God-Honoring Piety

Matt

Matthew 6:1–8 NASB95

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. “So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. “But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. “So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

Matthew 6:16–18 NASB95

“Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. “But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Matt 6:16-18

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament Chapter 6

The Believer and Worship (6:1–18)

Christ puts worship first since one’s relationship to God determines his or her relationship to the world and other people. The key is v. 1, where “alms” should be translated “righteousnesses.” The main thought is that our relationship to God must be secret, for God to see and not for people to applaud. God will not allow two rewards, one from humans and one from heaven!

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament Chapter 6

Giving (vv. 2–4).

The Pharisees loved to advertise their giving (Mark 12:38–40). How people 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 people. But they have no reward from the Father.

Matthew 6:1–4 NASB95

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. “So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. “But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

matt 6:2-

Mark 12:38–40 NASB95

In His teaching He was saying: “Beware of the scribes who like to walk around in long robes, and like respectful greetings in the market places, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets, who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers; these will receive greater condemnation.”

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament Chapter 6

Praying (vv. 5–15).

Jesus says, “When you pray” (NIV) not “If you pray”; He expects us to pray. The first thing that characterized Paul after his conversion was his praying (Acts 22:17). Jesus emphasizes that it is a sin to pray to be seen and heard by others. Prayer is secret fellowship with God, although public prayer is certainly authorized in the Bible. However, nobody should pray in public who does not pray in private; for that would be hypocrisy.

Matthew 6:5–8 NASB95

“When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. “So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament Chapter 6

three common errors concerning prayer: (1) praying to be heard by others (vv. 5–6)

matt 6:

Matthew 6:5–6 NASB95

“When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament Chapter 6

(2) praying mere words, empty repetition (vv. 7–8)

matt 6:

Matthew 6:7–8 NASB95

“And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. “So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament Chapter 6

(3) praying with sin in the heart (vv. 14–15)

Matthew 6:14–15 NASB95

“For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. “But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament Chapter 6

God does not forgive us because we forgive others but on the basis of the blood of Christ (1 John 1:9).

1 John 1:9 NASB95

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament Chapter 6

However, an unforgiving spirit will hinder a prayer life and show that a person has no understanding of the grace of God.

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament Chapter 6

The so-called “Lord’s Prayer” of vv. 9–13 is not given to be recited thoughtlessly. Rather, it is a model for us to use to learn to pray. It is a “family prayer”—note the repeated “our” and “us.” It puts God’s name, God’s kingdom, and God’s will before the earthly needs of people. It cautions us against selfish praying.

Matthew 6:16–18 NASB95

“Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. “But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

matt 6:

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament Chapter 6

Fasting (vv. 16–18).

True fasting is of the heart, not just the body (see Joel 2:13; Isa. 58:5). Fasting for the Christian is preparation for praying and other spiritual exercises. It means giving up a lesser thing to gain a greater, and this could involve food, sleep, or even sex (1 Cor. 7:1–6).

joel

Joel 2:13 NASB95

And rend your heart and not your garments.” Now return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness And relenting of evil.

isa 58:

Isaiah 58:5 NASB95

“Is it a fast like this which I choose, a day for a man to humble himself? Is it for bowing one’s head like a reed And for spreading out sackcloth and ashes as a bed? Will you call this a fast, even an acceptable day to the Lord?

1 Corinthians 7:1–6 NASB95

Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman. But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband. The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. But this I say by way of concession, not of command.