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From seen to unseen
As we enter into chapter 6 we have a shift that happens.
From moral righteousness of the kingdom dweller that is blessed, to religious (or piety) that is demanded of the kingdom dweller that is to be done privately.
Jesus is still dealing with His thesis (Mt5:20) so see how this develops in our passage today.
Righteous instructions for kingdom dwellers regarding
Giving (Mt6:1-4)
Praying (Mt6:5-15)
Fasting (Mt6:16-18)
Righteous instructions for giving
Giving is good, right?
Yes, of course it is, but giving for the right reason and the right heart is vital if our righteousness is to surpass that of the scribes and the Pharisees.
What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?
I think it is important that we look at a phrase used (v.1) before going further.
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before men . .
.”
Jesus had previously said to let our works (righteousness) be seen by men, now He seems to be contradicting it (Mt5:16; Mt6:1)?
No, remember Jesus is speaking to the spirit of the law, he is expounding.
What is the intent here in (5:16)?
Now look at (6:1)
What is the intent of (6:1)?
A.B. Bruce says.
“Show when tempted to hide and hide when tempted to show.”
Or John Stott comments on this too.
“Our good works must be public so our light shines, our religious devotions must be in secret lets we boast about them.”
Jesus is not condemning the practices of giving, praying, fasting, he is cautioning the disciples to be sure their hearts, their motives are right.
While the Pharisees did these things to be seen by men (v.1, 2, 5, 16) they were trying to gain favor with God by doing it and men by being seen.
No amount of giving can earn, buy your salvation, for it is a gift by God (Eph2:8-9)
Giving with wrong motive robs ourselves of the blessings and reward and robs God of the glory He deserves.
Giving with right motive, to serve God in love, then we do it privately and the result is you grow spiritually, God is glorified, someone else is helped.
Don’t gloat about your giving (Act5:1-11) do it for God’s glory (Acr4:34-37).
Now there was some giving that was God pleasing that was done publically and you can look it up on your own.
The gift from Barnabas (Act4:34-37) and that can be contrasted with the wrong giving of Ananias and Sapphira (Act5:1-11) that was dead wrong.
Motive and manner matter!
Righteous instructions for praying
Jesus gives some good instructions to kingdom dwellers.
Righteous instructions so to surpass that of the scribes and the Pharisees (Mt5:20).
What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?
Notice the pronouns in (vv.9, 11, 12, 13) all plural, so when we pray in this way (not these exact words) we are joining with the world wide church (body of believers) for these things for the church as a whole.
As many refer to this as the “Lord’s Prayer” it is really the Lord giving a type of prayer to the apostles who asked (you can look at Lk11:1)
(expand on this for a minute; prayer was common; Rabbi’s would teach disciples certain prayers, types of prayers)
But again motive and manner matter so lets look at this passage more now.
We are not focusing on the content of the prayer, but the instructions that Jesus is giving to kingdom dwellers regarding surpassing righteousness.
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Pray in secret before pray in public (v.6)
Public prayer is good, (1Tim2:1-3; Jn6:11; Jn11:41-42)
But it is wrong to pray in public if it is not your habit of praying in private first.
Just follow Jesus example (Mk1:35)
Prayer must be from heart, must be sincere (vv.7-8)
Repetition in prayer itself is not bad, Jesus and Paul both did (Mt26:36-46; 2Cor12:7-8)
It is battling when it is not done with a sincere heart with a desire for God’s will to be done.
Prayer must be for God’s will to be done (vv.9-13)
The purpose of prayer has to be to glorify God and His name and to seek for His will to be done.
God knows our needs even before we ask (Mt6:8) but it is us being prepared for God’s answer and proper use of it.
Prayer as asking for God to guide us so not to step outside of His will
Prayer must have a forgiving spirit towards others (vv.14-15)
This really an add on to the end of the righteous instructions regarding prayer.
Maybe consider it an appendix of it.
Jesus is expanding on what He said (v.12)
Jesus is not teaching that we earn God’s forgiveness by forgiving others, but that forgiving others will be a part of the kingdom dwellers character because they have been forgiven.
Prayer is part of our sonship and should be a heartfelt matter (Rom8:15-16)
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Pray in secret before pray in public (v.6)
Public prayer is good, (1Tim2:1-3; Jn6:11; Jn11:41-42)
Praying over food, blessings of food
Or in time of need or direction
But it is wrong to pray in public if it is not your habit of praying in private first.
Just follow Jesus example (Mk1:35)
Jesus told them that when they pray; meaning they already had a habit of prayer
Prayer must be from heart, must be sincere (vv.7-8)
Repetition in prayer itself is not bad, Jesus and Paul both did (Mt26:36-46; 2Cor12:7-8)
Jesus in the garden prayed 3 times for this cup to be taken from Him
Paul prayed for thorn to be taken, but here I will give you that passage
Reciting memorized prayers, including the Lord’s prayer, can be vain repetition when not done with the right heart.
Even the gentiles did that.
It is vain repetition when it is not done with a sincere heart with a desire for God’s will to be done.
Prayer must be for God’s will to be done (vv.9-13)
Jesus gave the prayer to be done in vain repetition but actually to prevent it by giving a pattern of prayer not a substitute.
The purpose of prayer has to be to glorify God and His name and to seek for His will to be done.
Robert Law said this
“Prayer is a mighty instrument, no for getting man’s will done in heaven, but in getting Heavens will done on earth.”
If we understand we are blessed, how we were blessed and why we are blessed then asking for the Lord’s will to be done should be second nature.
We have no right to ask for anything that would not be character or the nature of God that would dishonor His name, or disturbing His will being done on earth.
God knows our needs even before we ask (Mt6:8) but it is us being prepared for God’s answer and proper use of it.
Exampled by provision, that we would use God’s provision properly
Exampled by knowing God does not tempt us (Jam1:13-17); but will show us a way out of our temptations (1Cor10:13)
Prayer as asking for God to guide us so not to step outside of His will
Prayer must have a forgiving spirit towards others (vv.14-15)
This really an add on to the end of the righteous instructions regarding prayer.
Maybe consider it an appendix of it.
Jesus is expanding on what He said (v.12)
So now comes the appendix and it has been awhile so here are the verses again.
You can find that Jesus teaches, reminds on this principle again later (Mk11:19-26) you can just note that down in your notes for future reference.
Jesus is not teaching that we earn God’s forgiveness by forgiving others, but that forgiving others will be a part of the kingdom dwellers character because they have been forgiven.
May we remember that the prayer pattern given is family affair, the family of God so, if we harbor unforgiveness towards someone it impacts the family.
So that is why (v.12) is there and is expanded in (vv.14-15)
Prayer is part of our sonship and should be a heartfelt matter (Rom8:15-16)
While there are many other passages regarding prayer today is just looking at some kingdom instructions for kingdom dwellers who know that they have, the blessings they have.
This leads us to the third thing Jesus is giving instructions on.
Kingdom instructions on fasting
Fasting the principle the practice and the potential problem
What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?
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Jewish fasting requirement (Lev23:27)
Pharisees practice (Lk18:12) Lk21:34)
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