Matthew 6:11 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Matthew 6:11

Comments

Calvin called this the beginning of the ‘second table’ of the prayer – corresponding to the second table of the law. The first part of the prayer is concerned with our seeking the glory of God and the second turns to our own needs. Though we should not put our personal requests for our own needs first and before the interests of the kingdom of heaven, we should still bring before the Lord. It was a part of God’s provision to Israel that he provided manna for them in the wilderness, since he who made our bodies knows what we need to sustain them, and he who supplies food for the ravens (Job 38:41) does not forget the physical needs of his children. Manna was a sign of the bread of life, but it was also a practical provision to sustain bodily life. Our God can answer our prayers in practical earthly terms as well as in providing blessing for the soul. Calvin dismisses Erasmus’ opinion that this passage cannot be about bodily food but must be about spiritual food, and says that everywhere in Scripture we are led to expect heavenly blessings by receiving a taste of earthly blessings. We are to ask for ‘our’ daily bread; that is, we consider the needs of other believers as well as ourselves. It is the same word that begins the prayer – ‘Our Father’ – and it refers primarily to those who are of ‘the household of faith’ (Galatians 6:10). Our own needs matter, but in praying for practical things we must not forget to consider the needs of others which may be different from our own. This word ‘daily’ has been translated in a number of different ways because this is the only place it is found in the New Testament or in secular writing. The Greek word implies that we ask for no more than a day’s supply. Like Israel in the wilderness, we receive manna for one day at a time. We are not to be anxious for food and clothing, but we dispel our anxiety by placing our needs in the hands of our heavenly Father. We are not told to pray that we would have supplies beyond what we need on a daily basis. This is so that our dependence on God should remain constant.

Application

Bread stands for all material needs: it includes all necessary food and drink, clothing, shelter, work, friendship, safety, health, vigour, and all else that allows us to live a quiet and peaceful life. How many prayed for vigour for the day? What a difference if all prayed for vigour and mental clarity and fellowship. Our daily bread also includes all our spiritual needs. Christ says, ‘Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life’ (John 6:27). How can we fail to pray for this if it is what we should seek first? We pray for spiritual light and understanding, skill in presenting the word of God, opportunities for witness. Do you want light on where the world is going in the future? Then pray for this.

Why bread? Bread is basic, simple. It is a modest request which does not ask for riches but for necessities. We are authorised to pray not for a Rolls-Royce but humble material needs. We are not greedy; we do not ask for what we can show off about; God does not satisfy my lust. Bread formed the staple diet of many in the world. We must distinguish between the basics of life and what goes beyond that. There are too much warnings in Scripture about the danger of riches for any Christian to think he should pray for them.

The word ‘daily’ indicates how often we should pray this whole prayer. We come to our heavenly Father on a daily basis, not weekly, or less frequently. God gives us daily supply – to mention our besetting sins to God once every three months is not enough. All the needs of the believer are daily, not weekly, monthly, or yearly: our bodily needs for food, rest, renewed strength. It is about a life of dependence on God. We ask daily, not because God is mean, but because this leads to greater assurance. As prayer is answered, more and more we are conscious of his help.

Those who lack must look to God for all these things and not be tempted to obtain them in any illegitimate way. When The Lord Jesus tells us to ask for daily bread, he does not excuse us from the normal legitimate means of obtaining bread by honest labour. This will usually be the Lord’s way of answering this prayer.

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Matthew 6:11 Commentary and Bible Study