Matthew 6

Matthew 6 is part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, where He teaches about practical righteousness, addressing motives behind religious acts, attitudes toward wealth, and dependence on God. Jesus emphasizes sincerity, cautioning against performing acts of devotion for human praise, and He encourages His followers to seek God’s kingdom first, trusting that God will provide for their needs.

Matthew 6:1-4 (NKJV)
1 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise, you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, 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. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.”

Jesus teaches about the importance of giving with sincerity and humility. He warns against performing acts of charity to gain the praise of others, saying, “When you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” This vivid metaphor suggests that the “left hand” represents a self-centered motive seeking recognition or reward, while the “right hand” symbolizes a pure, God-focused motive that desires only to please God. Jesus calls us to give in secret, where our actions are not driven by the desire for approval but by a genuine love for others and a devotion to God. This teaching emphasizes that true generosity flows from a heart that seeks to honor God alone, without concern for human acknowledgment.

Matthew 6:5-8 (NKJV)
5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
8 Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”

Jesus addresses the importance of private prayer, condemning the practice of praying for show. True prayer is sincere and private, reflecting a genuine connection with God rather than an attempt to impress others. Jesus also advises against empty repetitions, encouraging heartfelt, simple prayers, as God already knows our needs.

Matthew 6:9-13 (NKJV)
9 “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
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 forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray, giving them what is commonly known as the Lord’s Prayer. He begins by addressing God as “Our Father in heaven,” emphasizing a personal and intimate relationship with God, yet acknowledging His holiness and sovereignty. Jesus then instructs His followers to pray for God's kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven, seeking alignment with divine purposes. He asks for daily provision, symbolizing trust in God’s care for our needs. The prayer also includes a request for forgiveness of sins, paired with the plea to forgive others, highlighting the importance of grace and reconciliation. Finally, it asks for guidance and protection from temptation and evil, recognizing our dependence on God’s strength to overcome challenges. This prayer encapsulates the values of humility, dependence, and forgiveness essential to a believer’s relationship with God.

Matthew 6:14-15 (NKJV)
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.”

Jesus emphasizes the necessity of forgiving others as a condition for receiving God’s forgiveness. Holding onto grudges hinders a believer’s relationship with God. Forgiveness reflects God’s own merciful nature and promotes peace in relationships, aligning believers with His heart.

Matthew 6:16-18 (NKJV)
16 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”

Jesus advises fasting discreetly, without seeking admiration from others. He urges believers to keep their fasting private, focusing on God rather than impressing others. By fasting in secret, believers demonstrate humility, and God, who sees their devotion, will bless them.

Matthew 6:19-21 (NKJV)
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;
20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Jesus teaches His followers to prioritize heavenly treasures over earthly ones. Earthly wealth is temporary and vulnerable to decay, theft, and destruction, but heavenly treasures—such as love, righteousness, and service to others—are eternal and cannot be taken away. These heavenly treasures reflect God's will and character, and they please God when we live according to His values. Loving others selflessly, living righteously, and serving others for God's glory are actions that invest in what lasts forever. Jesus emphasizes that where our treasure is, our hearts will be, pointing out that our true focus and priorities are revealed through what we value most. By seeking these eternal treasures, we not only align our lives with God’s kingdom but also receive eternal rewards from Him, reflecting His grace and faithfulness. Ultimately, this passage encourages believers to live in a way that honors God, knowing that He will reward them with something lasting and eternal.

Matthew 6:22-23 (NKJV)
22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.
23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”

Jesus uses the eye as a metaphor for focus. A clear eye symbolizes a mind set on God’s purposes, bringing light to the whole person. In contrast, a “bad” eye represents misaligned priorities, filling a person with spiritual darkness, which impacts their overall life direction.

Matthew 6:24 (NKJV)
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 mammon.”

Here, Jesus emphasizes the incompatibility of serving both God and wealth. Divided loyalties lead to conflict and compromise. Jesus urges His followers to choose God as their ultimate priority, trusting Him over material pursuits.

Matthew 6:25-34 (NKJV)
25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
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?
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 and 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 today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Jesus instructs His followers not to be anxious about material needs, as God, who provides for even the birds and flowers, will surely care for them. He encourages them to seek God’s kingdom and righteousness first, trusting that their needs will be met. This passage emphasizes faith in God’s provision and the futility of worry.