Matthew 6

Passage overview

Matthew 6 is part of the teaching that Jesus delivered during the Sermon on the Mount, containing important lessons about what true godliness is. This chapter can be divided into four main sections.

  • Practicing Godliness (Verses 1-18): He urges believers not to do the representative Jewish acts of giving, praying, and fasting in a showy way, but to do them sincerely before God.
  • Attitudes Toward Possessions and Wealth (Verses 19-24): He emphasizes the need to seek treasures to store in heaven rather than worldly riches, and that we cannot serve both money and God at the same time.
  • Lessons About Worry (Verses 25-34): These teachings about life’s needs and worries tell us to trust in God’s care.

1verse“Be careful that you don’t do your charitable giving before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

2verseTherefore, when you do merciful deeds, don’t sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from men. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.

3verseBut when you do merciful deeds, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand does,

4verseso that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

5verse“When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most certainly, I tell you, they have received their reward.

6verseBut you, when you pray, enter into your inner room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

7verseIn praying, don’t use vain repetitions as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking.

8verseTherefore don’t be like them, for your Father knows what things you need before you ask him.

9versePray like this: “‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.

10verseLet your Kingdom come. Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

11verseGive us today our daily bread.

12verseForgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.

13verseBring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.’

14verse“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

15verseBut if you don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

16verse“Moreover when you fast, don’t be like the hypocrites, with sad faces. For they disfigure their faces that they may be seen by men to be fasting. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.

17verseBut you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,

18verseso that you are not seen by men to be fasting, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.

19verse“Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal;

20versebut lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal;

21versefor where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22verse“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light.

23verseBut if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

24verse“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t serve both God and Mammon.

25verseTherefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

26verseSee the birds of the sky, that they don’t sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you of much more value than they?

27verse“Which of you by being anxious, can add one moment to his lifespan?

28verseWhy are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin,

29verseyet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these.

30verseBut if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, won’t he much more clothe you, you of little faith?

31verse“Therefore don’t be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘With what will we be clothed?’

32verseFor the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

33verseBut seek first God’s Kingdom and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.

34verseTherefore don’t be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day’s own evil is sufficient.

The Essence of a Godly Life

The message that repeatedly emerges in this chapter is sincerity before God. It keeps stressing that we should focus on God, who sees the heart, not on outward appearances. Jesus warns against using godly acts such as giving, prayer, and fasting as tools to be seen by people. Through this, He shows that true faith is faithfulness in places where no one can see.

Treasures in Heaven and Two Masters

From verse 19 onward, He deals with our attitude toward wealth. He tells us to pursue treasures to store in heaven, not riches that will spoil and disappear on earth—seeking treasures of eternal value. In verse 24, He makes it clear that no one can serve both God and money (Mammon) at the same time, using the illustration, “No one can serve two masters.” In the end, it makes us reflect on where our heart truly is.

Seek God’s Kingdom First, Not Worry

The final part of Matthew 6 is a teaching about worry. Jesus gives examples of the birds of the air and the flowers of the field to remind us that God knows what we need and cares for us. In verse 33, He proclaims that what we should seek first is God’s kingdom and His righteousness, and He promises that all our needs will be provided as well. So He encourages us not to worry about tomorrow, but to live today by faith.

Meditation Points

  • Am I doing my godly life (prayer, giving, fasting, etc.) so that people will see it?
  • Let’s check where my heart stays—where my treasure is.
  • In moments of worry, am I trusting in God’s care and provision?
  • Is a life that seeks God’s kingdom and righteousness first truly my top priority?

Applying It to Myself

  • Let’s live our faith with a sincere heart before God, rather than showing a certain image in front of others.
  • Let’s look back on what worldly “treasures” or worries I may be clinging to too much, and hand them over to God one by one.
  • In the daily practice of prayer and even small choices, God’s kingdom—let’s practice thinking about it first.