Jesus Teaching the People by the Seashore, by James Tissot

February 20–26

Matthew 6–7

“He Taught Them as One Having Authority”

When we read the scriptures with a question in mind and with a sincere desire to understand what Heavenly Father wants us to know, we invite the Holy Ghost to inspire us. As you read Matthew 6–7, pay attention to these impressions.

Record Your Impressions

The Sermon on the Mount is one of the best-known discourses in Christianity. The Savior taught with rich images, such as a city set on a hill, lilies of the field, and wolves disguised as sheep. But the Sermon on the Mount is far more than a beautiful speech. The power of the Savior’s teachings to His disciples can change our lives, especially when we live by them. Then His words become more than words; they become a sure foundation for life that, like the wise man’s house, can withstand the world’s winds and floods (see Matthew 7:24–25).

Ideas for Personal Scripture Study

Matthew 6–7

Living the Savior’s teachings can help me become like Him.

The Sermon on the Mount contains many gospel principles. As you study these chapters, ask the Lord what He wants you to learn.

One principle you might find is the need to prioritize the things of God over the things of the world. Which of the Savior’s teachings in Matthew 6–7 help you focus on heavenly things? What other thoughts or impressions do you have? What are you inspired to do? Consider recording your impressions. For example:

Matthew 6:1–4	I want to care more about what God thinks of me than what others think.

Another principle in Matthew 6–7 is prayer. Take a moment to evaluate your prayers. How do you feel you are doing in your efforts to draw closer to God through prayer? What teachings in Matthew 6–7 inspire you to improve how you pray? Record the impressions you receive. For example:

Matthew 6:9	When I pray, I want to treat Heavenly Father’s name with reverence.
Matthew 6:10	When I pray, I can express my desire that the Lord’s will be done.

You might consider reading the Sermon on the Mount again, looking for other recurring principles or messages that are especially applicable to you. Record what you find in a study journal, along with your thoughts and impressions.

We can draw closer to God through prayer.

Matthew 6:7

What does it mean to use “vain repetitions” in prayer?

People often understand “vain repetitions” to mean repeating the same words over and over again. However, the word vain can describe something that has no value. Using “vain repetitions” in prayer can mean praying without sincere, heartfelt feeling (see Alma 31:12–23).

Matthew 7:1–5

I can judge righteously.

In Matthew 7:1, the Savior may seem to be saying we should never judge, but in other scriptures (including other verses in this chapter), He gives us instructions about how to judge. If that seems puzzling, the Joseph Smith Translation of this verse might help: “Judge not unrighteously, that ye be not judged; but judge righteous judgment” (in Matthew 7:1, footnote a). What do you find in Matthew 7:1–5, along with the rest of the chapter, that helps you know how to “judge righteous judgment”?

See also Gospel Topics, “Judging Others,” topics.ChurchofJesusChrist.org; Lynn G. Robbins, “The Righteous Judge,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 96–98.

Matthew 7:21–23

I come to know Jesus Christ by doing His will.

The phrase “I never knew you” in Matthew 7:23 was changed in the Joseph Smith Translation to “Ye never knew me” (Matthew 7:23, footnote a). How does this change help you better understand what the Lord taught in verses 21–22 about doing His will? How well do you feel you know the Lord? What can you do to know Him better?

See also David A. Bednar, “If Ye Had Known Me,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 102–5.

Matthew 7:24–27

Obeying the Savior’s teachings creates a firm foundation for my life.

Living the gospel doesn’t remove adversity from our lives. Both houses in the Savior’s parable in Matthew 7:24–27 experienced the same storm. But one of the houses was able to withstand it. How has living the Savior’s teachings created a solid foundation for you? What do you feel inspired to do to continue building your “house upon a rock”? (see verse 24).

See also Helaman 5:12.

Ideas for Family Scripture Study and Home Evening

Matthew 6–7.One way to learn from Matthew 6–7 as a family is to watch the videos “Sermon on the Mount: The Lord’s Prayer” and “Sermon on the Mount: Treasures in Heaven” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Family members could follow along in their scriptures and pause the videos whenever they hear something they want to discuss. This activity could span several days, if needed.

Matthew 6:5–13.What can we learn about prayer from the way the Savior prayed? How can we use His prayer as a model to improve our personal and family prayers? (See also Luke 11:1–13.) If you have younger children, you might practice praying together.

Matthew 6:33.What does it mean to “seek … first the kingdom of God”? How are we doing this individually and as a family?

Matthew 7:1–5.To visualize the teachings in these verses, your family could find a mote (a tiny wood fragment) and a beam (a large piece of wood). What does comparing the two teach us about judging others? If you’d like to explore this topic further, you could use some of the resources in “Judging Others” (Gospel Topics, topics.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

Matthew 7:24–27.To help your family better understand the Savior’s parable of the wise man and the foolish man, you could let them pour water on sand and then on a rock. How can we build our spiritual foundations on a rock?

For more ideas for teaching children, see this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Primary.

Suggested song: “The Wise Man and the Foolish Man,” Children’s Songbook, 281.

Improving Personal Study

Share insights. Discussing principles you learn from your personal study is not only a good way to teach others; it also helps strengthen your own understanding. Try sharing a principle you learned this week with a family member or in your Church classes.

I Have Prayed for Thee, by Del Parson