Matthew Chapter 6 continues the Sermon on the Mount.

In Matthew Chapter 5: The Sermon on the Mount and the Righteousness of the Kingdom, Jesus taught that kingdom righteousness goes deeper than outward behavior. In Matthew 6, He continues that theme by speaking about giving, prayer, fasting, treasure, money, and worry.

The main question is not only what we do.

It is why we do it.

Are we living before people?

Or are we living before the Father?

Giving in Secret

Jesus begins by warning His disciples not to practice righteousness in order to be seen by others.

He is not saying good works should never be visible. In Matthew 5, Jesus says to let your light shine so that others may glorify your Father in heaven. But in Matthew 6, He warns against doing religious works so that people praise us.

Then Jesus speaks about giving to the needy.

The older word is “almsgiving.” It means giving mercy or charity to those in need, especially the poor.

Giving is good.

Mercy is good.

Helping people in need is good.

But Jesus says not to turn giving into a performance.

He says:

“When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.”

That does not mean literal confusion between your hands. It means quiet humility. Do not give so that you can be noticed, praised, photographed, admired, or congratulated. Do not even become overly impressed with yourself.

The right hand gives.

The left hand does not need to applaud.

The Father sees what is done in secret.

And that is enough.

Prayer and Fasting

Jesus then speaks about prayer and fasting.

Prayer is not meant to be a performance before people. It is communion with God. Jesus tells His disciples to pray to the Father who sees in secret.

He also warns against empty phrases, as if many words can force God to listen. The Father already knows what we need before we ask. That does not make prayer unnecessary. It makes prayer personal.

Jesus then gives the Lord’s Prayer.

The prayer begins with God’s name, God’s kingdom, and God’s will. Then it moves to our daily bread, forgiveness, and deliverance from evil.

This connects with Luke Chapter 4: Temptation, Rejection, and the Authority of Christ, where Jesus refuses Satan’s shortcut and submits to the Father’s will. In Matthew 6, Jesus teaches us to pray for the Father’s will to be done.

Jesus also speaks about fasting.

Fasting is going without food for a spiritual purpose, often connected with prayer, repentance, grief, or seeking God. But fasting can also become religious theater. So Jesus says not to make a show of it.

Again, the Father sees in secret.

That is the repeated theme.

Treasure in Heaven

Jesus then says:

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth.”

Earthly treasure can be destroyed. Moth and rust can ruin it. Thieves can steal it.

Then He says:

“Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”

This does not mean earthly responsibilities do not matter. Working, saving, providing, and caring for practical needs can all be good.

The question is what we treasure most.

Jesus says:

“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

That means the heart follows what it values.

If money is my treasure, my heart will orbit money.

If comfort is my treasure, my heart will fear whatever threatens comfort.

If approval is my treasure, my heart will chase human praise.

If Christ is my treasure, my heart will be drawn toward Him.

This is not only about possessions.

It is about worship.

What we treasure reveals what we love.

The Eye Is the Lamp of the Body

Jesus then says:

“The eye is the lamp of the body.”

This section can be hard to understand.

In context, Jesus is still talking about treasure, money, and devotion. The “eye” has to do with how we see, desire, and value things.

A healthy eye sees clearly. It is open toward God, generous, and undivided.

A bad eye is darkened. It is greedy, covetous, and spiritually distorted.

In biblical language, an “evil eye” can be connected with greed or stinginess. So Jesus is warning us about a heart that sees life through selfish desire.

If our spiritual vision is clear, we walk in light.

If our desires are dark, then even what we call light may actually be darkness.

That is why Jesus immediately speaks about serving two masters.

God and Mammon

Jesus says:

“No one can serve two masters.”

Then He says:

“You cannot serve God and mammon.”

“Mammon” means wealth, money, possessions, or material security treated as something we trust in.

It is not simply having money.

It is serving money.

Money becomes mammon when it becomes our master. When it controls our fear, decisions, identity, or sense of security, it is no longer just a tool. It has become a rival god.

Jesus is clear.

We cannot serve God and mammon.

This connects with John Chapter 4: Living Water and the Savior of the World, where Jesus teaches that true worship is in spirit and truth. Worship is not just words. It is the allegiance of the heart.

Matthew 6 asks:

Whom do we really serve?

Do Not Be Anxious

Jesus then speaks about worry.

He says not to be anxious about life, what we will eat or drink, or about the body, what we will wear.

This does not mean food and clothing do not matter. They do matter. God made us with real bodily needs.

It also does not mean relationships do not matter. Human beings were made for relationship. Scripture values family, friendship, fellowship, and love of neighbor.

But Jesus is warning us not to make earthly needs our master.

Food matters, but food is not God.

Clothing matters, but clothing is not God.

Shelter matters, but shelter is not God.

Relationships matter, but even relationships cannot become our ultimate source of identity, security, or peace.

Jesus is not calling us to be careless, isolated, or irresponsible. He is calling us to trust the Father above every earthly need.

He points to the birds. They do not sow, reap, or gather into barns, yet the Father feeds them.

He points to the lilies. They do not toil or spin, yet God clothes them beautifully.

The argument is from lesser to greater.

If the Father cares for birds and flowers, will He not care for His children?

This does not mean Christians will never suffer hunger, poverty, loneliness, loss, or hardship. Scripture and Christian history show otherwise. But it does mean our lives are in the Father’s hands.

Anxiety is not our master.

Mammon is not our savior.

Other people are not our god.

The Father knows what we need.

Seek First the Kingdom

Jesus says:

“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

This is the center of the final section.

The Christian life is not centered on fear.

It is centered on the kingdom.

Seek God first.

Seek His righteousness.

Seek His rule.

Seek His will.

This connects with Mark Chapter 4: Hearing the Word and Trusting the Lord of the Storm, where Jesus teaches that the kingdom grows by God’s hidden power. In Matthew 6, He teaches His disciples to seek that kingdom above earthly security.

From a Christian Reformed lens, this is not a call to earn the kingdom. It is a call to live under the reign of the King who has already shown us grace.

Sufficient for the Day Is Its Own Trouble

Matthew 6 ends with this sentence:

“Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Some translations say:

“Sufficient for the day is its own evil.”

Here “evil” does not mainly mean moral evil, as if each day has enough sin to commit. It means trouble, hardship, difficulty, or distress.

Jesus is saying each day has enough trouble of its own.

Do not borrow tomorrow’s trouble and drag it into today.

Tomorrow may have real problems. But tomorrow also belongs to God.

The Father gives grace for today.

The Message of Matthew Chapter 6

Matthew Chapter 6 teaches us to live before the Father.

Give without performing.

Pray without pretending.

Fast without showing off.

Treasure heaven more than earth.

Do not let money become mammon.

Do not let anxiety become lord.

Do not make even good earthly needs into ultimate things.

Food, clothing, shelter, and relationships matter.

But the Father matters most.

From a Christian Reformed lens, Matthew 6 exposes how easily good things become distorted by sin. Giving can become performance. Prayer can become theater. Fasting can become pride. Money can become a master. Planning can become anxiety. Relationships can become ultimate.

But Jesus calls His disciples back to the Father.

The Father sees in secret.

The Father knows what we need.

The Father provides.

So we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.

Today has enough trouble.

But today also has enough mercy from God.