Matthew 6

Notes for BSF

GLORIFY GOD, NOT OURSELVES (Mathew 6:1-4)

"Do not be like the hypocrites," Jesus continuously reminds us throughout this passage.

We do things because of our HEART. The hypocrites SAY how great they are because of all the things they do – but they do all those things because they want to appear greater than others. That is, although the original intent of the rituals was to get closer to God, yet through the hypocrites manipulation, those rituals had become means for them to show off their religiosity. They carried out these rituals to glorify themselves as opposed to drawing closer to God. This is why Jesus told us to not be like the hypocrites. Here, Jesus taught us to do all things not to “show off” how great we are but to do all things with the heart of God. We pray because we continue to build our personal relationship with God. We give because God first gave us everything -- and we are now merely re-gifting what God has given us.

Does Jesus know us?

Matthew 6:4, NKJV
Your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

As Jesus warns us, there were, are, and will be people who claim they know Jesus, who perform miracles in the name of Jesus -- yet, Jesus will separate His true disciples from the hypocrites and false teachers, saying, "I never knew you" (Matthew 7:23).

Jesus knows our hearts. If our heart is not with God, it doesn't matter what we say or what we do. Even if we donate everything we have to charity, if we do so with the wrong heart, we will not enter the Kingdom of God. It is never about we do or say; it is always about dying to our sins (including our pride to glorify ourselves) and being born again in the spirit of God.

Those who belong to God, we will receive our rewards at the Bema Seat Judgement of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10). Those who do not belong to God will face the Great White Throne Judgment.


THY KINGDOM COME (Matthew 6:5-18)

Pray to draw close to God
Do not pray to show off to people how religious we are. Pray in private because it’s all about the heart, it’s all about our personal relationship with God.

Along the same line, mean what we say when we are praying. Do not just regurgitate memorized phrases. Mean everything we say -- We are talking to God! Spill our heart out to Him. Spend that time in His presence!

Jesus teaches us how to pray
Many memorize Matthew 6:9-13 as a model prayer. While this is good, I think it's more important to understand the essence of this prayer. After all, if we are only regurgitating the words, we fall into what Jesus has warned us against, "Do not use vain repetitions as the heathens do" (Matthew 6:7).

For example, note the order in which Jesus prayed: Glorify God; seek His will; pray for physical and spiritual sustenance; repent and seek forgiveness; pray for strength to battle against temptations.

Every one of the elements found in this model prayer can guide us in forming our own prayers as we approach God.

Fast to draw close to God
Fasting is an advanced level of praying, in a way. It is not something to just do on a whim, because if not done right, it can be physically harmful. However, when done right, it is a very powerful way to draw close to God -- In fact, many pastors, when seeking major breakthroughs in seeking directions from God, will fast and pray. The idea of fasting is to remove ourselves from our fleshly needs and to depend completely on God fulfilling us. When we are completely in the presence of God, not worrying about worldly concerns, we are given greater visions (Daniel 10).


SEEK ETERNAL TREASURES (Matthew 6:19-34)

Cf. Psalm 119:72; Luke 12:15-21; 1 Corinthians 2:9; 2 Corinthians 4:17-18; Philippians 3:8; 1 Peter 1:4-5

This is a pretty straightforward advice: What would you rather work for? Things that can be lost overnight, or things that last forever? Money, houses, cars, boats, etc. have no eternal value. Any one of these things can be lost due to natural catastrophes, for example. Even social status, our positions on the corporate ladder -- none of that is secure. We can spend our lifetime building this and see it dissipate in front of us because someone back-stabbed us, or we simply get left behind due to corporate goal changes. Knowing this, we have to ask ourselves, why do we bother?

Jesus has offered us eternity with Him. Our salvation in Him is eternal. Our kingship and priesthood with Him is eternal. Our inheritance with Jesus is eternal. And the best news of all, Jesus has already done all that is required for us to receive all this, and no one -- not even Satan -- can take that away (John 10:28).

No one can serve two masters (Matthew 6:24)
A few pastors have stressed that we are always a slave to someone or something. Think about it. We are either a slave to making more and more money, or working toward a bigger home, or getting that promotion, etc. This goes back to the question of what should we seek? Things that are temporal or eternal? The two are polar opposites -- thus, if we run after the temporal, we cannot obtain the eternal. And if we go after the eternal, what would we want with the temporal? This is why Jesus said we cannot serve two masters. We cannot possibly remain loyal to both, especially when the two are complete opposites.

When we put, for example, riches ahead of God, that reveals that in our heart, we care more about riches than doing God’s will. That tells us that we worry more about riches than doing what is right in God’s eyes. Substitute "riches" with drugs, sex, sports... whatever has us addicted, and the concept remains the same. Any time we worry about the materialistic world, we ought to reflect and ask ourselves, “Why am I so reluctant to let go of this idol? Why would I put this ahead of God?” God provides. He created the world; he created us. Whatever idol we worship ahead of God, we should really ask ourselves, “Can this thing provide and protect to the extent that God does?” What do we live for? What do we work for? Money? Power? Pride? Why? Why do we work so hard just to accumulate these things? What can they do for us that can possibly be greater than that of God? As Paul stresses in many of his letters, don’t be fools. Store up what matters. Store up our eternal reward with Christ in Heaven.

Focus on God -- the rest will fall into place

Matthew 6:25
Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

Jesus told us not to worry about life, what we will eat or drink, our physical body.

Matthew 6:26
Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

Jesus tells us that God takes even the most care with birds and flowers, who do not produce. We are His children. Would not God take even greater care of us? If God provides for birds and flowers, wouldn't God provide even more for His children? Therefore, rather than worrying earthly things, stay focused on God and His will. When we live in His will, He will always provide. When we are walking His way, He will make sure we are well taken care of so that we can handle the challenges to come.