Seminaries and Institutes
Matthew 6: The Sermon on the Mount, Part 2

“Matthew 6: The Sermon on the Mount, Part 2,” New Testament Seminary Student Study Guide (2003)

“Matthew 6,” New Testament Student Study Guide

Matthew 6

The Sermon on the Mount, Part 2

Matthew 6 is a continuation of Jesus’ sermon on the mount. In this chapter He especially emphasized the blessings that come from putting the Lord first in our lives and worshiping Him because we love Him—not because we want others to think we are righteous. The counsel in verses 25–34 was especially for the newly-called Apostles, and although this specific counsel may not be for all of us, each Church member can apply the principles taught in those verses.

Studying the Scriptures

Do activity C and one other activity (A or B) as you study Matthew 6.

  1. Find the Pattern

    What was similar in the counsel Jesus gave about giving alms (Matthew 6:1–4), praying (vv. 5–15), and fasting (vv. 16–18)? What do you learn from this repeated idea about what Jesus considers true righteousness?

  2. The Lord’s Prayer

    Matthew 6:5–15 contain some of Jesus’ most basic teachings on prayer. Verses 9–13 have commonly been called the Lord’s Prayer. Consider each verse of the prayer and write in your notebook what you think we are to learn from that specific part of Jesus’ example of prayer. For greater understanding, you may want to look up “amen” and “prayer” in the Bible Dictionary (pp. 607, 752–53).

  3. Scripture Mastery—Matthew 6:24

    1. Considering what Jesus said in Matthew 6:24, how is the person in each of the following three examples trying to serve two masters? What might eventually happen in each situation?

      1. Michael (age 18) chose to have a job that requires him to work every Sunday so he can save money for his mission.

      2. Donna (age 16) says she is doing missionary work by having a steady boyfriend who is not a member of the Church.

      3. Brother Smith (age 35) pays tithing and extra fast offerings on the money he makes selling products in which he is not entirely honest with his customers.

    2. How could Jesus’ counsel in Matthew 6:19–23, 33 help solve the problem spoken of in verse 24?

    3. What did Jesus promise to those who chose Him as their Master? (see Matthew 6:20, 22, 33).