Prayer Exposition
After reading D.A. Carson�s Praying with Paul: A Call to Spiritual Reformation, you will choose a prayer
found in the Bible and offer an exposition of this prayer. The goal of this assignment is for you to explore
what Scripture teaches about prayer. The specific prayer chosen cannot be one of the prayers found in
the Carson textbook. You must follow the format of Carson�s writing and apply sound hermeneutic,
exegetical, and expository guidelines in the paper. Your paper must be 1750�2000 words and must
reference at least 7 sources in current Turabian format.
Exposition 2
I choose to offer an exposition to the prayer in the book of Mathew 6, and this is what it
says “ when you pray do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray while standing up in the
synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others that they are praying. Truly, I tell you,
they have received their reward in full. When you pray as a Christian, go into your room, and
just close the door, then pray to the heavenly Father who is in heaven, who is unseen. Then God,
who sees what is in secret, will reward you in full. And when you pray, you should not keep on
babbling just like the pagans do, for they think that they will be heard with the use of their many
words 1 .
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need even before you pray
Here Jesus is talking to the gathering about the way they should also pray. The result of the
prayer, He says that we should not pray like hypocrites but pray in an orderly manner that does
not show off to others. He adds that, prayer should be secretive and brief. Jesus merges the result
of the prayers with the resulting subject being the kind of prayer the Father in high heavens
rewards 2 .
Prayers of nature: they include the exaggerated prayer, as well as the hermeneutic prayer. These
are the prayers Jesus said, the Father in heaven listens to a prayer offered in sincerity and not as
the hypocrites or pagans do, but one delivered with sincerity and confidence 3 .
1 Carson. D. A. A call to religious Reformation: Priorities from Paul and His Payers. (2015). Pg. 167-181.
2 Ibid, pg. 167-181.
3 Ibid, pg. 19-39, 63-79.
Exposition 3
The Exegetical guideline of passage
- The type of prayer that Jesus Christ said, my Father’s rewards are ones that are offered not
as the hypocrites do, praying to be recognized, rather Jesus says a prayer that is offered in great
sincerity in the solitude of one’s room is the best.
a) The believers of Jesus Christ were encouraged by him not to be like the pagans, who prefer
to pray in front of all humans to show off; they will receive their reward in full.
i. Also, the followers of Jesus Christ are not to pray just like the pagans.
ii. Hypocrites will go to rooftops as well as streets to show off that they are praying.
iii. The heavenly Father has already rewarded the pagans in full - The followers of Jesus Christ are supposed to be praying in secrecy, in their room where the
omnipresent God will see them.
I. Followers of Jesus Christ are to pray in secret to God who is unseen.
ii. The Father in heaven will reward those who pray to him in secret
The followers of Jesus of Nazareth are not to pray as the pagans do, by babbling on with their
many words and asking too much, but are instead just pray with confidence knowing that God
knows what they need even before they ask. - The followers of Jesus Christ are not to pray like the pagans pray who babble on with many
words endlessly thinking they will not be heard because of their many words.
i. Jesus Christ followers are not to pray like the pagans.
Exposition 4
ii. The pagans talk a lot when they are praying.
iii. The pagans always assume that the Holy Mighty God hears them because they use many
words
- The followers of God are not supposed to pray just like the unbelievers assuming the All
Mighty knows what you need even before you pray
i. Followers of Jesus will not pray as pagans
ii. The Father knows their needs before they ask
The expository guidelines
What is prayer, it can be defined like a solemn request for the help or expression of thanks,
address to God, and it also refers to as the direct line to heaven. It is a communication process
which allows us to talk to God 4 .
Example of how to pray as demonstrated
Jesus Christ explained to the crowd as well as his disciples on how to pray. He gave an example
of the types of prayers and educated his followers on which one is accepted, that which the
Father in heaven recognizes and that He blesses all those who pray in that manner. He explained
how to pray and what should be avoided when one is talking to the All Mighty in heaven. Here is
what Jesus Christ said. “When you pray, avoid being like the pagans and the hypocrites and
pagans, for they love to pray standing up on rooftops and in the synagogues and on the street
corners and rooftops to be seen by others that they are praying 5 .
4 Carson. D. A. A call to religious Reformation: Priorities from Paul and His Payers. (2015). pg. 39-51.
5 Oliver & Boy. The Student’s Biblical Assistant; Containing References to Works on
Exposition 5
Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. However, when you pray, go into your
room, close the door and then pray to your Father, who is in high heavens. Because your Father
always sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Therefore, when you pray, don’t keep on
babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be
like pagans, for your Father knows what you need before you ask” 6 .
Those are the words of Christ giving guidelines on how Christians and his followers should pray.
Difference between Christians and pagans prayer
Jesus demonstrated the real difference of the Christian prayer and the pagan prayer. Pagans will
always want to be seen praying as they will go to the streets to pray and show off that they are
communication with God 7 . But Jesus says that “they have been rewarded in full in heaven” he
tells his followers not to be like the pagans who will go to the streets and the rooftops and shout
in the name of praying to the Father in heaven. Jesus says that his followers should pray in their
home where others do not see them, but only the unseen God will see them and answer their
prayers. The invisible God will bless those who pray in sincerity and confidence, as stated by
Jesus Christ 8 .
Pagans will babble their mouths with many words when they pray, and they will pray long
prayers as well, but God won’t answer their prayers. Followers of Jesus Christ will offer a short
prayer in faith and sincerity as it will be solved because the Father in heaven already know what
Doctrinal and Practical Theology. (2014), pg. 55-89.
6 Carson. D. A. A call to religious Reformation: Priorities from Paul and His Payers. (2015), Pg. 39-51.
7 Ibid, pg. 169-181.
8 Palmquist & Stephen, R. The Critical Hermeneutic of Prayer. “The Journal of Religion. (2017). Pg.112-140.
Exposition 6
they are planning to pray about even before they pray. The followers of Christ are encouraged
not to be like the pagans because;
I. Followers of Christ are not to pray like the pagans.
ii. The pagans bubble on endlessly in their prayers
The pagans think that God hears them because of their many words it is when Christ will listen
to their prayers which are not true. God has already rewarded the pagans in full, and their prayers
will never be answered at all 9 .
A prayer is a powerful tool that God gave to Christians to use it to communicate directly with
him. When Christ was on earth, he asked his followers to use prayer as a way to reach the
heavenly Father and ask as well as give thanks to him. The prayer of Christ is simple and brief.
In the book of Matthew Christ taught his followers the prayer of the Lord. The Lord’s Prayer;
“Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on
earth as it is in Heaven, Give us this day, our daily bread; forgive us our debts as we forgive our
debtors, and lead us out of temptation, also deliver us from all evil: for thine is the Kingdom, the
power, and the glory forever. Amen” 10 .
Hermeneutic prayer outline
From the book of Matthew 6 Christ talks about prayer, he shows his followers the correct way to
pay as well as how to use the Lord’s Prayer correctly to be able to communicate with the Lord in
clear and precise way 11 . Christ said that when one if praying to the Lord he should pray for other
9 Jim, Rosscup. The Exposition on Prayer: Igniting the Fuel to Flame Our Communication
with God. New York: Routledge. (2015).
10 Carson. D. A. A call to religious Reformation: Priorities from Paul and His Prayers. (2015). Pg. 63-79.
Exposition 7
as well as himself, prayer is for everyone. When you pray, do not pray like the pagans who will
go to the streets. To the people that they are paying but for the followers of Christ. Should offer a
short prayer “The followers of Jesus of Nazareth are not to pray like the pagans do, by babbling
on with their many words thinking it is when they will be heard, but are instead to pray with
confidence knowing that their Father knows what they need even before they ask.” Jesus told his
followers oh how to pray with sincerity and trust. Jesus goes ahead to explain more in Matthew 6
“ when you pray do not be like the hypocrites, for them they love to pray standing up in the
synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by other that they are praying 12 . Truly I tell you,
they gave received their reward in full. But when you pray, just go into your room, then close the
door and then pray to your Father, who is in heaven. Then your Father in high heaven, who sees
what is done in secret, will reward you. And when praying, avoid not to keep on babbling like
pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, as
for your Father knows what you need before you ask” 13 .
Pagan’s Prayer does not have a mean to the Father in heaven, and they are regarded as the people
who pray without sincerity, and they always boast about knowing more about Christ than anyone
else, and this is not humility with Christ talks about when talking to God. Here Jesus is talking to
his audience about the way one should also pray the result of the prayer. He says that we should
not pray like hypocrites but pray in an orderly manner that does not show off to others on the and
prayer should be secretive and brief 14 . The result of the prayers is merged.
11 Oliver & Boy. The Student’s Biblical Assistant; Containing References to Works on Doctrinal and Practical
Theology. (2014). Pg. 78-89.
12 Cornett. Staff Pick – An Exposition on Prayer. New York: SAGE. (2015). Pg. 56-68.
13 Palmquist & Stephen, R. The Critical Hermeneutic of Prayer. “The Journal of Religion. (2017). Pg. 65-80.
14 D. A. Carson. A call to religious Reformation: Priorities from Paul and His Prayers. (2015). Pg. 19-39.
Exposition 8
15 From the Lord prayer, the sanctifying of God’s name in the clause “hallow be your name”
(Matthew 6:9). Is not that major theme in the Gospels, Jesus’ prayer “Father, glorify your name”
and the Fathers’ response, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again” (John 12:28). What the
kingdom come is expressed by the petition “your kingdom come” (Matthew 6:10) Jesus name is
meant to be the central theme of his proclamation. You will be done the voice of entreaty. “You
will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10) “your kingdom come” (Matthew 6:10).
For the bread “give us today our daily bread” (Matthew, 6:11). Forgiveness “forgive us our
regular debts as we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12).
Words: 2023
List of References
Cornett. Staff Pick – An Exposition on Prayer. New York: SAGE. (2015).
15 Ibid. Pg. 169-181.
Exposition 9
D. A. Carson. A call to religious Reformation: Priorities from Paul and His Payers. (2015).
Jim, Rosscup. The Exposition on Prayer: Igniting the Fuel to Flame Our Communication
with God. New York: Routledge. (2015).
Oliver & Boy. The Student’s Biblical Assistant; Containing References to Works on
Doctrinal and Practical Theology. (2014).
Palmquist & Stephen, R. The Critical Hermeneutic of Prayer. “The Journal of Religion”. (2017).
Rosscup, James. An Exposition on Prayer in the Bible. New York: Routledge. (2016).
