Matthew Chapter 6
Verses 1-18: Here Christ expands the thought of 5:20, showing how the Pharisees’ righteousness was deficient by exposing their hypocrisy in the matters of giving to the poor (verses 1-4); prayer (verses 5-15); and fasting (verses 16-18). All of these acts are supposed to be worship rendered to God, never displays of self-righteousness to gain the admiration of others.
Matthew 6:1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.”
Jesus warns us not to give “alms before men” just to gain human recognition to ourselves. The one who does righteousness (or gives of his possessions), to the Lord before men merely “to be seen of them” has “no reward” from the Father in heaven.
True worship results from the desire to serve God, not men, since pleasing God is far more important than pleasing men. Loss of reward is incurred by gaining the reward of human recognition as an end in itself.
Matthew 6:2 “Therefore when thou doest [thine] alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.”
“Hypocrites”: This word had its origins in Greek theater, describing a character who wore a mask. The term, as used in the New Testament; normally described an unregenerate person who was self-deceived.
“They have their reward”: There reward is that they were seen by men, nothing more. God does not reward hypocrisy, but He does punish it (23:13-23).
Therefore, in all of our giving we are not to “sound a trumpet” before us in a hypocritical manner of gaining attention to ourselves. This metaphorical phrase means do not “publicize” your righteousness, for such performers are “hypocrites” (from the Greek, “play actor”).
Thus, Jesus warns against acting like the hypocrites, whose aim is to win human praise.
Matthew 6:3 “But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:”
“Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth” means that one’s giving of finances to the work of the Lord should be done so freely and spontaneously that his right hand cannot keep up with his left hand.
Matthew 6:4 “That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.”
The real key to success in this kind of giving is found in the phrase “thy Father which seeth in secret … shall reward” you. Giving by faith, out of a cheerful heart, depends on our total confidence in the fact that God does indeed see us and knows our needs. These verses certainly do not condemn public giving, but rather they speak against giving out of the wrong attitude and for the wrong motive.
Jesus was warning us that our doing must not be for a big show or to receive in return. When we help someone, it should not be for public acclamation. We should help, because there is a need, and not to benefit ourselves.
See a need and quietly take care of it. Don’t run and put it the paper when you feed someone. God sees everything we do, but more than that, He sees the reason why we did it.
Verses 5-6: Praying, like giving, is to be done to the Lord, not to man. Jesus said that people “love to pray standing in the synagogues.” Both a time and place for prayer were customary in the ancient Jewish synagogue (Mark 11:25). Therefore, Jesus is not condemning the practice of public prayer, but rather the misuse of it.
Because of the statement “enter into thy closet,” some have suggested that all public prayer is wrong. This would be contrary to the rest of New Testament statements about prayer, commandments and restrictions regarding prayer, and examples of prayer meetings (Acts 12:12).
The principle here is that the believer should not make a show of his prayer nor of the answers he receives to prayer in such a way as to call unnecessary attention to himself.
Matthew 6:5-6 “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites [are]: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.” “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”
This Scripture does not mean not to pray in church. It just means don’t pray, just so men can say, what a beautiful prayer you prayed. The most effective prayers are when we seek God by ourselves, having nothing to gain but fellowship with Him.
Everyone should have a place to go and pray to God alone. Prayer is just talking to God. The words we say are really unimportant. God knows the desires of our hearts before we say a word.
He just loves for us to come to Him to visit, with no ulterior motives. When we pray, we must be quite part of the time and let God speak to our spirit. God does not want us to ever be ashamed to pray. Just talk to God. He will listen and answer your prayer. Be sincere.
Matthew 6:7 “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen [do]: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.”
“Vain repetitions”: Prayers are not to be merely recited, nor are our words to be repeated thoughtlessly, or as if they were automatic formulas. But this is not a prohibition against importunity.
Jesus warned that we “use not vain repetitions” (Greek battalogeo denotes babbling or speaking without thinking). Such prayer was characteristic of the heathen. A good example of this is found in the ecstatic babblings of the false prophets in the Old Testament and in the prophets of Baal who confronted Elijah on Mount Carmel (1 King 18:26-29).
Matthew 6:8 “Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.”
Prayer is not man’s attempt to change the will of God. Prayer is not conquering God’s reluctance to answer, but laying hold of His willingness to help. Prayer in the life of the true believer is an act of total confidence and assurance in the plan and purpose of God. The following sample prayer is given to the disciples as an example of a suitable prayer.
This prayer, often called the “Lord’s Prayer,” is in reality a disciple’s prayer. In no way does the prayer itself embody all of Christ’s teaching about prayer and having just warned against vain repetition, He did not intend for this particular prayer to be merely recited with empty meaninglessness.
In these verses above, Jesus was saying, talk to God, don’t memorize a prayer and say it every time. Tell God what is in your heart. Tell Him you love Him and need His help.
Probably, the most famous prayer in all the world is the prayer Jesus taught them to pray here. Most people misunderstand what he was saying. We all memorize this prayer, and say it without having the vaguest idea what it meant.
If you will notice in verse 9, Jesus said “After this manner therefore pray ye.” He did not say, pray this prayer. He was showing the disciples and us as well, the way to get results from our prayers.
Matthew 6:9 “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”
“After this manner”: The prayer is a model, not merely a liturgy. It is notable for its brevity, simplicity, and comprehensiveness. On the 6 petitions, 3 are direct to God (verses 9-10), and 3 toward human needs (verses 11-13).
The beginning phrase, “Our Father,” is completely uncommon to the prayers of the Old Testament. The two major elements of the prayer are adoration and petition. “Hallowed be thy name” addresses the attention of the prayer toward God and reverence for His name and His person. Hallowed (Greek hagiazo) means to be held in reverence and holy awe.
The Father is the first person of the Trinity. With only one exception (John 17:3), Jesus always spoke of God as the Father. The Scriptures identify the fatherhood of God in five areas: He is the Father of Creation (James 1:17), a protective Father emphasizing His defense of the poor and oppressed (Psalm 68:5), and a redemptive Father when we become the children of God (John 1:13; Rom. 8:15).
Just as physical fathers provide many benefits, so our heavenly Father also provides a number of spiritual benefits. Christians may have fellowship with (1 John 1:3), access to (verses 9, 32), guidance by (Psalm 119:9; 2 Tim 3:17), protection by (John 10:29), and an inheritance from (Rom. 8:17), the Father.
Just because God is the Father of all, because He is the Father of Creation, does not mean that everyone will go to heaven. A person must be born of God (John 1:13), to become a son of God (John 1:12). Then God becomes a redemptive Father.
Matthew 6:10 “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as [it is] in heaven.”
The phrase “Thy kingdom come” refers to the eschatological nature of this prayer. Notice that the kingdom is to be prayed for implying that it has not arrived. The kingdom represents the full and effective reign of God through the mediatorial office of the Messiah.
The recognition of “Thy will be done” emphasizes the idea that prayer is to bring about the conformity of the will of the believer to the will of God. Prayer is an act of spiritual expression that brings us into conformity to the very nature and purpose of God. All prayer, first of all, willingly submits to God’s purposes, plans and glory.
God is not just Supreme Ruler of heaven, but of this earth as well. We must say as Jesus said, “not my will but thine”. We should be looking forward to God’s kingdom being set up on this earth.
Matthew 6:11 “Give us this day our daily bread.”
The section of petitions begins with the request to “give us this day our daily bread.” Bread (Greek artoa) may be applied to the provision of food in general. The term daily (Greek epiousious), denotes “indispensable.” The concept of daily provision of bread fits perfectly with the Old Testament example of the daily provision of manna to the Israelites while they were wandering in the wilderness (Exodus 16:14-15).
God will take care of our needs one day at a time. The Bible says take no thought for tomorrow. Live each day one day at a time.
Matthew 6:12 “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”
Forgive us our debts” refers to sins, which are our moral and spiritual debts to God’s righteousness. The request for forgiveness of sin is made here by the believer. In order to be saved one need not necessarily name all of his sins, but he must confess that he is a sinner.
The parallel passage in Luke 11:4 uses a word that means “sins,” so that in context, spiritual debts are intended. Sinners are debtors to God for their violation of His laws. This request is the heart of the prayer; it is what Jesus stressed in the words that immediately follow the prayer (verses 14:15; Mark 11:25).
We all want the first part of verse 12, but few want the last. We must forgive to get forgiveness.
Verses 13-15: “Lead us not into temptation” is a plea for the providential help of God in our daily confrontation with the temptation of sin. God does not tempt us to do evil, but we are tempted of our own lusts (James 1:13-14). However, God does test us in order to give us the opportunity to prove our faithfulness to Him. He never desires to lead us into evil itself.
Therefore, if we resist the Devil, we are promised that he will flee from us. The prayer closes with a doxology of praise: “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen,” which is a liturgical ending similar to (1 Chronicles 29:11). Though omitted in some manuscripts, these words constitute a fitting and climactic affirmation of faith.
Matthew 6:13 “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”
“And lead us not into temptation” (Luke 22:40). God does not tempt men (James 1:13), but He will subject them to trails that may expose them to Satan’s assaults, as in the case of Job and Peter (Luke 22:31-32). This petition reflects the believing one’s desire to avoid the dangers of sin altogether.
God knows what one’s need is before one asks (verse 8), and He promises that no one will be subjected to testing beyond what can be endured. He also promises a way of escape – often through endurance (1 Cor. 10:13). But still, the proper attitude for the believer is the one expressed in this petition.
Our lusts cause us to be tempted. We should ask each day to let the blood of Jesus wash over our minds and our beings so the devil cannot attack us in these areas. God will deliver us from evil, but we must realize our need for His help and use it.
Just as the prayer begins with praise and recognition of God for what He is, it ends with praise and recognition. “Amen” means so be it.
Matthew 6:14-15 “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:” “But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
“Neither will your Father forgive your trespasses”: This is not to suggest that God will withdraw justification from those who have already received the free pardon He extends to all believers. Forgiveness in that sense, a permanent and complete acquittal from the guilt and ultimate penalty of sin, belongs to all who are in Christ (John 5:24; Rom. 8:1; Eph. 1:7).
Yet, Scripture also teaches that God chastens His children who disobey (Heb. 12:5-7). Believers are to confess their sins in order to obtain a day-to-day cleansing (1 John 1:9). This sort of forgiveness is a simple washing from the worldly defilements of sin, not a repeat of the wholesales cleansing from sin’s corruption that comes with justification.
It is like a washing of the feet rather than a bath (John 13:10). Forgiveness in this latter sense is what God threatens to withhold from Christians who refuse to forgive others (18:23-35).
All through the Bible we see statements like the one above. “Judge not, that ye not be judged” Etc.
Verses 16-17: “When ye fast”: This indicates that fasting is assumed to be a normal part of one’s spiritual life (1 Cor. 7:5). Fasting is associated with sadness (9:14-15), prayer (17:21), charity (Isaiah 58:3-6), and seeking the Lord’s will (Acts 13:2-3; 14:23).
Matthew 6:16 “Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.”
“When ye fast” is a reference both to fasting prescribed under the Mosaic Law in connection with the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:29) and the voluntary fast of that day. The Pharisees added two fast days, Monday and Thursday of each week, as a case of public display and piety. The Pharisees regarded the practice of fasting as meritorious, and appeared in the synagogues negligently attired.
Their sad disfigurement of face and the wearing of mourning garb gave them an opportunity to exhibit their superior ascetic sanctity before the people. The phrase “disfigure their faces” literally denotes covering their faces and is a figurative expression for mournful gestures and neglected appearance of those wanting to call attention to themselves.
Verses 17-18: This passage is not to be taken as a command against fasting but rather against the misuse of the spiritual exercise of fasting. Fasting that requires spectators is mere acting. Though Jesus Himself instituted no fast for His disciples, voluntary fasting does appear in the early churches (Acts 13:2).
The injunction to “anoint thine head” relates to the ancient custom of anointing one’s head when going to a feast. In other words, Jesus was saying that when we fast we are to do so secretly to the Lord, while outwardly maintaining the appearance of joy and triumph, which is the end result of true fasting.
Matthew 6:17-18 “But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;” “That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.”
Fasting involves more than giving up food for a day or two. A fast is a solemn time of separation from worldly things of all kinds. For a fast to be effective, it must be a fast that God encouraged you to do for some specific prayer request to be answered.
The time that would ordinarily be watching TV or fixing lunch, or 1,000 other little things, should be spent studying your Bible and praying. During a fast, God is your source.
Many types of illness require fasting. When the disciples came to Jesus and asked why they could not heal someone, Jesus said, this type comes out by prayer and fasting.
When you fast, it is a serious time with God and Him alone. We fast to show sincerity. God will honor a fast, if we are sincerely seeking. You may fast one meal, one day, two days, three days, or as long as you have agreed with God you will fast. It is better to promise less.
You must follow through, until God releases you. God does not like to play games. Some people drink juice during a fast, but a true fast is a total abstinence. Pray before you begin. Sometimes a preacher will call a fast for a church, but usually it is an individual thing.
Don’t brag to others about a fast. Just separate yourself for a season, pray and fast. It gets wonderful results.
Verses 19-21: The attention of the believer is directed toward “treasures in heaven.” This term “treasures” implies the addition or accumulation of things. The two kinds of treasures are conditioned by their place (either on earth or in heaven). The concept of laying up treasures in heaven is not pictured as one of meritorious benefits but rather of rewards for faithful service, as is illustrated elsewhere in the teaching of Jesus.
Matthew 6:19-20 “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:” “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:”
“Treasures”: Don’t amass earthly wealth. Jesus commends the use of financial assets for purposes which are heavenly and eternal.
Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
We have seen in the past, the stock market dropping drastically causing many people to lose their life’s savings. Some cannot cope with the loss of worldly goods, and have resorted to suicide.
The sad thing is that you cannot end it all. We are eternal beings, and will spend an eternity somewhere. When we end our lives, there is some question where that eternity will be. Really, God does not care if you are poor or rich. God does not want us to put money ahead of Him, or His people.
The sin of having money occurs, when we see someone in need, and will not help them. Love of money is a sin. Whenever you help God’s people here on earth, you are laying up treasures for heaven.
“Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40).
This is what God would have you to do, if He has endowed you with wealth. Be quick to distribute to those in need. Be content with what you have, whether it be much, or little. Help everyone you can, as often as you can.
In heaven there are no thieves. Your heart and pocket book are usually in the same place. Put God first and all other things will fall in place.
Verse 22-23: The “light of the body is associated with the “eye”. The concept here is based on the ancient idea that the eyes were the windows through which light entered the body. If the eyes were in good condition the body could receive such light. Jesus, using this language metaphorically, affirms that if a man’s spiritual sight is healthy and his affections directed toward heavenly treasure, his whole personality will be without blemish.
Matthew 6:22-23 “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.” “But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great [is] that darkness!”
The analogy is simple. If your eye is bad, no light can come in and you are left with darkness because of that malady. How much worst when the problem is not merely related to external perception, but an internal corruption of one’s whole nature, so that the darkness actually emanates from within and affects one’s whole being.
Jesus was indicting them for their superficial earthly religion that left their hearts dark.
The phrase “if … thine eye be single” indicates devotion to one purpose. The “single eye” refers to a single, fixed vision or goal. The phrase “if thine eye be evil” refers to either disease or deception of vision.
The “evil eye” is not something mysterious or devilish, but rather a deceptive vision that causes the viewer to mistake the identity of an object. The mistake in this context is the darkening of the mind and thus “how great is that darkness!”
I have always believed that you can look into a person’s eyes and see what is in his soul. When we are filled with the Light of Jesus Christ; this Light shows in our eyes.
Luke 11:34-36 “The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when [thine eye] is evil, thy body also [is] full of darkness.” “Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.” “If thy whole body therefore [be] full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.”
The eyes tell so much about a person. If a person cannot look at you when he is talking to you, he is, probably, not perfectly honest.
When a person has heavily blood-shot eyes, he is sick, or has lost a great deal of sleep. You see, the eyes reveal a great deal about us. Jesus is the Light of the world. If Jesus lives within us, His Light should be evident in our eyes.
Matthew 6:24 “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
“Mammon”: Wealth, earthly, material treasures, especially money.
This kind of spiritual double vision causes one to believe he can “serve two masters.” Total loyalty to God cannot be divided between Him and loyalty to one’s material possessions. A master (Greek Kurios), is a lord or an owner. That God claims total lordship over His own is obvious in this passage.
Therefore, Jesus rightly proclaimed, “Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” The term “Mammon” is derived from the Aramaic term for possessions or wealth. Jesus is not condemning money or possessions in and of themselves, but the improper attitude of enslavement toward wealth.
This Scripture tells us that we cannot be worldly and serve God. We cannot follow God and Satan at the same time. God has been showing me, in recent weeks, that Jesus wants 100 per cent of our loyalty.
God will not allow worldly things to be a part of our lives and still belong to him. When we are truly saved, we do not have the desire in our hearts to do the old things anymore. We are new creatures, “old things are passed away: behold all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?”
Jesus now deals with the equally dangerous tendency of those who have few possessions: worry! “Take no thought” (Greek me merimnao), means “Do not be anxious.” This word means to be so disturbed about material needs that we distrust God and are distracted from faithfully doing His will.
Anxious care is the direct opposite of faith. Therefore, even the poor are not to worry needlessly about what they should eat, drink, or wear. The question “Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?” indicates that inner mental stability must come from the spirit of man and not from outward physical provisions.
To set one’s heart on material possessions or to worry about the lack of them is to live in perpetual insecurity and to deprive oneself of the spiritual blessings of God.
Verses 26-32: Jesus illustrates His point by referring to objects in nature that were immediately at hand, the birds of the air and the flowers of the field. The key point of this passage is found in the phrases “Are ye not much better than they?” verse 30.
The bible clearly teaches that God is the Creator and sustainer of nature. Worry and anxiety are related to the length of one’s life in the phrase “add one cubit unto his stature.” A cubit is a measurement of 18 inches. However, this reference is probably not to one’s actual height but to the length of his life.
The term “stature” (Greek helikia) may mean “age.” Thus the idea seems to be that a man cannot add the smallest measure to the span of his life by worrying. This state of anxiety is related to having “little faith (verse 30). Faith is total confidence in the provision of God.
Matthew 6:26 “Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?”
“Your heavenly Father feedeth them”: Obviously this in no way advocates a sinful kind of idleness (Prov. 19:15). Birds are not idle, either. But it is God who provides them with food to eat.
Matthew 6:27-31 “Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?” “And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:” “And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” “Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, [shall he] not much more [clothe] you, O ye of little faith?” “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?”
“O ye of little faith”: This was the Lord’s recurring rebuke of the weak disciples 8:26; 14:31, 16:8; 17:20)
In these verses above, Jesus was trying to tell us that we should not be concerned about material things. Fear is lack of faith.
When God told Abraham to leave Ur of the Chaldees and go to a land He had never seen, Abraham did not question how he would make a living. He knew if God told him to go, that God would provide for him.
When a person is called to the ministry, it seems the first thing that happens is you are out of money. God wants us to realize that He is our source.
All the care and planning that we do can be wiped out with one market crash. We have to finally depend on God, anyway. Why not just start out that way and save time?
In Psalms 37, God said He will take care of the righteous.
Psalms 37:25-29 “I have been young, and [now] am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” “[He is] ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed [is] blessed.”
Psalms 37:2-29 “For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.” “The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.”
God’s plan has always been to bless the believers not just spiritually, but financially, as well. We just need to trust God completely. Work diligently and expect miracles. The main word in this is TRUST. It goes beyond faith. The Scriptures, in Matthew above (25-31), are positive statements letting us know that God cares about our needs.
In (Luke 12:31), we see what we must do to have our needs met.
Luke 12:31-32 “But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.” “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
Matthew 6:32 “(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.”
When it speaks of “Gentiles”, it is speaking of worldly people, i.e., those outside the people of promise and outside the blessing of God (Eph. 4:17-19). The people of the world are seeking wealth and fame in this life, and take no thought for the hereafter.
The Word of God says that God knows the desires of our hearts even before we pray. God knows our needs; and if we put God first, and work, and do our very best, and not worry or fret, God will see that our needs are met.
In John we read “Let not your heart be troubled”. (John 14:1).
It is an act of faith not to worry or be troubled. Throughout the Bible, God had blessed his people, Noah, Abraham, David, and Solomon. Lot, after he passed through tribulation was blessed abundantly. God takes care of His own.
Verses 33-34: This portion of the Sermon on the Mount is summarized by the statement “seek ye first the kingdom of God.” The disciples who have pledged their allegiance to the King must continue seeking the kingdom and its righteousness. The present imperative form of the verb (Greek zeteo) indicates a continual or constant seeking.
The contrast between the spiritual and the material is again emphasized. The believer is to seek first the righteousness that is characteristic of God’s kingdom and then “all these things” (material things), shall be added to him. When our priority is spiritual, God will take care of the material, for where God guides, He provides.
We need not even worry about tomorrow, for “sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” (verse 34). This means that each day has its own troubles and challenges to be responsibly handled, without worrying about the hypothetical problems that could arise tomorrow.
Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
“The kingdom”: This is the same as the kingdom of heaven. It refers to the sphere of salvation. Jesus was urging them to seek salvation – and with it would come the full care and provision of God (Rom. 8:32; Phil. 4:19; 1 Peter 5:7).
Matthew 6:34 “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day [is] the evil thereof.”
One story in the Bible stands out to me so vividly in this. In (Luke chapter 12), we read about a rich man who had an abundant crop. So much, he had no place to store his food. He pulled his small barns down and built bigger barns. He said to his soul, take it easy, I have much stored for the future; just eat, drink, and be merry.
He was rich to himself, and not to God. He died that very night. You see, we do not know whether we will have tomorrow. Prepare for heaven, and earth will take care of itself.
Matthew Chapter 6 Questions
- When you do alms, you can lose your reward if you do what?
- What do the hypocrites do?
- What is said about the right and left hand?
- If you do alms in secret, what will God do?
- For what reason should we help someone?
- God sees what we do, but more than that, what does He see?
- When we pray, where should we pray?
- The most effective prayers are what?
- What is prayer?
- We are told not to use vain repetitions when we pray. What do the heathen believe?
- What is the most famous prayer?
- What was Jesus telling the disciples and us about prayer?
- What is the first thing we should do in prayer?
- How should we speak to God?
- God is supreme ruler of where?
- How does God take care of our needs?
- How should we live our lives?
- How can we be forgiven?
- What causes us to be tempted?
- How should prayer end?
- What does “amen” mean?
- Who is spoken of as having a sad countenance when fasting?
- What two things should we do, so as not to appear to be fasting?
- What is a fast, besides giving up food?
- What must we do for God to honor our fast?
- Some drink juice fasting, but a true fast is what?
- Sometimes a preacher calls a fast for the church, but it is usually what?
- What can happen to treasures on earth?
- Where should we lay up treasures?
- God does not care whether you are rich or poor, what does God care about?
- What must a rich person be quick to do?
- What is the light of the body?
- What makes your body full of light
- If your eye is evil, what is your body full of?
- What is my belief about looking into the eyes? What can you see?
- What chapter in Luke verifies what we have learned here in verses 22 and 23?
- Matthew 6:24 tells us, no man can serve whom? (2)
- In verse 25, we are told 3 things to take no thought for. what are they?
- What are a few sins God will not allow in our lives?
- What are two things God told us to compare and see how foolish it is to worry?
- What is fear?
- Who is our source?
- In the 37th chapter of Psalms, what does God say about His own?
- Why did I tell you to read Psalms 37?
- What is the main word in this?
- If ye seek the kingdom of God first, what happens?
- Should we plot and plan for the future here on earth?
- What kind of a man is described in Luke 12?
- When he had all the extra food, did he give the access to the poor?
- What did he say to his soul?
- What happened to him?
- What should we prepare for?
- What will take care of itself?