Matthew Chapter Six Study

 

Giving to the Needy

1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

In Jesus time, the Pharisees and rulers loved to practice acts of righteousness in public so as to be seen by others but Jesus warns us that if we make our deeds public then we will have received an Earthly reward and there will be no reward in heaven.

So, don't make a public display when you make a gift to the needy rather, keep your giving secret so that only your Father in Heaven will know and you will receive your reward from him.

 

The Lord’s Prayer

5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this:

 

“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 also have forgiven our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

 

14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

 

Likewise when you pray don't pray in public so that you may be seen because those who do already have their reward. Rather, go into your room, shut the door and pray in secret to your Father in heaven for he will reward you in secret. Neither use many words or heap up empty phrases in the hope that God will listen for your long and wordy prayers, for God already knows what you need.

 

So pray  the Lord's prayer above, hallowing the name of God, hoping for the kingdom to be established here on Earth. Trusting God to meet your needs, seeking His mercy and being merciful to others, receiving  His protection from temptation and evil. Forgiving the trespasses of others that God may forgive your trespasses.

 

Fasting

16 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

 

When you fast, anoint your head and wash your face. Don’t draw attention to yourself to receive a reward from others who see you here on Earth, rather ensure that only your Father in heaven knows that you fast so that you may receive your reward from Him.

 

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.

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

 

Don't gather wealth here on Earth where it can be lost and thieves can steal it. Make the things of God your riches and store up heavenly wealth which is eternal. Be aware that where your treasure is so there will be your heart.

 

Remember, that the eye is the lens to your heart. If your heart is full of the strife of this world then your eye will be filled with darkness. No one can serve two masters, no one can try to be obedient to God and continue to seek worldly rewards. If you have two masters you will either love one and hate the other or be devoted to one and despise the other.

 

Do Not Be Anxious

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious 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: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

 

You don't need to be anxious about your life or about your food, drink, clothing or anything else you might need in your daily existence. God looks after all of the animals and all of the plants in this world and are you who are made in His image are worth far more to Him than them. So, God will give you everything you need for you are worth far more than anything in the natural world. Your Heavenly Father knows all of your needs. So, seek the Kingdom of God and to be righteous before God and He will take care of all the you require.

 

From <https://www.blueletterbible.org/esv/mat/6/1/s_935001>