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Matthew Chapter Six

 

I. Content of the Chapter

 

The State Citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven should Have before God

  A. They should have secret righteousness:

1. Principle ------do not do charitable deeds before men (v.1)

2. Concerning charity (v.2-4)

3. Concerning prayer:

  a. What we should pay attention to about prayer (v.5-8)

  b. Example of prayer (v.9-15)

4. Concerning fasting (v.16-18)

   B. They should live a life by faith:

     1. Do not lay up for yourselves treasures (v.19-24).

     2. Do not worry about clothing or food (v.25-32).

     3. Seek first His kingdom of God and His righteousness (v.33).

     4. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble (v.34).

  

II. Verse by Verse commentary

 

Matt. 6:1Take 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.

   YLT: “‘Take heed your kindness not to do before men to be seen by them and if not -- reward ye have not from your Father who in the heavens;

   Meaning of Words: “take heed”: beware heed and be cautious to; “charitable deeds”: benefaction righteousness deeds; “reward”: wage.

Literal Meaning: “take heed that” this verse is a general warning. It is a topic from v.1 to v.18.

“Do not do your charitable deeds before men” “Charitable” generally refers to benefaction prayer fasting and other righteous deeds (good deeds). “Before men”: it is visible. The righteous deeds of citizens of the kingdom of heaven are both before men and before God. The former emphasized on the open testimony and it would be seen by men (Matt. 5:16); the latter emphasized on deeds in secret and it would be seen by God (v.4 v.6 v.18). These two sides should be moderate and balanced.

“To be seen by them” “To be seen” shows the problem is the intention of those who do righteous deeds.

“Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven” There is no reward at all. Because doing one thing only deserves one wage if one has received the reward from men he will have no reward from God. Moreover he did not do it for God and so that God does not owe the wage to him. What the Lord rebuked here is not the charitable deeds but the intention to do charitable deeds. If we do charitable deeds to show off ourselves and gain others’ praise we are the hypocrites (Matt. 23:5) and therefore have no reward from God.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) There are temptations of two kinds of extremities when Christians do righteous deeds: one is that Christians do righteous deeds completely before men being affected by men; the other is that they walk according to their own pleasure not being affected by men at all and consequently they are rejected and criticized by men not edifying others. Both of these two are of no good.

2) Christians should acquire a habit of doing charitable deeds in secret. Those who only live before men will never please God.

3) The world evaluates by the nature of things and believers evaluate by motivations behind things. Believers should never do evil things or even good things with adulterated motives.

4) One should not do a good thing with the purpose to be seen by others. What indeed pleases God is that one does a good thing lest he is seen and praised by others.

5) Those who seek to be in public are of flesh. Men of flesh like to be exalted noticed and praised by others.

 

Matt. 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.

   YLT: “whenever therefore thou mayest do kindness thou mayest not sound a trumpet before thee as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets that they may have glory from men; verily I say to you -- they have their reward!”

   Meaning of Words: “do a charitable deed”: help out have compassion and sympathize; “the hypocrites”: performance act; “have”: receive receive in full pay up a bill (used in accountant).

   The Background: “the hypocrites” This word originated with the actors on stage who spoke with masks to cover their original appearance so as to play the role vividly.

Literal Meaning: “do a charitable deed”: help done by one’s compassion;

  “They may have”: they have received what they deserve;

  “They have their reward”: glory from men. It means to gain fame and praise from men.

   Spiritual Meaning: “in the synagogues and in the streets” “In the synagogues” symbolizes in the assembly. “In the streets” symbolizes before the world.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The aim of charitable deeds is to help the poor rather than one’s own complacence and glory. It should be done in secret to help others with money otherwise it would make one proud and also corrupt others.

2) The aim of charitable deeds is to lay up treasures in heaven (see v.20) and settle accounts before God in future. However if someone does charitable deeds purposely before men the account has been settled at that time.

3) One could not receive both the “glory from men” and the “reward” from Father in heaven. If one has the glory from men he won’t have the reward from Father in heaven. If one rejects the glory from men he will receive favor in secret from Father in heaven.

4) Believers should do their utmost to avoid glory from men and praise from brothers and sisters.

5) What the hypocrites behave does not accord with what they think. They behave in one way and think in another. Their behavior is for others (doing charitable deeds) and their motives are for themselves (coveting fame).

6) Those who do charitable deeds to be seen by others only seek for glory from men and they have never considered seeking for the reward from Father in heaven. It’s no wander that they have no reward from Father in heaven.

 

Matt. 6:3 “But when you do a charitable deed do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing

   YLT: “`But thou doing kindness let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth ”

Literal Meaning: “do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” It shows that one tries his utmost not to be noticed by others. He even does not allow himself to have the awareness that he is doing charitable deeds. Here it does not mean that we do not let anyone else know our charitable deed for it is impossible. It means that we should not hold the showing-off attitude.

   Spiritual Meaning: “right hand” symbolizes the good aspect which is of God.

  “Left hand” symbolizes the usual aspect which is of man.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) When a truly broken man does a charitable deed he won’t purposely let others know and he even does not regard it amazing.

2) When we do charitable deeds by God (the right hand) we should not let our left hand know------not allow our flesh to have a chance to partake in (Rom. 8: 8).

 

Matt. 6:4 “that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

   YLT: “that thy kindness may be in secret and thy Father who is seeing in secret Himself shall reward thee manifestly.”

Literal Meaning: the eyes of Jehovah run to and fro through the whole earth (2Chr. 16:9) and therefore “your charitable deed may be in secret” means that doing charitable deeds only before God.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) God carefully sees everything we do and He will remember us if we give to drink to one of these little ones a cup of cold only (Matt. 10:42).

2) What God sees is not our behavior before men but our life in secret.

3) Natural life loves to hide his disadvantages and show off his advantages (“sounding a trumpet”). However the heavenly disposition loves to hide his advantage (“your charitable deed may be in secret”) and does not love to purposely hide his disvantages.

4) Shall we seek for reward from men or reward from God? If we do not have spiritual sight we could not live in the principle that “your charitable deed may be in secret”

 

Matt. 6:5And 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.

   YLT: “`And when thou mayest pray thou shalt not be as the hypocrites because they love in the synagogues and in the corners of the broad places -- standing -- to pray that they may be seen of men; verily I say to you that they have their reward.”

   Meaning of Words: “love”: be found of (it has personnel attachment); “on the corners”: broad corners formed by two walls; “be seen”: appear to.

Literal Meaning: the Lord Jesus did not mean that praying in public was wrong. He meant that one should not pray for the purpose of being seen by others.

  This verse implies that their prayer had received the reward that they had hoped for from men and their prayer would not be heard or answered by God.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Though believers pray in every place (1Tim. 2:8) we should not put on a show to be seen by others. If one prays with the aim of being seen and praised by others he only talks and prays to himself.

2) Prayer is a matter of communication between men and God. What we should care about is God’s feeling to our prayers instead of men’s feeling to us.

 

Matt. 6:6 “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.

   YLT: “`But thou when thou mayest pray go into thy chamber and having shut thy door pray to thy Father who in secret and thy Father who is seeing in secret shall reward thee manifestly.”

Literal Meaning: “your room” “room”: bedroom the quietest room in the house.

“In the secret place” It is not in dark place but in concealed place.

“Will reward you openly” It does not refer to the common answer to pray but the reward in future. The content of believers’ prayers may be answered in this time and the behavior of believers’ prayers will be rewarded in the coming age.

   Spiritual Meaning: “going into your room” symbolizes entering into the depth of spirit.

  “Shutting your door” symbolizes not letting things of the outside world in for distraction.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Praying is the innermost secret life of believers. If we only pray before men it is shown that we are very shallow.

2) When we pray we should return to the depth of our heart (“go into your room”) lay aside all the things besides God (“shut your door”) and meet God in spirit (“Father who is in the secret place”).

3) Praying in the Holy Spirit (Jude. 20) is the key to touch the Lord.

4) If the motive of our prayer is to communicate with God He will assuredly hear and answer our prayer.

5) Prayer will not only be “heard” but also be “seen” by God. Usually though we may not have many words before God our attitude and intention will express what we could not utter (Rom. 8:26) to God.

6) All our prayers in secret may not be answered by God today but these prayers are counted as charitable deeds (v.1) and therefore there will be reward in future.

7) Prayer is the representation of believers’ spiritual life. It is the most dangerous to believers that they only have public spiritual life before men and lack secret spiritual life before God.

 

Matt. 6:7 “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.

   YLT: “`And -- praying -- ye may not use vain repetitions like the nations for they think that in their much speaking they shall be heard ”

   Meaning of Words: “repetitions”: superfluous words empty words monotonous words (the sound of a stream flowing through stones); “many words”: meaningless words (the sound of vehicles rolling over pebbles)

Literal Meaning: “the heathen”: those who believe in other gods. They speak repeatedly and called the names of their gods unceasingly afraid lest their false gods could not hear them.

  “Many words” Here it does not mean that we should not pray for one thing again and again (Mark. 14:36 39 41). It means that we should not pray with superfluous phases many meaningless and empty words or long and ritual sentences.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) We should not pray emptily (“repetitions”) or long-windedly (“many words”). We should pray concisely and comprehensively. Moreover there should be substance in prayer to express inner burdens.

2) In our prayers there’re probably many words said towards men instead of towards God.       

3) Though the words of prayer are important the person who prays is more important. What is important in prayer is not decency of words but spirit and truth and the inner urgent burden and need.

4) There is a crisis we may have when praying in meetings: we may be affected by others. Many words are prayed according to people’s reaction rather than burden.

 

Matt. 6:8Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.

   YLT: “be ye not therefore like to them for your Father doth know those things that ye have need of before your asking him;”

Literal Meaning: Since God has already known do we have to pray to Him? That’s because when we pray to God we admit our needs before God and rely on Him.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Though God has already known the things we have need of we should still in everything let our requests be made known to God by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving (Pill. 4:6)

2) Saints pray not only to seek something for themselves but also to have communication with God and to dedicate their hearts to God.

 

Matt. 6:9 “In this manner therefore pray: Our Father in heaven Hallowed be Your name.

   YLT: “thus therefore pray ye: `Our Father who in the heavens! hallowed be Thy name.”

Literal Meaning: the Lord did not want us to recite exactly according to the prayer. What He did was to give us an example of prayer and to teach us the principle of prayer.

“Our Father in heaven” Only the children of God who are born from above could pray in this manner.

“Hallowed be Your name” To Jewish people “name” stands for one’s uniqueness. Here it denotes God’s character and nature. This sentence means that God should be exalted above all in the hearts of all men.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Usually we do not know what we should pray (Rom. 8:26) and therefore we should ask the Lord to teach us to pray with a heart willing to be instructed (Luke. 11:1).

2) We should start our prayer with worship praise and honor for that are what He deserves.

3) Today many people on earth ignore despise and insult God’s name and even among believers many call God’s name rashly and casually.

 

Matt. 6:10 “Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

   YLT: “`Thy reign come: Thy will come to pass as in heaven also on the earth.”

Literal Meaning: “Your kingdom come”: may God reign among people on the earth.

“Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”: people on earth all do the will of God.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Today not merely the world rebel against God and gainsay Him. God’s people honor Him with the lips but their heart is far away from Him (Matt. 15:8). They do not live in the reality of the kingdom of God.

2) Today God’s will is done in heaven without any hindrance and it is hindered by men’s will on earth. Therefore we need to pray to make paths straight for God.

3) God’s will is like river and our prayer is like small pipe. God’s will is usually retrained by prayer of His citizens.

4) Today many believers standing on their own sides pray for their own needs. Few believers standing on the side of God pray for the kingdom of God and God’s will.

5) The highest prayer of believers is that they work with God through prayer. It is to pray with the single-minded aim of exalting God’s name bringing in the kingdom of God and fulfilling the will of God.  

6) If the kingdom of God would come spontaneously the Lord would have no need to teach us to pray in this manner. The Lord’s Prayer is an example and it also has revealed the will God and shows that God is willing to work with men. Only when men work with God by prayer could we bring in the kingdom of God and fulfill the will of God.

7) The working principle of God is: God has a will and He would let those who are of God know it at first and ask them to pray to God for this will. Then God will answer their prayer to fulfill His own will.

8) The true and effective prayer is to know the will of God at first and let the will of prayers accord with the will of God to move the mighty hand of God so as to fulfill the contents of prayer.

 

Matt. 6:11 “Give us this day our daily bread.

   YLT: “`Our appointed bread give us to-day.”

Literal Meaning: “our daily bread” stands for the necessities of life instead of luxury goods.

Though we should not worry about our life or food (see v. 25-31) we should pray for our daily bread. Though God will assuredly provide us with daily bread we still have to pray. We are exercised to trust in God in everything by this.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) When we live in this world if we could regard the profits of God God will assuredly regard our daily needs. For if we live we live to the Lord (Rom. 14:8).

2) Apparently we get our daily bread by our toil (Gen. 3:17). Actually it is given from God who affords us all things richly for enjoyment (1Tim. 6:17). Therefore we should rely on God’s provision of both the spiritual and material needs. 

3) God gives us bread day by day because He wants us to pray day by day. Those who live by relying on God ask for bread day by day instead of week by week.

 

Matt. 6:12 “And forgive us our debts As we forgive our debtors.

   YLT: “`And forgive us our debts as also we forgive our debtors.”

Literal Meaning: “forgive us our debts” “debts” refers to moral debts: offences against God and men.

This verse implies that the requirement of answering our prayer is to forgive others at first. If we do not forgive others our conscience will not be good. Without good conscience we will also lose faith (1Tim. 1:19). Our prayer will not be answered by God without faith.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The moment we live in natural life we will sin and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). Therefore we should confess our sins every day and ask God to forgive our sins (1John. 1:8-10).

2) God’s will is to forgive men’s debts (offences) willingly. Since He has forgiven our debts He assuredly wants us to forgive other’s debts just like what He does (Matt. 18:21-35).

3) If men could not commune with men men will not commune with God.

 

Matt. 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.

   YLT: “`And mayest Thou not lead us to temptation but deliver us from the evil because Thine is the reign and the power and the glory -- to the ages. Amen.”

   Meaning of Words: “temptation”: trial; “deliver from”: save; “the evil one”: the devil is a person and with a mind. “Amen”: trustworthy surely.

Literal Meaning: “do not lead us into temptation” means that do not let us suffer the temptations that we could not resist. Here the Lord taught us to admit our weakness and ask God to keep us by praying.

“For” shows the basis why we should pray in this manner and shows that prayer in this manner will assuredly be answered by God.

“Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.” “Kingdom” is the area where God reigns. “Power” is the working of God. “Glory” is the manifestation of God.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) When believers stand on the side of God and pray for the name kingdom and will of God the power of Hades will attack us. Therefore we need to be kept by God.

2) The devil the tempter (Matt. 4:3) as a raring lion walks about seeking whom he may devour (1Pet. 5:8). Nobody could resist the devil by his own strength and therefore we need to rely on God’s keep.

3) The whole world lies in the wicked but we are of God and the wicked does not touch us (1John. 5:18-19). However we should still be united with God by prayer and hide ourselves in Him.

4) Sometimes we apparently pray for us however our intention is to bring in the kingdom of God for God’s reign and for the manifestation of God. This kind of prayer will assuredly be answered by God.

 

Matt. 6:14For if you forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

   YLT: “`For if ye may forgive men their trespasses He also will forgive you -- your Father who in the heavens;”  

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Even though our intention is for God our behavior may not be worthy of God. Therefore we should ask God to forgive us and then we could approach with boldness to Him and pray to God (Heb. 4:16).

2) If we want our trespasses to be forgiven by God we have to forgive men their trespasses at first. Only those who are able to forgive others could be worthy to pray for God.

 

Matt. 6:15 “But if you do not forgive men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

   YLT: “but if ye may not forgive men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) For judgment without mercy to him that has shown no mercy (James. 2:13).

2) Believers should not criticize others at will and condemn others for sins. Your attitude towards others affects God’s attitude towards us.

 

Matt. 6:16Moreover 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.

   YLT: “`And when ye may fast be ye not as the hypocrites of sour countenances for they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men fasting; verily I say to you that they have their reward.”

Literal Meaning: The one who fasts should not show his painfulness to gain others’ attention and compassion. Three meanings of fasting are as below:

1) It is a manifestation that one humbles himself before God and seeks for God’s compassion.

2) It is a manifestation that one treats the body harshly before God.

3) It is a manifestation that one is grievous and urgent before God for his heavy burden and is in need of God’s special grace.

   Spiritual Meaning: fasting shows that one works with God and willingly gives up his reasonable enjoyments. Therefore it symbolizes that one denies himself and takes up his own cross and follows the Lord (Matt. 16:24).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The power to be willing to do charitable deeds comes from prayer. The much power of prayer comes from fasting. Fasting shows that one has agreed with the Lord and works with the Lord. It is the highest peak among believers’ charitable deeds.

2) Doing charitable deeds is giving others what we own and fasting is to give up what is reasonable for us to enjoyments.

3) The knowledge we have about the meaning of fasting determines how much we could appropriate the spiritual power.

 

Matt. 6:17 “But you when you fast anoint your head and wash your face

   YLT: “`But thou fasting anoint thy head and wash thy face ”

   Meaning of Words: “anoint your head”: anoint one’s head with oil.

  The background: when fasting the Jews usually sprinkle ashes on their heads. They anoint their head and wash their face on happy occasions.

Literal Meaning: “anoint your head and wash your face” shows that everything goes as usual in appearance.

   Spiritual Meaning: “anoint your head”: anoint one’s head with oil; “oil” symbolizes the Holy Spirit.

  “Wash your face”: one washes his face with water. “Water” symbolizes the words of the Lord (Eph. 5:26).

  “Anoint your head and wash your face” symbolizes that one is immersed wholly into the spirit and words of life and by this his spots have been cleaned.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) “Anoint your head and wash your face.” It is purposely not to appear to men. Anyone who truly knows God would purposely hide spiritual advantages.

2) Those who expose spiritual things to men are the most superficial ones. The biggest lose of Christians is that they only know to live before men instead of to live before God.

 

Matt. 6:18 “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.

   YLT: “that thou mayest not appear to men fasting but to thy Father who in secret and thy Father who is seeing in secret shall reward thee manifestly.”

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) If we only regard men’s evaluation our charitable deeds prayer and fasting will be useless in God’s eyes. However if we seek to do these in secret for God we will assuredly receive His notice and reward.

2) Fasting means that the burden in spirit is so heavy that he is unable to eat and drink. Therefore it needs God’s special grace to support him. If our hearts are fully for God God will pour out His full grace on us.

3) Those who appear to men to be fasting were condemned by the Lord (v.16). However those who do not appear to men to be fasting were praised by the Lord.

4) One who truly lives before God lives a life in secret. 

 

Matt. 6:19Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;

   YLT: “`Treasure not up to yourselves treasures on the earth where moth and rust disfigure and where thieves break through and steal ”

Literal Meaning: “lay up for yourselves treasures on earth” This sentence shows that treasures on earth are connected with “selves”. Those who are greedy for treasures are full of themselves.

“Moth” indicates that treasures will naturally be devalued by the change of external environment.

“Rust destroys” refers to the consumption deterioration and attrition of treasures by themselves.

“Thieves break in and steal” indicates that some personal factors make treasures flow into others’ pockets unwittingly.

These three factors above cause that treasures are not reliable and they could not provide men with guarantees.

Controversial Clarification: we could not explain this verse in this way: the Lord Jesus asked believers to spend all the money every day eat rice up and do not deposit money in a bank. The Lord meant that we should not merely lay up treasures for ourselves and should use treasures for God and others. The Lord wanted us to rely on God instead of only rely on treasures.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1) God has condemned the lazy treasures. Believers should not waste money and not be reluctant to spend reasonable costs.

2) The trait of treasures on earth is that they will be destroyed corrupted and devaluated. Therefore they are not worthy of our too much effort energy and time. Moreover we should not fully rely on treasures.

 

Matt. 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.

   YLT: “but treasure up to yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust doth disfigure and where thieves do not break through nor steal ”     

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Give treasures to the poor especially the poor among Saints and by doing this you lay up treasures in heaven (Matt. 19:21 Rom. 15:26 2Cor. 9:9).

2) Laying up treasures in heaven is that believers open a bank account in heaven and they could draw from God when we are in need. The bank on earth may go bankrupt but the bank in heaven is unfailing forever.

3) Today every penny we spent for the Lord has its everlasting value.

 

Matt. 6:21 “For where your treasure is there your heart will be also.

   YLT: “for where your treasure is there will be also your heart.”      

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) If we want to convey our hearts into heaven we have to lay up treasures in heaven at first. Treasures go into heaven first and hearts follow the treasures.

2) What mostly attracts one’s heart is treasure. If we only lay up our treasure on earth our hearts will only mind things on earth. On the contrary if we lay our treasure in heaven our hearts will be attracted every day and mind things in heaven.

3) The kingdom of God is in the midst of you (Luke. 17:21). The throne of God should be in our hearts. We should not let treasures replace the status of God in our hearts.

4) We may quickly know where one’s treasure is by his conversation. If one’s treasure is in heaven he will talk about things in heaven very soon. If one’s treasure is on earth soon he will talk at length about mineral speculating business stocks interest rate and etc.

 

Matt. 6:22The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good your whole body will be full of light.

   YLT: “`The lamp of the body is the eye if therefore thine eye may be perfect all thy body shall be enlightened ”

   Meaning of Words: “good”: pure single single-minded sound.

Literal Meaning: here it illustrates the connection between heart and life with the connection between the eye and body. Eye here stands for profit desire ambition and the direction that one is attracted to.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The condition of one’s eyes determines the condition of his vision. In like manner whether one’s intention towards God is single determines whether his life has a proper direction and meaning.

2) What men’s eyes see usually shows what men love in their hearts. The eye is “the lamp of the body”. The eye will light up and show what are hidden deeply in the whole body.

3) The eye could stand for the man. From the things that his eye loves to see the trend of his heart is seen. The pride or humbleness of one’s eyes shows his character.

4) If our hearts mind things in heaven fully our eyes will focus on God Himself solely our whole body will be full of light and our spiritual senses will be opened.

5) If we want to have the spiritual enlightenment we should turn our eyes to God (2Cor. 3:16). The reason why children of God do not have the spiritual enlightenment is that they have not turned their hearts to God.

6) How perfect one’s heart is towards God depends on the extent of his dedication to God. The more completely one devotes himself to God the more perfect his heart will be towards God and the lighter his spiritual vision will be.

 

Matt. 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!

   YLT: “but if thine eye may be evil all thy body shall be dark; if therefore the light that in thee is darkness -- the darkness how great!”

   Meaning of Words: “bad”: evil wicked.

Literal Meaning: two eyes could only see one thing at one time. If one’s eyes want to see two things at one time his sight will be blurred.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Spiritual sight is very important. If men are in darkness they are in sins and they are not living in the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 5:8 1John. 1:5-6).

2) Those who wholeheartedly lay up treasures on earth have single sight towards money. Today the most troublesome ones are those that want to lay up treasures both on earth and in heaven.

3) Judah followed both the Lord and the money. He wanted both heavenly things and earthly things. Consequently he hung himself half in the air neither in heaven nor on earth.

4) If we want to lay up treasures both in heaven and on earth our hearts will vacillate and become bad and our whole body will fall in darkness.

5) If you put treasures before your eyes naturally your eyes will not see God and light and you will assuredly fall into darkness. If you turn your heart away from treasures you will assuredly have light.

6) The problem that believers do not have enlightenment while reading the Bible and lack spiritual opening towards God’s words lies in the devotedness of treasures. The more important we regard treasures as the darker it will be in us.

7) Once our hearts wander from the Lord all kinds of things of the world will attract our eyes to make ours eyes bad and unwittingly we may fall into darkness.

8) Eyes of citizens of the kingdom of heaven have been opened and have turned from darkness to light (Acts. 26:18). If they fall into darkness again their last state will be worse than the first (2Pet. 2:20).

 

Matt. 6:24No 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.

   YLT: “`None is able to serve two lords for either he will hate the one and love the other or he will hold to the one and despise the other; ye are not able to serve God and Mammon.”

   Meaning of Words: “mammon”: money profit treasures.

Literal Meaning: citizens of the kingdom of heaven have been bought by a price and they are not their own (1Cor. 6:19-20) but His own special people (1Pet. 2:9). However if our hearts are inclined to treasure treasure will occupy our hearts and become our lord. Consequently we are unwittingly under its control and bondage.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Treasure on earth is the enemy of God and it will steal the service that God deserves. If one loves treasure on earth he will not love God fully. We could not love both God and treasure.

2) The love of money is root of every evil. Someone had aspired after money and had wandered from the faith (1Tim. 6:10).

3) Today the greatest temptation to believers is to serve two masters------they want to serve both God and money. Consequently God is always despised.

4) Only when one loves God will his heart be enlarged. When one is divorced from the attraction of money and loves God only his heart will be enlarged to the greatest extent.

5) A double-minded attitude is unacceptable and there could be nothing such as a spiritual hedger. One is not serving God at all unless he serves God wholeheartedly.

 

Matt. 6:25Therefore 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?

   YLT: “`Because of this I say to you be not anxious for your life what ye may eat and what ye may drink nor for your body what ye may put on. Is not the life more than the nourishment and the body than the clothing?”

   Meaning of Words: “life”: soul; “worry about”: distract.

Literal Meaning: “therefore” shows that it is connected with v.24------our worries about daily necessities (food and clothing) may lead us to serve mammon.

Since God has created our body He will care about the needs of our body.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Since God has given us life He will care about the needs of life and give us things to eat and drink. In Him we exist (Acts. 17:28).

2) It is a sin that believers worry about food and drink and clothing because worry shows that they do not trust in God’s care.

3) A believer should not let his body become the lord of his life. The body is the servant instead of the lord.

4) On one hand the Lord asks us to pray for daily bread (v.11); on the other He asks us not to worry about food and clothing. Prayer is the expression of belief. One asks and trusts that He will assuredly give to him. Worry is the expression of unbelief.

 

Matt. 6:26 “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?

   YLT: “look to the fowls of the heaven for they do not sow nor reap nor gather into storehouses and your heavenly Father doth nourish them; are not ye much better than they?”

Controversial Clarification: here the Lord did not meant that we should not labor for life (see Gen. 3:17). He did not tell us that we should not work to make a living. If any man does not like to work neither let him eat (2Thess. 3:10). The Lord meant that our provision lies in the hand of God and therefore we should trust in God instead of ourselves in this matter.

   Spiritual Meaning: “the birds of the air” symbolizes heavenly life with faith.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) A life by faith keeps aloof like birds of the air that they do not run for themselves (“they neither sow”) or save for themselves (“nor gather into barns”).

2) A life by faith is that we have nothing except Father in heaven------He is my lord who “feeds” me.

 

Matt. 6:27 “Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

   YLT: “`And who of you being anxious is able to add to his age one cubit?”

   Meaning of Words: “worry”: be anxious about take thought.

Literal Meaning: Our length of life and stature are decided by God and men’s worry won’t change God’s arrangements. Our worry is unhelpful and therefore there is no need to worry in vain.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Worry is unbelief towards God. God wants us to be carful about nothing (Pill. 4:6).

2) There is no need to worry about things that we are able to do. Worrying about things that we are unable to do is useless. The most useless thing in the world is worrying.

 

Matt. 6:28So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;

   YLT: “and about clothing why are ye anxious? consider well the lilies of the field; how do they grow? they do not labour nor do they spin;”      

   Spiritual Meaning: “lilies” symbolizes a life by faith that is under the care of God and without any artificial work (S. of Sol 2:1-2).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) A life by faith is pure as lilies of the field without any artificial work (“they neither toil”) or decoration (“nor spin”) but only resting in the care of God.

2) The birds of the air and lilies of the field both testify the principle of God’s grace------to receive freely instead of to gain by labor.

 

Matt. 6:29 “and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

   YLT: “and I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these.”

   The Background: “even Solomon in all his glory” The days of Solomon were the most prosperous period in the history of Israel. At that time the kingdom was the strongest the territory was the vastest and the enjoyment was the most luxurious (see. 1Kings. 4:20-28).

   Spiritual Meaning: What Solomon was arrayed was the best artificial one; “like one of these” symbolizes what is made by God’s hand.

   Enlightenment in the Word: any man-made achievement cannot compare with that grows up in life.

 

Matt. 6:30 “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?

   YLT: “`And if the herb of the field that to-day is and to-morrow is cast to the furnace God doth so clothe -- not much more you O ye of little faith?”

   The Background: “the grass of the field…is thrown into the oven” Men in the Middle East usually burned grasses to heat oven of clay.     

Literal Meaning: God so clothes the grass of the field that is of no use. Therefore God will assuredly care about us according to our use before God.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) A life by faith is resting on “today” that is arranged by God ------“give us this day” (food) and “today is” (clothing).

2) Men are the center of God’s creatures. All things exist for the provisions to men. If believers know our status in God’s heart we will not worry about their living.

3) Having faith towards God will save us from many useless worries. If someone does not have faith (or has little faith) towards God how miserable his life will be!

 

Matt. 6:31Therefore do not worry saying What shall we eat?' or What shall we drink?' or What shall we wear?'

   YLT: “therefore ye may not be anxious saying What may we eat? or What may we drink? or What may we put round?”   

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The moment believers worry about food and drink and clothing he loses his use. Those who are full of worries cannot be used by God and cannot partake in God’s work.

2) Believers have to do their duties of life and should not worry about life.

 

Matt. 6:32 “For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

   YLT: “for all these do the nations seek for for your heavenly Father doth know that ye have need of all these;”

   Meaning of Words: “For after all these things the Gentiles seek” “the Gentiles”: unbelievers in the world. What believers seek after should be different from what unbelievers seek after.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The world does not know God and therefore they worry about life. We could cast all our care upon Him (1Pet. 5:7).

2) God is the Father of citizens of the kingdom of heaven. He is the fountainhead of every good gift and every perfect gift and He surely will give us what we need (James.1:17).

3) God will give us what we “need” and He is not willing to give us what we “seek after” (what we love and hope for).

 

Matt. 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.

   YLT: “but seek ye first the reign of God and His righteousness and all these shall be added to you.”

Literal Meaning: Here it is “seeking” in life instead of “asking” in prayer. We should live a life with an attitude of seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness------let God reign us in our life (“the kingdom of God”) and let Him be manifested in our life (“His righteousness”).

“All these things shall be added to you” As long as citizens of kingdom of God seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness they will gain the kingdom of God and His righteousness and additionally their daily necessities. 

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Here the Lord connects “the kingdom of God” with “His righteousness”. Those who gain the kingdom of God are living in His righteousness. From the other point of view those who live in God’s righteousness gain the kingdom of God.

2) “The kingdom of God” is God’s authority and “His righteousness” is God’s law. Seeking the kingdom of God is seeking to obey God’s authority. Seeking God’s righteousness is seeking to obey God’s law.

3) Believers’ life should be controlled by God (the kingdom of God) and then should be justified by God (His righteousness). In this way men will see the kingdom of God and His righteousness from us.

4) It is of no meaning to have a zero first and other numbers simply added to it. You must firstly have an effective number for other numbers to follow. You have to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and then He will add food and clothing to you.

5) Those who seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness are the richest in the world.

6) God minds the needs of those who mind the things of God.

 

Matt. 6:34 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

   YLT: “Be not therefore anxious for the morrow for the morrow shall be anxious for its own things; sufficient for the day the evil of it.”

Literal Meaning: God wants us to pay attention to “today”. He does not want us to reach for what is beyond our grasp or worry about tomorrow. One takes one step after a lead on the way by faith. The lead of the Lord is first a lamp unto one’s feet and then a light unto one’s path.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Citizens of the kingdom of heaven should live well “today” and should not become slaves of “tomorrow”. Actually we do not know what will be on the morrow (James. 4:14).

2) Citizens of the kingdom of heaven unavoidably have tribulation in the world (John. 16:33) and therefore we should have faith. Faith is for “today” (Heb. 3:13-14) rather than “tomorrow”.

3) God hasn’t given us the extra effort to hold the burden of tomorrow.  Never let worries bind your souls and let God’s grace lead us live every day because worry covers the shine of today like the darkness of tomorrow.

4) All the worries about tomorrow are produced by imagination. God’s grace will give to those who are truly in trouble instead of those who are imaginatively in trouble.

 

III. Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons

 

Charitable Deeds of the Citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven

I. Motive------not for glory from men (v.1)

II. Charitable deeds to “men”------benefaction (v.2-4)

III. Charitable deeds to “God”------prayer (v. 5-8)

IV. Charitable deeds to “oneself”------fasting (v.16-18)

V. Result------God will Himself reward you openly (v.4 6 18)

 

Prayer of Several Kinds of People

I. The hypocrites:

  A. way------in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets (v.5)

  B. aim------they may be seen by men (v.5)

II. The heathen:

  A. way------vain repetitions (v.6)

  B. aim------seeking for what to eat and what to drink (v.31-32)

III. The Saints:

  A. way------in secret (v.6)

  B. aim------seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (v.33)

 

Three “Do not”s and Three “Do”s (v.5-8)

I. Not be seen by men

II. Do not use vain repetitions

III. Do not use many words

IV. Go into your room (return into the depth of spirit)

V. Shut your door (lay aside all the things besides God)

VI. Pray to your Father who is in the secret place (meet God in spirit)

 

The Content of Prayer (v.9-15)

I. Praise and worship------ Our Father in heaven Hallowed be Your name.

II. Obedience and warfare------ Your kingdom come.

III. One heart and working together ------ Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

IV. Trust and thanksgiving------ Give us this day our daily bread.

V. Confession and dealing with sins------ And forgive us our debts As we forgive our debtors.

VI. Asking and entrusting------ And do not lead us into temptation But deliver us from the evil one.

VII. Praise and Amen------ For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

 

Knowledge the Citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven should Hold

I. Treasure on earth is not reliable (v.19)

II. Treasure in heaven is everlasting (v.20)

III. Treasure on earth is able to darken one’s eyes in heart (v.21-23)

IV. Treasure on earth is the enemy of God (v.24)

 

Attitudes the Citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven should Hold

I. Do not worry about food and drink (v.25-27)

II. Do not worry about clothing (v.25 28-30)

III. Citizens of the kingdom of heaven should be different from the Gentiles (v.31-32)

IV. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (v.33)

V. Do not worry about tomorrow (v.34)

 

Three “not”s about worry

I. We can not worry (v.19-24)

II. We do not worry (v.25)             

III. We should not worry (v.26-34)

 

Why Christians Do not Need to Worry

I. Worry will make men rely on money:

A. Treasure is not reliable (v.19-20).

B. Treasure will make one’s inner part dark (v.21-23).

C. Treasure will make men lose the love of God (v.24)

II. There is no need to worry about food and drink and clothing:

A. Worrying about food and drink and clothing is worrying about life and body (v.25).

B. The existence of life and body lie in Father in heaven (v.26).

C. Men cannot change life or stature by worrying (v.27).

D. Men’s life and body are more precious than birds of the air and lilies of the fields (v.26 28-31).

E. Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things (v.32).

F. If we life for the kingdom of God and His righteousness God will add to us all these things (v.33).

III. Do not worry about tomorrow (v.34):

     A. Tomorrow will worry about its own things.

     B. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

 

── Caleb HuangChristian Digest Bible Commentary Series

   Translated by Sharon Ren