Matthew 6:1-34. Kingdom Attitudes: Living out our values.
Religious Practices, v.1-18: For new believers in the local assemblies of saints across the Roman empire, the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ, when He was on that mountain in Galilee, was very different from what was practiced in Judaism and the various religions of the Gentiles. Bringing the Lord’s people together in an assembly of people gathered together in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ alone, brought a whole new understanding of the scriptures and the purposes of God for His people. He was building a kingdom the gates of hell would not be able to prevail against, and He had left the responsibility to do this to those who followed Him. God’s expectations of us are that our character, holiness of life, spiritual maturity, and love for Christ and each other, be Christ-like.
In chapter five, the emphasis is on the attitudes of “man to man.” In chapter six, it is emphasizing the attitudes of “man to God.” It is incumbent on us to practice publicly our allegiance to God rather than seek honor from people. God’s people are representatives of His coming kingdom when His will is done on earth as it is in heaven. The righteousness of life and genuine love covers all the teaching of the law. It is His command for us to seek first the kingdom of God.
Giving of what we have received from God to benefit others, v. 1-4 The Lord Jesus did not exhort those disciples to give. It was an expected action, so when He spoke of it, He didn’t say, “If ye give,” but “When ye give.” Giving to others, and giving back to God from all the benefits we have received from Him, is a normal response to God’s grace to us. It is natural to want to reciprocate when good has been done for us. But it was being done by law-keepers as an onerous duty, so the motive behind alms-giving was to call attention to the givers, rather than for the benefit of those who were in need. Those who gave openly wanted to be seen as righteous, holy, giving, and religious people.
Calling attention to charitable giving of any kind of generosity is hypocrisy. Whether it is done as a church offering or a civic act of generosity, all that such giving will result in, is human recognition. Nothing further will come from God. Giving in secret to the Lord and not to be seen by people, results in honor given to God. When we do what we do for others, “as unto the Lord,” that too will create grateful hearts to the Lord in those who have been in need. Fatherless and widows have a special place in the heart of God.
Persistent praying is not a lot of repetitious words to God, v.5-15 Persistent prayer is sincere and heartfelt in contrast to the babbling words made by the Pharisees who made a public show of prayer. Righteousness in public prayer is not to focus attention on the one praying, but on God who is able to answer our united prayers. Saying the same things over and over does not coerce God in any way, to do what we want. Our Father knows our needs already. The purpose of public prayer is to give expression to our sincerity and personal concern for others. Directness, simplicity, sincerity, and persistence are involved when the Lord’s people pray together.
Righteousness in private prayer is seen and heard by God when we are in personal communication with Him alone. It is then the guidelines in the pattern of prayer our Lord gave to His disciples, give us guidance in our approach to God. There is an intimacy of a child to our heavenly Father that is expected, and yet the attitude of respect and reverence of a supplicant to the Supplier of every good and perfect gift is also expected. These two things are not inconsistent with each other. In our prayer, we affirm our confidence in our Father’s ability and our inability to meet needs. The awesomeness of God’s presence and power and the reverence and obedience we owe Him; are set by our tone of voice and attitude, both inwardly and outwardly.
God’s name, God’s will, and God’s kingdom are all focused on when we pray. When we petition in prayer, we are aware of what God can do, so the structure of prayer is worship, requests, confession, and repentance. We pray regarding God’s kingdom being in focus, knowing that in time yet to come there will be order maintained in the kingdom of God. Created order will be followed by people and nations being conformed to the will of God. Then there will be the correct functioning of everything on earth in that “kingdom come.”
Then requests for bread and necessities for physical existence are addressed because we know that only God can provide for all of humanity the daily necessities of life. We need bread for today to keep us alive physically and we need bread forever, for our present and future nourishment of soul and spirit. In this example of prayer, there are six petitions; three are about God and three about us in that order. We are conscious of our moral debts of sin and trespass that we owe. Forgiveness comes when debts are satisfied in one way or another, and it can be granted, but forgiveness is never earned. It is easy to say forgiveness is granted, but if we don’t really forgive, we are denying our common ground as sinners.
Temptation and testing times always come. It is not too difficult to be led astray by temptation and lose faith when we are in trials. We need God’s help to avoid this and not succumb to temptation. Satan is always wanting to take advantage of the difficulties we face. A suitable and respectful conclusion to any prayer gives evidence of genuine and spiritual reality when we are speaking to God. He knows everything about us and knows whether as disciples we forgive trespasses made against us because our trespasses are real and many.
Focus on fasting is for specifics purposes, v.16-18 Fasting is a way of practicing loyalty to God by stopping for a time, anything that would interfere with my fellowship with God. It is more than just not eating. It may include suffering in some way that good may come as a result. The reality, sincerity, and reverence in fasting are noble but difficult. It takes time and deliberate rejection of other claims about us during the time of fasting. Time and discipline are necessary. Also, sacrifice and sincerity take fasting from a mere physical action to a spiritual service and experience with God.
Abstaining from physical nourishment often accompanies prayers, confession of sin, mourning for losses, and times of humiliation. Public disasters, approaching dangers, and national sins were accompanied by fasting in Bible times. Holy ordinations, private afflictions, personal griefs, and bad news were occasions of private fasting.
The Lord Jesus Christ gave a new perspective to fasting that made it much different than the common practices of public display and attention-grabbing actions on the part of “religious practitioners” of His day. He taught that fasting was to focus our attention and our hearts on God; not to get the attention of people on us. God is the only One who can deal with issues in life that are beyond our ability to do anything about. He is the One who Judges and corrects or punishes that which makes us fast in the first place.
Loyalty in the kingdom goes far beyond wealth, v.19-24 There are many things that can affect our devotion to the Lord and our commitment to the affairs of the kingdom of heaven. We have a tendency to worry over trivial material things and overlook those things that are eternal. It is a big concern to the natural man to take care of our future. But material things do not last, nor do they satisfy our cravings for “treasures on earth.” Money never satisfies. We need to put our right treasures in the right place. Treasure has controlling power over people. Treasures in heaven have eternal worth. We work hard for that which we set our hearts on.
It is important that we see God’s view of things rather than the worldview. We need the “lamp” and “eye” of our intentions and choices on God, not money; on heavenly values, not earthly values. When our “good eye” is focused on God and His kingdom, that produces loyalty that goes through hard times and temptations without being turned aside. A bad eye turns us away from the light to darkness where nothing is really clear, but where we think evil and disloyalty to God are hidden. Laying up treasure is an act of obedience.
To serve a master in the sense the Lord Jesus gave in this message means to be a slave; the property of a master who owns another person. Competing allegiances are not possible. One master or the other is going to be served. God or riches are the choices before us. Allegiance will be to one or the other – not both.
Anxiety in the kingdom is the opposite of faith, v.25-34 True trust without reservation is not very common among people. Trust in God for all of our needs takes away useless worry that is never satisfied whether it be for physical needs or peace of mind. Confidence in looking ahead testifies to the fact that God has always been faithful to us even though He may provide in ways that we had never anticipated. Worry is never satisfied. It is a real disability. The goal of life is not found in the physical things we might want. We do not have any real reason to worry because the same God who cares for birds and grass and gives them life; cares for us to whom He gave us life.
Worry controls thoughts, affections, relationships, health and, our faith. The length of our life depends on Him who gave it to us. Short or long – it is His choice. We can rest our souls on Him who had control of the material things as well as the spiritual things. Spiritual vision is a clear vision of what God wants. Our little faith is in Him and by faith we put heavenly values and our allegiance on the kingdom of God, and the God of the kingdom. Seeking first the kingdom of God summarizes the whole thing. When we do that, we will avoid worry; give God total loyalty; trust Him without reservation; rest in faith. Those are the important things and seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness is at the heart of everything we do. Planning for tomorrow is good. Worrying about tomorrow is bad. Holiness in life and righteousness that testifies to Christ living in us, is what is important. Put God first by choice; submit to God’s plan by actions; and follow God’s guidance by faith.