Matthew - Week 17

All Your Worries 

READ 

Matthew 6:25-27 

25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” 

Jesus continued to contrast the concern for temporal matters and eternal ones. A believer is not to be so concerned about the daily needs of living that spiritual concerns are neglected. This is not to minimize the fact that some have a struggle meeting daily needs. In that struggle, however, God does not want believers to forget that someday we will all be in eternity so the spiritual is even more important than the physical. 

REFLECT 

Are you engaged in the Bible at least four times a week? This practice will enable you to be focused on eternal matters. 

RESPOND 

Make it a practice to be engaged in the Scriptures with another believer. Read Hebrews 6:9-12 to remind yourselves of your godly responsibility while on earth.  

So Little Faith 

READ 

Matthew 6:28-30 

28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?” 

It is not only the poor who worry about clothing. Sometimes it is those who have plenty to wear but are thinking more about looking good outwardly than inwardly. It is not wrong to want to look nice outwardly, but God wants you to have a heart that is clean and devoted to Him. Someday all that is visible will perish, but the invisible will remain. 

REFLECT 

As you think of your outer appearance, do you also spend time thinking about your inner heart? 

RESPOND 

To remind yourself and a Christian friend about the outer and inner appearances, read the story of David in 1 Samuel 16:1-13. Notice that David was handsome but that was not God’s chief concern.  

Seek the Kingdom 

READ 

Matthew 6:31-33 

31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” 

The topic of worry is one of concern even among those who are trusting Jesus for eternity. It is one thing to trust Him for one’s eternal life, but it is another to trust Him for one’s daily life. Just as a parent knows a child’s needs before being asked, so God knows the needs of His spiritual children before they ask. Verse 33 is a verse that could serve as a model for those who choose “life verses” to live by. 

REFLECT 

Have you chosen a Bible verse to live by? Have you shared it with someone? Are you open to considering one if you have not already? 

RESPOND 

Talk with another believer about Bible passages or verses that serve as guiding principles for one’s life. Consider choosing a verse from Philippians 4:4-6 or selecting Colossians 3:15. Just thinking about choosing a verse to guide your life and share with others will spiritually encourage you. 

Tomorrow 

READ 

Matthew 6:34 

34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” 

As Jesus continued to talk about worry, He reminded His followers not to worry about tomorrow because it would have its own worries. This seems to be saying, “Focus on today.” J. Vernon McGee quotes someone who said, “Today is the tomorrow that we worried about yesterday.” There is a proper place for concern about a problem, but thinking about what might occur does not help.  

REFLECT 

Are these verses from Matthew 6 being of help to you? How will they make a difference in your life? 

RESPOND 

Another passage about worrying is found in Luke 12:20-26. Talk with a fellow Christian about the Matthew and Luke passages and visit about how this should influence your life. 

Judgment 

READ 

Matthew 7:1-2 

1 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2 For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.” 

This is a verse that is often misunderstood and misapplied. The Greek word translated by the form of “judge” is the one from which “critique” is derived. Is it really thought that one should never critique or evaluate any actions others are doing? This would not correspond with the rest of this chapter, as will be seen. 

REFLECT 

Have you had this verse used against you when you were only evaluating something?  

RESPOND 

This is an important topic for you and a Christian friend to consider so you are not criticized for just thinking seriously about a matter. Later in Matthew 7:16 people are told to identify others by their fruit. How can that be reconciled with Matthew 7:1?