错误的动机
马太福音六章5至15节
5你们祷告的时候，不可像那假冒为善的人，爱站在会堂里和十字路口上祷告，故意叫人看见。我实在告诉你们，他们已经得了他们的赏赐。
6你祷告的时候，要进你的内屋，关上门，祷告你在暗中的父，你父在暗中察看，必然报答你。
7你们祷告，不可像外邦人，用许多重复话，他们以为话多了必蒙垂听。
8你们不可效法他们，因为你们没有祈求以先，你们所需用的，你们的父早已知道了。
9所以，你们祷告要这样说：‘我们在天上的父：愿人都尊你的名为圣。
10愿你的国降临。愿你的旨意行在地上，如同行在天上。
11我们日用的饮食，今日赐给我们。
12免我们的债，如同我们免了人的债。
13不叫我们遇见试探。救我们脱离凶恶。（注：或作“脱离恶者”）因为国度、权柄、荣耀，全是你的，直到永远。阿们’（注：有古卷无“因为”至“阿们”等字）！
14你们饶恕人的过犯，你们的天父也必饶恕你们的过犯；
15你们不饶恕人的过犯，你们的天父也必不饶恕你们的过犯。
信息分享
祂在第2节提醒我们，不可抱着为了受人称赞的错误动机，来行善。如果我们再仔细看这节经文，便会明白祂喜悦我们施予有需要的人。在第3节祂强调说 「你施舍的时候」，而不是「如果你施舍」。换言之，显然祂认同这样「施舍」是神所喜悦的事，但决不是为要得别人的称赞，故意做在人前。
然后在第6节，祂又谈及我们的祷告动机。祂的意思乃是：「祷告是你与神之间的个人交流，要直接真诚。」问题的核心是：你是向谁祷告？我们是否祷告给别人听？让人听见我们祷告得多好或有多频繁？我们是否醒觉到，我们是向着父神祷告？
能够向神祷告，是一项无比的特权。借着祷告，我们邀请神介入我们或别人的困境，求祂帮助我们。借着祷告，我们表明没有祂的帮助自己的无能为力，唯有仰赖祂的智慧和能力来帮助我们。当我们借着祷告来颂赞祂的美善，我们便认识祂的慈爱、良善和信实。我们要小心省察自己的祷告是否平衡──不是只有祈求，还有为祂所做的感恩。
基督在这里给我们一个祷告的范例、模式和指南。祷文首先提醒我们，我们是向一位慈爱的父神祷告。它是家里的祷告，不应不假思索不断重复。当中包括祈求每天的需用、求父保守我们免于试探，以及表示我们渴求神得荣耀。这是一个多么美好的直接祷告的范例！
RIGHT ACTIONS FROM WRONG MOTIVES
Matthew 6:5-15
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.
9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Message
In verse 2 He warned against giving from a wrong motive - the praise of men. If we read the words carefully, we will see that He was commending giving to those in need. In verse 3 He said emphatically “when you give” not “if you give”. He obviously meant that giving in this way is what the Father wants us to do, but not if we do it simply for the praise of men.
Then in verse 6 He commented on our motives in praying. In effect He said, “Let your praying be simple and sincere, a personal communication between yourself and God.” The question is really - to whom are we praying? Are we doing it just so that others might hear how well or how often we pray or are we recognizing that the one to whom we are praying is God the Father Himself?
There is no greater privilege than the privilege of prayer. We bring God into our situation if our prayers are requests for His help either for ourselves or for others. We are saying we are helpless without His aid and are seeking His wisdom and power on our behalf. When we take time to praise God for His goodness we are recognizing His love, His goodness, and His faithfulness. We need to be careful to see that our praying is balanced - not merely requests, but also thanking Him for what He has done.
Then Christ gave a sample prayer, a model, a guide for our praying. It begins by reminding us that we are dealing with a loving Father. It is a family prayer, not one to be repeated over and over without much thought. It covers our daily needs, the possibility of temptation, and our desire for God’s glory. What a wonderful “sample” way to pray.