Take 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.
Therefore 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.
But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
And 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.
But 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.
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Moreover 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.
But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
That 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.
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
But 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!
No 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.
Therefore 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?
Behold 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?
Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Wherefore, 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?
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Take 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.
Matthew 6 is a pivotal chapter in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, a discourse designed to reveal the heart of true righteousness. It's a chapter brimming with practical guidance on living a life that pleases God, focusing on inner transformation rather than outward appearances. Jesus emphasizes that our motives are just as important as our actions. This chapter, almost entirely composed of Christ's words, challenges us to examine our hearts and prioritize God's kingdom above all else. Matthew 6:1 sets the tone: "Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them." (Matthew 6:1)
Righteousness Done in Secret (Matthew 6:1-18)
Jesus begins by addressing acts of piety: giving, praying, and fasting. He doesn't condemn these practices themselves, but rather the hypocrisy that can taint them. The core issue is motivation. Are we performing these acts to gain the approval of others, or out of genuine love and devotion to God?
Giving to the Needy (Matthew 6:2-4)
Jesus contrasts genuine generosity with the showy displays of those who "sound a trumpet" to announce their charitable deeds. Such individuals, Jesus says, "have received their reward in full" (Matthew 6:2). Their reward is the fleeting praise of people, not the eternal reward from God. True giving, on the other hand, should be done in secret, so much so that "your left hand does not know what your right hand is doing" (Matthew 6:3). This isn't a literal instruction, but a call to give with such humility and sincerity that our focus is solely on blessing the recipient and honoring God. When we give in secret, "then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you" (Matthew 6:4).
The Power of Private Prayer (Matthew 6:5-15)
Similarly, Jesus addresses the practice of prayer. He critiques those who pray ostentatiously in public to be seen by others. While public prayer is not inherently wrong, the motive behind it matters. "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen" (Matthew 6:6). The emphasis is on private, heartfelt communion with God.
Jesus also warns against "babbling like pagans" (Matthew 6:7), mindlessly repeating empty phrases. Prayer is not about finding the perfect formula or uttering magical incantations. Rather, it's about sincere communication with a loving Father who already knows our needs (Matthew 6:8). As Tony Evans puts it, prayer is simply "talking with God."
The Lord's Prayer: A Model for Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13)
Jesus then provides a model prayer, often called the Lord's Prayer. It's not meant to be recited robotically, but rather to serve as a framework for our own prayers. It encompasses several key elements:
- "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name" (Matthew 6:9): This acknowledges God's holiness and our relationship with Him as our loving Father. Remembering that He is our Father reminds us that we are part of a family, and that heaven overrules earth.
- "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10): This expresses our desire for God's reign to be established on earth and for His purposes to be fulfilled. It's a pledge of allegiance to God's kingdom.
- "Give us this day our daily bread" (Matthew 6:11): This is a request for God to provide for our daily needs, reminding us of our dependence on Him. We are to live our lives depending on Him one day at a time.
- "And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors" (Matthew 6:12): This acknowledges our need for forgiveness and our responsibility to extend forgiveness to others. God's forgiveness is conditional on our forgiveness of others. It's not about salvation, but about our fellowship with God.
- "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one" (Matthew 6:13): This is a plea for God's protection from temptation and evil, recognizing our vulnerability and dependence on His strength.
Forgiveness: A Reflection of God's Grace (Matthew 6:14-15)
Jesus underscores the importance of forgiveness, stating that "if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins" (Matthew 6:14-15). This highlights the inseparable link between receiving God's forgiveness and extending it to others.
Fasting with a Humble Heart (Matthew 6:16-18)
Finally, Jesus addresses fasting. Like giving and praying, fasting should be done with humility and sincerity, not as a means of drawing attention to oneself. "When you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting will not be obvious to others, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you" (Matthew 6:17-18). Fasting is giving up a bodily craving for a spiritual need.
Treasures in Heaven (Matthew 6:19-24)
Jesus shifts the focus from outward religious practices to the inner disposition of the heart, particularly in relation to material possessions. He urges his listeners to "store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal" (Matthew 6:20).
Earthly treasures are temporary and vulnerable to loss. Heavenly treasures, on the other hand, are eternal and secure. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21). Our priorities reveal what we truly value.
He uses the analogy of the eye as the lamp of the body (Matthew 6:22-23). If our "eye" (our spiritual perspective) is healthy, our whole body will be full of light. But if our "eye" is unhealthy, our whole body will be full of darkness.
The pursuit of wealth can easily lead to spiritual darkness. "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money" (Matthew 6:24). We must choose whom we will serve. God must have our devotion if we are to receive His kingdom direction.
Do Not Worry (Matthew 6:25-34)
Having addressed the danger of prioritizing wealth, Jesus turns to the issue of anxiety and worry. He challenges his listeners to trust in God's provision. "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 than food, and the body more than clothes?" (Matthew 6:25).
He points to the birds of the air and the lilies of the field as examples of God's care. "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?" (Matthew 6:26). "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these" (Matthew 6:28-29).
Worry is ultimately unproductive. "Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" (Matthew 6:27). Instead of worrying, we should "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:33). Prioritizing God's kingdom means aligning our lives with His standards.
Jesus concludes with a call to live in the present moment, trusting God for each day. "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" (Matthew 6:34). Focusing on living for God's kingdom today is the antidote to worry.
Take 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.
Therefore 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.
But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
And 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.
But 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.
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Moreover 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.
But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
That 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.
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
But 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!
No 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.
Therefore 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?
Behold 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?
Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Wherefore, 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?
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Take 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.
Matthew 6 is a pivotal chapter in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, a discourse designed to reveal the heart of true righteousness. It's a chapter brimming with practical guidance on living a life that pleases God, focusing on inner transformation rather than outward appearances. Jesus emphasizes that our motives are just as important as our actions. This chapter, almost entirely composed of Christ's words, challenges us to examine our hearts and prioritize God's kingdom above all else. Matthew 6:1 sets the tone: "Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them." (Matthew 6:1)
Righteousness Done in Secret (Matthew 6:1-18)
Jesus begins by addressing acts of piety: giving, praying, and fasting. He doesn't condemn these practices themselves, but rather the hypocrisy that can taint them. The core issue is motivation. Are we performing these acts to gain the approval of others, or out of genuine love and devotion to God?
Giving to the Needy (Matthew 6:2-4)
Jesus contrasts genuine generosity with the showy displays of those who "sound a trumpet" to announce their charitable deeds. Such individuals, Jesus says, "have received their reward in full" (Matthew 6:2). Their reward is the fleeting praise of people, not the eternal reward from God. True giving, on the other hand, should be done in secret, so much so that "your left hand does not know what your right hand is doing" (Matthew 6:3). This isn't a literal instruction, but a call to give with such humility and sincerity that our focus is solely on blessing the recipient and honoring God. When we give in secret, "then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you" (Matthew 6:4).
The Power of Private Prayer (Matthew 6:5-15)
Similarly, Jesus addresses the practice of prayer. He critiques those who pray ostentatiously in public to be seen by others. While public prayer is not inherently wrong, the motive behind it matters. "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen" (Matthew 6:6). The emphasis is on private, heartfelt communion with God.
Jesus also warns against "babbling like pagans" (Matthew 6:7), mindlessly repeating empty phrases. Prayer is not about finding the perfect formula or uttering magical incantations. Rather, it's about sincere communication with a loving Father who already knows our needs (Matthew 6:8). As Tony Evans puts it, prayer is simply "talking with God."
The Lord's Prayer: A Model for Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13)
Jesus then provides a model prayer, often called the Lord's Prayer. It's not meant to be recited robotically, but rather to serve as a framework for our own prayers. It encompasses several key elements:
- "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name" (Matthew 6:9): This acknowledges God's holiness and our relationship with Him as our loving Father. Remembering that He is our Father reminds us that we are part of a family, and that heaven overrules earth.
- "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10): This expresses our desire for God's reign to be established on earth and for His purposes to be fulfilled. It's a pledge of allegiance to God's kingdom.
- "Give us this day our daily bread" (Matthew 6:11): This is a request for God to provide for our daily needs, reminding us of our dependence on Him. We are to live our lives depending on Him one day at a time.
- "And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors" (Matthew 6:12): This acknowledges our need for forgiveness and our responsibility to extend forgiveness to others. God's forgiveness is conditional on our forgiveness of others. It's not about salvation, but about our fellowship with God.
- "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one" (Matthew 6:13): This is a plea for God's protection from temptation and evil, recognizing our vulnerability and dependence on His strength.
Forgiveness: A Reflection of God's Grace (Matthew 6:14-15)
Jesus underscores the importance of forgiveness, stating that "if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins" (Matthew 6:14-15). This highlights the inseparable link between receiving God's forgiveness and extending it to others.
Fasting with a Humble Heart (Matthew 6:16-18)
Finally, Jesus addresses fasting. Like giving and praying, fasting should be done with humility and sincerity, not as a means of drawing attention to oneself. "When you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting will not be obvious to others, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you" (Matthew 6:17-18). Fasting is giving up a bodily craving for a spiritual need.
Treasures in Heaven (Matthew 6:19-24)
Jesus shifts the focus from outward religious practices to the inner disposition of the heart, particularly in relation to material possessions. He urges his listeners to "store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal" (Matthew 6:20).
Earthly treasures are temporary and vulnerable to loss. Heavenly treasures, on the other hand, are eternal and secure. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21). Our priorities reveal what we truly value.
He uses the analogy of the eye as the lamp of the body (Matthew 6:22-23). If our "eye" (our spiritual perspective) is healthy, our whole body will be full of light. But if our "eye" is unhealthy, our whole body will be full of darkness.
The pursuit of wealth can easily lead to spiritual darkness. "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money" (Matthew 6:24). We must choose whom we will serve. God must have our devotion if we are to receive His kingdom direction.
Do Not Worry (Matthew 6:25-34)
Having addressed the danger of prioritizing wealth, Jesus turns to the issue of anxiety and worry. He challenges his listeners to trust in God's provision. "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 than food, and the body more than clothes?" (Matthew 6:25).
He points to the birds of the air and the lilies of the field as examples of God's care. "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?" (Matthew 6:26). "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these" (Matthew 6:28-29).
Worry is ultimately unproductive. "Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" (Matthew 6:27). Instead of worrying, we should "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:33). Prioritizing God's kingdom means aligning our lives with His standards.
Jesus concludes with a call to live in the present moment, trusting God for each day. "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" (Matthew 6:34). Focusing on living for God's kingdom today is the antidote to worry.