The Disciple’s Motives – Secret Life with God
Focus: Giving, praying (including the Lord’s Prayer), fasting—all “in secret”
Why this section: Counters the medal-chasing mindset by anchoring worship in the Father’s unseen reward. Builds private spiritual fitness essential for public resilience. (c/o https://www.cmfhq.org/)
Giving to the Poor and Prayer
6 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. THIS REMINDS ME OF JAMES 4: 10 "Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you." AND THIS SONG: https://genius.com/Acappella-humble-thyself-lyrics
2 “So when you [a]give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full." THIS IMPLIES WE’RE SUPPOSED TO GIVE TO THE POOR. DO WE?
3 But when you [b]give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4 so that your [c]giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. WE AREN’T TO TELL OTHERS WHAT WE GIVE.
5 “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners [d]so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. WHEN WE PRAY IN PUBLIC, IS IT FOR GOD OR OTHERS?
6 But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. THAT’S WHY THERE IS A CLICHÉ OF PRAYING IN A CLOSET FOR PRIVACY.
7 “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL OF MEANINGLESSLY REPEATING OUR PRAYERS.
8 So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. GOD KNOWS WHAT WE’RE GOING TO PRAY. IT COULD BE TO CHANGE US. THIS IS THE LORD’S PRAYER, WITH SOME QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS ADDED:
9 “Pray, then, in this way: CAN WE PRAY OTHER WAYS?
‘Our Father who is in heaven, IS GOD ONLY THERE?
Hallowed be Your name. HALLOWEEN (ALL HALLOW’S EVE) COMES FROM THIS WORD.
10 ‘Your kingdom come. GE LADD WROTE RE: IT’S ALREADY HERE AND NOT YET: https://tifwe.org/kingdom-reflection-living-in-the-already-not-yet/
Your will be done, WHAT ABOUT OUR WILL?
On earth as it is in heaven. WHAT IS HEAVEN ON EARTH LIKE?
11 ‘Give us this day [e]our daily bread. WE NEED HIS WORD DAILY.
12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. THIS CAN ALSO REFER TO SIN, SEE VERSE 14.
13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from [f]evil. CAN WE DELIVER OURSELVES?
[G}[For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’] This clause is not found in early mss. LUKE'S VERSION IN 11:2-4 IS SHORTER. THE KINGDOM IS ONLY OF POWER?
GLORY = dunamis (dynamite power) per https://www.blueletterbible.org/nasb95/mat/6/13/t_conc_935013
AMEN = so be it.
14 For if you forgive [h]others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. SIN VS. OMISSION (ONES WE DON’T KNOW ABOUT) VS. COMMISSION (ONES WE KNOW ABOUT)
15 But if you do not forgive [i]others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions. WE NEED TO FORGIVE OTHERS IF WE WANT OUR SINS FORGIVEN.
Fasting; The True Treasure; Wealth (Mammon)
16 “Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they [j]neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. ARE WE FASTING FOR THE RIGHT REASON?
17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face OUR BODY MAY SMELL AS IT IS CLEANSING ITSELF.
18 so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. GOD MAY BLESS US FOR FASTING.
Footnotes
Matthew 6:2 Or give alms
Matthew 6:3 Or give alms
Matthew 6:4 Or alms
Matthew 6:5 Lit to be apparent to men
Matthew 6:11 Or our bread for tomorrow
Matthew 6:13 Or the evil one
Matthew 6:13 This clause not found in early mss
Matthew 6:14 Gr anthropoi
Matthew 6:15 Gr anthropoi
Matthew 6:16 Lit distort their faces, i.e. discolor their faces with makeup
