Matthew Chapter 6 - Helpful Notes

As we come to chapter 6, what we have is actually a continuation of the Sermon on the Mount. Again I am going to divide this chapter into a number of different sub-sections.

• The Praise of men: 1-6.
• The Lord’s Prayer: 9-15.
• Fasting: 16-18.
• A Commandment of Christ: 19-21.
• Duplicity in Vision and Service: 22-24.
• Instructions for Living: 25-34.

The Praise of Men: 1-6

We could characterize the Scribes and the Pharisees with many terms; Jesus often applies the word “Hypocrites” to them. But I think the best way to understand verses 1-6, is in the light of John 12:43, “For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” Everything they did was for show, was for effect. They are betrayed by their own words. Look at John 18:11-12 “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.” Pretty impressive! He’s not lying; does your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees? He put on a good show! But what about inside? What were the motives and intents of his heart? Matthew 21: 46 explains the hatred they had for Jesus, but “But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.” They feared the people, that is, they feared being unpopular with the people. Any Preacher who seeks the praise of men, rather than the praise of God, is going to end up weak, worldly and spiritually washed up! God forbid that I should start to fear the opinions of men! It’s God I want to please.

Even the rulers of the synagogues feared the people, more than they feared God. John 12: 42-43 says, “Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:  For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”

You can tell those that fear men, rather than God. It’s always about giving a favourable impression. The Pharisees actively courted the favour of the people, this is why they were so dismayed when “the common people heard Him gladly.” They demonstrated their pride and conceit in the following actions:

• In the giving of alms: 3-4
• In prayer: 5-6
• In their vain repetitions: 7

If our prayers do not come from the heart, then truly they are vain; they are empty. You can have what you think is a good phrase; you repeat it again and again. You pray for a long time, as a way of showing off; Matthew 23:14 says, the Scribes and Pharisees “for a pretence make long prayer.” It’s all for show, all to be seen. Jesus says, you must be different. Your prayer is about an intimate relationship with God. It is about a hidden communion. It is founded, not on pride, but on humility.  Andrew Murray said, “It is to have a blessed home in the Lord, where I can go in and shut the door, and kneel to my Father in secret, and am at peace as in a deep sea of calmness, when all around and above is trouble.”  See that is a religion that unconverted people do not understand. What’s the payback? What’s the reward? Knowing God is the greatest reward any man can experience.

 

 

The Lord’s Prayer: 9-15

In verse 9, Jesus teaches His disciples how they should pray; and whilst this is such a familiar prayer to many of us, it is worth stopping here and looking at these verses:

• Our Father which art in heaven: “our” that is corporate. God doesn’t call Christians to live out their salvation in isolation, but to actively be part of a local expression of His body, the church. He is our “Father,” therefore we have become His children.
• His name is hallowed. It is to be regarded with reverence and as sacred and holy. It is not to be used as an expletive, or used disrespectfully, or lightly.
• Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven: We are to pray for the coming of God’s kingdom. For His will to be done perfectly, as it is in heaven. Do you allow God to do His will, to have His way perfectly in your life? If the answer is no, then that must change, or you will be guilty of hypocrisy. Why pray for others to do His will, if you are not prepared to do it?
• Give us our daily bread: feed us physically and spiritually.
• Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
• Lead us not into temptation: Don’t allow us to be overcome by temptation. The promise of the Bible is “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13) I like that promise!
• For Thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, for ever Amen: The Kingdom belongs to God, the power is all of God and the glory belongs to no one else but God. Amen…so it is.

Fasting: 16-18

Let’s just read these verses (16-18) Hypocrite in the Greek, literally means an actor. One who wears a mask, like in the Ancient Greek tragedies. When the Pharisees put ashes on their faces, a bit like a mask, were they really portraying what was inside, or was it just an act? Nehemiah 1:4 describes a true fast, “And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.” See the close relation between mourning for sins, weeping and fasting. Again, in Ezra 8:23 “So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was entreated of us.” Fasting is often linked with a time of mourning and seeking God. Jesus says in Luke 5;35, of His disciples, “the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.” And here in Matthew 6, “when thou fast…” It seems that Jesus is saying, His disciples, His followers WILL fast. So why do most Christians, here in the West NOT fast; or at least fast very rarely? Because we like our comforts, yes? Because we are willing to make sacrifices, but only of those things we don’t really need; and maybe, because we don’t truly mourn over our sins. Yes, they are regrettable, but have we “sat down and wept, and mourned…”have we “fasted and besought our God?” Maybe some have…but many say, “ I’m under grace, not under the law!” “It’s been forgiven, past, present and future!” And so their confused view of theology can bring them into a realm where they sail very close to the heresy of Antinomianism. They believe, in effect, that grace makes them a law unto themselves. Go to Jude 1:3-4. (Read) EXP

A Commandment of Christ: 19-21

How amazing it is, that many Christians think that being the recipients of God’s grace means that they are not obliged to obey Christ’s commandments. They do not even seem to understand that Christ has commandments; well here is one! Verse 19-20 (Read) John Wesley comments, “But how do the Christians observe what they profess to receive as a command of the most high God? Not at all! Not in any degree; no more than if no such command had ever been given to man. Even the good Christians, as they are accounted by others as well as themselves, pay no manner of regard thereto. It might as well be still hid in its original Greek for any notice they take of it.” (Explanatory Notes on the New Testament.) There are many Christians that are very careful not to lay up treasure dishonestly; they are faithful in paying their taxes, they will not increase their wealth through unlawful, or even faintly questionable means. But that is not the commandment as far as I can see. Now Christ is not advocating that we wander about in rags, penniless and begging, like the so called Holy Men, in India. In 2 Thessalonians 3:10 it says, “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” Neither is Jesus denying you the right to have a house, or take care of your children. We are to pay off debts and to owe no man anything; But if you see another in need and you have the means to meet that need, then as 1 John 3:17 says, “how dwelleth the love of God in (you)”? As a brother used to say, “More than you need is greed!”

 

Duplicity in Vision and Service: 22-24

Duplicity definition: “deceitfulness in speech or conduct, as by speaking or acting in two different ways to different people concerning the same matter.”

Jesus talks about the importance of:

1. Keeping a single eye (not a good eye, as some translations have it!)
2. Serving only one Master.

What have these  issues to do with duplicity? The Christian that has one eye on Christ and one eye on the world, is attempting to court the affections of both; and the Christian that serves his flesh and sometimes serves Christ, denies any wrongdoing, or if he accepts it as wrongdoing, there is self-justification…I’m no worse than anybody else, I try my best, that’s salvation by works, and so on, and so on. He is being duplicitous both with Christ and with his own conscience.

Notice: Having an eye that is not single, that is an eye that is not focussed on Jesus, is not having two eyes, or double vision, but an eye that is, quote, “evil.” The result will be that your body will be “full of darkness.” What are you focussing on in your life? What is the vision that is drawing you after it?

 

Instructions for Living: 25-34

In this last section, we see a call from Jesus to abandon worldly anxiety and the things that our soul most naturally cares about. In fact, we have those immortal words, “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life…”

Christ gives examples, or reasons why the Christian should have total trust in his maker. He cites:

• The “fowls of the air,” the birds whom God feeds. (verse 26)
• The “lilies of the field,” whom God clothes. (verse 28-30)

He effectively is saying, so what are you worried about? “o ye of little faith.” (verse 30).

Is this why you are seeking the praise of men? Because you’re afraid of being rejected and having no one to be there to help you in a time of need. Is this why you are laying up treasures in heaven, because you have so little faith? Is this why you have one foot in the world and one in the church; are you hedging your bets, in case God doesn’t quite come through for you?

I think this chapter contains some of the most challenging teaching Jesus ever preached!

He says, “after all these things do the gentiles seek.” (verse 32) This is what the unsaved, those that are lost, those that know nothing of the reality of God, do! Why are you borrowing, as Wesley puts it, “the anxieties and distresses” of tomorrow? Care about tomorrow when it comes.

Make your eye single, trust in God to take care of you and your family. Are you laying up treasure, “just-in-case?” Ecclesiastes 7:12 says, “For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.” Wisdom, beats riches; therefore “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Copyright © Paul Jennings.