KINGDOM ATTITUDES

Kingdom Attitudes (Matthew 6:1-8, 12, 14-18)

MATTHEW 6:

VERSE 1: 
Question: 
How does verse 1 compare with Matthew 5:14-16?
    - Matthew 5:14-16 emphasizes that Christians 
      should be active in the world.

    - Verse 1 challenges us to explore our motives for what we do.
       - Are we acting out of obedience to God and concern for others, 
         or do we look for (and even expect) praises from others?

    Note: 
       In this particular instance, “alms” 
       probably refers to giving, especially to the needy.

    Question: 
    How many of us have done something for others (including giving) 
    that only the recipients, God, and we know about?

VERSE 2: 
Basically this verse is saying, “Don’t toot your own horn”.
The difference between this verse and Matthew 5:16.
    5:16 - God gets the glory

     6:2 - The person giving gets the glory.
           Note: 
              Their reward is the praise of others. 
              Since they have already received a reward, 
              there is no need for a future reward.

Question: 
What would motivate someone 
to prefer the praise of others over the reward from God?
    - Praise of man is immediate and tangible?

Note: 
   Those who give for the praise of others 
   will be rewarded with the praise of others.

   Those who give out of love for God and others, 
   will be rewarded with God’s approval.

VERSE 3: 
Taken literally, this verse would say, 
    “Close your eyes, reach in your pocket 
    and give whatever is there, without looking”.
    Note: 
       This would contradict the Bible teachings 
       that giving should be planned and generous.

    Note: 
       In the world we live in, we need 
       to know what we give for tax purposes.

Jesus is emphasizing that we should make every effort 
to avoid giving in order to be noticed and praised by others.

Summary:
   - We should do the right things, 
     but we should do them for the right reasons.
   - Our good deeds should be noticed 
     in order to glorify God, not ourselves.
   - We should never give in order 
     to get recognition and praise from others.
   - When we look for praise from others, 
     that’s the extent of the reward we can expect.

VERSES 5-6: 
Jesus was not condemning standing while praying; 
He wasn’t condemning public prayer in general.
   Note: 
      Both were normal ways of praying among 1st century Jews.
      Note: 
          Jesus Himself did both.

Jesus was condemning praying in a way to get praise from others.
   Note: 
      The hypocrites directed their prayers 
      to themselves and others, not to God.

Although public prayer is important, the focus of believers’ prayers 
should be personal devotions and private prayers.

“secret” - Refers to a quiet time with the Lord.
   Note: 
      Meeting with the Lord is an expression of our faith in Him; 
      along with scripture, this is the way He reveals His will to us; 
      it is a time of interceding for others; 
      a time for praising and thanking Him.

God rewards those who pray the way Jesus taught.

VERSES 7-8: 
In the previous verses, Jesus warned about 
wrong praying among the Jews;
here, He warns about wrong praying like the heathen.
   - He warns about “vain repetitions” 
     (praying just to be praying, with no sincerity).

   - He warns about babbling on with a lot of words 
     (again with no sincerity; possibly thinking that 
     lengthy prayers will be heard over others).

Question: 
Was Jesus criticizing the repeating of something in prayer?
   - Jesus taught about earnest, persistent prayers 
     (Luke 11:5-8, 18:1-8).

   - He was warning against the kind of praying 
     that repeats so-called sacred words (assuming 
     this will influence God to grant their requests).

Question: 
Was He opposed to long prayers?
   - Jesus prayed all night at times.

   - The length of the prayer depends on the setting and the need.

   - He was referring to the pagan babbling that 
     goes on and on in the belief that this will arouse God.

Question: 
What kind of question would you expect 
from someone who reads verse 8?
   - Why pray?

Reasons for praying:
    - It is more than our needs, it includes confession, communion, 
      thanksgiving, praise, and intercession.

    - God gives us what we need only as we pray. His blessings 
      depend on our readiness and openness to receive them.

    - God chooses to use not only our actions, 
      but also our prayers in working out His will.

Summary:
   - Don’t pray in order to praised by others.

   - Public prayers should be addressed to God; 
     the basis for prayer should be a regular time alone with God.

   - Don’t repeat the same formula over and over 
     with the idea it will get God’s attention.

   - Sincere prayers are by their nature prayed more than once.

   - The fact that God knows our needs is an incentive to pray.

VERSES 12, 14-15: 
Jesus continued His teachings about prayer 
by giving the model prayer (verses 9-13).
   Note: 
      It is called the model prayer because it is a model 
      for prayer, not as an example of Jesus praying.

Question: 
Why do saved people need to ask for forgiveness over and over?
Weren’t we forgiven of our sins once and for all 
when we trusted Jesus?
   - We are saved, but sins can affect 
     our fellowship with God and others.

   - Sin can rob us of the joy of our salvation.

   Note: 
      The closer we get to God, the more we see our sins 
      (including sins of attitudes and sins of omission).

Forgiveness is like a two-way street.
    - The heart that is open to receive God’s forgiveness, 
      is also open to let our forgiveness flow out to others.

    - Forgiveness calls for the forgiving person 
      to absorb the hurt inflicted by another.

    - The power and motivation for forgiving others comes from 
      having experienced God’s forgiveness (Ephesians 4:32).

Summary:
    - Believers should pray for forgiveness of their sins.
    - Being forgiven by God leads to forgiving those who hurt us.

VERSES 16-18: 
Jesus didn’t say, “If you fast”, He said, “When you fast”.
   Note: 
      It sounds like fasting is expected of believers.

Question: 
When should we fast?
    - In the Old Testament, 
      fasting was associated with repentance of sins.
        - (Nehemiah 9:1-2) The people fasted 
          and confessed their sins.

        - (Jonah 3:5) When the people of Nineveh repented, 
          they fasted.

    - Fasting is associated with discovering 
      and preparing to fulfill God’s mission.
        - (Matthew 4:1-2) Jesus fasted before He 
          began His public ministry.

        - (Acts 13:3) Leaders of the Antioch church 
          responded to God’s call to send Saul 
          and Barnabus as missionaries.

Jesus warned about fasting like the hypocrites 
(in order to get attention).
    - They assume a “sad countenance” (which they do not feel).

    - They disfigure their faces (probably with ashes) 
      to hide their real attitudes.

Jesus said to appear as natural as possible 
when fasting (so as not to call attention to ourselves).
   Note: 
      Those who fast for attention and to impress others, 
      have received their reward (praise of men).

      Those who fast in the right manner 
      will receive their reward from God.

Question: 
    Have you ever fasted?

Summary:
    - Fasting is appropriate for Christians in certain situations.

    - When Christians fast (or make some sacrifice for God), 
      they should resist the temptation to let others know.

Prayer:
    Lord, help me to do the right things in order to receive Your 
    approval, not in order to receive praise from other people.