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
(Mat 6:13) And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. 14) "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
Trespasses – Strongs & Thayer
- Original: pa?a´pt?µa - Transliteration: Paraptoma - Phonetic: par-ap'-to-mah
- Definition:
1. to fall beside or near something 2. a lapse or deviation from truth and uprightness
a. a sin, misdeed
- Strong's: From G3895; a side slip (lapse or deviation) that is (unintentional) error or (wilful) transgression: - fall fault offence sin trespass.
Total KJV Occurrences: 17
• fall, 2 Rom_11:11; Rom_11:12 • fault, 1 Gal_6:1 • faults, 1 Jam_5:16 • offense, 5 Rom_5:15(2); Rom_5:17; Rom_5:18; Rom_5:20 • offenses, 2 Rom_4:25; Rom_5:16 • sins, 3 Eph_1:7; Eph_2:5; Col_2:13 • trespasses, 3 2Co_5:19; Eph_2:1; Col_2:13
(Mat 6:15) But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
(Luke 6:36-37)
Fast – Fasting is to abstain from something in order to give full attention to God’s answer or purpose.
(Mat 6:16) "Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17) But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18) so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
Treasures
(Mat 6:19) "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;
Paul’s Take: Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (1Ti 6:6-10)
(Mat 6:20) but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
1. (6:19-20) Materialism— Wealth: Christ gives a contrast about two kinds of riches.
1. There are earthly riches. There are things on earth that men desire. Christ calls these earthly riches and treasures. Earthly riches would be such things as clothes, cars, jewelry, toys, houses, buildings, furnishings, pleasure, fame, power, profession, property, money—anything that dominates a person's life and holds it fast to this earth. It is ok to have “stuff” as long as “stuff” does not have us.
Key : Thought 2. It is easier to covet earthly things than heavenly things for five reasons.
1) They are seen and can be handled.
2) They are sought by most people, and other people influence us. A person is either worldly minded or heavenly minded (Romans 8:5-7).
3) They are to varying degrees necessary for life.
4) They are present, ever before us, and can be possessed right now.
5) This how we are measured by others.
b. Earthly riches are corruptible (see Deeper Study #1—Matthew 6:19). Something terrible happens to everything on earth. Everything ages, dies, deteriorates, and decays. Things are on the earth only for a brief time, and then they are no more. Everything has the seed of corruption within it.
c. Earthly riches are insecure. The things on earth are insecure for three reasons.
? They can be stolen or eaten up.
? They do not last; they waste away.
? A person cannot take a single thing with him when he passes from this world.
"For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows" (1 Tim. 6:10).
"Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days" (James 5:3).
Importance of Eternal Treasures
b. He seeks the treasures which are eternal:
"For the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Cor. 4:18).
? They are incorruptible (Matthew 6:20).
? They are secure (Matthew 6:20).
? They cause his "whole body to be full of light" (Matthew 6:22).
? They consume his whole being in all the meaning and purpose and significance of life (Matthew 6:24).
? They cause him to love and to serve God (Matthew 6:24).
? They draw him near to God (Matthew 6:24).
"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8).
Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Matthew I.
(Mat 6:21) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Heart – desire, purpose, focus.
(Mat 6:22) "The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. (Mat 6:23) But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
What we focus on is what defines us. What we see and keep our eyes on. It goes deeper that just the external but touches deep into the soul.
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15-17)
Focus on Christ
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)
Weight and Sin
What are some legitimate and innocent things, things that do not help a believer to grow and run the race as fast as he can?
? Seeking entertainment instead of fellowshipping and communing with God—instead of praying and reading our Bibles—instead of worshipping and witnessing. Recreation is sometimes needed, but the problem with most of us is that we relax and rest far more than we need, and we neglect our fellowship and communion with God and our intercessory prayer for others. Too many of us do not even know how to spend long times keeping our minds upon God and communing with Him.
? Seeking the possessions and things of this world instead of seeking God.
? Listening to music and other sounds that do not build up our spirits nor focus our minds upon the truth and God. Watching films and television that fail to strengthen us.
We could go on and on, but the thrust is edification. Anything that does not build us up and make us stronger is excess weight that slows us down. The Christian runner must do exactly what the Olympic runner does: strain to remove all excess weight. Do nothing—absolutely nothing—that hinders or hampers him from running at full speed. He must strip off all unnecessary weight.
"Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions" (Matthew 19:21-22).
"And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:57-62).
Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Hebrew, James.
(Mat 6:24) "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
Mammon – mammons – Syrian god of wealth. Similar to the Greek god Plutus from Wikipedia
Thought 2. Mammon, earthly treasures, can be many things (see note—•Matthew 6:19-20).
1) Riches and wealth.
"Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain" (James 4:13).
"Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you" (James 5:1).
2) Food, the filling of one's belly.
"Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things" (Phil. 3:19).
3) An evil, lusting eye.
"But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matthew 5:28).
"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!" (Matthew 6:23).
"Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness" (Mark 7:22).
4) A lusting of the flesh.
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world" (1 John 2:15-16).
5) Unproductive activity, relaxation, recreation, wasteful pastimes, sluggish feelings.
"Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: so shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man" (Proverbs 6:6-11).
Thought 3. God promises several great things to the man who serves Him.
1) All the necessities of life.
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33).
2) Freedom from anxiety.
"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:6-7).
3) Joy and contentment.
"These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full" (John 15:11).
"Let your conversation [behavior] be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5).
4) Abundant and eternal life.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and beliveth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life" (John 5:24).
"I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).
Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Matthew I.
