學習禱告
馬太福音六章1至8節
1你們要小心，不可將善事行在人的面前，故意叫他們看見，若是這樣，就不能得你們天父的賞賜了。
2所以，你施捨的時候，不可在你面前吹號，像那假冒為善的人在會堂裡和街道上所行的，故意要得人的榮耀。我實在告訴你們，他們已經得了他們的賞賜。
3你施捨的時候，不要叫左手知道右手所做的，
4要叫你施捨的事行在暗中。你父在暗中察看，必然報答你（有古卷：必在明處報答你）。
5你們禱告的時候，不可像那假冒為善的人，愛站在會堂裡和十字路口上禱告，故意叫人看見。我實在告訴你們，他們已經得了他們的賞賜。
6你禱告的時候，要進你的內屋，關上門，禱告你在暗中的父；你父在暗中察看，必然報答你。
7你們禱告，不可像外邦人，用許多重複話，他們以為話多了必蒙垂聽。
8你們不可效法他們；因為你們沒有祈求以先，你們所需用的，你們的父早已知道了。
信息分享
祂首先批評那些故意在別人面前行善的人，他們行善只是為了得人的稱讚。
基督徒的善行應該是一種敬拜和回應神的行動，是為神而作。我們的天父看見我們在暗中行善，必在祂的時間和按祂的方式來報賞我們。
耶穌接著談論到禱告。祂嚴厲批評那些站在十字路口放聲禱告，故意讓人聽見的人。我們也許很少見到人會這樣做，但耶穌的教導卻提醒我們要留心自己參與公禱的態度。在公開聚會中與其他信徒一起禱告當然沒有問題，可是，我們卻要提醒自己，我們是向神禱告，而不是禱告給別人聽。
基督指出，信徒最好是在一個別人看不見的暗處，單獨向神禱告。這並不是說，我們不應與其他信徒一起禱告，卻是提醒我們要劃出固定時間向神單獨禱告。
此外，基督提醒我們，禱告的時候，不要作「無謂的重覆」。冗長而重覆的禱告並不代表我們是發乎真誠；反之，明確地將需要帶到神的面前才最重要。耶穌教導的「主禱文」字數不多，卻包含很多確切和個人需要的禱告事項。
第8節提醒我們，我們的天父早已知道我們的需要。既然如此，我們幹嘛還要禱告？誠然，神在我們禱告以先，已經將許多寶貴的東西賜給我們──例如，生命氣息、空氣、雨水和陽光；可是，有些東西卻是神不會主動給我們的，除非我們向神求──例如是赦罪和救恩。我們要記著，神是我們的天父，祂喜歡將各種美好的恩賜賜予祂的兒女，只要我們向祂求，祂就會賜給我們。
禱告：
主啊，主你教我們禱告。
LESSONS ON PRAYER
Matthew 6:1-8
1“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.The Model Prayer
5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
Message
Firstly he spoke against giving so everyone will know about it. That type of giving is done to receive the praise of men.
True giving is an act of worship and is to be done as unto God. Our Father sees what happens and will always reward us in his own time and way.
Then Jesus spoke about prayer. He had hard words for those who prayed loudly on street corners so that others would hear what they were saying. That sounds strange to us, but perhaps we need to be more careful about our own public prayers. It is not wrong to pray in public but we need to remember we are praying to God and not to those around us.
Christ said the best place for prayer is alone with God in a secret spot. That does not mean we should never pray with other Christians, but there must be regular prayer times with God alone.
Further, our Lord warned against 'meaningless repetition'. The length of our prayers is not as important as our sincerity, and how definite we are. Keeping a prayer list can be a great help. The Lord's prayer has only 66 words, yet it contains a number of personal, definite petitions.
We are reminded in verse 8 that our Father already knows what we need. Why then must we pray? God gives us many gifts, without asking-life, air, rain and sunshine. But there are some things God won't give until we ask him. Forgiveness is the first of these, but there are other things too that God is waiting for us to ask him for. Remember he is our Father and loves to give good gifts to his children.
A PRAYER FOR US ALL: Lord teach us to pray.