Matthew chapter 6
NEW TESTAMENT
Matthew chapter 6
Scripture:
Today I will summarize Matthew chapter 6 where Jesus taught the crowds and the disciples about prayer, fasting, giving to the poor, and why they should not worry about anything. Jesus continued teaching the people. He said when you pray don’t be a hypocrite. Don’t stand proudly and announce your prayers in the synagogues and on the street corners. Whoever does this will get their rewards in the full. When you pray you should go into your room and shut the door and pray. Pray to your father in secret and he will see you and he will listen. When you pray don’t repeat the same things over and over. The father knows what you need even before you ask him. Pray something like this differently each time and always praise him and give him thanks in all situations. Our father is in heaven. May your name be holy and honored. May your kingdom come. May your will be done on earth and as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need. Forgive us the wrongs we have done as we forgive the wrongs that others have done to us. Do not bring us to hard testing. But keep us safe from the evil one. For the kingdom and the power and the glory are yours now and forever Amen. Jesus taught if you don’t forgive other people who have sinned against you. You can be sure that the father in heaven will not forgive you your sin against him. When you do good only to be noticed by the people you will get no reward from the father in heaven. When you give to poor people do so in secret as much as possible. Don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Then the father will reward you in due time. The same thing applies when you fast. When you go without food for some time, Don’t follow what the hypocrites do. They act gloomy and don’t bathe. They want to be noticed by people. They will get no reward from the father in heaven. When you fast make it appear that you are not fasting. Do your fasting in secret and you will receive great rewards from heaven. Remember don’t store up treasures on earth where moths and rust can corrode and thieve can steal. Store up your treasures in heaven where God himself protects your treasures. God himself is your treasure. Your heart will be where your treasure is. You cannot serve both God and Money. Jesus taught some are very worried about the future and are fearful. You don’t know where your food will come from or where you find enough clothing for the winter. I tell you don’t worry about any of those things. Life is much more than food and clothing. The father feeds and clothes the birds of the air and you are worth more than they are. Look how the lilies grow they’re so beautiful more beautiful than Solomon and all of his glory. It is God who clothes the wild grass -grass that is here today and gone tomorrow burnt up in the oven. The father will do much more for you. Don’t worry about food or drink or clothing. Wicked ones eagerly seek after these things. The father knows your needs and will give them to you only if you seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Don’t worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Observation:
The thing I think the lord wants us to understand after reading this chapter is that we should do good things for the poor, pray and fast in secret as much as possible because these things please God. We should use the prayer that Jesus taught us as a model of how to pray. God wants us to store our treasures in heaven instead of here on earth because our hearts will be with our treasures. The Lord wants us to know that we can only serve one of two masters. We will either serve God or either we will serve money. We cannot serve both. And the lord wants us to know that we don’t have to worry about anything if we seek first his kingdom and his righteousness because he is our provider and he will take care of us if we do. Do you perform good deeds so others can see you? You may want to change the motives of your heart. Do you worry about tomorrow? God told his children not to worry because he will take care of them. Are you one of God’s children you can be today if you are not. Repent for your sin and turn to the lord for salvation. Jesus humbled himself and died on the cross in place of you and me. And God raised Jesus from the dead. God said if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe that the father raised Jesus from the dead you will be saved.
Prayer:
Dear God.
I come before you to lay my panic and anxiety at your feet. When I am crushed by my fears and worries, remind me of your power and your grace. Fill me with your peace as I trust in you and you alone. I know I can’t beat this on my own, but I also know that I have you, Lord. You have already paid the ultimate price to carry my burdens. For this, I thank you, Lord Amen.
