Primary Text: Matthew 6:1-18
Memory Verse: “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.” Matthew 6:9-12
Introduction:
Matthew 6 focuses on what a Christian does, or how he acts, because of who he now is in Christ, and contains two major sections: (1) the Christian and his spiritual or religious life, and (2) the Christian and his non-spiritual or mundane life. The current lesson focuses on the first aspect, contained in Matthew 6:1-18. Verse one contains not a mistranslation in the Authorized King James version, but an English word choice that is somewhat misleading. The Greek word for alms, “eleemosune” (compassionateness, or alms). is a loose synonym for the Hebrew, “tsidekeh” (righteousness, or acts of righteousness, such as “alms-giving”), of which Jesus Christ would have spoken the Syriac form of the word, “zidkatha.” The common people of Jesus’ time would have understood “zidkatha” as the more limited “alms-giving,” when Jesus actually meant all acts of righteousness. Therefore, Matthew 6:1 is actually a powerful introductory verse for the first half of the chapter, “Take heed that ye do not your alms [righteousness] before men, to be seen of them” (KJV). He then taught about giving alms, our intimate contact with God by prayer, and mortifying the flesh by fasting.
Is there a contradiction in Matthew 6:1 to what Jesus taught in Matthew 5:13-16? How can we be the salt of the earth and the light of the world if we don’t openly demonstrate our righteousness? It is a delicate balance. We are to live before men so that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven, but never to draw attention to ourselves. People often go to extremes, either secluding themselves from the world, or living so ostentatiously that everyone is forced to notice them. In motive, it really comes down to whether we live to please God or to please ourselves and others. Have we turned the righteous life into a perversion of selfish gain? We must consider if we’re more motivated by what God can give us than in what we can give God. Live the righteous life.
Studying the Word
Lesson Study
- Explain the meaning of not letting the left hand know what the right hand is doing in the giving of alms. Matthew 6:1-4
- What is the dynamic importance of discreet prayer? Matthew 6:5-6
- Why did Jesus teach against praying with vain repetitions? Matthew 6:7-8
- What is important about the way Jesus opened His model prayer? Matthew 6:9
- Why should we ask for God’s kingdom to come and His will to be done? Matthew 6:10
- Describe the brief but comprehensive manner and order in which Jesus showed a man should voice his own petitions. Matthew 6:11-13a
- What depth of emotion can be felt in the closing capstone of this prayer? Matthew 6:13b
- For what essential reasons must we forgive others their trespasses? Matthew 6:14-15
- Discuss the downfalls of truly spiritual, beneficial fasting. Matthew 6:16-18