Digging Deeper Days
Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!
Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out What’s In A Name!
The Questions
1) What is important about calling God “Our Father”?
2) What does it look like for us to “honor” God’s name?
3) What does it mean for God’s name to remain “holy”?
Matthew 6:5-9
5 “Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7 When you pray, don’t babble like the Gentiles, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words. 8 Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask him.
9 “Therefore, you should pray like this:
Our Father in heaven,
your name be honored as holy…”
Original Intent
1) What is important about calling God “Our Father”?
When Jesus decided to teach about prayer to the people who were listening to Him on the mountainside (Matthew 5:1), His first lesson was on structuring their prayers (beginning in verse 9). Jesus first focused on how to address the most holy God: as FATHER. Jesus’ simple, uncomplicated model for prayer begins with acknowledging to whom we pray. Of all the names and titles given to God throughout the ages that Jesus could have emphasized, He focused on the one that reiterated the relationship God has with His people. He reminded those listening that God is their perfect Father. In fact, in verses 5-8, Jesus refers to praying to the “Father” 3 times. While it is not wrong to pray to Jesus and the Holy Spirit, for they are the other 2 persons of the One Triune God, Jesus establishes and models for us the normative practice of praying to God, the Father. Jesus’ instruction was to come before God with that kind of intimacy and knowledge – like a child approaching his or her father to have a personal conversation.
2) What does it look like for us to “honor” God’s name?
Jesus’ instruction continues to highlight the father-child relationship as He further instructs that God’s name is to be honored. There is a correlation here to the Ten Commandments in which God’s people receive the instruction to “honor your father and mother” (Exodus 20:12); Jesus reiterates a concept that would have been familiar to those listening. Not only are we to honor God because of His relationship to us as Father, but also in how we pray – not to be seen by others (verse 5) or in the number of words we use (verse 7). These two instructions from Jesus emphasized to His disciples that their prayers were to be focused on God, rather than their own actions.
3) What does it mean for God’s name to remain “holy”?
Jesus understood that there were many names that were treated as important by the people He was teaching – leaders, priests, idols, and so many more. As a result, He instructs the people listening to treat one name alone as holy, their Father in heaven. In a world full of options and idols, Jesus distinguishes the name of God as the only one deserving special significance.
Everyday Application
1) What is important about calling God “Our Father”?
As mentioned before, Jesus’ instruction to address God as “Father” when we pray echoes Exodus 20:12 from the Ten Commandments where we are called to honor our earthly fathers and mothers. His instruction is a confirmation of the relationship we have with Him. We must be sure that we do not allow that relationship to be defined or distorted in any way by our earthly fathers; no matter how good or bad our experiences may be, GOD IS MORE. Do you ever struggle to relate to God as your Father? If so, why would you say that is a challenge for you? What truth do you need to remember to help you better relate to God as your Father? If you are comfortable relating to God as your father, how does that impact your relationship with Him?
2) What does it look like for us to “honor” God’s name?
No matter what activity we undertake, we are called to represent God well. This includes when we pray, whether in private or public. When you pray in private, do you give God the honor He deserves? How do you do that? Or are you ever guilty of treating Him like a magic bullet just when you need help? Or of approaching Him flippantly? Or with a demanding attitude? What about when you pray publicly? Are your thoughts ever dominated by what others may think of your words? In those moments, are you more concerned about your own reputation more than you are with voicing a prayer that honors His name? Do you ever find yourself concerned with getting the approval of others when you pray in a corporate setting – wanting to be seen as “wise” or “spiritual” by those listening? Consider your motives carefully and whether or not you are honoring Him in all your prayers. When you pray, take time to offer praise to God before petitioning Him for your own needs, creating space to remind you to Whom you pray.
3) What does it mean for God’s name to remain “holy”?
“Holy, holy, holy…” (Isaiah 6:3 and Revelation 4:8) is a phrase reserved for God alone. There are other references, of course, that refer to people and actions as holy. But the use of the three repetitions together is solely referencing the Almighty God showing that He is the only One worthy of that kind of praise. He is wholly different and set apart (which is the meaning of “holy”) from any other being in the universe. In order to keep God in His rightful place in our hearts, attitudes, minds, and actions, we must be sure that we don’t allow anything to have priority over Him. Our idols may not look the same, but we all struggle with them in one way or another. Where do you find yourself challenged to keep God in His rightful place in your life? What pulls for your attention above Him?
What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with What’s In A Name!
Digging Deeper is for Everyone!
1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!
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Why Dig Deeper?
Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.
In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!
Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.
Study Tools
We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.
Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!
Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))
Memorize It!
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