MATTHEW 6:1-4
What is one thing in these verses that you are meant to do in secret?
One thing you are meant to do in secret in these verses is your good or charitable deeds, like giving to someone in need (verses 1 and 3).
Recite the Lord’s Prayer (verses 9-15).
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
What is Matthew 6:16–18 about?
Fasting
Complete this Bible verse:
For where your _________ is, there your _________ will also be.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be (verse 21)
What is Matthew 6:25–34 about?
It is about not worrying.
Why does the Bible say people do these things publicly rather than in secret?
People do these things publicly rather than in secret because they want to be seen and noticed by others (verses 1 and 2).
What does Jesus say about forgiveness and how it affects our lives and our relationship with God?
Jesus says that forgiveness is really important in how we relate to God. He explains that if we forgive others, God will also forgive us, but if we don’t forgive others, we won’t be forgiven by God.
What is ________?
Biblical fasting is when someone intentionally goes without food (and sometimes other comforts) for a period of time to focus more on God.
In the Bible, it’s not just about skipping meals. It’s about:
What did Jesus say about serving two masters?
No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and mammon (verse 24)
What two examples does Jesus Christ use in Matthew 6:25–34 to make his point?
What do you miss out on if you do these things in public instead of in secret?
You miss out on your reward from your Father in heaven (verses 1 and 4) if you do these things in public instead of in secret.
"Therefore do not be like them. For your father _____ ___ ________ you have _____ of before you ask him"
"Therefore do not be like them. For your father knows the things you have need of before you ask him"
What do the hypocrites go around with so they can appear to people to be engaging in the instruction?
Sad countenances
Disfigured faces
What does God say about moths, rust and thieves?
He tells us not to lay up for ourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal (verse 19)
What does Matthew 6:33 say?
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.
If you prioritise God’s kingdom and living in a right way with Him (“his righteousness”), then God will take care of your basic needs—like food, clothing, and other essentials.
What two examples or images does Jesus use to teach people about having the right attitude?
What is vain repetition?
GotQuestions:
Repeating the same words in our prayers instead of thinking about our words or letting them come from the heart.
We should be focused on God in prayer and honour Him in our hearts. In Isaiah 29:13, God says, “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”
Give four examples of people in the Bible who engaged in this activity?
Moses - Fasted for 40 days and nights on Mount Sinai (twice) while receiving the Law.
David - Fasted when pleading for the life of his child (2 Samuel 12:16–23). Also fasted in mourning and repentance.
Elijah - Fasted 40 days and nights while travelling to Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:8).
Esther - Called for a national fast before approaching the king (Esther 4:16).
Daniel - Practised partial fasting (Daniel 10:2–3).
Ezra - Proclaimed a fast for safe travel and protection (Ezra 8:21–23).
Nehemiah - Fasted in mourning over Jerusalem’s ruins (Nehemiah 1:4).
Jonah and Nineveh - the people of Nineveh fasted in repentance after Jonah’s warning (Jonah 3:5–10).
Jesus Christ - Fasted 40 days in the wilderness before beginning his ministry (Matthew 4:2).
The early disciples / apostles - Paul and companions fasted during prayer and decision-making (Acts 13:2–3; 14:23). Paul also mentions fasting “often” in his ministry (2 Corinthians 11:27).
Anna the Prophetess - Described as worshipping with fasting and prayer in the temple (Luke 2:37).
Cornelius the Centurion - Fasted and prayed before receiving Peter’s visit (Acts 10:30–31).
Early church believers (group) - The church in Antioch fasted before sending out missionaries (Acts 13:2–3).
Complete this verse:
The lamp of the body is the ___. If therefore your ___ is ____, your whole ____ will be ____ __ _____
The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light (verse 22)
Complete this Bible Verse:
Therefore I say to you, __ ___ _____ _____ ____, what you will ___ or what you will _____; nor about your ____, what you will ___ __. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? (Verse 25)
BONUS QUESTION:
How do you balance Matthew 6:1–4 with Matthew 5:16?
Jesus is basically warning us to check our motives carefully. If there’s even a hint of showing off or we’re prone to showing off, it’s better to give in private.
Rather than giving one strict rule, he’s offering wisdom that helps us stay close to God and trust Him to guide us on when giving should be private or more public.
The focus is that charitable deeds shouldn’t be done to be seen by others, because that misses the whole point and the real reward doesn’t come from people noticing us.
Think of it this way:
So basically: do good things in a way that points people to God, not yourself.
BONUS QUESTION
What steps does Jesus give in verses 6 and 7 about how to pray?
Bonus Question
What does Jesus Christ tell his followers to do if they find themselves in the same situation in Matthew 6:16–18?
Anoint your head and wash your face (verses 17 and 18)
Bonus Question:
What are some practical ways to do what God tells us in verse 20?
“Laying up treasure in heaven” means investing your life in things that matter to God and last forever—like faith, love, generosity, obedience, devotion to God, peace, and compassion—rather than focusing only on material things that can be lost or destroyed.
Bonus Question
What reasons does Matthew 6:34 give for why we should not ______?
It says we shouldn’t worry because each day has enough trouble of its ow. This means that we shouldn’t add extra stress about tomorrow on top of today’s problems. Instead, we should focus on dealing with the present day and trust God with the future.