Reference

Matthew 6:1-6; 16-18

Sermon Notes

I. _______ matter! (v. 1)

II. Righteous ________ (v. 2-6; 16-18)

A. ________ (v. 2-4)

B.                     (v. 5-6)

C.                     (v. 16-18)

5 Good Reasons for fasting…

  1. _________ ourselves before God, repenting of sins
  2. __________ on God for future mercy
  3. ___________ our hunger for God
  4. Fast to ________ for the needy
  5. It’s _________to skip a meal! 

Going Deeper

  1. Dan Doriani points out Jesus does not mention Pharisees in chapter 6, but the hypocrites of 6:1–18 resemble the hypocrites of 23:13–37, and he calls out the Pharisees six times there. The common theme in chapters 6 and 23 is the desire for recognition, the tendency to display righteousness in order to “be seen” (6:1, 5, 16).
  2. John Stott says: “It is our human cowardice which made [Jesus] say, ‘Let your light shine before men’, and our human vanity which made him tell us to beware of practicing our piety before men.”
  3. In what ways do you find yourself doing the right things for the wrong reasons (to be seen by others)? What do you need to do to change?
  4. Read Matthew 6:2-4. What do the hypocrites do when the give to the poor? Why do that give that way? What should we do instead?
  5. Charles Spurgeon says: “To stand with a penny in one hand a trumpet in the other is the posture of hypocrisy.” What do you think he means?
  6. Read John 12:42-43. What kept some of the rulers from confessing Jesus? What did they love (v. 43)? Do you love the praise of men? What will you do to change your motives in doing good works?
  7. Read Matthew 6:5-6. What do the hypocrites do in prayer? What should we do instead? How will you apply this to your life?
  8. John Stott says: “As we are to give out of a genuine love for people, so we are to pray out of a genuine love for God. We must never use either of these exercises as a pious cloak for self-love.”
  9. What are some of the rewards of prayer (see Phil. 4:6-7; James 5:16b)?
  10. Read Matthew 5:16-18. Jesus expects his followers to fast. Have you ever fasted? If so, what benefits did you receive?
  11. Dan Doriani says: There is also a self-made religion that features “severity to the body.” Paul points out that this has “no value” in stopping self-indulgence (Col. 2:20–23).
  12. Read 1 Peter 1:3-9. What is our hope as Christians? How will you live this week in light of this passage?