Lesson # 6

Today’s Lesson is found in the Book of Matthew.

Please take out your Bible,.  and turn to the Book of Matthew.    Chapter #  6.     If you don’t have access to the Holy Bible in your language;.  you can access these passages on the website,.  https://www.biblegateway.com.

In the God’s Word Translation Bible,.  Matthew Chapter 6,.  verses 1-4,   scripture tells us that Jesus told His disciples to do all of their giving in secret.   He makes it very clear to them,.   that if they do their good works in front of men,.  that they will have no reward from their Father in Heaven.   He emphatically states that when they give to the needy and to the poor,.  that their left hand should not even know what their right hand is doing.   And in this way,.  they will be rewarded in full by their Heavenly Father. (100 Bible Verses About Giving To The Needy – copyright  2001,. Crossway Bibles – The Holy Bible,. English Standard Version – openbible.info).

Jesus also taught His disciples how to pray.   He told them to go to a private,.  secluded,.  out of the way place;.  and to talk honestly and openly to the Lord.   He cautioned them against uttering vain repetitions of ritualistic doctrines;.  but instead,   He strongly encouraged them to pray the Lord’s prayer.   Jesus instructed His disciples to talk to the Lord in a place that was totally shielded  from the many distractions of the outside world;.  and a place where we would only go when we wanted to be totally alone with our Father in Heaven.   This would be an isolated spot where we would not be tempted to try to impress others with our holiness and piety;.  but rather a very special,.  remote area where we could express our honest and true feelings to Almighty God. (Matthew Chapter # 6,.  verses 5-15),.  (Four Reasons To Meet With God In Secret – this article is adapted from The Psalm Project Blog – Shane Heilman – June 8,. 2013 – open the Bible.org).

Jesus assured His disciples that their Heavenly Father knows their every need,.  even before they ask.   But He instructed them to meet privately with the Lord,.  honestly and sincerely;.  in humble prayer and supplication.   He encouraged them to trust the Lord wholeheartedly;   and He impressed it upon them that Almighty God would meet all of their needs,.  according to His will and purpose for their lives.   Jesus also told His disciples to have a loving and forgiving heart,.  especially towards those who come against them.   And He promised them that if they forgave those who trespassed against them,.  that their loving Heavenly Father would forgive them of their sins as well. (Matthew Chapter # 6,.  verses 5-15),.  (God Knows Your Needs – by Gary Santiago – Oct. 2,. 2017 – Relationship With God,. Blog,. Walking In Faith – livingrevelations.com),.  (20 Hopeful Bible Verses About The Power Of Forgiveness – By Ian Palmer – June 9,. 2022 – Country Living Magazine – countryliving.com).

In the days of Jesus’ ministry,.   when the Scribes and the Pharisees were fasting,   they would blacken and disfigure their faces,.  dishevel their hair and clothing,.  and put on mournful airs.   They did this,  so that others would think of them as being holy and pious;.  and thus,.  hold them in very high esteem.   Fasting was very important to the Jewish people at that time.   It is thought to bring a person closer to God,.  and to give them a sense of spiritual freedom.   It mainly involves abstaining from food for a specific period of time.   Jesus told His disciples to wash their faces when they fasted,.  and to exhibit a clean and fresh appearance;.  so that those around them would not even know that they were fasting.   He said that Almighty God,.  upon seeing their secret suffering,.  would give them a heavenly reward. (Matthew Chapter # 6,.  verses 16-18),.  (Reason Christians Should Fast,   Spiritual,. Biblical,. Health – Christian Questions/ by Madeline Pena – justdisciple.com),.  (Should I Fast In Secret?  Or Is It Ok To Tell Other People? – Blog,.  Day 5 – Jan. 11,. 2018 – jentezenfranklin.org).

Jesus strongly warned His disciples against being greedy and selfish.   He told them that any accumulation of earthly riches would only be temporary,.  and would only cause them much grief and despair.   He advised them instead to store up for themselves treasures in Heaven,.  where Almighty God would securely watch over them.   Jesus told them not to seek both earthly wealth and Heavenly treasures;.  because their pursuit of money would definitely turn their hearts away from God. (Matthew Chapter # 6,.  verses 19-24),.  (What Are Treasures In Heaven? – by Jason Topp – June 29,. 2022 – seedtime.com).

Jesus very strictly cautioned His disciples against worrying about anything.   He explained to them how worry is actually the complete opposite of faith.   He assured them that Almighty God would definitely take care of their every need;.  if they would only just place their trust and faith in Him.   He taught them that they should not go around worrying about what they would eat and drink,.  because just as the Lord feeds the birds of the air that have no place to store away their food;.  He would feed them.   And He taught them that they should also not worry about what they would wear,.  because just as their Heavenly Father beautifully adorns the lillies of the field;.  He would surely clothe them.   He strongly advised them to not even worry about the future,.  because He said that they only needed to be concerned about the problems of the current day.   Tomorrow would take care of itself.   Jesus told His disciples that they could trust God wholeheartedly for all of their needs.   He told them to seek first the Kingdom of Heaven;.  and that everything else shall be added unto them! (Matthew Chapter 6,.  verses 25-34),.  (Why You Should Not Worry About Tomorrow – Leadership – TNN publish date,.  April 4,.  2019 – toistudent.timesofindia.indiatimes.com),.  (What Did Jesus Mean When He Said,.  “Do Not Worry About Tomorrow”? – Jessica Udall,  contributing writer – April 30,. 2021 – biblestudytools.com),.  (How Do We Seek First The Kingdom Of God? – Stephanie Englehart – From christianity.com – delivered by Google).

         *******         Attention  Students       *******

The multiple choice test for this chapter of the Bible,   and the answers to all of the questions;   are listed right below.   Feel free to take the test manually.   However,   if you would rather take it electronically,   simply click on the link below.  Then,  after you have completed the test;   hit the Submit button at the bottom,   and then click on the View Accuracy button;   to see how you did.  

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScqw8-qia7z-9lNSIhCLi1V22KeFOQsIWuYsNqJfl498TCj9w/viewform?usp=sf_link

Answers To Test Questions!

 1.   D.   2.   B.   3.   C.   4.   A.   5.   D.   6.   C   7.   B.   8.   B.   9.   C.   10.   D.   11.   C.   12.   A   13.   B.   14.   D.   15.   A.   16.   C.   17.   D   18.   D.   19.   A.   20.   C.

Test Questions!

1.     Jesus told His disciples to do all of their giving

A.   in the church

B.   down by the lake

C.   openly and proudly

D.   in secret

2.    Jesus made it very clear,.  that if they do their good works in front of men:

A.   They will have tremendous joy in their hearts

B.   They will have no reward

C.   They will be held in very high regard

D.   They will become famous

3.       Jesus taught His disciples to pray

A.   on the steps of the Temple

B.   in large groups

C.   in a private,.    secluded,.    out of the way place

D.   among close friends

4.    Jesus told them to talk honestly and openly with the Lord,

A.   and to pray the Lord’s prayer

B.   according to strict doctrines,.    pre-approved by the Temple leaders           

C.   when instructed to do so by the Temple priest

D.   whenever they took communion

5.    Jesus told His disciples that their prayers

A.   should always impress others with their holiness and piety

B.   should always be uttered in a well-lit,   public place

C.   should enable us to gain status with the Lord

D.   should be done in a special,.   remote area;.     where we can be totally alone with our Father in Heaven;.    and express our true and honest feelings.

6.    Jesus  assured them that Almighty God knows their every need,.    and would provide for them

A.   after they were baptized

B.   after they offered up a burnt offering

C.   according to His will and purpose for their lives

D.   if they fasted at least one day per week

7.    Jesus instructed His disciples,    that when others came against them;

A.   to retaliate according to the Law of Moses

B.   to forgive them,.    so that their Heavenly Father would forgive them of their sins as well.

C.   to report them to the local authorities

D.   to run them out of the city

8.    When the Scribes and Pharisees were fasting,    they would blacken and disfigure their faces,.   dishevel their hair and clothing,.    and put on mournful airs;.  

A.   in order to scare away evil spirits

B.   so that others would think of them as being holy and pious

C.   to show God that they were really suffering

D.   to gain the attention of the Temple leaders

9.    Fasting is thought to

A.   help people stay on a very restrictive diet

B.   promote good karma

C.   bring a person closer to God,.    and to give them a sense of spiritual freedom

D.   give people more energy

10.    Fasting involves

A.   eating only grains and herbs

B.   eating only meat and vegetables

C.   abstaining from both food and water for at least three days

D.   abstaining only from food for a specific period of time

11.    Jesus told His disciples to wash their faces when they were fasting,.    and to exhibit a clean and fresh appearance;.   so that those around them

A.   would not think that they were sick

B.   would know that they were free of disease

C.   would not even know that they were fasting

D.   would know that they were still alive

12.     He assured them that Almighty God,.    upon seeing their secret suffering;

A.   would give them a Heavenly reward

B.   would give them a long life on Earth

C.   would bless them with many children

D.   would make them very wealthy

13.     Jesus cautioned His disciples that any accumulation of earthly riches

A.   would only increase their taxes

B.   would only be temporary,.    and would cause them much grief and despair

C.   would cause them to lose all of their friends

D.   would break up their marriage

14.     He advised them instead,.  to;

A.   put all of their money in the bank

B.   keep all of their valuables in a fire-proof safe

C.   find a good hiding place,    up in the mountains of Judea

D.   store up for themselves treasures in Heaven,.    where Almighty God would securely watch over them

15.    Jesus told His disciples not to seek both earthly wealth and Heavenly treasures

A.   because their pursuit of money would definitely turn their hearts away from God

B.   because they simply would not have enough time to do both

C.   because they needed to have financial stability before they could focus on anything else

D.   because they could only be happy if they had plenty of money in the bank

16.    Jesus also taught His disciples not to worry about anything.     He said that worry is the exact opposite of

A.   love

B.   hope

C.   faith

D.   joy

17.    He assured them that Almighty God would take care of their every need,.    if they would only

A.   attend church every Sunday

B.   tithe on a regular basis

C.   do volunteer work in the local community

D.   place their trust and faith in Him

18.    Jesus told His disciples not to worry about

A.   what they would eat and drink

B.   what clothes they would wear

C.   the future

D.   all of the above

19.       He emphatically stated that they could trust Almighty God to

A.   provide for all of their needs

B.   bless their marriage

C.   get them a real good job

D.   give them lots of friends

20.    Jesus encouraged His disciples to seek first

A.   good health

B.   fame and fortune

C.   the kingdom of heaven

D.   good financial advice

Jesus,.   I come to you today with a heavy and troubled heart.    My life right now is a total mess.    So many things in my life have gone wrong.    So many of my plans and projects have resulted in failure.    At one time in my life,.   I had high hopes for the future;.   but now I am very hurt and very upset about how things actually turned out. Jesus……Jesus…….,.  I need you right now.    I am disgusted with my life the way it is.    I have no real friends that I can count on,.   and I am depressed,.  disappointed,.  dejected,.  and sorrowful.    But I do believe with all my heart that you can help me.  Jesus,.   I know that you love me so much,   that you willingly died on a wooden cross at Calvary;   for the full remission of all my sins.    I know that I am a sinner,.   and that the punishment for sin is death;.   but that you took my place on that cross at Calvary,.   so that just by my believing in you,.   and that you died for me;.   that I can have new life now,.   and one day go to be with you in Heaven for all eternity.   Jesus,.   I love you.    I need you.    Please come into my heart,.   right here,.   right now.   and wash away all my sins;    with the very same blood that you shed for me;.   on that old wooden cross at Calvary.   Jesus Christ of Nazareth,.   I accept you today as my Lord and Savior,.   and I will profess and proclaim your mighty name to everyone whom I meet.    Please fill me with your Holy Spirit,.   and help me to turn my life around.    I am so happy that you came into my life today……..  and thank you so very much for saving me from my sins!  Amen. 

 (How to Seek the Presence of Jesus Christ in your Life – Religion,.  Christianity – April 27,  2022 – wikihow.com),.   (32 Inspirational Bible Verses About God’s Unconditional Love – What the Bible says about  God’s love for you prove that His love never wavers – Christy Pina and Corinne Sullivan – Dec. 7,.  2021 – womansday.com),.  (What Happened at Calvary? – Luke 23:.  39-49 – Pastor Bill Parker – rofgrace.com),.   (4 Bible Promises For When You Just Need To Cry:.   Jesus Help Me! – Janet Thompson – Jun. 25,   2020 – crosswalk.com),.  (What Does It Mean To Accept Jesus As Your Personal Savior? – Your Questions,.  Biblical Answers – gotquestions.org).

©  2022  Charles Spratt