Matthew Lesson 13

     Today's lesson, we will begin in Matthew 6:1 Take heed that ye do
not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no
reward of your Father which is in heaven."  Matthew 6:2 "Therefore
when thou doest [thine] alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as
the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may
have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward."
Matthew 6:3 "But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know
what thy right hand doeth:"  Matthew 6:4  "That thine alms may be in
secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee
openly.:"

     Jesus was warning us that our doing must not be for a big show or
to receive in return. When we help someone, it should not be for
public acclamation. We should help, because there is a need, and not to
benefit ourselves. See a need and quietly take care of it. Don't run
and put it the paper when you feed someone. God sees everything we do,
but more than that, He sees the reason why we did it.

     Matthew 6:5 "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the
hypocrites [are]: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and
in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I
say unto you, They have their reward."  Matthew 6:6 "But thou, when
thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door,
pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in
secret shall reward thee openly."

     This Scripture does not mean not to pray in church. It just means
don't pray, just so men can say, what a beautiful prayer you prayed.
The most effective prayers are when we seek God by ourselves, having
nothing to gain but fellowship with Him. Every one should have a place
to go and pray to God alone. Prayer is just talking to God. The words
we say are really unimportant.  God knows the desires of our hearts
before we say a word.  He just loves for us to come to Him to visit,
with no ulterior motives. When we pray, we must be quite part of the
time and let God speak to our spirit. God does not want us to ever be
ashamed to pray.  Just talk to God. He will listen and answer your
prayer. Be sincere.

     Matthew 6:7 "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the
heathen [do]: for they think that they shall be heard for their much
speaking." Matthew 6:8 "Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your
Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him."

     In these verses above, Jesus was saying, talk to God, don't
memorize a prayer and say it every time. Tell God what is in your
heart. Tell Him you love Him and need His help.

     Probably, the most famous prayer in all the world is the prayer
Jesus taught them to pray here. Most people misunderstand what he was
saying. We all memorize this prayer, and say it without having the
vaguest idea what it meant. If you will notice in verse 9, Jesus said
"After this manner therefore pray ye." He did not say, pray this
prayer.  He was showing the disciples, and us as well, the way to get
results from our prayers.

     Matthew 6:9 "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father
which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name."

     Let's stop and see what Jesus was trying to tell us. First,
recognize God for who He is (our Father). Worship Him before going on.
Speak to Him with reverence.

     Matthew 6:10 "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as [it
is] in heaven."

     God is not just Supreme Ruler of heaven, but of this earth, as well. We
must say as Jesus said, "not my will but thine". We should be looking
forward to God's kingdom being set up on this earth.

     Matthew 6:11 "Give us this day our daily bread."

     God will take care of our needs one day at a time. The Bible said
take no thought for tomorrow. Live each day one day at a time.

     Matthew 6:12 "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our
debtors."

     We all want the first part of verse 12, but few want the last.
We must forgive to get forgiveness.

     Matthew 6:13 "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us
from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for
ever. Amen."

     Our lusts cause us to be tempted. We should ask each day to let
the blood of Jesus wash over our minds and our beings so the devil
cannot attack us in these areas. God will deliver us from evil, but we
must realize our need for His help and use it. Just as the prayer
begins with praise and recognition of God for what He is, it ends with
praise and recognition.  "Amen" means so be it.

     Matthew 6:14 "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your
heavenly Father will also forgive you:" Matthew 6:15  "But if ye
forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive
your trespasses."

     All through the Bible we see statements like the one above.
"Judge not, that ye not be judged" Etc.

     Matthew 6:16 "Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites,
of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may
appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their
reward." Matthew 6:17 "But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head,
and wash thy face;" Matthew 6:18  "That thou appear not unto men to
fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which
seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly."

     Fasting involves more than giving up food for a day or two. A
fast is a solemn time of separation from worldly things of all kinds.
For a fast to be effective, it must be a fast that God encouraged you
to do for some specific prayer request to be answered. The time that
would ordinarily would be watching tv or fixing lunch, or 1,000 other
little things, should be spent studying your Bible and praying. During
a fast, God is your source. Many types of illness require fasting.
When the disciples came to Jesus and asked why they could not heal
someone, Jesus said, this type comes out by prayer and fasting.

     When you fast, it is a serious time with God and Him alone. We
fast to show sincerity. God will honor a fast, if we are sincerely
seeking. You may fast one meal, one day, two days, three days, or as
long as you have agreed with God you will fast. It is better to
promise less. You must follow through, until God releases you. God does
not like to play games. Some people drink juice during a fast, but a
true fast is a total abstinence. Pray before you begin. Sometimes a
preacher will call a fast for a church, but usually it is an
individual thing. Don't brag to others about a fast. Just separate
yourself for a season, pray and fast. It gets wonderful results.

     Matthew 6:19 "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth,
where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and
steal:" Matthew 6:20 "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not
break through nor steal:" Matthew 6:21 "For where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also."

     We have seen in recent weeks the stock market dropping
drastically and many people lost their life's savings. Some cannot
cope with the loss of worldly goods, and have resorted to suicide.  The
sad thing is that you cannot end it all. We are eternal beings, and
will spend an eternity somewhere. When we end our lives, there is some
question where that eternity will be. Really, God does not care if you
are poor or rich. God does not want us to put money ahead of Him, or
His people. The sin of having money occurs, When we see someone in
need, and will not help them. Love of money is a sin. Whenever you help
God's people here on earth, you are laying up treasures for heaven.
"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my
brethren, you have done it unto me." {Matthew 25:40} This is what God
would have you to do, if He has endowed you with wealth. Be quick to
distribute to those in need. Be content with what you have, whether it
be much, or little. Help everyone you can, as often as you can. In
heaven their are no thieves. Your heart and pocket book are usually in
the same place.  Put God first, and all other things will fall in
place.

     Next lesson, we will begin in verse 22.




                         Matthew 13 Questions

1.  When you do alms, you can lose your reward if you do what?
2.  What do the hypocrites do?
3.  What is said about the right and left hand?
4.  If you do alms in secret, what will God do?
5.  For what reason should we help someone?
6.  God sees what we do, but more than that, what does He see?
7.  When we pray, where should we pray?
8.  The most effective prayers are what?
9,  What is prayer?
10. We are told not to use vain repetitions when we pray. What do the
    heathen believe?
11. What is the most famous prayer?
12. What was Jesus telling the disciples and us about prayer?
13. What is the first thing we should do in prayer?
14. How should we speak to God?
15. God is supreme ruler of where?
16. How does God take care of our needs?
17. How should we live our lives?
18. How can we be forgiven?
19. What causes us to be tempted?
20. How should prayer end?
21. What does "amen" mean?
22. Who is spoken of as having a sad countenance when fasting?
23. What two things should we do, so as not to appear to be fasting?
24. What is a fast, besides giving up food?
25. What must we do for God to honor our fast?
26. Some drink juice fasting, but a true fast is what?
27. Sometimes a preacher calls a fast for the church, but it is
    usually what?
28. What can happen to treasures on earth?
29. Where should we lay up treasures?
30. God does not care whether you are rich or poor, what does God care
    about?
31. What must a rich person be quick to do?