God's Rewards Series

Note: Much of my studies have come from Preachers Sermon and Outline Bible on Matthew 6.

Title: God’s Reward

Theme: To show that God wants to reward His children but we must do it His way.

Text: Matthew 6:1 - 24

Review

Sacrifices and Rewards – Blessed are those

Rash Decisions – Anger, Lust, Divorce, Oaths

Going Beyond – The Second Mile - Retaliation, Love Your Enemies

Introduction

DEEPER STUDY #1

(6:1-18) Christian, Duty: Christ discussed the three great duties of religion to a Jew—the giving of alms (Matthew 6:1-4), prayer (Matthew 6:5-15), and fasting (Matthew 6:16-18). His concern was threefold.

1. That men give, pray, and fast.

2. That men do these works with the right motive and guard against hypocrisy when doing them.

3. That men receive their reward from God the Father. God wants to reward His people.

Rewards. Here on earth. God’s favor and presence. Heaven. Eternal Reward

Charitable Deeds

(Mat 6:1) "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. (Mat 6:2) Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. (Mat 6:3) But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, (Mat 6:4) that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

Prayer

(Mat 6:5) "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6) But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7) And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few. (Ecclesiastes 5:2)

(Mat 6:8) Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.

DEEPER STUDY #1

(6:5-6) Prayer: there are dangers surrounding prayer, some negative factors that must be guarded against.

1. Prayer can become hypocritical (Matthew 6:5). A person can pray for the wrong reasons, with the wrong motives.

2. Prayer can become habit-forming (Matthew 6:5). Prayer is a wonderful experience, very rewarding emotionally and mentally and in having our needs met as God answers our prayer. We can begin to love praying and still be praying amiss.

3. Prayer can become connected with certain places (Matthew 6:5). A believer has places that mean much to him in his prayer life, but he must guard against limiting God's presence only to those places, even if it is the church.

4. Prayer can become empty repetition (Matthew 6:7). A person can take any phrase or form of prayer and make it a meaningful experience, or make it a formal and meaningless occasion. (Note how often the Lord's Prayer is repeated by rote memory with the mind focused elsewhere.)

5. Prayer can become too long (Matthew 6:7). A believer can begin to feel he is heard because of "much speaking" (cp. Eccles. 5:1-2).

6. Prayer can become self-glorifying (Matthew 6:8). A person can begin to feel he must inform and convince God of his great need. When the answer comes (out of the mercy of God, despite praying amiss), the believer begins to glory in his spirituality—that he has what it takes to get things from God.

7. Prayer can become self-deceptive (Matthew 6:7-8). A person can begin to think he is heard (1) because of "much speaking," and (2) because he convinces God of his need.

Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Matthew I.

(Mat 6:9) In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. (Mat 6:10) Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. (Mat 6:11) Give us this day our daily bread. 12) And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.

Debts – Strongs & Thayer

- Original: ??fe?´??µa - Transliteration: Opheilema - Phonetic: of-i'-lay-mah

- Definition:

1. that which is owed a. that which is justly or legally due, a debt 2. metaph. offence, sin