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Matthew 6 Teaching on Prayer, Fasting, and Treasures

1 Giving to the Needy
“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

5 Prayer
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.

8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9 “This, then, is how you should 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 today our daily bread.

12 Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’

14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

16 Fasting
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,

18 so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

19 Treasures in Heaven
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.

23 But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

25 Do Not Worry
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?

26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.

29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’

32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

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Analysis of Matthew Chapter 6

Matthew Chapter 6 is an essential part of the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus addresses his disciples and the gathered crowd, providing profound instructions and guidelines on how to live a life pleasing to God. The chapter covers vital topics such as charity, prayer, fasting, material possessions, and anxiety. Each section presents a unique perspective on Christian virtues and the attitude believers should embrace.

Charity (Verses 1-4)

In verses 1-4, Jesus discusses the significance of performing acts of charity and emphasizes the attitude with which these acts should be conducted. He warns against practicing righteousness publicly to gain human applause:

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:1, ESV)

Jesus instructs his followers to give to those in need quietly and discreetly. True charity, according to Christ, should come from a place of compassion and love and not from a desire for recognition and praise from others. This teaching breaks the societal norms that equate public recognition with virtue. By advocating for humility in giving, Jesus redirects the motivation towards internal, spiritual satisfaction rather than external approval.

The notion of “not letting the left hand know what the right hand is doing” (Matthew 6:3) symbolizes the secret and unobtrusive nature in which charity should be done. This ensures that the act remains pure and untainted by pride or vanity. By promoting secret charity, Jesus highlights the importance of purity of heart and intent.

Prayer (Verses 5-15)

In the segment on prayer (verses 5-15), Jesus again cautions against hypocrisy. He instructs his followers to avoid praying conspicuously in public merely to be seen and admired:

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.” (Matthew 6:5, ESV)

Instead, Jesus encourages private prayer, symbolizing a personal and intimate relationship with God. By praying in secret, a believer demonstrates genuine devotion and sincerity. This approach moves the focus from a public display of piety to a more authentic and humble communion with God.

Jesus goes further to provide a model for prayer, commonly known as “The Lord’s Prayer” (verses 9-13). This prayer serves as a template for how to approach God in prayer:

“Pray then like this:

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 also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil. (Matthew 6:9-13, ESV)

The Lord’s Prayer comprises several key petitions that cover praise, submission to God’s will, provision, forgiveness, and spiritual guidance. Each line of the prayer encapsulates core aspects of the Christian faith and relationship with God. The invocation “Our Father” signifies a familial relationship with God, highlighting intimacy and trust.

  • Praise and Reverence: “Hallowed be your name” invites believers to honor and revere God’s holy name.
  • Submission to God’s Will: “Your kingdom come, your will be done” reflects a desire for God’s rule and purposes to prevail universally.
  • Provision: “Give us this day our daily bread” acknowledges the dependency on God for daily needs.
  • Forgiveness: “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” implores mercy while emphasizing the necessity of forgiving others.
  • Guidance and Protection: “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” requests divine guidance away from sin and protection from harm.

The chapter underscores the conditional nature of receiving God’s forgiveness, linking it to our willingness to forgive others, as reinforced in verses 14-15:

“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:14-15, ESV)

Fasting (Verses 16-18)

In verses 16-18, Jesus addresses the practice of fasting. Like charity and prayer, Jesus emphasizes the significance of fasting in modesty and secrecy:

“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.” (Matthew 6:16, ESV)

Fasting, often associated with repentance and spiritual discipline, should be an act between the individual and God. Jesus warns against ostentatious displays of deprivation to garner admiration. Instead, believers should maintain their appearance and fast discreetly:

“But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:17-18, ESV)

This instruction reiterates the importance of sincerity and humility in religious practices, encouraging believers to seek divine rather than human approval.

Material Possessions (Verses 19-24)

Verses 19-24 shift the focus to material possessions and the concept of spiritual versus material wealth. Jesus cautions his followers against accumulating earthly treasures, which are temporary and subject to decay and theft:

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:19-20, ESV)

The teaching underscores the impermanence of worldly wealth and directs believers to focus on lasting, heavenly riches. According to Jesus, the location of one’s treasure indicates the orientation of their heart:

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21, ESV)

Jesus introduces the metaphor of the “eye as the lamp of the body” to highlight the influence of one’s focus on their overall well-being:

“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” (Matthew 6:22-23, ESV)

This metaphor suggests that a focused and generous eye (or perspective) brings spiritual illumination and health, while a greedy or myopic view leads to darkness. Jesus culminates this teaching by declaring the impossibility of serving two masters:

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Matthew 6:24, ESV)

These verses stress the incompatibility of wholehearted devotion to both God and material wealth, urging believers to prioritize spiritual allegiance over earthly desires.

Anxiety (Verses 25-34)

The final section (verses 25-34) addresses anxiety about daily needs and future uncertainties. Jesus comforts and reassures his followers to trust in God’s provision:

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious 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?” (Matthew 6:25, ESV)

Jesus presents arguments from nature to bolster this trust. He points to the birds of the air and the lilies of the field as examples of God’s care for His creation:

“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:26, ESV)

And:

“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” (Matthew 6:28-29, ESV)

These illustrations serve to reassure believers of God’s attentive care and provision. Jesus emphasizes that such worry is not only unproductive but reflects a lack of faith:

“And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” (Matthew 6:27, ESV)

Jesus concludes with a pivotal directive to prioritize seeking God’s kingdom and righteousness, with the promise that other needs will be met:

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33, ESV)

The teaching on not worrying about tomorrow reminds believers to live in the present, trusting God for the future:

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:34, ESV)

In summary, Matthew Chapter 6 addresses the core aspects of Christian living, encouraging a sincere, humble, and faith-filled approach to charity, prayer, fasting, material possessions, and anxiety. Each section reinforces the values of authenticity, trust, and divine orientation. The chapter calls believers to a higher standard of spiritual maturity and deep reliance on God’s provision and guidance.