Matthew 6

Matthew 6:1-18

Divine Service in the Kingdom – In Matthew 6:1-18 Jesus teaches on sanctification in preparation for divine service. In this section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus Christ teaches the people about true sanctification in preparation for divine service to God through almsgiving, prayer and fasting. He will expound upon the topic of divine service in His second discourse in Matthew 10:1 to Matthew 11:1 and actually send out twelve apostles for training in divine service. Under the Mosaic Law a Levite or priest must sanctify himself in order to be qualified for Temple service. After Jesus identifies true children of God in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) and in describing them as salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16), and after He delivers to them the true meaning of the Ten Commandments (Matthew 5:17-48), He now tells them how to sanctify themselves for divine service on their journey to the Promised Land. Just as Moses sanctified the Tabernacle and the people for the journey, Jesus gives us three keys to become sanctified before God in Matthew 6:1-18, almsgiving, prayer and fasting. This will prepare us for the rest of the journey described in Matthew 6:19 to Matthew 7:29. We are to give of our substance in almsgiving (Matthew 6:1-4), which acts of mercy sanctifies the heart; then we give our lives to prayer (Matthew 6:5-15), which sanctifies the mind by giving us spiritual direction and understand; and we afflict our bodies by fasting (Matthew 6:16-18). Together, these acts of piety will keep us strong in faith and in fellowship with God for the journey into our place of rest with God. Outline - Note the proposed outline:

1. Almsgiving (sanctifies the heart) — Matthew 6:1-42. Prayer (sanctifies the mind) — Matthew 6:5-153. Fasting (sanctifies the body) — Matthew 6:16-18 Jesus Teaches on Sanctification in Preparation for Divine Service – Jentezen Franklin comments that this three-fold act of Christian service, almsgiving, prayer and fasting, brings a hundred-fold return in a believer’s life. He believes only practicing one virtue will bring a 30-fold return, and practicing two virtues will bring a 60-fold return; but all three will give a full return in our lives. With all three active in our lives, the blessings of God will so overflow as He rewards us openly that men will see these blessings (Matthew 6:18).

We see all three of these virtues explained in Isaiah 58:1-14. God’s open reward is seen in the final verse of this chapter.[383] [383] Jentezen Franklin, interviewed by Benny Hinn, “This Is Your Day,” on Trinity Broadcasting Network (Santa Ana, California), television program, 9 January 2004.The frequent references to rewards from men and from God (Matthew 6:1-2; Matthew 6:4-6; Matthew 6:16; Matthew 6:18) in Matthew 6:1-18 reveals that when we give alms, pray, and fast according to God’s rules, we are to expect to receive heavenly rewards. In other words, we are to expect to receive from God when we give alms, or pray, or fast. To not have such an expectation would then be unbiblical.

Matthew 6:5-15

Teaching on Prayer – In Matthew 6:5-15 Jesus teaches on prayer. The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:1-4) – Matthew 6:9-15 contains a passage of Scripture that is popularly called The Lord’s Prayer. This passage gives us principles (Matthew 6:9 a), or guidelines, or a “manner,” on how we come to God with our needs, which needs are mentioned in the previous verse (Matthew 6:8). This prayer is intended to serve as a model of prayer, and not as a memorized prayer of repetition, which Jesus warns against in the previous verse (Matthew 6:7). As His children, we enter His presence with intimacy of and Father and a child by calling Him “Father” (Matthew 6:9 b), whom we worship and adore (Matthew 6:9 c). We then pray a prayer of consecration, yielding ourselves to His will, to His purpose and plan, for the situation that causes us to have a need (Matthew 6:10). In Matthew 6:11 we ask the Lord to make divine provision and supply our needs as we do His will.

This is a walk of faith and trust in Him as our Provider. If we are going to receive from God in Matthew 6:11, then we are going to have to maintain a pure heart (Matthew 6:12); for without it, our prayers are futile and fruitless. As we pursue God’s will with a pure heart we pray for divine protection against the Devil, who comes to steal our faith and blessing and answered prayers (Matthew 6:13 a,b). With God on our side, we cannot fail to receive, so we close our prayers with a confession of faith giving praise and glory and honor to our heavenly Father (Matthew 6:13 c). Jesus end by warning of the believer’s need to maintain a pure heart of forgiveness against all fellow men; for without it, our heavenly Father will not answer our prayers (Matthew 6:14-15). Prayers should begin in the morning, as Jesus set the example and as Matthew 6:34 shows, “sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” There is enough evil that we confront each day to cause us the need to be concerned about how to walk in victory today and not worry about tomorrow’s coming evil. One suggested outline for the Lord’s Prayer uses the following scheme: Praise (Matthew 6:9 b) – We begin prayer by entering the Lord’s presence with praise and adoration. Priority (Matthew 6:10) – We then place the issues of the Kingdom of Heaven as the top priority before our daily needs. Provision (Matthew 6:11-12) – We ask the Lord for our daily provision and forgiveness in an unselfish manner. Protection (Matthew 6:13 a, b) - We ask the Lord for protection. Praise (Matthew 6:13 c) – We close our prayer giving the Lord all praise and honor for what He is doing in our lives. Matthew 6:5 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. Matthew 6:6 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. Matthew 6:6 — “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet” – Comments - I once asked the Lord where my closet was. He replied that it was in my quiet place. In other words, a closet is a figurative term used to describe a place that you can go to that gives you peace and quiet, without distractions. No one can pray consistently and effectively without a prayer closet. A closet represents a place where you can be along with God, where you can pray unhindered, without distractions. Thus, Jesus says to “shut the door”. The fact that Jesus says to have such a place means that we pray most effectively when we have dedicated a place to go to when we pray. Abraham built an altar at each of his dwelling places. He understood the need to have a prayer closet. We deceive ourselves when we think that we can pray effectively anywhere. Matthew 6:6 — “and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret” - Comments - Another reason we must go to a closet to prayer most effectively is because our flesh has the tendency to get in the way when we pray in public. The hypocritical prayer of the Pharisee in Luke 18:10-14 reminds us of how tempted man is to please his listeners when praying in public, rather than being sincere before God. Matthew 6:5-6 — Comments - Note the words of Frances J. Roberts: “Get you to the prayer closet! This is the reason I have taught thee to pray in secret: because there ye are beset by fewer false motives and less temptation. He who does not habitually commune with Me alone is almost sure to find true prayer impossible in public.”[390] [390] Frances J. Roberts, Come Away My Beloved (Ojai, California: King’s Farspan, Inc., 1973), 30.Again: “The dazzle and glitter of public life is attractive to the eye of the carnal man; but I would closet you away in the secret places of humility and discipline of soul, denying the things that pertain to the outward man in order to perfect the inner life and enrich thy knowledge of Myself.”[391] [391] Frances J. Roberts, Come Away My Beloved (Ojai, California: King’s Farspan, Inc., 1973), 174.Illustration – Jesus serves as an excellent example of a man who went to His prayer “closet” to pray (Matthew 14:23, Mark 1:35, Luke 6:12; Luke 9:18). Matthew 14:23, “And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.” Mark 1:35, “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” Luke 6:12, “And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.” Luke 9:18, “And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?” 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. Matthew 6:7 — Comments - In the Islamic religion public prayers are memorized. In fact, they project these prayers over their cities from their towers, believing that their god will hear them. Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Matthew 6:9 — “After this manner therefore pray ye” – Comments - In other words, this prayer is a guideline for us to use during prayer, rather than verses we are to memorize and repeat. Matthew 6:9 — “Our Father which art in heaven” - Comments - This shows a personal relationship that each individual has with God as Father. This concept was until now basically foreign to the children of Israel. David was the first individual in redemptive history to call God his Father, as recorded in the book of Psalms. Although three of the later prophets echoed this concept (Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 22:21; Isaiah 63:16; Isaiah 64:8, Jeremiah 3:4; Jeremiah 3:19; Jeremiah 31:9, Malachi 2:10), Jesus was the first discuss it at length. Matthew 6:9 — “Hallowed be thy name” - Comments – That is, “let thy name be sanctified, reverenced, treated as holy.” A person’s character is reflected in his name. Therefore, God’s primary characteristic is holiness. Note that we can bring glory and honor to His name as we shine as lights of truth and good works in this evil world (Matthew 5:16). The opposite one who brings glory to God would be a person who curses the Lord and adheres to idols and made-up gods. Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10 — “Thy kingdom come” - Comments - What is the Kingdom of God. Romans 14:17, “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” Matthew 6:10 — “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” - Comments - Jesus came on earth in order to reestablish God’s will, purpose and plan on the earth. He then gave the Church the authority to take dominion over the earth and establish God’s will in the lives of mankind. Matthew 6:10 — Comments - In Matthew 6:10 we commit ourselves to perform God’s will for our lives. We may paraphrase Matthew 6:10, “Use me to do thy will on earth in building the kingdom of God.” After we have placed God’s office above ourselves in Matthew 6:9, then are we able to submit to His plan and purpose in our lives. We are to pray that God’s kingdom will come upon this earth so that mankind will begin to live here on earth as he will be living in heaven. We can better understand the meaning of Mat 6:10 by taking a brief look at the central theme of Ephesians. The epistle to the Ephesians takes us deeper into God’s divine plan for mankind than any of his other epistles. I believe that the general theme to this epistle is the revelation of the spiritual blessings and divine authority that God has given to His Church, referred to in the key verse as “being blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” (Matthew 1:3). He is telling them that God has blessed the Church with a great plan and that He is actively working out His divine plan in the life of each believer. Therefore, the emphasis on the first three chapters will be God’s action towards mankind, and the last three chapters will emphasize man’s action towards God in light of this truth. There is a part of history that we can visibly see and there is a part of history that we cannot see, which is the part that God is orchestrating. This divine intervention by God underlies all visible history that we can see with our eyes. The ultimate outcome will be the coming together of all things in Christ. If this outcome were dependent upon man, then it would fail. However, Paul emphasizes that this outcome will be determined by God, and this outcome by His grace, and not because of man’s good works. Thus comes the resounding, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!” (Matthew 1:3). But we cannot underestimate the role of man in this ultimate outcome, which is seen in chapters 4-6. For the Church has been commissioned to take the Gospel to all nations. If they fail in this role, then multitudes of souls will not be found in heaven. If God will determine the outcome of history, and He will do this by His grace (Matthew 2:8-10), then this work must be done in and through the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the plan that God has chosen to accomplish His will and purpose for mankind. Therefore, Paul repeatedly emphasizes that all that we are is because of Jesus and all that we do must be done in accordance to our service to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Thus, the major theme of this epistle is that God has blessed the Church with many spiritual blessings in order to bring about His purpose and plan on earth. Did not the Lord Jesus refer to this role of the Church in bringing God’s will upon the earth in the Lord’s Prayer, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10). Therefore, the believer will find peace and joy only as he sets his heart and affections on these things above and not on the things of this earth. Matthew 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread. Matthew 6:11 — Word Study on “daily bread” – The Greek words “επιούσιοςαρτον” literally mean “daily bread.” The word “daily” (G1967) is only used twice in the New Testament, the other occurrence being found in the parallel passage of Luk 11:3. It probably comes from the Greek verb έπειμι (G1966), which means, “to come upon, to approach.” Used in relation to time, this verb means, “to come on, be at hand,” thus as an adverb, “next, following, on the following day.” F. F. Bruce notes that this phrase is used outside the New Testament on a papyrus in the sense of “daily rations,” thus justifying the familiar rendering.[392] Our daily bread is possibly an Old Testament reference to the manna in the Wilderness. [392] F. F. Bruce, The Books and the Parchments (Old Tappan, New Jersey: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1963), 69.Matthew 6:11 — Comments (1) – Matthew 6:11 is a prayer for our daily needs, and not a prayer of desires to consume it upon the lusts of our flesh (James 4:3). The Christian life is a daily walk. God’s will for our lives is found in the events of today and not in future accomplishments.

The emphasis in this verse is that the Christian life is not a project that must be completed, but rather a daily relationship with the Heavenly Father. God’s plan for our lives is to live holy and in fellowship with Him today, knowing that the cares of tomorrow will take care of themselves. We must learn to walk with Him day by day as the disciples did after forsaking all. As long as we serve Him, He will provide for us. This is why the previous verse reads, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) When we yield ourselves to divine service, God will provide. James 4:3, “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” Illustration - I first learned this divine truth when I stepped out of Seminary where I was pursuing a Master’s Degree in Theology. I wanted to make for myself a great career in the ministry. When I took time off to learn how to wait upon the Lord and how to maintain fellowship with Him and how to hear His voice, I resigned myself to listening to His directions for that day, and not worry about tomorrow. When I prayed a year after stepping out of Seminary, saying, “Lord, would you be pleased if I finished Seminary,” his reply was, “I would be pleased if you had faith in Me.” In other words, I was to not worry about the future, but take my life today and learn how to trust Him. In doing so, I began to see how He would divinely order my steps day by day into the place and in the direction that He wanted me to go. For example, as I began to learn how to put my faith in God, I decided to start my own company doing handiwork around people’s homes. One day, I ran out of cement bags and it was too far to drive into town to purchase more bags before the cement I had poured would have dried, and I would have had to start the work all over. While I was standing there wondering what to do, the owner of the property drove up, asked me how I was doing, and showed me several bags of cement a few feet away in a storage room. What a divine appointment. There was another time when the Lord gave me a dream and showed me the electrical problem on my work truck, a problem that had plagued me for many days. In this dream, a figure pointed to my fuse box under the dash panel of the truck and pointed to two burned wires. When I awoke, I went out to my work truck and found these two burnt wired exactly where I had seen them in a dream. Another day, I was installing a plastic wrap around in the bathtub of a rental home. I cut the material wrong, and realized that this mistake would cost me about US$ 80. I did not enough money at the time to purchase new material for this job. I went out into the front lawn of this house, laid down on my back facing heaven and cried, “Lord, help!” Immediately, the Lord gave me an inspired idea. I jumped up, ran into the house, flipped the plastic panels around and somehow made them easily fit into the tub enclosure. As I met people and gave bids on repairs to their homes, the Lord would place skilled craftsmen in my path when I needed to know how to do a particular job. I would talk to these men and go back and to the job like the craftsman had instructed me. I had dreams of how to invent tools for particular jobs. Each day became an adventure. I stopped worrying about tomorrow and began to focus on finding the Lord’s presence and divine intervention for that day. I could tell other stories, but the point is that the Lord began to teach me how to follow Him that day. I learned to simply follow His steps. Eventually, the Lord gave me a “rhema” word, a spoken word, to return to Seminary. He confirmed this word with multiple dreams before I moved back to Texas and finished Seminary. What a testimony of divine intervention I have experienced during that season of my life, as I learned how to cast my daily cares upon the Lord. Comments (2) - The Scriptures teach us to not be anxious about tomorrow. The Sermon on the Mount emphasizes the need to focus on the events of today and cast the worries of tomorrow into the hands of God (Matthew 6:19-34). We see this truth illustrated when Jesus tells us the Parable of the Rich Fool who stored up his wealth, only to lose his life in vanity (Luke 12:13-21). The epistle of James warns us against saying, “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain.” He tells us that we do not know what the future holds for us tomorrow. We are to rather say, “If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.” (James 4:13-16) James 4:13-16, “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.” These are stories of how people put their faith in worldly possessions. Thus, we see that looking to the future for material or social gain without trusting in the Lord becomes a form of covetousness. However, when we focus on today, we are able to place our energies into being productive for the needs at hand, rather than wasting needless energy on issue that never bring fruit in our lives. I am learning to live each day for the Lord and trust Him to determine my future, for I have placed it in His hands. For those who have learned the “daily secret,” you have found that God has a much greater and better plan for your life than you could have every dreamed. “Lord, give us this day our daily bread.” Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Matthew 6:12 — Comments - Our debts and our debtors refer to “faults and those at fault.” The Lord wants us to always remember that although others are at fault with us, we have our own faults. It is so easy to be quick to criticize others for their faults and not be aware of our own faults. Matthew 6:12 is a good verse to explain that the Catholic tradition of confessing sins to a priest should be directed to God the Father. It is God who has the power to forgive sins (note 1 John 1:9). 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 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. Matthew 6:13 — “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever” – Comments: The kingdom - He is called the Lord of Hosts. The power - He is called Almighty God, or Lord God Almighty. The glory - He is called the Holy One of Israel. Scripture Reference - Note:Psalms 22:28, “For the kingdom is the LORD’S: and he is the governor among the nations.” Matthew 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: Matthew 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:14-15 — Comments – Prayer and Fasting - Prayer and forgiveness work together. In Psalms 24:3-4, with sin and unforgiveness in us, God will not hear our prayers. Psalms 24:3-4, “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.”

Matthew 6:16-18

Teaching on Fasting – In Matthew 6:16-18 Jesus teaches on fasting. This passage teaches us how to fast. There are some amazing stories in the Old Testament that reveal to us the power of fasting as we afflict our souls before God. The prophet Joel came to the nation of Israel during a time when the curse of the Law had devastated the land. The first thing that Joel did was to call a fast and a holy assembly (Matthew 1:14) and God promised to restore the land if they would repent and serve Him. The prophet Isaiah explained the true meaning of the fast to a people stricken with sickness and poverty (Isaiah 58). 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. Matthew 6:17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; Matthew 6:18 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.

Matthew 6:19-7

Perseverance Amidst Worldliness - After Jesus calls the true children of God out in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) and tells them their work (Matthew 5:13-16), and after He delivers to them the meaning of the Ten Commandments (Matthew 5:17-48), and after He tells them how to sanctify themselves for divine service through almsgiving, prayer and fasting (Matthew 6:1-18), He now tells them how to perseverance amidst worldliness so that they will be able to find their place of rest with God. He will expound upon this topic again in His third discourse consisting of parables of man’s reactions to Gospel (Matthew 13:1-52). Jesus talks about seeking God first, judging one another, and giving and receiving. Outline – Here is a proposed outline:

1. Seeking God First (The Heart) — Matthew 6:19-342. Judging One Another (The Mind) — Matthew 7:1-63. Giving and Receiving (The Body) — Matthew 7:7-12