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DesertRat
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Posted: 09-22-2007 04:00 pm

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MATTHEW CH 6

Matthew 6 deals with true righteousness practiced in the believer’s life. This section actually continues through 7:12, and contains three sections: the believer and worship (6:1–18), the believer and wealth (6:19–34), and the believer and his or her walk (7:1–12). The first involves relationship to God, the second to the world, and the third to humankind.^{^[1]}

I.     The Believer and Worship (6:1–18)

Christ puts worship first since one’s relationship to God determines his or her relationship to the world and other people. The key is v. 1, where “alms” should be translated “righteousnesses.” The main thought is that our relationship to God must be secret, for God to see and not for people to applaud. God will not allow two rewards, one from humans and one from heaven!

GIVING, PRAYING AND FASTING

Jesus teaches his disciples how to do good — for the right reason and in the right way!

It’s important to do ‘acts of righteousness’ (such as giving to the needy, praying and fasting) without showing off. We’re not doing these things so that people can admire us. We’re doing them for God (6:1–18).

The Pharisees make every effort to do good — but they like to be seen doing it! They give to the needy in a blaze of publicity. They pray where others can still see them and be impressed. They make sure they look pale and wretched when they’re fasting.

Jesus calls all this ‘hypocrisy’ — a public performance, like acting. And, like acting, it may only be pretending. The reward is a round of applause — but not from God!

So how should Christian disciples behave? Jesus assumes we will give to the needy, pray and fast; but the key to being genuine is to keep such actions secret.

When you give to the needy, says Jesus (not ‘if’, but ‘when’!), then barely mention it even to yourself. When you pray, go into your smallest room and shut out the watching world. Jesus suggests a storeroom, because it has no windows and has a lock on the door.

When you fast, go about your everyday life as normally as possible — with your face washed and your hair tidy.

Our religious acts express our love for our heavenly Father. Giving, praying and fasting are for his eyes only. Only he sees what we do in secret.

^{^[2]}

A.     Giving (vv. 2–4).

The Pharisees loved to advertise their giving (Mark 12:38–40). How people today love to tell others how much they have given! If this is their motive for giving, then they have their reward—the praise of people. But they have no reward from the Father.

Praying (vv. 5–15).

Jesus says, “When you pray” (NIV) not “If you pray”; He expects us to pray. The first thing that characterized Paul after his conversion was his praying (Acts 22:17). Jesus emphasizes that it is a sin to pray to be seen and heard by others. Prayer is secret fellowship with God, although public prayer is certainly authorized in the Bible. However, nobody should pray in public who does not pray in private; for that would be hypocrisy. Jesus points out three common errors concerning prayer: (1) praying to be heard by others (vv. 5–6); (2) praying mere words, empty repetition (vv. 7–8); and (3) praying with sin in the heart (vv. 14–15). God does not forgive us because we forgive others but on the basis of the blood of Christ (1 John 1:9). However, an unforgiving spirit will hinder a prayer life and show that a person has no understanding of the grace of God.

The so-called “Lord’s Prayer” of vv. 9–13 is not given to be recited thoughtlessly. Rather, it is a model for us to use to learn to pray. It is a “family prayer”—note the repeated “our” and “us.” It puts God’s name, God’s kingdom, and God’s will before the earthly needs of people. It cautions us against selfish praying.

The Lord’s Prayer (KJV)

Our Father, who art in heaven - When we pray, we are to talk to God as ‘Abba’, our dear Father. No one was ever so intimate with God before Jesus came. Now he teaches us to do the same. God is our Father. We can pray this prayer together.

hallowed be thy name - We are to pray that God’s name (the way we think of God and what he does) will be honored as utterly holy.

thy kingdom come - We are to pray that God’s kingdom will come here on earth. May the whole world welcome his reign of love, justice and peace, as heaven already does.

thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven – We are to pray for God’s will to be accomplished in our daily lives here on earth just as God’s will is accomplished in heaven - “not my will but Yours be done” – Luke 22:42

give us this day our daily bread - Jesus tells us to ask God for our daily bread — that he will give us the food and clothes and strength we need, without our worrying. (see Matt 6:25-24)

and forgive us our trespasses - We must ask God for forgiveness of our sins and shortcomings.

as we forgive those who trespass against us -If we ask for forgiveness for ourselves it’s only right that we should already have forgiven those who have wronged us.

and lead us not into temptation - We must ask to be kept from temptation — the kind of test which would overwhelm and destroy us.

but deliver us from evil - May God protect us from the power and plans of the devil.

In verses 14 and 15, Jesus adds a comment on forgiveness. Prayer is an active engagement with God. Prayer makes us check our attitudes and change our ways. For example, we can hardly expect God to forgive us if we are not forgiving others.

C.     Fasting (vv. 16–18).

True fasting is of the heart, not just the body (see Joel 2:13; Isa. 58:5). Fasting for the Christian is preparation for praying and other spiritual exercises. It means giving up a lesser thing to gain a greater, and this could involve food, sleep, or even sex (1 Cor. 7:1–6).

II.     The Believer and Wealth (6:19–34)

The key in this section is v. 33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you” (NKJV). Put God first and material things will be taken care of by God.

A.     The basic principle (vv. 19–24).

Christ states several reasons why living for material things is foolish. For one thing, material things do not last. Fabrics were treasured by Jews, yet moths ruin them. Rust ruins metal; thieves steal riches. But treasure used for God’s glory is invested in heaven where it lasts eternally. The way people use wealth is an indication of the condition of their hearts. If we spend our time and money only on business, and neglect God, then our hearts are in business and not fixed on God. Compare Abraham and Lot in Gen. 13:5–18 for an illustration of the “single eye.” The eye here speaks of the outlook of the heart. A single eye means one that is fixed on the spiritual. It is the opposite of the double-minded person in James 1:8; 4:4, 8. “Evil” in v. 23 means the opposite of simple; it suggests a sinful outlook, a double vision. In v. 24 Jesus clearly tells us that we cannot look in two directions at one time, serve two masters, and live for God and material wealth. The Bible does not condemn the possession of wealth, but it does warn against the love of money and the wrong use of wealth (see 1 Tim. 6:9–10, 17–18; Heb. 13:5; Luke 16:1–31).

B.     The daily practice (vv. 25–34).

Christ’s “therefore” suggests that now He is going to apply this principle to our lives. He shows that worrying about material things is foolish because it accomplishes nothing! He reminds us to have our values straight—life consists of far more than food and clothing. Jesus was poor, yet how happy and peaceful He was! Paul said he was “poor, yet making many rich” (2 Cor. 6:10). Luke 12:13–21 tells us to distinguish between the true riches (spiritual) and uncertain riches (the material).

Christ points to God’s care of nature—the flowers, grass, and birds. “You are of more value than they. Certainly God will care for you!” The Father knows our needs, and if we put Him first, He will meet every need. How do believers today practice Matt. 6:33? We will start with our time, and put God first in every day. This means time for prayer and reading the Word. We will put God first in every week, attending the house of God faithfully. We will put God first every payday, paying the tithe to the Lord. We will put God first in our choices, making no decision that would leave God out. Lot left God out of his decisions and ended up in the darkness of a cave, practicing terrible sin! He did not put God first in his selection of a place to live and raise his family.

There are spiritual parallels for the material things people seek today. We should seek to feed the hidden person of the heart with spiritual food just as we seek to feed the body (Matt. 4:4; 1 Peter 3:4). We should see that our spiritual garments are in order (Col. 3:7–15) just as we fret over the physical garments that clothe our body. We drink physical water, but we should also drink the spiritual water of life that Christ offers (John 4:13–14; 7:37–39).

[2]

^{^[1]}Wiersbe, W. W. (1997, c1992). Wiersbe's expository outlines on the New Testament (31). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.

^{^[2]}Knowles, A. (2001). The Bible guide. Includes index. (1st Augsburg books ed.) (416). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg.


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Posted: 09-22-2007 06:49 pm

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DesertRat wrote:

A. Giving (vv. 2–4).

The Pharisees loved to advertise their giving (Mark 12:38–40). How people today love to tell others how much they have given! If this is their motive for giving, then they have their reward—the praise of people. But they have no reward from the Father.

God loves a cheerful giver. Not by compulsion or necessity is what the bible teaches. There are many in the body of Christ and outside the body of Christ who give for selfish purposes or personal gain. God honors giving when we expect no return other than to please Him and to the benefit of others.

Jesus said, "Take heed that no one deceives you."

Matthew 24:4


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Posted: 03-03-2008 01:24 am

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This is such a beautiful and powerful chapter.

I am so stunned by the love our Lord has for us.

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. -Matthew 22:37-39

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