Matthew
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Matthew 6
Matthew 6
Commentary · verses 1-34
1Take heed that ye do not your righteousness before men, to be seen of them: else ye have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.
1Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
Commentary · verse 1
Notice, the "reward" Jesus spoke of could not be Salvation. If it was, then "giving in front of others" would cause you to lose your Salvation. When Jesus spoke of "reward," He was speaking of spiritual value/treasure, which we will refer to as Reward.
Revelation 20:12-15 stated there will be two judgments. One will be a Salvation Judgment and will be done according to Righteousness (grace) with one book: the Book of Life. The other judgment will be a Reward Judgment and will be done according to Justice with books. This chapter from Matthew dealt exclusively with the actions that impact the Reward Judgment. Notice the emphasis of Justice throughout this chapter.
Doctrines on this passage
2When therefore thou doest alms, sound not a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward.
2Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Commentary · verse 2
The first example Jesus gave to intentionally gain Reward was to give to the poor. Giving to the poor was a right WHAT. Jesus then explained the wrong HOW (in public) and wrong WHY (have glory from men). Jesus said the result was they get their Reward now. Notice, this was not a sin. It was the same as when Cain gave his offering to God in Genesis 4.
3But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 4that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee.
3But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
Commentary · verses 3-4
Notice, this was the same right WHAT: giving to the poor. However, Jesus gave the right HOW/WHY to give to the poor: do it in secret so you can be rewarded by God. This was the same as when Abel gave his offering to God in Genesis 4.
Doctrines on this passage
5And when ye pray, ye 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 of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward.
5And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Commentary · verse 5
The next example Jesus gave to intentionally gain Reward was prayer. Right WHAT: pray. Wrong HOW and wrong WHY: in public to be seen of men.
6But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thine inner chamber, and having shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee.
6But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
Commentary · verse 6
Jesus gave the same right WHAT (pray) with a right HOW/WHY: in secret to be rewarded by God. Notice, entering the inner chamber and shutting the door was analogous to being buried: being out of sight. Jesus' burial allowed us to gain Reward.
Doctrines on this passage
7And in praying use not vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8Be not therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
9After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.
11Give us this day our daily bread.
12And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13And bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
7But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
9After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11Give us this day our daily bread.
12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Commentary · verses 7-13
Verses 9-13 recorded what was known as "The Lord's Prayer." God's Will happened through believers. If God could make His Will happen without us, Jesus would not have said to pray for His "will be done." Notice the usage of pronouns in this prayer: "us, we." This seemed to be a corporate prayer or a prayer that believers ought to be in agreement about. A shorter version of this prayer was presented in Luke 11:2-4.
Doctrines on this passage
14For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
16Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen of men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward.
14For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
16Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Commentary · verses 14-16
The final example Jesus gave to intentionally gain Reward in this chapter was fasting. Again, He gave a wrong HOW/WHY: with sad countenance so they could be seen of men.
Doctrines on this passage
17But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head, and wash thy face; 18that thou be not seen of men to fast, but of thy Father who is in secret: and thy Father, who seeth in secret, shall recompense thee.
17But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
18That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
Commentary · verses 17-18
Jesus stated the same right WHAT (fasting) with a right HOW/WHY: in secret to be rewarded by God. Fasting was stated last because it included the first two examples: alms and prayer. When a person fasts, they ought to give up something (alms) and pray for the answer they want from God every time they think of what they gave up.
Commentary · verse 18
The key to gaining Reward is to do these things for God and not for man. Doing these things so that no man can see you ensures that you are not doing these things for man. Since God is Just, when you do these things the right way (HOW) and for the right reason (WHY), God has to Reward you. If He did not, God would not be Just.
19Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal: 20but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21for where thy treasure is, there will thy heart be also.
19Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Commentary · verses 19-21
We can have Reward here or in heaven. Jesus said that if we have our Reward here it will be corrupted and could be stolen but if we have our Reward in heaven our Reward will be eternal. Where we store our treasure is where our heart is. Jesus encouraged us to gain Reward! People who tell you Reward is not important or that you shouldn't do things to gain reward for yourself are contradicting the words of Jesus.
Doctrines on this passage
22The lamp of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
23But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is the darkness!
24No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
22The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
23But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
24No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Commentary · verses 22-24
Jesus used the principle of non-contradiction to show that you cannot serve God and mammon (money). We ought to serve God and mammon ought to serve us.
Doctrines on this passage
25Therefore I say unto you, Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than the food, and the body than the raiment?
25Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Commentary · verse 25
Jesus was saying to focus on the spiritual and not on appearance/physical.
26Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value than they?
27And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit unto the measure of his life?
28And why are ye anxious concerning raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30But if God doth so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31Be not therefore anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32For after all these things do the Gentiles seek; for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
26Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
Commentary · verses 26-32
Jesus was very specific about not focusing on your clothing. What does this say about the fashion industry?
33But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Commentary · verse 33
God knows what each of us needs so we ought to seek first the Kingdom of God (the First Command) and God will add what we need to us. Jesus used the principle of causality to show that seeking God first (cause) will lead to us getting what we need (effect). The Kingdom of God is the eternal kingdom.
34Be not therefore anxious for the morrow: for the morrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
34Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Commentary · verse 34
This chapter was completely focused on Reward. Jesus encouraged us to get Reward. However, at the end of the chapter, Jesus emphasized the first step was to focus on God. Chapter 7 will conclude the "Sermon on the Mount."
Matthew 4-6 covered Jesus' first act of His Ministry (being tempted of the devil) and the beginning of His teaching according to principles.
The "Sermon on the Mount" continued. In this chapter, Jesus got more specific as to how to intentionally gain Reward.