Matthew 6:1-34

Matthew’s Good News

Matthew’s *Gospel

Hilda Bright

Chapter 6

The right way to give gifts 6:1-4

v1 ‘Be careful not to show how good you are in front of other people. Do not do your good works so that other people can see them. If you do this, you will not receive a reward. Your Father who is in heaven gives these rewards.

v2 You give things to poor people. But do not let everyone else know about it. Do not be like those people who only pretend to be *holy. They announce their good works in the houses where people meet and on the streets. They say what good things they will do. They just want other people to give them honour. What I say is true. They have received their complete reward. v3 You should give to people who need help. But do not let anyone know about it. v4 Then your gift will be a secret. But your Father sees what you do secretly. And he will reward you.’

Verse 1 Jesus’ *disciples must be careful how they act. They may want other people to praise them. But they must try to please God alone. Jesus then gives three examples of what he means:

1. The right way to give, verses 2-4

2. The right way to pray, verses 5-15

3. The right way to act when you are not eating, verses 16-18.

Verse 2 The *Jews taught that to give to the poor was a special duty. It was a duty that people did for God. Jesus showed that his *disciples should continue in this way. But they must give secretly, and they must not be proud about it. He used an example of the wrong way to give. Some *Jews made their gift very noticeable. It was like making a loud noise to announce it. They wanted people to look at them. They wanted other people to praise them. But that would be the only reward that they would receive. Jesus used a word that came from business. If someone bought something, they received a receipt. Other people may praise you when you do something good. That is like a ‘receipt’ for the good action. There will be no reward from God.

Verse 3 When we give things to people or to God, it should be a secret from other people. Some translations say: ‘One hand should not know what the other hand is doing’. This is a way to use a picture to say that. We must not even want to praise ourselves. God knows how we think. And he knows how we act. So he will reward us properly. And on the day of judgement, God will praise us (1 Corinthians 4:5).

The right way to pray 6:5-15

v5 ‘When you pray, do not be like proud, selfish people. They love to stand up and pray loudly in the houses where people meet and on the street corners. They want other people to see them. What I tell you is the truth. They have received their complete reward already. v6 But when you pray, go into your room alone. Close the door. And pray to your Father in heaven, although you cannot see him. Your Father sees what you do in private. He will reward you. v7 When you pray, do not be like the people who do not believe God. They continue to say many things that have no meaning. They think that they must talk a lot. Then their gods will hear them. v8 Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need. He knows even before you ask him.

v9 This is how you should pray:

“Our Father in heaven, we pray that people will respect your *holy name.

v10 We want your *kingdom to come. The things that you want happen in heaven. We want the things that you want here on earth. v11 Give us the food that we need each day.

v12 Forgive us for the wrong things that we do. Other people do wrong things to us. But we know that we also must forgive those wrong things.

v13 Do not test us with very difficult things. And save us from the devil.”

v14 Forgive people when they do wrong things to you. If you forgive them, your Father in heaven will also forgive you. v15 But if you do not forgive them, your Father will not forgive you.’

Verses 5-6 *Jews usually stood up when they prayed. They prayed three times in the day. A *Jew might choose to be in the house where people meet. Or he might choose to be in the street when it was time to pray. Then people would notice him. They were selfish, proud people, sometimes called ‘hypocrites’. Jesus said that such people were not really praying to God. The *Pharisee in the story in Luke 18:9-14, prayed ‘to himself’. We should each pray to God in a private place. God can see what we do in secret. He will reward us. Jesus did not mean that nobody should join in public meetings with other people. But he wanted people to be sincere whenever they pray. Christians must not pray so that other people will admire them.

Verses 7-8 People who did not believe God also prayed. They wanted their gods to listen to them. They often repeated the same word or phrase many times. They were like Baal’s special servants who shouted to Baal. ‘Baal, hear us’, they shouted, for half a day (1 Kings 18:26). (Baal was a false god.) Such people also said as many names of the god as possible. They hoped that the god would reply to one of those names. God knows what we need. We do not have to persuade him to answer us. It is possible for Christians to repeat prayers. But they should not repeat the words without really thinking about them. They need to really mean those words.

Verse 9 Matthew introduces the ‘*Lord’s prayer’ here. It is as an example of the right way to pray. Jesus told them this prayer in Luke’s *gospel too. He was replying to a request from the *disciples. They wanted to learn how to pray (Luke 11:1). This is both a prayer by itself and it is a model for other prayers. The prayer is for *disciples to use. God and how he rules are the most important parts of the prayer. So Jesus mentions them in the first three parts of the prayer. The next three parts are about people’s needs. They are for the present, the past and the future.

‘Our Father in heaven’. The *Greek word ‘Abba’ is a special word for ‘father’. A child would use it to his father. It reminds us that God loves his children. ‘In heaven’ shows that we respect God. He is *holy and his name is *holy. A father may not always know everything about his child. He may not always know the best thing that he should do for the child. He may not be able to help him. He may not have the resources. But God has all the wisdom and the power. He can combine perfect love with perfect discipline. ‘Our’ reminds us that we are only one part of God’s family. We should think about other people as well as think about ourselves. ‘We pray that people will respect your *holy name.’ This means more than just to say the word ‘God’ in the right way. We need to think about who he is. In *Hebrew, a ‘name’ meant the whole character of a person. ‘The name of the *Lord is a strong *tower.’ The *Lord’s people can be safe with him (Proverbs 18:10). The writer knew that God is love. He is also a powerful God in whom we can trust. *Disciples should help other people to understand God’s character. People can think strange things about God. *Disciples should be careful what they say.

Verse 10 We want more and more people to accept Jesus as their king. God’s rule on earth extends as people obey him. There are people who live in heaven. And they do what God wants. So we pray that more people on earth will want to obey God too. We want God to rule completely.

Verse 11 People depend on God who made them. He gives them food for their bodies. Long ago, God gave the *Israelites their food each day in the desert (Exodus chapter 16). So we ask God to give us food for each day. The *Israelites had to go out and collect their food. God expects us to work. Then we can obtain our food. We need both to pray and to work. Then God will provide what we need. The writer in Proverbs 30:8-9 asks only for his ‘daily bread’. Give ‘us’ reminds us that we must not be selfish. Some people may be hungry because other people are greedy. Jesus also called himself ‘the bread of life’ (John 6:33-35). Bread is food that makes a person strong. Jesus can give strength to our characters so that we do good things. Jesus also said that we need the ‘word’ of God (Matthew 4:4). Therefore, we should also pray that we will learn the truth in the Bible. Then God will give us strength for our minds and for our spirits.

Verse 12 Everyone needs God to forgive them. We fail to love God. We fail to love other people. Jesus has died. And that made it possible for God to forgive us. But we also need to forgive other people. Otherwise, God cannot forgive us. Verses 14–15 repeat this truth.

Verse 13 It is never necessary for someone to do something wrong. God does not act in this way (James 1:13). But he allows situations that test us. We must ask God to help us. Then we can avoid situations that would be a very difficult test for us. We need God to protect us. We must not allow the devil to win. The *Holy Spirit’s work is to guide us. Then we will live in the right way that God wants.

The right way to act when you are not eating 6:16-18

v16 ‘When you do not eat, do not look miserable like the proud and selfish people. They make their faces look very pale. They want to show people that they are not eating. What I am going to tell you is true. They have received their complete reward already. v17 But you may choose not to eat. So do your hair as usual, and wash your face. v18 Then other people will not know that you are not eating. Only your Father, whom you cannot see, will know. He sees what happens in secret. And he will reward you.’

Verse 16 When we do not eat by choice, we are ‘fasting’. In Jesus’ time there was only one time in the year when *Jews had to stop eating. It was on the day of *Atonement (Leviticus 16:31). Some *Jews chose to ‘fast’ at other times. It was a sign that a *Jew did not want to do wrong things. He wanted to turn away from evil things. Sometimes the whole nation decided to not eat. The people recognised that they had not obeyed God (1 Samuel 7:6). Many *Jews chose to ‘fast’ twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays. Some wanted other people to see how good they were. So they let themselves look untidy, miserable and pale. Jesus said that this way to ‘fast’ was wrong. Such people got their reward when other people noticed them.

Verse 17 It was clear to Jesus that people would choose not to eat sometimes. It can be a valuable way to prepare yourself. Then you can wait for God to show you his plan. Jesus chose not to eat when he was in the desert (Matthew 4:2). The Christians at Antioch ‘fasted’ and prayed. Then they sent Barnabas and Saul on their journey and God *blessed them (Acts 13:2-3).

Valuable things in heaven 6:19-24

v19 ‘Do not store valuable things for yourselves on earth. Insects and *rust can destroy them. Thieves can break in and steal those things. v20 But store valuable things for yourselves in heaven. Insects and *rust do not destroy things there. Thieves cannot break in and steal things there. v21 Your heart will always be where your valuable things are.

v22 The eye is like a lamp for the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. v23 But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If there is only darkness inside you, how very dark it will be for you!

v24 Nobody can serve two masters at the same time. He will hate one of them and love the other one. Or he will be loyal to one and he will dislike the other one. You cannot serve God and serve money at the same time.’

Verse 19 A wealthy man can lose his wealth on earth. Jesus describes three ways in which this can happen.

1. Beautiful clothes were valuable in the east. But small insects can destroy the clothes’ beauty and value. The insects are called ‘moths’.

2. *Rust destroys metal things.

3. Thieves can break into a house. Then they can steal a person’s money.

Verses 20-21 ‘Valuable things’ are completely safe in heaven. Nothing can attack them there. They are still there after a person’s life on earth ends. A relationship with God is more valuable than any riches on earth. God’s rewards are waiting for us in heaven. The rich young ruler (Matthew 19:16-22) was sad. But he was not willing for God to be first in his life. So he lost the joy that he could have had. His thoughts were about ‘valuable things’ that could not last for ever. But he could have had ‘valuable things in heaven’.

Verses 22-23 The way that we see things makes a difference. It changes the way that we speak. It changes the way that we act. Someone with a ‘good’ eye and light inside them is generous. A ‘bad’ eye means that a person can not see clearly. Someone is dark inside them if they are greedy or selfish. They will be like a person who is in the dark. He cannot see other people clearly as those that he should love. John writes: ‘Someone may say that he is in the light. But if he hates his brother, he is still in the darkness’ (1 John 2:11).

Verse 24 It was impossible for a slave to serve more than one master at the time when Jesus lived. A slave had no free time, as he was the property of his owner. The owner could do what he liked with his slave. ‘Mammon’ is the Aramaic word for money. Aramaic was the language that Jesus’ family spoke. God wants us to serve him. He does not want us to serve money. It is impossible to do both. God expects us to be completely loyal to him. If money is more important to us, then ‘things’ become more important than people. The desire to serve God can disappear. Paul writes: ‘To love money is the start of all kinds of evil’ (1 Timothy 6:10).

Do not worry 6:25-34

v25 ‘I tell you, do not worry about your life. Do not worry about what you will eat or drink. Do not worry about your body and what you will wear. Life is worth more than food. There are more important things for the body than clothes. v26 Look at the birds in the sky. They do not sow crops or gather them. They do not store crops. But your Father who is in heaven feeds the birds. And you are worth much more than they are. v27 Nobody can increase his life even one hour by worrying about it.

v28 You must not worry about clothes either. Look at how the wild flowers grow. They do not work or make clothes. v29 But I tell you that not even Solomon, with all his splendid wealth, had clothes like theirs. v30 God dresses the wild grass. Because he can do this, he will dress you even better. The grass is here only for today. Tomorrow people will throw it into a fire. You believe so little about God!

v31 So do not worry and ask yourselves these questions: “Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will we have anything to wear?” v32 People who do not believe God worry about all these things. But your Father is in heaven. And he knows that you need such things. v33 Let God rule your life. Do what he wants you to do. Then you will receive all these things as well. v34 Do not worry about tomorrow. It is time to worry about it when tomorrow comes. Each day has enough trouble of its own.’

Verse 25 Jesus had spoken about the danger of wealth and possessions. Here he is speaking to *disciples who have few possessions. They may be quite poor. Life is more than the basic necessities of food and clothes. God gave us life. So he will give us the things that are necessary for us to live.

Verse 26 The birds do not worry. They do not store food for the future. They do not work to grow their food. And they do not work to make their clothes. But God provides for them. And people are more valuable than birds.

Verse 27 Worry is no use. Nobody can increase the length of his life by worrying. Worry will probably make his life shorter rather than longer. This verse can also mean that nobody can make himself taller by worrying.

Verses 28-30 Wild flowers have more beauty than the rich clothes that king Solomon wore. These flowers last only a short time. Then they can become fuel for a fire. Someone can use them to heat an oven. A flower may soon die, but God still gives it great beauty. God does this for flowers, so he will look after people even more.

Verse 32 Someone who does not believe God worries about things. They do not know what God is like. They may believe in a jealous god who can act sometimes with kindness and at other times with hate. A Christian knows that the *Lord God himself is different. He is a Father who always acts with love. He provides everything that his children need.

Verse 33 If God rules our life, worry will disappear. We will be able to trust God for everything.

Verse 34 One day at a time is enough to think about. Each day produces problems and difficulties. To worry about the future is foolish in two ways:

1. It will make it more difficult to deal with today’s problems.

2. The things that we worry about may never happen.

gospel ~ 1. good news; 2. one of the first four books in the New Testament.

New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, which the writers wrote after the life of Jesus.
holy ~ all good with no bad in it; separate from sin.
sin ~ when we do not obey God's commands.
disciples ~ those who follow another person to learn from him.
Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; a person who believes the faith of the Jews, called Judaism.
faith ~ belief in someone or something; things that people believe about Jesus.
kingdom ~ people or place that a king rules; or people that God rules.
Pharisee ~ one of a group of Jews who thought that they obeyed all God’s rules. They did not like the things that Jesus taught. They thought that they did not do any wrong things. So, they thought that they were very important and clever.
Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; a person who believes the faith of the Jews, called Judaism.
faith ~ belief in someone or something; things that people believe about Jesus.
Lord ~ master; a name that we call God or Jesus; we call God or Jesus Lord when we obey them.
gospel ~ 1. good news; 2. one of the first four books in the New Testament.

New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, which the writers wrote after the life of Jesus.
Greek ~ the language in which the authors wrote the New Testament.

New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, which the writers wrote after the life of Jesus.
Hebrew ~ the language that the Jews wrote the Old Testament in.
Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; a person who believes the faith of the Jews, called Judaism.

Old Testament ~ the first part of the Bible, which the writers wrote before the life of Jesus.
faith ~ belief in someone or something; things that people believe about Jesus.
tower ~ a very high building.
disciples ~ those who follow another person to learn from him.
Israelite ~ a Jewish person.
Jewish ~ a word that describes a Jew or anything to do with a Jew.
Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; a person who believes the faith of the Jews, called Judaism.
faith ~ belief in someone or something; things that people believe about Jesus.
holy ~ all good with no bad in it; separate from sin.
sin ~ when we do not obey God's commands.
Atonement ~ the special day when Jews ask God to forgive them.
Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; a person who believes the faith of the Jews, called Judaism.
faith ~ belief in someone or something; things that people believe about Jesus.
bless ~ to say or do much good to a person; to call something holy; to ask for good things to happen; to keep from bad things.
holy ~ all good with no bad in it; separate from sin.
sin ~ when we do not obey God's commands.
rust ~ the material that comes on wet metal.
rust ~ the material that comes on wet metal.