Matthew 6:1-6 - Secret Service
Think of a time you were confronted with gross hypocrisy. What happened and how did you respond? Why is this sin so vulgar to everyone, whether they are religious or not?
Read Matthew 6:1-6. What emotions arise in you when Jesus tells us that God ‘sees in secret’? Why do you think many people are uncomfortable with this idea? What does it that discomfort tell us about our assumptions when it comes to God?
Why does Jesus want our giving (v4) and praying (v6) to be in secret? In what way is this ‘secret righteousness’ different than they hypocrites he describes? How do we reconcile this teaching of Jesus with his own very public ministry of teaching, prayer, and deeds?
Compare and contrast the reward of hypocrites to the reward of those who serve in secret. How do you personally respond to the notion of seeking personal reward from God? What do you think that reward might be?
The most common word in Matthew 6 is Father. How does the Fatherhood of God affect our practice of righteousness, according to Jesus? Peruse all of Matthew 6 together and write down the words that describe the character and posture of our Heavenly Father toward his children. Spend time worshiping him together and resting in his love.
If you haven’t already, take some time this week to pray through the Serve! Card and ask Jesus where he might want you to serve for the next 4-6 months.