Matthew Henry's Teaching on Prayer Forgiveness and Amendment
Matthew Henry, a prominent Nonconformist commentator, understood prayer for forgiveness and amendment as central to Christian life, emphasizing both personal confession and a commitment to change. He viewed prayer as the "appointed means of obtaining what we need, especially grace to obey the precepts" [9].
Henry stressed that confession of sin is an essential component of prayer [11]. This confession should not only acknowledge past transgressions but also express faith in God, dependence upon Him, sorrow for sin, and firm resolutions against it [11]. The Old Testament likewise highlights the necessity of confession, with God requiring it and promising pardon to those who confess [3]. For instance, Numbers 15:28 states that atonement will be made for unwitting sins, and the individual "shall be forgiven" [1]. Similarly, for the congregation, atonement for error leads to forgiveness [5].
Beyond confession, Henry linked prayer for forgiveness with a call to repentance and reformation. He argued that if people desire their "sacrifices accepted, and their prayers answered," they must "begin their work at the right end: Be converted" [10]. This aligns with biblical teachings that confession should be accompanied by forsaking sin and making restitution where possible [3]. The long-suffering of God, according to Henry, should lead individuals to repentance [4].
Henry also noted that Christ's own prayer in John 17 serves as a "sample of his intercession" and offers both instruction and encouragement for believers in their own prayers [7]. The Lord's Prayer, which Jesus taught his disciples, is presented as a model for how "an infinite variety of wants and requests can be compressed into a few humble petitions," embodying "every possible desire of a praying heart" [6]. This includes the petition for forgiveness, as highlighted in Matthew 6:14-15, where Jesus teaches that if people forgive others, their heavenly Father will also forgive them, but if they do not forgive others, neither will their Father forgive their trespasses [2].
Furthermore, Henry saw God's promises as intertwined with prayer. He believed that God's promises are not only the "best foundation of prayer," guiding what to pray for and encouraging faith, but they also serve as a "present answer to prayer" [8]. This perspective underscores the Puritan emphasis on aligning prayer with God's revealed will and promises.
Sources
- Numbers “The priest shall make atonement for the soul who errs, when he sins unwittingly before Yahweh, to make atonement for him; and he shall be forgiven. -- Numbers 15:28”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Forgiveness of Injuries — Christ set an example of -- Lu 23:34. Commanded -- Mr 11:25; Ro 12:19. To be unlimited -- Mt 18:22; Lu 17:4. A characteristic of saints -- Ps 7:4. Motives to The mercy of God. -- Lu 6:36. Our need of forgiveness. -- Mr 11:25. God's forgiveness of us. -- Eph 4:32. Christ's forgiveness of us. -- Col 3:13. A glory to saints -- Pr 19:11. Should be accompanied by Forbearance. -- Col 3:13. Kindness. -- Ge 45:5-11; Ro 12:20. Blessing and prayer. -- Mt 5:44. Promises to -- Mt 6:14; Lu 6:37. No forgiveness without -- Mt 6:15; Jas 2:13. Illustrated --”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Confession of Sin — God requires -- Le 5:5; Ho 5:15. God regards -- Job 33:27,28; Da 9:20-23. Exhortation to -- Jos 7:19; Jer 3:13; Jas 5:16. Promises to -- Le 26:40-42; Pr 28:13. Should be accompanied with Submission to punishment. -- Le 26:41; Ne 9:33; Ezr 9:13. Prayer for forgiveness. -- 2Sa 24:10; Ps 25:11; 51:1; Jer 14:7-9,20. Self-abasement. -- Isa 64:5,6; Jer 3:25. Godly sorrow. -- Ps 38:18; La 1:20. Forsaking sin. -- Pr 28:13. Restitution. -- Nu 5:6,7. Should be full and unreserved -- Ps 32:5; 51:3; 106:6. Followed by pardon -- Ps 32:5; 1Jo 1:9. Illustrated -”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Long-Suffering of God, The — Is part of his character -- Ex 34:6; Nu 14:18; Ps 86:15. Salvation, the object of -- 2Pe 3:15. Through Christ's intercession -- Lu 13:8. Should lead to repentance -- Ro 2:4; 2Pe 3:9. An encouragement to repent -- Joe 2:13. Exhibited in forgiving sins -- Ro 3:25. Exercised toward His people. -- Isa 30:18; Eze 20:17. The wicked. -- Ro 9:22; 1Pe 3:20. Plead in prayer -- Jer 15:15. Limits set to -- Ge 6:3; Jer 44:22. The wicked Abuse. -- Ec 8:11; Mt 24:48,49. Despise. -- Ro 2:4. Punished for despising. -- Ne 9:30; Mt 24:48-51; Ro 2:5. Illustr”
- Numbers “The priest shall make atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel, and they shall be forgiven; for it was an error, and they have brought their offering, an offering made by fire to Yahweh, and their sin offering before Yahweh, for their error. -- Numbers 15:25”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Lords Prayer — the prayer which Jesus taught his disciples. (Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4) "In this prayer our Lord shows his disciples how an infinite variety of wants and requests can be compressed into a few humble petitions. It embodies every possible desire of a praying heart, a whole world of spiritual requirements; yet all in the most simple, condensed and humble form, resembling, in this respect, a pearl on which the light of heaven plays."--Lange. "This prayer contains four great general sentiments, which constitute the very soul of religion,--sentiments which”
- John (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on John 17 (introduction): This chapter is a prayer, it is the Lord's prayer, the Lord Christ's prayer. There was one Lord's prayer which he taught us to pray, and did not pray himself, for he needed not to pray for the forgiveness of sin; but this was properly and peculiarly his, and suited him only as a Mediator, and is a sample of his intercession, and yet is of use to us both for instruction and encouragement in prayer. Observe, I. The circumstances of the prayer (Joh 17:1). II. The prayer itself. 1. He prays for himself (Joh 17:1-5). 2. He prays for those that are his. And i”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 25:8: God's promises are here mixed with David's prayers. Many petitions there were in the former part of the psalm, and many we shall find in the latter; and here, in the middle of the psalm, he meditates upon the promises, and by a lively faith sucks and is satisfied from these breasts of consolation; for the promises of God are not only the best foundation of prayer, telling us what to pray for and encouraging our faith and hope in prayer, but they are a present answer to prayer. Let the prayer be made according to the promise, and then the promise may be read as a r”
- Matthew (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Matthew 7:7: Our Saviour, in the foregoing chapter, had spoken of prayer as a commanded duty, by which God is honoured, and which, if done aright, shall be rewarded; here he speaks of it as the appointed means of obtaining what we need, especially grace to obey the precepts he had given, some of which are so displeasing to flesh and blood. I. Here is a precept in three words to the same purport, Ask, Seek, Knock (Mat 7:7); that is, in one word, "Pray; pray often; pray with sincerity and seriousness; pray, and pray again; make conscience of prayer, and be constant in it; make a”
- Isaiah (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Isaiah 1:16: Though God had rejected their services as insufficient to atone for their sins while they persisted in them, yet he does not reject them as in a hopeless condition, but here calls upon them to forsake their sins, which hindered the acceptance of their services, and then all would be well. Let them not say that God picked quarrels with them; no, he proposes a method of reconciliation. Observe here, I. A call to repentance and reformation: "If you would have your sacrifices accepted, and your prayers answered, you must begin your work at the right end: Be converted ”
- Daniel (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Daniel 9:4: We have here Daniel's prayer to God as his God, and the confession which he joined with that prayer: I prayed, and made my confession. Note, In every prayer we must make confession, not only of the sins we have been guilty of (which we commonly call confession), but of our faith in God and dependence upon him, our sorrow for sin and our resolutions against it. It must be our confession, must be the language of our own convictions and that which we ourselves do heartily subscribe to. Let us go over the several parts of this prayer, which we have reason to think that”