Matthew 6
CHAPTER 6
Jesus denounces hypocrisy
Take heed you do not do your good deeds before men, to be seen by them. Else you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. 2 When therefore you do alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Truly I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you do alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand does, 4 that your alms may be in secret, and your Father who sees in secret shall reward you.
5 And when you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, enter into your room and shut your door, pray to your Father who is unseen, and your Father who sees in secret shall reward you.
Jesus teaches how to pray
7 And in praying do not use vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do, for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8 Therefore, do not be like them! Even before you ask Him, your Father knows what things you need.
9 In this manner you should pray: Our Father who is in heaven, let Your Name be glorified. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
More about hypocrisy
16 Moreover when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. For they disfigure their faces, so that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so you will not be seen by men to fast, but by your Father who is unseen; and your Father, who sees in secret, shall reward you.
Jesus teaches about treasure in heaven
19 Do not store up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes, and where thieves cannot break in or steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Jesus teaches about light and darkness
22 The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is healthy, your whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
Jesus teaches about money and possessions
24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
25 Therefore I say to you: Do not be anxious for your life; what you shall eat, or what you shall drink. Nor for your body; what you shall wear. Is not the life more than the food, and the body more than the garment? 26 Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow, nor do they reap or gather crops into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of much more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 28 So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin! 29 Yet I say to you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is here today but tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not more surely care for you, O you of little faith! 31 Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, How shall we be clothed? 32 For the Gentiles clamour for all these things; even though your heavenly Father knows you have need of them all. 33 So seek first His kingdom, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Commentary
6:3 Left hand know- Don’t be conscious of your good works. Do them and forget them. Those accepted into God’s Kingdom will honestly not remember the times they fed the hungry (Mt. 25:37). 6:4 Shall reward- when Jesus returns to establish God’s Kingdom on earth. “I come quickly and my reward is with me” (Rev. 22:12).
6:10 On earth- We pray for the Kingdom of God to come on earth, i.e. for Jesus to return soon.
6:18 Not be seen- We must consciously try to conceal our good works so that other people do not notice them. When was the last time you did this?
6:24 Few would say they “hate” God. But if we love wealth [“mammon”], then in His eyes, we do.
6:26 Father feeds them- As 5:45, God is consciously in contact with His creation, and has some kind of relationship with the animals (Job 41:1-5).
