Thursday, January 7
Read Matthew 6
Think About It:
The true righteousness of the kingdom must be applied in the everyday activities of life. This is the emphasis in the rest of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus related this principle to our relationships to God in worship (Matthew 6:1-18), our relationship to material things (Matthew 6:19-34), and our relationship to other people (Matthew 7:1-20).
We must pray in secret before we pray in public (verse 6). It is not wrong to pray in public in the assembly (1 Timothy 2:1), or even when blessing food (John 11:41-42; Acts 27:35). But it is wrong to pray in public if we are not in the habit of praying in private.
We must pray sincerely (verses 7-8). The fact that our request is repeated does not make it “vain repetition,” for both Jesus and Paul repeated their petitions (Matthew 26:36-46; 2 Corinthians 12:7-8). Our request becomes a “vein repetition” if it is only babbling words without a sincere heart’s desire to seek and do God’s will. The mere reciting of memorized prayers can be vein repetition. The Gentiles had such prayer in their pagan ceremonies (1 Kings 18:26).
We must pray God’s will (verses 9-13). The purpose of prayer is to glorify God’s name and to ask for help to accomplish His will on earth. This prayer begins with God’s interests, not ours: God’s name, God’s kingdom, God’s will. Robert Law said, “Prayer is a mighty instrument, not for getting man’s will done in heaven, but for getting God’s will done on earth.” We have no right to ask God for anything that will dishonor His name, delay His kingdom, or disturb His will on earth. If we put God’s concerns first, then we can bring our own needs. God is concerned about our needs and knows them even before we mention them (Matthew 6:8). If this is the case, then why pray? Because prayer is the God appointed way to have these needs met (James 4:1-3). Prayer prepares us for the proper use of the answer.
We must pray, having a forgiving spirit toward others (verses 14-15). In this “appendix” to the prayer, Jesus expanded the last phrase of Matthew 6:12… “as we forgive our debtors.” He later repeated this lesson to his disciples (Mark 11:19-26). He was not teaching that believers earned God’s forgiveness by forgiving others, for this would be contrary to God’s free grace and mercy. However, if we have truly experienced God’s forgiveness, then we have a readiness to forgive others (Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13). Our Lord illustrated this principle in the parable of the unmerciful servant (Matthew 18:21-35).
But be cautious. Since prayer involves glorifying God’s name, hastening the coming of God’s kingdom, and helping to accomplish God’s will on earth, the one praying must not have sin in his heart. If God answered the prayers of a believer who had an unforgiving spirit, He would dishonor His own name. The important thing about prayer is not simply getting an answer, but being the kind of person whom God can trust with an answer. And more importantly, being the kind of person God uses to accomplish His will.
Our fasting (6:16-18). The only fast that God actually required of the Jewish people was on the annual day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:27). The Pharisees fasted each Monday and Thursday (Luke 18:22) and did so in such a way that people knew they were fasting. Their purpose, of course, was to win the praise of men. As a result, the Pharisees lost God’s blessing! It is not wrong to fast, if we do it in the right way and with the right motive. Jesus fasted (Matthew 4:3); so did the members of the early church (Acts 13:2). Fasting helps to discipline the appetites of the body (Luke 21:34) and keep our spiritual priorities straight.
Our use of wealth (6:19-34). We are accustomed to dividing life into the “spiritual” and the “material”; but Jesus made no such division. In many of His parables He made it clear that a right attitude toward wealth is a mark of true spirituality (Luke 16:1-31). The Pharisees were covetous (Luke 16:14) and used religion to make money. If we have the true righteousness of Christ in our lives, then we will have a proper attitude toward material wealth.
Nowhere did Jesus magnify poverty or criticize the legitimate getting of wealth. God made all things, including food, clothing, and precious metals. God has declared that all things He has made are good (Genesis 1:31). God knows that we need certain things in order to live (Matthew 6:32). In fact, He has given us “richly all things to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17). It is not wrong to possess things, but it is wrong for things to possess us. The sin of idolatry is as dangerous as the sin of hypocrisy! There are many warnings in the Bible against covetousness (Exodus 20:17; Psalm 119:36; Mark 7:22; Luke 12 to 15; Ephesians 5:5; Colossians 3:5).
What does it mean to lay-up treasures in heaven? It means to use all that we have for the Glory of God. It also means measuring life by the true riches of the kingdom and not by the false riches of this world.
Loss of joy today (verse 34). Worrying about tomorrow does not help either tomorrow or today. Three words in the section point to the way of victory over worry: 1. Faith (Matthew 6:30), trusting God to meet our needs; 2. Father (Matthew 6:32), knowing He cares for His children; 3. First (Matthew 6:33), putting God’s will first in our lives so that He might be glorified. When we have faith in our Father and put Him first, He will meet our needs. Hypocrisy and anxiety are sins. If we practice the true righteousness of the kingdom, we will avoid these sins and live for God’s Glory.
Family Time:
- What does worry mean?
- Verse 26 talks about the birds of the air; what can we learn from them?
- What can we do instead of worry?
- What should we always be seeking?
