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May 31, 2020

Matthew 6:1-4

1. Today we transitioned into chapter 6 & read of Jesus giving a warning against practicing acts of righteousness to be seen by others. Why is it tempting for all of us to do things in order to be seen by others?

2. Jon gave us a background from the Old Testament concerning giving to the needy by reading from Deuteronomy 15:7-11, Proverbs 19:17 & Proverbs 28:27. Then Jon noted that Jesus assumes that giving to the needy happens as he says, "when", not "if". So what are ways we can continue to be marked by giving to the needy in our own contexts?

3. Next, we looked at Matthew 6:2 & the hypocrite. We heard that the hypocrite announces their giving, targets their desired audiences in the synagogue & on the streets, & has ambition for the praise of others. What are the ways we can fall into the trap of the hypocrite described in these verses?

4. At the end of Matthew 6:2, we read that the hypocrite has received their reward. Jon gave an illustration of this with the person whose glory days were in the past & they held onto those days fiercely. How can we wind up finding our identity, confidence, comfort in our past accomplishments/achievements?

5. Then we read from Matthew 6:3-4 about the honorable giver. We saw that they were marked by selflessness & being a secret giver. We heard a quote from John Bunyan that said, "You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you." How does being an honorable giver do 2 things at once: bring glory to God & satisfy the soul of the giver?

6. We then applied the end of Matthew 6:4, "And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." The application was that in whatever we labor in for the Lord, the Lord sees it...even if no one else does! In what ways does this truth encourage us towards faithfulness?