The narrative, of which these words form a part, tends to illustrate in a remarkable manner the nature of true prayer; and to show us His mind respecting it, to whom or through whom all Christian prayer is made.
I. "What will ye that I should do unto you?" The question was asked for a twofold reason. Christ will have the suppliant in prayer aware of the depth and the nature of his own need; and He will have the same suppliant grasp by faith the power and will to grant his prayer which reside in Him to whom he addresses it. To them who never seek Him, or seek Him but little, His power seems but an idea; but to them that seek Him daily, and commune with Him without ceasing in the craving language of the asking heart, His power is a great stream of strength flowing into them secret, but well recognized; calm, but mighty, supplying their empty places and fortifying all the accesses of sin; and His love is the constant watchful tenderness of a Friend who knows the depth of their wants a bright face ever bent over them, full of fatherly pity and of unfathomable wisdom. And in order to this real and definite sense of God's daily power and love in answering prayer, prayer must be a real and definite thing also.
II. If we would pray aright we must live in the constant habit of self-examination. We must also know Him with whom we have to do. We pray to, not a God of the imagination, not a God whose being and attributes we have reasoned out for ourselves, but a manifested God. When the Christian says, "Have mercy on us, miserable sinners," he expresses not only the heavy burden of his own heart in the description of himself, but the reliance of his faith on Him that died for him and is now at the right hand of God in His nature, exalted as a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance and forgiveness of sins. If then we would pray aright, we must know Christ with a personal and appropriating faith. When the Lord says, "What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?" the longing after more of His likeness, the yearnings of our hearts for holiness and love and truth, these will be the eager and ready reply; and no such prayer shall be sent up without fetching down the gracious answer, "According to your faith, so be it done unto you."
H. Alford, Quebec Chapel Sermons,vol. ii., p. 146.
References: Matthew 21:1-9. J. Vaughan, Children's Sermons,vol. ii., p. 18. Matthew 21:1-11. Homiletic Quarterly,vol. i., pp. 242, 471.Matthew 21:1-13. Clergyman's Magazine,vol. iii., p. 287. Matthew 21:1-16. Parker, Inner Life of Christ,vol. iii., p. 90. Matthew 21:1-17. Preacher's Monthly,vol. i., p. 263.