So far in this great Sermon on the Mount, Jesus has taught us the right and wrong way to pray, and the attitude with which to pray. Now He gives us some examples of the kind of things for which we should pray. Consider with me what the Master now teaches us about prayer.

We should pray for the kingdom (ver. 10).

Jesus said that we should pray for the kingdom to come. Many say that we can no longer pray this prayer because the kingdom has already come. Well, if one has the church in mind when referring to the kingdom, that is a correct assessment. The church is certainly one aspect of the kingdom and is often what is in view when the term is used. However, the church is not always what is under consideration when a reference to the kingdom is made. Sometimes the word kingdom simply refers to the rule and reign of God in the hearts of man. Thayer says that this Greek word for kingdom refers to “Royal power, kingship, dominion, rule; not to be confused with an actual kingdom but rather the right or authority to rule over a kingdom.”

When we think of the kingdom referring to the royal power and sovereignty of God, it is appropriate to pray for that to come into the lives of people. Notice, Jesus did not just say to pray for the kingdom of God to come, He said pray for the will of God to be accomplished on earth as it is in heaven. That points to obedience. When I pray to God to help me be more obedient to His divine commandments, I am praying for the kingdom (the rule of God) to be present in my life. That is a suitable prayer for all of us to pray.

We should pray for physical provisions (ver. 11).

The word bread means food in general here and basically refers to the necessities of life. Why should we pray to God for the necessities of life? It is because every good and perfect gift comes from above (James 1:17). The more we learn to trust in God, the stronger we will be as Christians. When we rely on ourselves too much, our prayer life begins to dissipate and, consequently, our blessings begin to fade. James once said, “Ye have not because ye ask not.” And, the reason we ask not sometimes is because we are too busy trusting in ourselves instead of relying on God (Matthew 7:7-11). Let us be sure to always trust in God and show Him that we do by praying for our daily bread.

We should pray for spiritual provisions (vers. 12-15).

We should pray that God forgives us of our debts. In this context, debts stand for the sins that we have committed, and we have all committed sins. When you look in the mirror, make no mistake about it, the reflection that you see is that of a sinner. There is no need to deny it. In fact, to deny it is to be defeated by it. The only way that we can overcome the sin in our lives is to acknowledge it, repent of it and ask God to forgive us (1 John 1:8-10). If we do, God will provide us with the forgiveness that we seek. However, let us not forget that in order to be forgiven by God, we must be willing to forgive others (vers. 12b, -14-15).

We should also pray that we do not yield to the temptation to sin when it comes upon us (ver. 13). We need help in our ongoing battle against the devil because we are all tempted by him from time to time. Prayer can help us, not only to overcome temptation, but not to enter it in the first place (Matthew 26:41). We can overcome Satan and sin, but only with God’s help. Let us pray for it.

As you wind down for the night, think on these things.