Matthew 6

Do Good to Please God (6:1-4)

A. Verses 1-18 of this chapter would teach us the necessity of having the right heart toward our good works.
1. The Jews’ three most prominent acts of piety were alms-giving, praying, and fasting. The Pharisees performed these acts of piety but
with wrong motive—pride, to be praised by others.
2. Jesus’ instructions about these good works are outlined to four points:
a. Do not do the act to be praised by men.
b. Those who will disobey this will have what they want but no more after that.
c. Acts of piety must be done secretly.
d. The Father who sees in secret will reward openly.
B. Alms-giving was the responsibility of the Jews (Exo. 23:11), but some of them perform this act for self-glorification. When they gave alms,
they made sure that somebody would see it—sound a trumpet. Jesus said that they will not receive the reward from the Father only from
men.
C. Hypocrite means “actor.” The Greek actors were using masks to play several roles. From this the word “hypocrite” was taken.

The Model Prayer (6:5-15)

A. Jesus noticed that some Jews prayed for self-glorification, they prayed where people would see them. But He commands us to pray in
secret (in our room) so that we may be away from the temptation to pretend.
B. Next He noticed that the Gentiles were praying vain repetitions. They did this because they wanted to be heard by their gods. But the true
God forbid that because it impeaches His wisdom.
1. Mere repetition is not condemned here (see Matt. 26:44), only the vain repetition or babblings (see 1 Kings 18:26).
2. It also teaches us that long prayers are unnecessary.
C. The Lord’s Prayer is the model which Jesus gave to His disciples as their pattern when praying. Notice that Jesus said, “pray in this manner”
not to “pray in these words.” Let us see briefly the contents of His prayer:
1. Address: that is to the Father.
2. Praise: to give words of exaltation to God (e.g. holy, loving, almighty).
3. Physical Supplication: to ask for the necessities of our outward body such as food, shelter, and clothing.
4. Confession: to admit our sins to God and ask forgiveness of sins and deliverance from temptations.
5. Closing: Amen or “so be it.”
D. In v. 15 our Lord emphasized the necessity of forgiving others in order to be forgiven by God.

Fasting to Be Seen Only by God (6:16-18)

A. Fasting is the abstinence from physical satisfaction (food, water, etc.) for spiritual satisfaction (prayer, devotion, etc.).
1. The Jews fasted 2x per week (Monday and Thursday). Some of them fasted obviously by making their faces sad so that people would
notice them. But our Lord said that one who fast must wash his face and anoint his head to avoid fasting obviously.
2. Fasting is an optional act for Christians. Gradually the practice was removed through the passing of time, but it was later revived by
some in the latter days.

Lay Up Treasures in Heaven (6:19-21)

A. Why should one lay up treasures in heaven?
1. For the treasures on earth are temporary and without security.
2. For the treasures in heaven are permanent and secured.
B. How to lay up treasures in heaven?
1. By generosity (1 Tim. 6:19).
2. By putting God first (v.33).

The Lamp of the Body (6:22-23)

A. Eye is the lamp of the body because it is by the eye that we can see.
1. The good eye may represent one who is righteous but the context suggest that it refers to being generous (Prov. 22:9)
2. The bad eye may represent the wicked or the selfish.

You Cannot Serve God and Riches (6:24)

A. Mammon is a Semitic word for money or possession.

Do Not Worry (6:25-34)

A. Worrying or anxiety for temporal things is forbidden in the Bible. Jesus presented his arguments why we should not worry:
1. It is sin (v.25).
2. It is cruel (v.26). The birds are being take care by God and those who worry imply that God does not take care of them.
3. It is futile (v.27). One cannot add a cubit in his own height by worrying. In other words nothing will happen to the problem whether
one worries or not.
4. It is faithlessness (v.30). “O ye of little faith,” this is the main reason why one worries—he lacks trust to God.
5. It is heathenish (v.32). Worrying is the character of pagans who do not have the true God.
B. The key to stop worrying is to obey the classic text in v.33-34
1. Seek the kingdom. That is by being a member of it and working in it.
2. His righteousness. That is by obeying His commandments.
3. Live one day at a time.