Matthew Chapter 6

Chapter Overview

Matthew 6 continues the Sermon on the Mount, moving from the outward posture of righteousness to the spiritual disciplines that shape a life oriented to God. It begins with a warning against practicing righteousness to gain human approval, then proceeds to three core practices: almsgiving, prayer, and fasting. Each practice is framed by the same corrective principle: do these things in secret, not to win praise, for the Father who sees in secret will reward openly. The chapter then offers the Lord’s Prayer as a model of intimate, relational address to God, acknowledging God’s name, kingdom, daily provision, forgiveness, and deliverance from temptation. The teaching moves into the rhythm of trust and alertness: do not worry about daily needs, but seek first the Kingdom and God’s righteousness, with assurance of daily provision. The final section broadens to the discipline of judging others and the principle of asking, seeking, and knocking. Overall, Matthew 6 calls for a spirituality of sincerity, trust, and dependence on God, where the heart’s posture determines both private devotion and public moral life.

Historical & Literary Context

Dating Matthew 6 to the 70s–80s CE, the Gospel preserves Jesus’ teaching within a primarily Jewish Christian audience. This chapter sits within the central early section of the Sermon on the Mount, after the Beatitudes and salt-and-light discourse, and before the broader ethical exhortations in subsequent chapters. The genre remains a combination of didactic teaching and narrative framing, designed to instruct a community living under both Roman rule and temple-centered religious life. The emphasis on “secret” piety and the avoidance of hypocritical display engages with Jewish debates about righteousness before God versus outward shows of religiosity. The chapter also reflects early Christian tenant that God is the intimate Father who knows needs and responds in ways that reveal generosity and faith. By placing prayer, almsgiving, and fasting in a single movement, Matthew articulates a coherent spiritual formation program: authentic discipleship is a life of worship that shapes every dimension of daily existence.

Key Themes

- Secret Devotion and Humility: True righteousness is not performative but intimate with the Father.

- Dependence on God: Trust in God’s provision and governance over daily needs and future anxieties.

- Relationship with the Father: The Lord’s Prayer models relational, reverent address to God as Father.

- Kingdom First Orientation: The priority of God’s reign and righteousness over anxious self-sufficiency.

- Prudent Community Life: Guidance on forgiveness, discernment in judgment, and persistent prayer.

Modern Application

For contemporary life, Matthew 6 reframes spirituality from visibility to sincerity. In a social media era where “credit” is often sought through virtuous posts, the call to perform acts of charity, prayer, and fasting in secret challenges Christians to cultivate a private devotional life that sustains public integrity. The Lord’s Prayer remains a compact curriculum for prayer: worship, alignment with God’s purposes, daily dependence, forgiveness, and moral defense against temptation. The command not to worry about tomorrow invites practical habits: budgeting, planning with trust, and resisting anxiety-driven consumption. The instruction to seek first the Kingdom redirects priorities in work, relationships, and politics, encouraging people to evaluate whether their choices reflect God’s will rather than personal comfort. The broader ethic of judging others with humility helps communities cultivate mercy and resolve conflicts with grace.

- Luke 11:1-4 (parallel Lord’s Prayer)

- Matthew 7:1-5 (Judging others)

- Philippians 4:6-7 (not be anxious)

- Psalm 37:25-26 (trust and provision)

- Jesus (as the teacher and exemplar)

- Paul (as a later interpreter of Christ-centered righteousness)

- Barnabas (as a model of humble, generous living)