Matthew 6 Foundations Commentary
Big Idea
Kingdom living is not about impressing people. It is about trusting, loving, and honoring your Father in heaven.
Introduction: Who Are You Trying to Please?
Most people care what others think.
We want approval.
Recognition.
Respect.
We want our efforts to be noticed.
That desire can quietly find its way into our spiritual lives as well.
We can serve so others will praise us.
Give so others will admire us.
Pray so others will think we are spiritual.
Even good things can become distorted when our focus shifts from God to people.
That is exactly what Jesus addresses in Matthew 6.
As the Sermon on the Mount continues, Jesus moves from outward actions to inward motives.
The question is no longer simply, “What are you doing?”
The question becomes:
“Who are you doing it for?”
Again and again, Jesus points His followers back to one central truth:
Your Father sees.
He sees what others miss.
He knows what others cannot know.
And living for His approval brings freedom that human applause never can.
Living for an Audience of One (Matthew 6:1–18)
Jesus begins by addressing three important spiritual practices:
Giving.
Prayer.
Fasting.
All three were good.
All three honored God.
But all three could also become performances.
The issue was not the action.
The issue was the motive.
Giving That Honors God (Matthew 6:2–4)
Jesus warns against giving in order to be noticed.
Some religious leaders loved public recognition.
They wanted others to see their generosity.
Their reward was the praise they received.
But Jesus calls His followers to something different.
Kingdom generosity is not about building a reputation.
It is about expressing love for God and compassion for others.
The Father sees what happens in secret.
And His approval matters far more than public recognition.
Prayer That Flows from Relationship (Matthew 6:5–15)
Jesus then turns to prayer.
Once again, He warns against performance.
Some people loved praying publicly because it attracted attention.
Others filled their prayers with endless words, believing that repetition would somehow force God to respond.
Jesus rejects both approaches.
Prayer is not a performance.
Prayer is not manipulation.
Prayer is relationship.
Notice how Jesus begins the model prayer:
“Our Father in heaven.”
Before requests.
Before needs.
Before problems.
Comes relationship.
God is not merely a distant ruler.
He is a loving Father.
The Lord’s Prayer teaches us to begin with God’s glory, God’s kingdom, and God’s will before bringing our own needs before Him.
It teaches dependence.
Trust.
Surrender.
And Jesus concludes this section by emphasizing forgiveness.
People who have experienced God’s forgiveness should become people who extend forgiveness to others.
Fasting That Seeks God (Matthew 6:16–18)
Finally, Jesus addresses fasting.
Some people intentionally looked miserable when they fasted so others would notice their sacrifice.
Jesus says kingdom people should do the opposite.
Do not advertise your spiritual disciplines.
Let your Father see them.
The goal of fasting is not to impress people.
It is to draw closer to God.
The Father Sees What Others Cannot
Three times Jesus repeats the same truth.
“Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
The kingdom is not built on image management.
It is built on genuine relationship with God.
Treasures That Last Forever (Matthew 6:19–24)
Jesus then shifts from religious performance to material priorities.
Everyone treasures something.
Everyone lives for something.
Everyone organizes their life around what they value most.
The question is not whether we have a treasure.
The question is what that treasure is.
Jesus warns against storing up treasures on earth.
Earthly treasures are temporary.
They rust.
Break.
Disappear.
Lose value.
Can be stolen.
Can be left behind.
But heavenly treasure lasts forever.
The heart follows whatever it treasures most.
If our lives revolve around possessions, success, or wealth, our hearts become attached to things that cannot last.
If our lives revolve around God, our hearts become anchored in eternity.
Then Jesus makes the issue even clearer.
No one can serve two masters.
We cannot fully serve God while allowing money, possessions, or worldly success to control our hearts.
Sooner or later, one master will win.
What Captures Your Heart?
The clearest way to discover your treasure is to ask:
What occupies my thoughts?
What receives my time?
What receives my resources?
What do I fear losing most?
Our treasure reveals our heart.
Trusting the Father Instead of Worrying (Matthew 6:25–34)
Having warned against the love of money, Jesus addresses another common struggle.
Worry.
Many people spend their lives worrying about things they cannot control.
Finances.
Health.
The future.
Family.
Work.
Security.
Jesus does not ignore these concerns.
He addresses them directly.
And He points His followers to the character of the Father.
Look at the birds.
They do not plant crops.
Store food.
Build barns.
Yet God feeds them.
Look at the flowers.
They do not work for their beauty.
Yet God clothes them with remarkable splendor.
If God cares for birds and flowers, how much more does He care for His children?
Jesus is not encouraging laziness.
Birds still gather food.
People still work.
The point is trust.
Worry cannot add a single hour to life.
It cannot control tomorrow.
It cannot solve the future.
But it can rob us of today’s peace.
The solution is found in one of the most beloved promises in the Sermon on the Mount:
“Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33)
Kingdom people prioritize God’s rule above everything else.
They trust Him with the details.
Tomorrow Is in the Father’s Hands
Jesus ends with remarkable simplicity.
Tomorrow will bring its own challenges.
Today’s grace is enough for today.
The Father who cared for you yesterday will care for you tomorrow.
Matthew 6 and the Gospel
Matthew 6 exposes a problem that runs deep in every human heart.
We often want the praise of people.
We often treasure temporary things.
We often struggle with fear and worry.
Jesus does not merely point out these problems.
He provides the solution.
Throughout His life, Jesus perfectly lived for His Father’s approval.
He sought the Father’s will above His own.
He trusted the Father completely.
Even at the cross.
And through His death and resurrection, Jesus makes it possible for sinners to become children of God.
Because of the gospel, we do not have to perform for acceptance.
We are already loved by the Father through Christ.
That changes everything.
We can give generously.
Pray sincerely.
Serve quietly.
And trust confidently.
Not because we are trying to earn God’s love.
But because we already have it.
Theological Themes
The Fatherhood of God
Believers relate to God as loving children to a faithful Father.
Heart Motives Matter
God is concerned not only with what we do but why we do it.
Eternal Priorities
Kingdom citizens invest in treasures that last forever.
Trust Over Anxiety
God’s care frees believers from being controlled by worry.
Genuine Spirituality
True righteousness seeks God’s approval rather than human praise.
Truths and Lessons for Today
1. God Sees the Heart
Spiritual practices lose their purpose when they become performances.
🡲 Application: Ask God to purify your motives in serving, giving, and worshiping.
📖 “Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:4)
2. Your Treasure Reveals Your Priorities
What you value most shapes the direction of your life.
🡲 Application: Evaluate where your time, money, and attention are going.
📖 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)
3. Prayer Begins with Relationship
God invites His people to approach Him as their Father.
🡲 Application: Spend time talking with God not only about your needs but about His kingdom and His will.
📖 “Our Father in heaven…” (Matthew 6:9)
4. Trust Replaces Worry
The Father who feeds birds and clothes flowers cares for you.
🡲 Application: When anxiety rises, remind yourself of God’s faithfulness and choose to trust Him.
📖 “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.” (Matthew 6:33)
Conclusion
Matthew 6 invites us to live differently.
Not for human applause.
Not for temporary treasure.
Not controlled by worry.
But anchored in the love and care of our heavenly Father.
Jesus calls His followers to live for an audience of One.
To seek eternal treasure.
To trust the Father’s provision.
And to rest in His care.
Because kingdom living is not about impressing people.
It is about knowing, trusting, and honoring the Father who sees everything.
Memorable Summary Statement
“Kingdom people stop living for the approval of others and begin living in the security of their Father’s love.”
→ Next: Matthew 7:1-29 Foundations Commentary – Building A Life That Lasts
Keep Growing in God’s Word
📚 Explore All Bible Study Resources →
Choose Your Path For Studying Matthew
Continue studying Matthew with MTSM commentary layers, Bible study resources, and question-based articles designed for everyday Bible readers, teachers, leaders, and deeper study.
Matthew Hub
Matthew Commentary and Bible Study Resources
Start here for all Matthew commentary layers, Bible study resources, and teaching tools.
Go to Matthew Hub →
Foundations Commentary
Read & Understand Matthew
Clear, accessible commentary for personal Bible reading, devotional study, and newer Bible students.
Go to Foundations →
Leader Commentary
Teach & Lead Through Matthew
Layered commentary for pastors, teachers, small-group leaders, and serious Bible students.
Go to Leader →
Deep Roots Commentary
Study Matthew Deeper
Deeper theological, historical, apologetic, and biblical insight for advanced study.
Go to Deep Roots →
Understanding the Bible
Questions About Matthew
Explore focused answers to common questions, difficult passages, and major themes in Matthew.
Explore Matthew Questions →Don’t Just Read the Bible — Understand It
My heart behind these commentaries is simple:
to help everyday believers grow confident in God’s Word.
If you’d like thoughtful, faithful Bible teaching delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe below.
We’ll walk through each book together — one passage at a time.
Leave a Reply