Matthew 6:1–13, 16–18

Bible Studies for Life 
Academic Dean at Beeson Divinity School, Samford University

Right Motives

Matthew 6:1–13, 16–18
Good things come in small packages. As any child who has enjoyed several birthdays or Christmases will tell you, this saying may not always hold true. A pair of socks rolled up tightly inside wrapping paper never constitutes a good thing. In language, however, it is more often true that small words — the words that at first sight may seem unimportant — can be the most significant.

What is the most important word in Matthew 6? It is that little word “when.” It is used twice with respect to giving, three times with respect to praying and twice with respect to fasting. Each time it is used Jesus is clearly communicating expectation. Whether or not those who follow Jesus will give is not a question; the question is how much and to whom. Praying is not an optional extra for those who have leisure time on their hands. Fasting is our Lord’s expectation. To be sure, volumes have been written on these aspects of Christian practice, but here we find the simple fact: you will give, pray and fast.

Along with these expectations Jesus also has something to say about the way in which we carry them out. What is common in all three cases is how the external action reveals the internal motivation. The purpose of giving is not to receive praise and honor, but to supply the needs of those the world refuses to see. The purpose of prayer is to commune with the Lord, not to parade a supposed or superficial righteousness before the world. Fasting has nothing to do with anyone else other than you and your heavenly Father. If you have ever wondered how to evaluate your own motives so as to avoid self-deception, take a look at your outward actions. Are you satisfied that God is the only one who knows what you are doing? Are you content not receiving any recognition? Three times we read in this chapter that our Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Giving (1–4)
The question that usually accompanies any discussion of giving is, how much? Where is the line between giving to others and providing for my family? Frankly there are so very few for whom this is actually an issue that it is often nothing more than a smoke screen for defending stinginess. We don’t just eat; we overeat. We don’t just buy; we overbuy. The difficulty comes when this becomes the norm for how to live. There is nothing wrong with living well and enjoying the world in which we live; however, in our giving perhaps we should not be asking why should I give to someone else, but why should I keep this for myself? We need reasons to keep our money as much as we do for spending it or giving it away.

Prayer (5–13)
The Lord’s Prayer is easily one of the most well known portions of Scripture. It too has a very important little word. In this case it is the first word, “our.” Some people have interpreted verse 6 to mean that all prayer should be private and that prayer meetings and praying out loud in a group are forbidden if not at least discouraged by Jesus. If that is so, it seems very odd that when Jesus teaches us to pray, He teaches us to pray corporately. The context is important. Jesus’ point in these verses is to condemn those whose actions are motivated by the centrality of self. In prayer as in giving, we must take care not to pray for our reputation’s sake, but as part of the body of Christ, the church.

Fasting (16–18)
In John’s Gospel Jesus said that His food was to do the will of the Father. This is what fasting is about. It reminds us that our most pressing need, our most pressing activity, our most pressing concern is not nourishing our bodies, but obeying our Lord. This does not mean we abuse our bodies through neglect, for God gave us our bodies to enjoy; but it does mean we submit even our bodies in service to the One who gave us life.