giving, which often requires persuasion and conditions, but rather reflects a loving Father who is eager to provide for our needs. Smith reassures that God is constantly aware of our needs and desires to bless us, but we must align our prayers with His will to see His actions unfold in our lives. Ultimately, he concludes that prayer does not change God's purpose but can change His actions in response to our needs.
The Miracle in a Dry Place
By John Henry Jowett0PSA 23:2PSA 107:35PSA 119:105ISA 41:17MAT 6:8John Henry Jowett preaches about the miracles of grace, emphasizing how God can turn dry and difficult experiences into sources of blessing and consolation. He highlights the idea that even in the toughest times, God's providence goes before His faithful followers, ensuring that their needs are foreseen and provided for. Jowett encourages not to fear when faced with wilderness experiences, as God is present everywhere, providing sustenance and unexpected blessings. He assures that in every situation, whether in desert places or lush meadows, God's provision is abundant, offering peace and comfort.
God's Care
By George Kulp0PSA 37:5PRO 3:5ISA 55:8MAT 6:8PHP 4:6George B. Kulp preaches about the importance of trusting in God's provision and timing, sharing a story of a shut-in woman who learned to rely on God's perfect care and received a housekeeper through prayer. Dr. Pentecost emphasizes the need to trust in God's plan even when things seem tangled and out of order. Various anecdotes illustrate the profound truth that God knows us intimately and cares for our needs, often in unexpected ways.
The Ceaselessness of Prayer
By P.T. Forsyth0MAT 6:8JHN 15:7ROM 8:26EPH 6:18PHP 4:6COL 4:21TH 5:17JAS 5:161JN 5:14P.T. Forsyth preaches on the moral freedom achieved in prayer, emphasizing that prayer is the effective work of a religion centered on the living God, requiring faith in action and cooperation with God's freedom. He highlights that prayer is the momentary function of the Eternal Son's communion with the Eternal Father, integrating believers into the final Christ. Forsyth also delves into prayer as the expression of the perennial new life of faith in the Cross, stressing the importance of praying without ceasing as a continuous bent and drift of the soul towards God, cultivating the habit of praying audibly, and being specific and detailed in prayer. He encourages believers to pray in Christ's name, as an answer to God's gift in Christ, and to learn the art of conversing with God through practice and association with the Holy Spirit.
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him--and so needs not to be informed of our wants, any more than to be roused to attend to them by our incessant speaking. What a view of God is here given, in sharp contrast with the gods of the heathen! But let it be carefully noted that it is not as the general Father of mankind that our Lord says, "Your Father" knoweth what ye need before ye ask it; for it is not men, as such, that He is addressing in this discourse, but His own disciples--the poor in spirit, the mourners, the meek, hungry and thirsty souls, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, who allow themselves to have all manner of evil said against them for the Son of man's sake--in short, the new-born children of God, who, making their Father's interests their own, are here assured that their Father, in return, makes their interests His, and needs neither to be told nor to be reminded of their wants. Yet He will have His children pray to Him, and links all His promised supplies to their petitions for them; thus encouraging us to draw near and keep near to Him, to talk and walk with Him, to open our every case to Him, and assure ourselves that thus asking we shall receive--thus seeking we shall find--thus knocking it shall be opened to us.
John Gill Bible Commentary
Be not ye therefore like unto them,..... Do not be imitators of them, and follow their ways, who have only the dim light of nature to guide them; it would be shameful in you to do as they do, when you have a divine revelation for your direction; and especially, because your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him; and therefore have no need to make use of many words, or much speaking, or long prayers. The omniscience of God is a considerable argument, and a great encouragement to prayer; he knows our persons and our wants before hand; and as he is able to help us, we have reason to believe he will; especially since he stands in the relation of a Father to us.