2025.02.23 Sermon Notes. SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES FOR TRUE DISCIPLES – MATTHEW 6.
William Akehurst, HSWC
Big Idea: JESUS teaches his followers Three Spiritual Disciplines regarding Giving/Charity, Fasting and Prayer toward GOD.
Scriptures: Matthew 6:1-34, Matthew 5:14-16, Matthew 6:33, Ecclesiastes 5:2, James 4:2-3
(1) DO GOOD TO PLEASE GOD
JESUS’ WARNS AGAINST DOING GOOD TO BE SEEN BY OTHERS.
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.
Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men
“Charitable deeds” is actually the word righteousness.
JESUS teaches to not do righteous things for the sake of display or image or to be seen known or seen by those things.
We are still to “let your light so shine before men (Matthew 5:16).
And be the “light of the world, a city set on a hill” (Matthew 5:14-15, but not for selfish reasons.
Christians ARE to be SEEN doing good works, but NOT for the purpose of being seen by others for their own glory.
“Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven”
It is much better to receive a reward from your Father in heaven.
THREE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES:
• GIVING (CHARITY)
• PRAYER
• FASTING
(2-4) WHEN YOU GIVE
WRONG AND RIGHT KINDS OF GIVING (Examples)
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. 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
WRONG GIVING:
When you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet:
In JESUS’ time, it was a custom for some to draw attention to their giving so they would be known as generous.
Today, people may not sound a trumpet to display generosity, but may still call attention to their giving.
As the hypocrites do:
Hypocrite is a Greek word for an actor, or one who acts as someone else.
hypocrites (‘hypocrite’) was an actor someone who puts on a show for others to see. But their acts didn’t define who they really are.
Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward:
One who gives to hear applause, should enjoy the applause as that is all they will receive. There will be no heavenly reward for those with motives of earthly reward.
RIGHT GIVING:
Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing:
SPURGEON: “Keep the thing so secret that even you yourself are hardly aware that you are doing anything at all praiseworthy. Let GOD be present, and you will have enough of an audience.”
THOUGHT: WHEN YOU GIVE, WHAT IS YOUR MOTIVE AND MOTIVATION?
For self-gratification and the praise of others?
Or to Glorify GOD?
POINT: GOD sees not only the act, but also the heart.
(5-6) WHEN YOU PRAY
WRONG AND RIGHT KINDS OF PRAYER (EXAMPLES)
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.
WRONG WAYS TO PRAY
AGAIN, IT’S A HEART THING.
And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites:
JESUS IS SAYING IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOT PRAY AS THE HYPOCRITES…PUTTING ON A DISPLAY.
For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men:
These hypocrites didn’t pray to be heard by GOD, but to be SEEN by men.
Praying to impress others with our words is like using GOD as a tool to impress others and is insulting to GOD.
They have their reward: HERE Again, those praying to be seen of men have their reward, and that is all they will receive. There is no reward in heaven for such prayers.
RIGHT WAYS TO PRAYER
ITS A RIGHT/RIGHTEOUS “HEART” THING
But you, when you pray, go into your room, (closet, secret place)
A private place where we can impress no one except GOD.
A secret place, where our focus is on GOD alone
POINT: JESUS was not prohibiting public prayer but makes the point that our prayers are to be directed to GOD from our hearts and not prayed to impress man.
(7-8) THE RIGHT WAY TO PRAY.
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.
8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
When you pray, do not use vain repetitions, as the heathen do.
1 Kings 18:26, the prophets of Baal cried out, “O Baal answer us” for half the day.
Acts 19:34, a mob in Ephesus shouted, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians” for two hours.
Vain repetitions is any and all prayer which is mostly words and no meaning; all lips and no mind or heart.
Vain repetitions. Babbling prayers. Just saying words to be heard.
BABBLING ILLUSTRATION:
REMEMBER CHARLIE BROWN’S TEACHER?
“Mwah-mwah, mwah mwah-mwah.”
CLARKE: “Prayer requires more of the heart than of the tongue. The eloquence of prayer consists in the fervency of desire, and the simplicity of faith.”
Ecclesiastes 5:2 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.
POINT: GOD IS NOT IMPRESSED BY THE WORDS OR LENGTH OF OUR PRAYERS, GOD LOOKS AT YOUR HEART. ARE YOU FERVENTLY SEEKING HIM TO ANSWER YOUR PRAYER.
Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him
We don’t pray to tell GOD things that HE didn’t know before we told HIM.
We pray to interact and commune with our HEAVENLY FATHER, Who wants HIS CHILDREN to bring every need concern and worry before HIS Throne.
POINT: PRAYER IS NOT TO INFORM GOD. BUT TO BRING OUR HEARTS AND MINDS INTO ALIGNMENT WITH HIM.
Prayer helps us to know who we are before a great and loving GOD who cares for us.
James 4:2-3 says “You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.”
GOD knows what we need, and sometimes holds it back until we ask.
(9-13) TEACH ME TO PRAY.
THE MODEL PRAYER. JESUS TEACHES THE DISCIPLES TO PRAY
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 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
BREAKOUT OF THE LORD'S PRAYER
THE DISCIPLE'S PRAYER
THE FOLLOWER'S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven
• Recognize GOD as our FATHER, and we are HIS Children
Hallowed be Your name.
• Praise and honor GOD’s Name
Your kingdom come.
• Pray for GOD’s Kingdom to be established
Your will be done
• Surrender our thoughts and desires for GOD’s Will
On earth as it is in heaven.
• Release Heavens blessings on earth
Give us this day our daily bread.
• Bring your need before GOD. Asking for daily provision, Asking for a daily portion of JESUS to provide for our daily need. A daily choice
And forgive us our debts,
• Seek forgiveness of our sins
As we forgive our debtors.
• Express willingness to forgive others
And do not lead us into temptation,
• Asking to NOT be tested
But deliver us from the evil one.
• Asking for protection and deliverance from Evil
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
• We are to recognize GOD as our FATHER, but also as the Mighty Sovereign GOD and KING of the Universe Who created, governs and will judge all things.
CLARKE “Sin is represented here under the notion of a debt, and as our sins are many, they are called here debts. GOD made man that he might live to his glory and gave him a law to walk by; and if, when he does anything that tends not to glorify GOD, he contracts a debt with Divine Justice.”
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever: The right kind of prayer praises GOD and credits to Him the kingdom and the power and the glory.
(14-15) MORE ON THE IMPORTANCE OF FORGIVENESS.
Forgive and Be Forgiven
14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: Forgiveness is required for those who have been forgiven.
We are not to hold onto our bitterness towards others.
JESUS teaches more on forgiveness in Matthew 9:2-6, Matthew 18:21-35, and Luke 17:3-4
POINT: FORGIVENESS IS NOT AN OPTION: FORGIVE AND BE FORGIVEN.
(16-18) WHEN YOU FAST.
THE WRONG AND RIGHT WAY TO FAST.
Fasting to Be Seen Only by GOD
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.
The Old Testament commanded fasting on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:29-31; Leviticus 23:32-37; Numbers 29:7).
WRONG WAY TO FAST
When you fast, do not be like the hypocrites:
The hypocritical scribes and Pharisees typically fasted twice a week and wanted to make sure that everybody knew they were fasting, so they would have a sad countenance and disfigure their faces so their agony of fasting would be evident to all.
They have their reward.
When hypocrites receive the admiration of men for these “spiritual” efforts, they receive all the reward they will ever get.
RIGHT WAY TO FAST
When you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting:
JESUS instructs us to take care of ourselves as usual and to make the fast something of a secret before GOD.
THE PLACE OF MATERIAL THINGS: A WARNING AGAINST COVETOUSNESS.
(19-21) CHOICE BETWEEN TWO TREASURES.
HEAVENLY TREASURE
Lay Up Treasures in Heaven (Luke 12:33, 34)
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Treasures on earth: will decay, and can be broken and stolen.
Treasures in heaven: are secure.
This is not saying that earthly treasures are bad, but that they have no eternal value.
POINT: PURSUE THE THINGS OF HEAVEN OVER THE THINGS OF EARTH.
Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of GOD and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
POINT: WHERE IS YOUR HEART?
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
(22-23) THE CHOICE BETWEEN TWO VISIONS.
The Lamp of the Body (Luke 11:34–36)
22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 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!
“Light” comes into the body through the eye. If our eyes were blind, we would live in a “dark” world.
If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light
The idea behind having a good eye is either being generous or being single minded. Both principles apply to the disciple’s attitude towards material things.
Being generous brings light to our lives.
We are happier and more content when we have GOD’s heart of generosity. But if we are not generous, it is as if your whole body will be full of darkness. Our selfish, miserly ways cast darkness over everything that we think or do.
How great is that darkness:
Using the analogy of the eye, JESUS reminds us that if we are blind in our eyes, the whole body is blind. The darkness is then great in our whole body.
FOCUS: What we focus on affects our bodies and lives.
Our attitude towards material things will either bring great light or great darkness to our lives.
As darkness of the eye affects everything in the body, so a wrong attitude towards material things brings darkness to our whole being.
(24) THE CHOICE BETWEEN TWO MASTERS.
You Cannot Serve GOD and Riches
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.
JESUS says that serving two masters is an impossibility.
If you think that you are successfully serving two masters, you are deceived.
Ancient Israel struggled with idolatry, thinking they could worship the Lord GOD and Baal. GOD constantly reminded them that to worship Baal was to forsake the Lord GOD. To be loyal to the one is to despise the other.
You cannot serve GOD and mammon
mammon represents materialism or the material things we possess or want
Those things can be used for GOD’s kingdom and glory, or as idols.
POINT: Don’t serve your money. Let your money serve the Lord and it will serve you.
JESUS is talking about the HEART.
Many people say they love GOD, but their materialism shows otherwise.
Do you make sacrifices for GOD, or for the sake of the material. If you will sacrifice for material things and not GOD, who then are you really serving?
We don’t have to be rich to serve mammon (money and material things); the poor can be just as greedy and covetous as the rich can be.
ANXIETY OVER MATERIAL THINGS.
(25) GOD’S KINGDOM EXCEEDS EARTHLY PURSUITS.
Do Not Worry (Luke 12:22–31)
25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry 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?
Do not worry about your life
YOUR LIFE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD.
We are to be concerned with the right things; the ultimate issues of life – and we then leave the management (and the worry) over material things with our heavenly Father.
Is not life more than food: Compared to an animal who is concerned with physical needs,
Your life is more, and you have eternal matters to pursue.
(26-30) EXAMPLE AND ARGUMENTS AGAINST WORRY.
26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if GOD so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Look at the birds of the air…your heavenly Father feeds them:
GOD provides for the birds, and He takes care of them. Therefore, we should expect that GOD would take care of us. Yet take careful note: the birds don’t worry, but they do work. Birds don’t just sit with open mouths, expecting GOD to fill them.
Are you not of more value than they: The worry many people have over the material things of life is rooted in a low understanding of their value before GOD. They don’t comprehend how much He loves and cares for them.
Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature: Worry accomplishes nothing; we can add nothing to our lives by worrying. There may be greater sins than worry, but there are none more self-defeating and useless.
If GOD so clothes the grass of the field:
GOD even takes care of the grass of the field, so He will certainly take care of you. We are confident of the power and care of a loving heavenly Father.
You of little faith:
“‘Little faith’ is not a little fault; for it greatly wrongs the Lord, and sadly grieves the fretful mind. To think the Lord who clothes the lilies will leave his own children naked is shameful. O little faith, learn better manners!” (Spurgeon)
(31-32) YOU HAVE A HEAVENLY FATHER THAT KNOWS YOUR NEEDS.
31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
Therefore do not worry:
We are invited to know a freedom from the worry and anxiety that comes from undue concern about material things.
For after all these things the Gentiles seek:
JESUS contrasted the life of those who do not know GOD and are separated from Him with those who do know GOD and receive His loving care. Those who know GOD shouldn’t seek after other things.
(33) SUMMARY: PUT GOD’S KINGDOM FIRST – HE WILL TAKE CARE OF THESE THINGS!
Seeking GOD’s Kingdom and Righteousness
33 But seek first the kingdom of GOD and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Seek first the kingdom of GOD:
The first rule in life is ordering our priorities and aligning them with GOD.
We need to realize that in everything we do, we are to seek the KINGDOM OF GOD FIRST.
JESUS didn’t just tell us to stop worrying, HE is saying to REPLACE WORRY with a concern for the Kingdom of GOD.
And HIS Righteousness.
Not only GOD’s Kingdom, but HIS Righteousness. The Righteousness of JESUS exchanged on the cross for our sins. We are to live our lives in HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS and bring HIM Glory in our daily decisions. Let GOD ARISE within you, HIS SPIRIT to Lead you in Righteousness, HIS WORD to speak to you and bring you life.
And all these things shall be added to you:
IF we put GOD’s Kingdom first, you may experience all these things.
HE promises heavenly treasure, rest in divine provision, and fulfillment of GOD’s highest purpose for man – fellowship with HIM, and being part of HIS kingdom.
Greater things come to those who put GOD first.
POINT: SEEKING GOD’S KINGDOM AND RIGHTEOUSNESS IS A DAILY CHOICE.
DAILY, when we seek GOD over things of this world, we will have victory over the worries of this life.
(34) A CONCLUSION WITH COMMON SENSE.
Live out Today
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Do not worry about tomorrow:
ONE DAY AT A TIME.
IF you must worry, worry about the things of today. Don’t be anxious about tomorrow.
We can worry ourselves to death over things that we shouldn’t be worrying about.
Sufficient for the day is its own trouble:
LIVE FOR TODAY.
JESUS reminds us of the importance of living for the present day.
It’s not wrong to remember the past or to plan in the future. Both are good to some degree.
But it is easy to become too focused on the past or the future and let the day and its own trouble be ignored.
POINT:
GOD WANTS US TO:
• REMEMBER the Past
• PLAN for the Future
BUT…
• LIVE in the Present.
HEAVENLY FATHER,
YOU are KING of the Universe and deserve our praise. YOUR Word instructs and teaches us. YOUR HOLY SPIRIT leads and guides us, and our hearts need to be seeking YOU before all things in our lives. Thank YOU for YOUR grace, mercy and love, to provide for our every need. We look to YOU for strength and health, so that we can praise YOU more, in JESUS’ name, Amen.
Be blessed and be a blessing,
Pastor Bill
