THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT Matthew 5 – 7 Study X

Matthew Chapter 6 is divided into two halves: Study X A Christian’s Motivation: not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) Matthew Chapter 6 is divided into two halves:  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) Matthew Chapter 6 is divided into two halves: First half: Private life in the “secret place.” Giving. Praying. Fasting.  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) Matthew Chapter 6 is divided into two halves: First half: Private life in the “secret place.” Giving. Praying. Christians are to be different from Fasting. the hypocrisy of the religious.  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) Matthew Chapter 6 is divided into two halves: First half: Private life in the “secret place.” Giving. Praying. Christians are to be different from Fasting. the hypocrisy of the religious. Second half: Public business in the world. Money. Possessions. Food Drink Clothing Ambition  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) Matthew Chapter 6 is divided into two halves: First half: Private life in the “secret place.” Giving. Praying. Christians are to be different from Fasting. the hypocrisy of the religious. Second half: Public business in the world. Money. Possessions. Christians are to be different from Food the materialism of the irreligious. Drink Clothing Ambition  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) The disciples had religious and secular responsibilities.  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) The disciples had religious and secular responsibilities. Secular activities must be based on religious principles.  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) The disciples had religious and secular responsibilities. Secular activities must be based on religious principles. Jesus continues to offer his disciples choices.

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) The disciples had religious and secular responsibilities. Secular activities must be based on religious principles. Jesus continues to offer his disciples choices. These choices distinguish kingdom citizens from citizens of the world.  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) The disciples had religious and secular responsibilities. Secular activities must be based on religious principles. Jesus continues to offer his disciples choices. These choices distinguish kingdom citizens from citizens of the world. 1. Two treasures (on earth and in heaven, 19-21). 2. Two bodily conditions (light and darkness, 22-23). 3. Two masters (God and mammon, 24). 4. Two preoccupations (our bodies & God’s kingdom, 25-34).  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) I. A question of treasure: What makes us truly rich? (19-21)  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) I. A question of treasure: What makes us truly rich? (19-21) What is the comparative durability of the two treasures?  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) I. A question of treasure: What makes us truly rich? (19-21) What is the comparative durability of the two treasures? What does Jesus prohibit? Possessions? Saving for a rainy day? All of the pleasures of life?  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) I. A question of treasure: What makes us truly rich? (19-21) Jesus prohibits selfish accumulation of earthly treasure.  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) I. A question of treasure: What makes us truly rich? (19-21) Jesus prohibits selfish accumulation of earthly treasure. Because of the danger of envy, greed, & covetousness.  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) I. A question of treasure: What makes us truly rich? (19-21) Jesus prohibits selfish accumulation of earthly treasure. Because of the danger of envy, greed, & covetousness. Because earthly treasure is not durable.  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) I. A question of treasure: What makes us truly rich? (19-21) Jesus prohibits selfish accumulation of earthly treasure. Because of the danger of envy, greed, & covetousness. Because earthly treasure is not durable. It can rust, rot, or spoil. It can be stolen. It distracts from the pursuit of true happiness. We can’t take it with us.  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) II. A question of vision: How is our eyesight? (22-23)  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) II. A question of vision: How is our eyesight? (22-23) Jesus speaks of two conditions: blind and sighted.  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) II. A question of vision: How is our eyesight? (22-23) Jesus speaks of two conditions: blind and sighted. The obvious contrast is between spiritual darkness and light.  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) III. A question of allegiance: Which master will we serve? (22-23)  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) III. A question of allegiance: Which master will we serve? (22-23) Jesus says we cannot serve two masters.  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) III. A question of allegiance: Which master will we serve? (22-23) Jesus says we cannot serve two masters. The world says otherwise.  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) III. A question of allegiance: Which master will we serve? (22-23) Jesus says we cannot serve two masters. The world says otherwise. God on Sunday and mammon on weekdays.  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) III. A question of allegiance: Which master will we serve? (22-23) Jesus says we cannot serve two masters. The world says otherwise. God on Sunday and mammon on weekdays. God with our lips and mammon with our hearts.  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) III. A question of allegiance: Which master will we serve? (22-23) Jesus says we cannot serve two masters. The world says otherwise. God on Sunday and mammon on weekdays. God with our lips and mammon with our hearts. God in appearance and mammon in reality.  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) III. A question of allegiance: Which master will we serve? (22-23) Jesus says we cannot serve two masters. The world says otherwise. God on Sunday and mammon on weekdays. God with our lips and mammon with our hearts. God in appearance and mammon in reality. God with half our being and mammon with the other half.  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) III. A question of allegiance: Which master will we serve? (22-23) “Can” and “cannot” excludes compromise.  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) III. A question of allegiance: Which master will we serve? (22-23) “Can” and “cannot” excludes compromise. Jesus wants to teach a lesson on comparative value:  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) III. A question of allegiance: Which master will we serve? (22-23) “Can” and “cannot” excludes compromise. Jesus wants to teach a lesson on comparative value: The intrinsic worth of serving God. The intrinsic worthlessness of serving mammon.  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) IV. A question of ambition: What is worth striving for? (25-34) “Therefore I tell you…”  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) IV. A question of ambition: What is worth striving for? (25-34) “Therefore I tell you…” The disciples are to think about what Jesus has been saying. He calls them to thought before calling them to action. Then He tells them how to behave.  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) IV. A question of ambition: What is worth striving for? (25-34) “Therefore I tell you…” Jesus is describing two types of ambition:  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) IV. A question of ambition: What is worth striving for? (25-34) “Therefore I tell you…” Jesus is describing two types of ambition: The stressful striving for self-satisfaction and self-reliance (that’s what pagans do).  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) IV. A question of ambition: What is worth striving for? (25-34) “Therefore I tell you…” Jesus is describing two types of ambition: The stressful striving for self-satisfaction and self-reliance (that’s what pagans do). 2. The calm reliance on God (that’s what kingdom citizens do).  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) IV. A question of ambition: What is worth striving for? (25-34) A. False or secular ambition brings worry.  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) IV. A question of ambition: What is worth striving for? (25-34) A. False or secular ambition brings worry. 1. Worry is incompatible with Christian faith.  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) IV. A question of ambition: What is worth striving for? (25-34) A. False or secular ambition brings worry. 1. Worry is incompatible with Christian faith. 2. But reliance on God is not a free ticket.  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) IV. A question of ambition: What is worth striving for? (25-34) A. False or secular ambition brings worry. 1. Worry is incompatible with Christian faith. 2. But reliance on God is not a free ticket. a. Believers are not exempt from earning a living. b. Believers are not exempt from responsibility for others. c. Believers are not exempt from experiencing trouble.  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) IV. A question of ambition: What is worth striving for? (25-34) A. False or secular ambition brings worry. 3. Worry is incompatible with common sense.  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) IV. A question of ambition: What is worth striving for? (25-34) A. False or secular ambition brings worry. 3. Worry is incompatible with common sense. a. Many worries do not materialize. b. Worry about tomorrow robs us of joy today.  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) IV. A question of ambition: What is worth striving for? (25-34) B. True Christian ambition: God’s rule and righteousness.  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) IV. A question of ambition: What is worth striving for? (25-34) B. True Christian ambition: God’s rule and righteousness. 1. Seeking first God’s kingdom.  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) IV. A question of ambition: What is worth striving for? (25-34) B. True Christian ambition: God’s rule and righteousness. 1. Seeking first God’s kingdom. 2. Seeking first God’s righteousness.  

A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) IV. A question of ambition: What is worth striving for? (25-34) B. True Christian ambition: God’s rule and righteousness. 1. Seeking first God’s kingdom. 2. Seeking first God’s righteousness. Result: “All these things will be given to you.”  

End of Study X