Welcome to this study of Matthew's Gospel, a collaborative effort between Mary Barmore and Alice C. Linsley.
For 9 months in 1997 Mary was too sick to stray far from her bed. During that year, she read the New Testament and took notes on each of the books. We use Mary's notes for this study and Alice contributes notes of historical and anthropological relevance.
Before you begin, read Matthew chapter 6. When you have finished reading, answer the 10 questions. Check your answers at the bottom.
Introduction
Matthew chapter 6 continues Jesus' discourse on the mountain. He speaks about hypocrisy, prayer, fasting, forgiveness, money, undivided loyalty, and anxiety. Much of the chapter is about anxiety (verses 25-34), a malady suffered by all humanity.Matthew, Chapter 6
Answers these questions. Check your answers below.
1. What public displays of piety did Jesus criticize?
2. How are Jesus' followers to pray?
3. The Lord's Prayer is a template for our prayers. What ideal is described in the prayer?
4. What does the Lord's Prayer teach about forgiveness?
5, How are Jesus' followers to fast?
6. What attitude should a Christian have toward money and the accumulation of wealth?
7. What should the Christian avoid in order to guard the eyes and soul from darkness?
8. Why are Christians not to be anxious about our life and basic needs?
9. What should be the foremost concern of every Christian?
10. What benefits come from living one day at a time?
Answers
1. Jesus was critical of displays of piety done in public to gain the praise of men. Those included praying, fasting, and giving alms. The Jews regarded these as righteous actions, but Jesus recognized that such public displays often were a sign of hypocrisy. The good deeds of a Christian should be done to please our Heavenly Father and without show.
2. Jesus' followers are not to make a show of praying. They are to pray quietly in private, and their prayers are to be simple because our Heavenly Father knows us better than we know ourselves and promises to satisfy all our needs. The Apostle Paul wrote, "do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God" (Phil. 4:6).
3. Each element of the Lord's Prayer expresses the ideal of God's perfect will for us while here on earth. In the Ancient World, the Hebrew priests studied the heavens because they believed that the patterns seen there were to be followed on earth.
4. Forgiveness is conditional. God forgives our sins to the same degree that we forgive the sins of others. Forgiving others aligns our hearts with God's and is a condition for our prayers to be heard. Failure to forgive breeds bitterness which hinders communion with God. That is why Jesus said, "Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering" (Matt 5:23-24).
5. Jesus' followers should fast in such a manner that is not obvious. We are to appear as normal, not making a show of our fasts. (For more on fasting as a Christian, see this: The Place of Fasting in the Christian Life - C.S. Lewis Institute.)
6. The Christian regards all things as belonging to God. Therefore, we freely return to God what we can. Some do this by tithing 10% of one's income to provide for the church and other ministries such as missions and outreach to the poor. The love of money leads to a divided loyalty. As Jesus explains, "No one can serve two masters... You cannot serve God and mammon" (Matt. 6: 24). Mammon comes from the Aramaic word māmōnā, which means "riches" or "wealth".
7. The Christian who seeks to guard against darkness will avoid seeing acts of depravity, pornography, and things inspired by Satan. Paul explained that he was rescued from those who sought to kill him so that he could be sent to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Jesus Christ (Acts, chapter 26).
8. Jesus said that anxiety about our life, food, drink and clothing is a sign of little faith. We are reminded that God provides for all living things. Jesus calls attention to God's provision of food for the birds. He said, "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." This daily reminder can drive away anxiety: "My Heavenly Father knows my needs and promises to provide them."
9. The foremost concern of every Christian should be God's Kingdom, or what Matthew calls "the Kingdom of Heaven". This was perfectly revealed in Jesus, the Son of God, who overcame sin and death and offers eternal life to all who receive Him by faith.
10. Living one day at a time minimizes anxiety about the future, improves concentration on present tasks, and allows one to acknowledge God's daily provisions. We are to pray "Give us this day our daily bread" (Matt. 6:11) in confidence that God provides our needs on a daily basis. Instead of worrying about those needs, we are to seek God's kingdom and righteousness.
Matthew Chapter 11: The Messiah Brings Relief
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