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TEXT Matthew 6 http://www.biblica.com/bible/verse/index.php?q=matthew6&niv=yes

PARAPHRASE

“Hypocrisy 1”

Regarding good works, such as giving to those in need, Jesus tells his believers not to show off by giving to those in need and then announce their generosity to impress others so they will think highly of them, but instead to give to those in need in a way that even they barely know what they have given because their giving flows from obedience to God and compassion for people. Jesus tells his believers those who give for the honor of men are hypocrites and receive no further honor while those who give out of obedience to God and compassion for people will be rewarded by Him.

“Hypocrisy 2”

Regarding prayer, Jesus tells his believers not to pray standing in the synagogues or on street corners as if they are on some stage giving a performance or like the pagans who repeat incantations over and over as if God weren’t all knowing. Jesus tells his believers that those who pray like this are hypocrites in that they are looking for applause from humans while his believers are to pray privately and to his Father instead of using prayer to perform like this for humans.

Jesus tells his believers they should pray like this:

Father in Heaven, Your name is Holy,

I pray that Your Kingdom and Your Will
be accomplished here on earth as in Heaven.

Provide us today what we need to live.

We ask You to forgive us our sins just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us.

And protect us from pointless persecution,
but deliver us from Satan, the evil one.

Expounding on his prayer, Jesus tells his believers that if they forgive those who sin against them, their Father in heaven will forgive them as well, but if they don’t, their Father won’t forgive them their sins either.

“Hypocrisy 3”

Regarding fasting, Jesus tells his believers when they fast not to show people how much they are suffering by looking so somber and ill, but instead to freshen up by washing their face and by putting oil on their head so no one can tell whether they are fasting or not. Jesus tells them those who make a show of their fasting are hypocrites who receive their full reward from impressing those around them while those who don’t make a show of their fasting honor God by what they are doing and will be rewarded by him.

“Heart & Soul”

Jesus then tells his believers the difference between storing up earthly treasure and heavenly treasure. He says earthly treasures don’t last because moths or rust will decay and destroy them or thieves will break in and take them. However, he says heavenly treasures can’t be destroyed or stolen. Jesus tells his believers if they build up treasure on earth that is where their heart will be, but if they build up treasure in heaven this is where their heart will be.

Jesus tells them their eyes serve as a lamp for their body in that their eyes let light shine inside deep down to their soul. However, he tells them if their eyes don't let light in, their body is dark throughout deep down to their soul and they are living in so much darkness they don't even know it.

Jesus tells his believers that they can’t serve two masters because no matter how much they try they will end up hating and despising one of them and loving and devoting themselves to the other - they can’t serve both God and Money.

“Prolong & Provide”

Jesus tells his believers that God wouldn't give them such great gifts as life and a body and then neglect to provide for their needs when it come to eating, drinking, or clothing. Jesus tells them they can trust in God to provide for them by describing how God takes care of feeding the birds of the air and clothing the fields with lillies even though they are of less importance to Him than people are. Jesus tells his believers that His Father knows what they need so they shouldn’t go around lacking faith and acting the same way as those who don’t believe in God do, worried about what they will eat, drink, or wear. He tells them instead of worrying (something that doesn’t prolong their life), they should instead pursue God’s kingdom and righteousness so that their heart will be right and their soul will be full of light and as a result of this all their physical needs will be met as well. Jesus tells them to stop worrying about tomorrow and to live one day at a time by the grace of God because there are enough issues to deal with in the day at hand for them to be getting ahead of themselves and trying to play out in their minds what might never happen anyway the next day.


PRINCIPLES


1. The Gospel Writer, Matthew, tells his first century audience (and us today) what Jesus told his believers the consequences of a lost heart and dark soul were.


2. What did Jesus tell his believers the consequences of a lost heart and a dark soul were?


3. What does Jesus tell us today the consequences of a lost heart and a dark soul are?


A. Hypocrisy in

(1) Giving

(2) Praying

(3) Fasting


B. Earthly Treasures that

(1) Rot

(2) Get Robbed

(3) You Serve


C. Worries about

(1) Life

(2) Provisions

(3) Tomorrow


PRAYER

Our Father, We praise You for Your Kingdom and Your Righteousness.

Our Father, We praise You that heavenly treasures do not rot, can not be stolen, and are eternal.

Our Father, We praise You that Your Son is the Light of the world who shines into our soul taking away the darkness that otherwise naturally exists.

Our Father, Forgive us when we give, pray, or fast for any reason other than Your honor and glory. Search our hearts and remove all hypocrisy that exists. Cleanse our hearts of all mixed motives and falsehood so that what we do will be in Your Holy Name and not for human attention and praise.

Our Father, We ask that we would be strengthened by Your Holy Spirit so that we would seek first Your Kingdom and Your righteousness so that we would not lead lives of worry. We ask that we would grow in faith so that we would trust in Your provision and not act as if You did not exist or did not care about us.

Our Father, We ask that our eyes would shine so that others would see You and that You exist and come to know You so well that they too do not need to worry about their life or about tomorrow.

Our Father, we pray all of this in the Name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, Amen.