Matthew Chapter 6: Righteousness Before God


Matthew chapter 6 continues Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, focusing on the practice of righteousness in worship, prayer, and daily life, emphasizing heart motives over outward displays. Jesus teaches about giving, praying, fasting, trusting God for provision, and prioritizing His kingdom, calling disciples to seek God’s approval rather than human praise. Delivered on a Galilean mountainside during His public ministry, this chapter reveals the heart of kingdom living. Using the English Standard Version (ESV) for scriptural references, this article explores Matthew 6, breaking it into key sections and providing cross-references to deepen its meaning.

Context and Setting
Matthew chapter 6 follows the Sermon on the Mount’s introduction and Beatitudes (Matthew 5), occurring early in Jesus’ Galilean ministry, about a year before His crucifixion at Passover (Matthew 19:1; 26). Delivered to disciples and crowds on a mountainside near Capernaum (Matthew 5:1; 8:1), the sermon establishes Jesus’ authoritative teaching. Matthew, written primarily for a Jewish audience, presents Jesus as the Messianic King who fulfills Scripture (Matthew 1:1; 6:33). This chapter prepares for the sermon’s conclusion (Matthew 7) and Jesus’ miracles (Matthew 8–9), emphasizing authentic devotion.

Key Sections and Themes

1. Practicing Righteousness: Giving, Prayer, and Fasting (Matthew 6:1-18)
Jesus warns, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 6:1, ESV). He applies this to three acts of piety:
  • Giving to the Needy (Matthew 6:2-4): Hypocrites announce their giving with trumpets for praise, but Jesus says, “When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret” (Matthew 6:3-4, ESV). God, who sees in secret, will reward.
  • Prayer (Matthew 6:5-15): Hypocrites pray publicly to be seen, but Jesus instructs, “Go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret” (Matthew 6:6, ESV). He warns against vain repetition, teaching the Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name…” (Matthew 6:9-13, ESV), emphasizing God’s glory, provision, forgiveness, and protection. He adds, “If you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (Matthew 6:14-15, ESV).
  • Fasting (Matthew 6:16-18): Hypocrites disfigure their faces to show fasting, but Jesus says, “Anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret” (Matthew 6:17-18, ESV), promising divine reward.
Cross-References:
  • Luke 11:2-4: The Lord’s Prayer, a shorter parallel.
  • Isaiah 58:3-7: True fasting, pleasing to God, contrasted with hypocrisy.
  • Proverbs 21:3: Righteousness over sacrifice, echoed in secret devotion.
  • Colossians 3:23-24: Working for God’s reward, like secret acts.
Significance: Jesus critiques ostentatious piety, common among Pharisees, urging sincerity in worship. Secret acts ensure God’s reward, focusing on heart motives. The Lord’s Prayer models balanced devotion, prioritizing God’s will and dependence. The emphasis on forgiveness links personal relationships to divine grace, teaching disciples to live authentically before God.

2. Treasures in Heaven (Matthew 6:19-24)
Jesus teaches, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy… but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:19-20, ESV). He says, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21, ESV). He uses metaphors: a healthy eye gives light, but a bad eye darkness (Matthew 6:22-23), and no one can serve two masters, “You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24, ESV).
Cross-References:
  • Luke 12:33-34: Storing treasure in heaven, paralleling Jesus’ teaching.
  • 1 Timothy 6:17-19: Riches in good works, storing eternal treasure.
  • Proverbs 23:4-5: Wealth’s fleeting nature, like earthly treasure.
  • James 4:4: Friendship with the world versus God, echoing divided loyalty.
Significance: Jesus contrasts fleeting earthly wealth with eternal heavenly treasure, urging disciples to prioritize God’s kingdom. The heart follows treasure, revealing priorities. The eye metaphor stresses clear spiritual vision, while the master analogy demands exclusive loyalty to God over materialism, challenging greed and fostering eternal perspective.

3. Do Not Be Anxious (Matthew 6:25-34)
Jesus says, “Do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or… wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” (Matthew 6:25, ESV). He points to birds fed by God and lilies clothed beautifully, arguing, “Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:26-30, ESV). He calls worry futile, saying, “O you of little faith” (Matthew 6:30). Instead, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33, ESV). He concludes, “Do not be anxious about tomorrow… Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34, ESV).

Cross-References:
  • Luke 12:22-31: The parallel teaching on anxiety and provision.
  • Psalm 55:22: Casting cares on God, reflected in Jesus’ teaching.
  • Philippians 4:6-7: Prayer over anxiety, trusting God’s care.
  • 1 Peter 5:7: Casting anxieties on God, echoing Jesus’ assurance.
Significance: Jesus addresses anxiety over basic needs, common in an agrarian society, urging trust in God’s provision. The bird and lily examples highlight God’s care for creation, assuring greater care for humans. Seeking God’s kingdom first aligns priorities, promising provision. The daily focus combats crippling worry, fostering faith in God’s sovereignty.

Theological Themes
Matthew 6 weaves together several key themes:
  1. Heart-Centered Righteousness: True devotion seeks God’s approval, not human praise (Romans 2:29).
  2. Prayer and Dependence: The Lord’s Prayer models reliance on God (Ephesians 6:18).
  3. Eternal Priorities: Heavenly treasure surpasses earthly wealth (Colossians 3:2).
  4. Trust in God: Faith overcomes anxiety through God’s provision (Psalm 23:1).
  5. Kingdom Focus: Seeking God’s rule aligns all of life (Matthew 5:20).
Application for Today
Matthew 6 calls us to practice faith secretly, giving, praying, and fasting for God’s glory, not human applause. The Lord’s Prayer guides us to prioritize God’s will, seek daily provision, and forgive as we’re forgiven. The call to store heavenly treasure challenges materialism, urging generosity and eternal focus. Jesus’ teaching on anxiety invites trust in God’s care, freeing us from worry by seeking His kingdom first. The warning against serving money demands exclusive loyalty to God. As we reflect, may we live sincerely, trust deeply, and pursue God’s kingdom wholeheartedly.

Conclusion
Matthew chapter 6 reveals Jesus as the Messianic Teacher who calls disciples to authentic righteousness. Through teachings on worship, treasure, and trust, He demands heart devotion and kingdom priorities, promising God’s reward and care. As we study Matthew 6, may we pray with faith, seek eternal treasure, and trust the Father who sees in secret.
Back to blog