Sunday School Lesson

1. Matthew 6:1-18
“Approaching The King”
January 10, 2016
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA

2. What’s the number one thing?
http://www.stephanieclaussen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/the-glory-of-god-1200x1160.jpg

3. 1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to
the glory of God.

4. January Memory Verse
Joshua 1:9 ESV
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not
be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you
go.”

5. Please Pray For: The Pastor Search Committee
Ross Aven Rodney DePriest
Laurel Ditto Susan Lindsay
Chris Maddux Joe Young
Paul Moak, Jr. (Chairman)

6. References
• Kelly, Douglas F, If God Already Knows, Why Pray? (Fearn,
Ross-shire, Scotland: Christian Focus Publications, 1996).
• Missler, Dr. Chuck. The Gospel of Matthew, Session 5,
Chapters 6 & 7. YouTube Video.
• MacArthur, John, The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV
(Nashville: Thomas Nelson Inc., 1982).
• Kendall, R.T. Total Forgiveness. (Lake Mary, Fl: Charisma
House, 2001).

7. The Gospel of Matthew
• Written by Matthew – Jewish tax collector turned Apostle.
• Matthew directed his writing to the Jews.
• His goal was to prove to the Jews that Jesus is the promised
Messiah.
• He wrote this gospel around 50 AD.

8. Introduction to Matthew 6
• Matthew 1-2: The birth and infancy of Jesus
• Matthew 3-4: The beginning of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee
• Jesus’ Baptism, Temptation, Calling Disciples, Healing
• Matthew 5-7: The Sermon on the Mount

9. Introduction to Matthew 6
Matthew 5:1-4
1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and
sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
The Beatitudes
He said:
3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
…

10. Introduction to Matthew 6
Matthew 5:11-12
11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you
and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in
heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets
who were before you.

11. Sermon on the Mount Review
Matthew 5:13-48
• You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
• Jesus came to fulfill the Law.
• Murder by attitude toward your brother.
• Adultery in your heart.
• Divorce because of marital unfaithfulness.
• Oaths – Being a person of your word.
• Going the second mile – always.
• Love your enemies – in all circumstances.

12. The Sermon on the Mount
“What is Jesus saying to us?”
• Matthew 5:1-16 describes the true Christian’s
CHARACTER.
• The rest of the Sermon on the Mount deals with the
CONDUCT that grows out of that CHARACTER.
• CHARACTER always comes before CONDUCT because
“WHAT WE ARE” determines “WHAT WE DO”!

13. Character vs. Integrity?
• INTEGRITY = Beliefs + Discipline (Doing the right thing
because it is the right thing. Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf)
• CHARACTER = Integrity + Wisdom (Applying truth and
wisdom at the right time)
• Proverbs 9:10
10 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the
knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

14. The Sermon on the Mount
“Preached to Followers”
• Matthew 5: 1-16 Jesus shows us that true righteousness is
inward
• Matthew 5:17-48 Jesus points out that sin is also inward.
• Called the “Be-attitudes” and not the “Do-attitudes”.

15. The Sermon on the Mount
• Matthew 5 – Speaks of the righteousness that “His
Followers” must possess.
• Righteousness must exceed scribes and Pharisees righteousness.
• Righteousness comes only through trust in Christ.
• Matthew 6 – Deals with the external part of religion in the
righteousness that “His Followers” are to practice.
• The internal motive is the important thing in your good works.
• What we practice flows out of what we possess.

16. Matthew 6:1
1 "Be careful not to practice your acts of righteousness in
front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have
no reward from your Father in heaven.
• Acts of righteousness = charitable deeds.
• Jesus now focuses on 3 acts of righteousness: Giving, Praying
& Fasting.

17. Matthew 6:2-4
Giving
2 "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with
trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the
streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have
received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the
needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand
is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your
Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

18. The Right Way to Help Others:
Anonymously & Privately
• If you get your reward from people, God will pass.
• It is a private deal with God.
• If your motive is the praises of other people, God will let that
be your reward, and you may miss the blessing He has for
you.
• Your acts of righteousness or good deeds should be for God’s
glory, not your own glory.

19. Temporary Reward Only

20. Matthew 6:5-6
Prayer
5 "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love
to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to
be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their
reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the
door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father,
who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
• Hypocrites = Greek actors who wear a mask & putting on a show
for others.
• Hypocrites in NT were unregenerate persons who were self-
deceived.

21. Matthew 6:7-8
Prayer
7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans,
for they think they will be heard because of their many
words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what
you need before you ask him.
• If God already knows, why pray?
• Think about it!
• Answer at end of lesson.

22. Matthew 6:9a
9a "This, then, is how you should pray:
• This is a model for the disciples and believers on how to pray.
• The Lord’s Prayer is really The Disciples Prayer.
• The “Real” Lord’s Prayer is John 17.
• No further mention of it in Acts or other Epistles.

23. Purposes of the Lord’s Prayer
1. To keep us in fellowship with the Father.
1 John 1:7
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have
fellowship with one another (God and me), and the blood
of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
• “Walking in the light” means following without compromise anything God
shows you to do.

24. Purposes of the Lord’s Prayer
2. Designed to keep us from having a self-righteous attitude
• Shows our dependence on God for daily bread.
• Shows we need daily forgiveness as much as we need daily bread.

25. Matthew 6:9b
9b "'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
• Only a “believer” can call God his “Father”.
• We are praying for God’s name to be honored.

26. Matthew 6:10
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
• All prayers, first of all, should willingly submit to God’s purposes, plans
and glory.
• Jesus in His humanity also surrendered His will to the will of the Father
in all things.
• Matt 26:39
39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed,
"My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I
will, but as you will."

27. Matthew 6:11
11 Give us today our daily bread.
• Daily bread: physical and spiritual
• Daily physical needs of food, shelter, money…
• Spiritual needs
• Bread of Life – Jesus with you for this day.
• Grace – unmerited favor.
• Mercy – compassion toward others.

28. Matthew 6:12
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
• Some translations use “trespasses” for “debts” – same thing.
• Luke 11:4 uses the word for “sins”.
• Sinners are debtors to God for the violations of His laws.
• We forgive others because God forgave us.

29. Jesus makes two assumptions in this prayer.
1. That we ourselves need to be forgiven. (…forgive us our…)
2. That people have hurt us. (…as we forgive…)

30. Matthew 6:13
13 And lead us not into temptation (trials),
but deliver us from the evil one.
• This is a petition for protection and strength for us when we
have trials.
• Temptation is from Satan.

31. Temptation
• God does not tempt men.
James 1:13-15
13 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me."
For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt
anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are
dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then,
after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin,
when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

32. Matthew 6:13 Thoughts
• God may allow trials and for Satan to test us. – Book of Job
• We often set the limits for temptations we allow. –
dangerous
• 1 Corinthians 10:13
13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common
to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be
tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are
tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can
endure it.

33. Matthew 6:13b
Doxology of the Lord’s Prayer
13b For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory
forever. Amen.
• Not included in modern texts and usually footnoted.
• Not included in Luke 11 or earliest manuscripts of Matthew.
• Makes for some great soprano notes in the song!

34. Matthew 6:14-15
14 "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you,
your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do
not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your
sins.
• This verse is often misunderstood.
• It is a footnote to the Lord’s Prayer.

35. Matthew 6:14-15 Interpretation
• It is referring to “fellowship with the Father”, not salvation.
• Salvation in unconditional; fellowship with the Father is
conditional (forgiving others is one of the conditions).
• You are not earning your forgiveness by forgiving others.
• You are forgiven because Jesus paid for your sins at Calvary.

36. Questions On Forgiveness
1. What happens when we don’t forgive?
2. What changes in our relationship with God when we
choose not to forgive?
3. How does forgiveness manifest itself?
4. What are the consequences of an unforgiving spirit?

37. What happens when we don’t forgive?
• Do we lose our salvation? NO!
• Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this
is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so
that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's handiwork, created
in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in
advance for us to do.
• Forgiving others is one of our “good works”.

38. What changes in our relationship with God
when we choose not to forgive?
1. Salvation is unconditional; fellowship with the Father is
conditional.
• Unconditional means there is nothing you can do to make
yourself “good enough” to earn salvation.
• When we are declared justified before God, we are
declared righteous by our faith (Paul in Romans).
• Fellowship with the Father along the way is conditional.

39. What changes in our relationship with God
when we choose not to forgive?
2. Justification before God is unconditional; the anointing of
the Holy Spirit is conditional.
• Justification = declared righteous in the sight of God
because of our faith in Jesus.
• The anointing of the Holy Spirit may ebb and flow in our
lives.
• Our standing before God because of the righteousness of
Christ is permanent.

40. What changes in our relationship with God
when we choose not to forgive?
3. Our status in the family of God is unconditional; our
intimacy with Christ is conditional.
• We are the sons and daughters of the Most High once we
have been adopted into God’s family.
• Our intimacy with Christ is conditional when the Holy
Spirit is grieved (blocked by unconfessed sin and
disobedience).

41. What changes in our relationship with God
when we choose not to forgive?
4. Our eternal destiny – whether we go to heaven or hell – is
final at the time of our death, but receiving an additional
reward is conditional.
• Jesus talked about receiving a reward or inheritance in
heaven.
• Jesus told us to store up treasures in heaven, not on
earth.
• Some may arrive empty handed.

42. How does unforgiveness manifest itself?
1. RESENTMENT – holding a grudge causes a person to become
inwardly bitter.
2. REVENGE – You take God’s place and want to get even and
administer your own justice.
• Your tongue is usually your weapon.
3. JUDGMENTAL ATTITUDE – You place yourself as Judge and play
God (self-righteousness).

43. What are the consequences of an unforgiving
spirit?
1. The Holy Spirit is grieved.
• Ephesians 4:30-32
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom
you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of
all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander,
along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and
compassionate to one another, forgiving each other,
just as in Christ God forgave you.

44. What are the consequences of an unforgiving
spirit?
2. You are left to yourself.
• God stands back and lets you cope on your own.
• You are left with only your own strength.
• Backslider: Proverbs 14:14 “…is filled with his own
ways.”
• The door is open for Satan to trap you because God leaves
you to yourself.

45. What are the consequences of an unforgiving
spirit?
3. You are challenging God’s authority.
• “When you do not forgive, you are saying to God, MOVE
OVER, I want your job!”
• You do not trust or accept God working in your life.
• Romans 8:28 has no meaning to you:
Romans 8:28
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good
of those who love him, who have been called according
to his purpose.

46. What are the consequences of an unforgiving
spirit?
4. You lose the potential anointing in your life.
• You become an empty shell.
• God cannot bless you because of the sin in your life.

47. Matthew 6:16-18
Fasting
16 "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do,
for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting.
Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But
when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so
that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but
only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who
sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
• If your goal is to impress others, God will forgo the spiritual
blessing from fasting.

48. Now, The Challenge Question?
Matthew 6:8b
8b for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
•If God already knows, why pray?

49. If God already knows, why pray?
• Two Complementary Truths:
1. God has an all-encompassing plan and is utterly
sovereign over all.
2. Human prayer is really effective in the supernatural
realm.
• The seeking of God in prayer releases the blessing of
God.
• “Asking is the rule of the kingdom.” Charles Spurgeon

50. Verses commanding us to pray
• 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all
circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
• Psalm 32:6a
6a Therefore let all the faithful pray to you
while you may be found;
• James 5:13a
13a Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray.

51. The Lord’s Prayer KJV
Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors,
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever. Amen

52. The Plan of Hope & Salvation
John 3:16 NKJV
16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting
life.”
John 14:6 NKJV
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one
comes to the Father except through Me.”

53. The Plan of Hope & Salvation
Romans 3:23 NKJV
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23a NKJV
23a For the wages of sin is death,
• Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.
• Even Jesus, the only one who doesn’t deserve death, died in this life to pay
the penalty for our sins.
• The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the second death explained in
Revelation 21:8.

54. The Plan of Hope & Salvation
Revelation 21:8 NKJV
8 “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually
immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the
lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Romans 5:8 NKJV
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we
were still sinners, Christ died for us.

55. The Plan of Hope & Salvation
Romans 6:23b NKJV
23b but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Revelation 21:7 NKJV
7 “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and
he shall be My son.”
• Romans 10:9-10 explains to us how to be an overcomer.

56. The Plan of Hope & Salvation
Romans 10:9-10 NKJV
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in
your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the
mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10:13 NKJV
13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

57. The Plan of Hope & Salvation
If you have questions or would like to know more, Please, contact First
Baptist Church Jackson at 601-949-1900 or
http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/