"The Model Prayer"

    Matthew 6 deals with the true righteousness practiced in the believer's life. This section continues through 7:12, and contains three sections:

1. The believer and his worship.
2. The believer and his wealth.
3. The believer and his walk.

The first is his relationship to God, the second to the world,and the third to mankind.


I. The Believer and His Worship
    Christ puts worship first since a man's relationship to God determines his relationship to the world and other men. The key verse is 6:1, the key though is that our relationship to God must be secret, for God to see and not man to applaud. God will not let a man receive two rewards: one from men and one from Heaven.

• Giving 6:2-4 In Mark 12:38-44, the Pharisees loved to advertise their giving. How men today love to tell others how much they have given. If this is their motive for giving, then they have their reward - "The praise of men." But they have no reward from the Father.
• Praying 6:5-15 Notice that Jesus says, "When thou prayest....", not "IF...". He expects us to pray. The first thing that characterized Paul after his conversion was his praying (Acts 22:14). Jesus emphasized that it is a sin to pray to be seen and heard of men. Prayer is secret fellowship with God; although public prayer is certainly authorized in the Bible. I believe if we pray in public we should certainly pray in private.

            Jesus points out three common errors concerning prayer:

• Fasting 6:16-18 True fasting is of the heart, not the body (Joel 2:13 and Isa. 53:5). Fasting for the New Testament Christians preparation for praying and other spiritual exercises.

II. The Believer and His Wealth 6:19-34

    The key verse in this section is 6:33, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and these things shall be added unto you". Put God first and material things will be taken care of by God.
    Christ states several reasons why living for material things is foolish. For one thing, material things on earth do not last. Rust ruins metals; thieves steal riches. But treasures used for God's glory is invested in heaven where it lasts eternally.
The way a man uses his wealth is an indication of the condition of his heart. If he spends his time and money on his business, and neglects God, then his heart in his business and not fixed on God. In verse 24, Jesus clearly tells us that we cannot look in two directions at one time, serve two masters, and live for God and material wealth. The Bible does not condemn the possession of wealth, but it does warn against the love of money and the wrong use of wealth. See 1 Tim. 6:9-11, 17-18; 
Heb. 13:5; Luke 16:1-31
    Christ's "Therefore" suggests that now He is going to apply this principle to our lives. He shows that worrying about material things is foolish because it accomplishes nothing! He reminds us to keep our values straight - life consists of food and clothing. Jesus was poor, yet how happy and peaceful He was. Christ points to God's care of nature - the flowers, the grass, the birds. "You are of more value than they!" He says, "Certainly God will care for you." The Father knows our needs, and if we put Him first, will meet every need.
    How does the believer today practice Matthew 6:33? He will start with his time, and put God first in every day. This means prayer and reading the Word. He will put God first in every week, attending the House of God faithfully. He will put God first every day, paying his tithe to the Lord. He will put God first in his choices, making no decisions that would leave God out. Lot did this and ended up in the darkness of a cave, practicing terrible sin! He did not put God first in his selection of a place to live and raise his family.
    There are spiritual parallels for the material things people seek today. We should seek to feed the hidden man out of the heart with spiritual food just as we seek to feed the body (Mt. 4:4; 1 Peter 3:4). We should see that our spiritual garments are in order (Col. 3:7-15), just as we fret over the physical garments that clothe our body. We drink physical water, but we should also drink the spiritual water of life that Christ offers (John 4:13-14 and John 7:37-39).