Bible Studies

Reading assignment for this lesson: Matthew 6:1-34, 7:1-5, Luke 6:37-42, 11:1-4, Luke 12:22-36, 16:13

Jesus continues with the Sermon on the Mount. He gives us the Lord's Prayer as a model for our own prayers. He tells us we must be willing to forgive other people, just as God is willing to forgive our sins. He warns of the spiritual dangers of self-righteousness and hypocrisy. He warns that wealth and worry can distract us from serving God.

1. In Matthew 6:1, why did Jesus tell us not to practice righteousness for the sake of being noticed by other people? Does this contradict Matthew 5:16?

2. Alms are charitable gifts given for the benefit of the poor and needy. What does Jesus tell us about giving alms in Matthew 6:2-4?

3. The Lord's Prayer, Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:1-4, is familiar to all Christians. Many of us recite it in church every week, but we may not take the time to think about what it really means.

What does "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name" mean to you?

4. What does "Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" mean to you?

5. What does "Give us today our daily bread" mean to you?

6. What does "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors" mean to you?

(The word "debt" is a translation of the Greek word opheilema which literally means something owed. It is used figuratively here to mean a moral fault or sin, as in Luke 11:4.)

7. What does "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one" mean to you?

(The phrase, "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever", seen in some Bibles, was not in the original gospel of Matthew. It was apparently added later as a doxology for public worship.)

8. Jesus gives a stern warning in Matthew 6:14-15, "If you refuse to forgive other people's sins, God will not forgive your sins." Is there anyone you have not truly forgiven for some wrong done to you?

The Greek word paraptoma means an offense or transgression. It is usually translated as "trespass" in older Bibles and as "sin" in modern English versions.

9. In Biblical times, fasting (Matthew 6:16-18) was a self-sacrifice done for spiritual preparation. Fasting was also done as sign of repentance and atonement. Christians seldom fast today, except for token fasts in some Christian traditions. Should Christians fast today?

10. a) What should our attitude be about money? (See Matthew 6:19-21, 24, 19:23-24, 27:57, Mark 8:36-37, Luke 12:33-34, 16:13, 19:1-10, 1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19).
b) Did Jesus mean we should literally sell everything we have and give the money to the poor (Luke 12:33)?
c)Where do you store your "treasure"?

The word "mammon", used in some older Bibles, is a transliteration of the Aramaic word mamona, meaning wealth or greed. It is usually translated as "wealth" or "money" in modern Bible versions.

11. What do you think Matthew 6:22-23 and Luke 11:34-36 mean?

12. Worry and anxiety can also distract us from staying focused on the things of God.
a)What things do you worry about?
b)Do those things seem less important after reading Matthew 6:25-34 and Luke 12:22-31?

13. Does Matthew 6:31-33 mean God will give us everything we need no matter what we do or don't do? (See Ephesians 4:28, 1 Corinthians 4:12, 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12.)

14. What is the meaning of Jesus' parable in Matthew 7:3-5 and Luke 6:40-42?

15. What should be our attitude toward the faults and sins of other people? (See Matthew 7:1-2, 18:15-17, Luke 6:37-38, 18:9-14, John 8:1-11, Romans 2:1-4, 14:10-13, Ephesians 4:29-32, James 4:11-12.)