Articles and Notes
Matthew 6
Chapter Six
The "Sermon On The Mount" continues as Jesus teaches the righteousness
of the kingdom expected in those who would be citizens of the kingdom.
He discusses righteousness with respect to man’s relation to God,
regarding charitable deeds (1-4), prayer (5-15), fasting (16-18),
materialism (19-24), and anxiety (25-33).
POINTS TO PONDER
* Performing acts of righteousness in ways that please God
* The danger of materialism and overcoming anxiety about such things
* Making the kingdom of God and His righteousness our number one
priority
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1) What are the main points of this chapter?
- Righteousness with respect to man’s relation to God - Mt 6:1-18
- Overcoming materialism and anxiety - Mt 6:16-33
2) As we perform acts of righteousness, what should we avoid? (1-2,5,16)
- Doing it for the purpose of being seen by men
- Acting like the hypocrites in the synagogues and in the streets
3) How can we ensure that God will reward us for our righteous acts? (4,6,18)
- By doing them in secret where only the Father sees
4) How else does Jesus teach us to give, pray, and fast? (3,7,17)
- Do not let our left hand know what our right hand is doing as we give
- Do not use vain repetition as we pray
- Do not disfigure our faces as we fast
5) What is the likely purpose of "The Lord’s Prayer"? (9-13)
- To serve as a model of prayer ("In this manner...")
6) Of things in "The Lord’s Prayer," on what does Jesus elaborate? (14-15)
- The need for us to forgive others their trespasses against us
7) Where are we to lay up treasure? Why? How? (20,24; cf. Mt 19:21; 1Ti 6:17-19)
- In heaven; to serve God rather than mammon (avarice); by giving to the poor
8) What is the key to overcoming anxiety? (25-32)
- Trusting in the providential care of God
9) How can we ensure that God will provide what we need? (33)
- By seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness
Matthew 6
Do good to please God
[Mat 6:1-34 NKJV] 1 "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 "Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 "But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 "that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
The model prayer
5 "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 "But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who [is] in the secret [place]; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen [do]. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 "Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 "In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as [it is] in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. 14 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 "But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Fasting to be seen only by God
16 "Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 "But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 "so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who [is] in the secret [place]; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
Lay up treasures in Heaven
19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 "but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The lamp of the body
22 "The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 "But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great [is] that darkness!
You cannot serve God and riches
24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
Do not worry
25 "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 "Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 28 "So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 "and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 "Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, [will He] not much more [clothe] you, O you of little faith? 31 "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 "For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day [is] its own trouble.