Gene’s Daily Scriptural Postings.

Reflective Bible Study.

Flashback Episode — Living, Giving, and Praying For God: Matthew 6:1-13

Listen to this episode and/or subscribe on ReflectiveBibleStudy.com...Flashback Episode: Year in Matthew – Episode 9: In the next portion of Matthew that we are focusing in on, discover what Jesus teaches us about the importance of living for God, and focusing on our personal, private connection with God over our public connection. Join the discussion on the original episode's page: Click Here. Read the transcript: Continuing our journey in Matthew’s gospel brings us to another point in Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount. In this section of Jesus’ message, we discover how God values our private relationship with Him over a public relationship. It may be for this reason that Jesus challenged the religious leaders so strongly. It is likely that many of them did not have a personal relationship with God in private, and that they only acted like they had a relationship with God when in public. In the portion of Jesus’ sermon that we are focusing in on, Jesus draws our attention onto two specific areas where He likes to see His people be more private than public. Let’s read this section of Jesus’ sermon, which is found in Matthew chapter 6. Using the God’s Word translation and starting in verse 1, Jesus continued preaching saying: 1 “Be careful not to do your good works in public in order to attract attention. If you do, your Father in heaven will not reward you. 2 So when you give to the poor, don’t announce it with trumpet fanfare. This is what hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets in order to be praised by people. I can guarantee this truth: That will be their only reward. 3 When you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4 Give your contributions privately. Your Father sees what you do in private. He will reward you. 5 “When you pray, don’t be like hypocrites. They like to stand in synagogues and on street corners to pray so that everyone can see them. I can guarantee this truth: That will be their only reward. 6 When you pray, go to your room and close the door. Pray privately to your Father who is with you. Your Father sees what you do in private. He will reward you. 7 “When you pray, don’t ramble like heathens who think they’ll be heard if they talk a lot. 8 Don’t be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 “This is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, let your name be kept holy. 10 Let your kingdom come. Let your will be done on earth as it is done in heaven. 11 Give us our daily bread today. 12 Forgive us as