October 15, 2019

A Father Who Truly Knows

Matthew 6:1–18

Nate Ball
Tuesday's Devo

October 15, 2019

Tuesday's Devo

October 15, 2019

Central Truth

We have a Heavenly Father who knows all of our secrets and all of our needs. His Word promises that He is faithful toward us, and He will never neglect the responsibilities that come with that knowledge.

Key Verse | Matthew 6:8b

"[F]or your Father knows what you need before you ask him."

Matthew 6:1–18

Giving to the Needy

Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

The Lord's Prayer

And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this:

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name. 1 6:9 Or Let your name be kept holy, or Let your name be treated with reverence

10  Your kingdom come,
your will be done, 2 6:10 Or Let your kingdom come, let your will be done
    on earth as it is in heaven.

11  Give us this day our daily bread, 3 6:11 Or our bread for tomorrow
12  and forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13  And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from evil. 4 6:13 Or the evil one; some manuscripts add For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen

14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Fasting

16 And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Footnotes

[1] 6:9 Or Let your name be kept holy, or Let your name be treated with reverence
[2] 6:10 Or Let your kingdom come, let your will be done
[3] 6:11 Or our bread for tomorrow
[4] 6:13 Or the evil one; some manuscripts add For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen

Dive Deeper | Matthew 6:1–18

Even though this passage of Scripture touches on spiritual disciplines like giving (Matthew 6:1-4), prayer (Matthew 6:5-15), and fasting (Matthew 6:16-18), I find myself being drawn to the constant references to the Father. In fact, the word Father appears 10 times in these 18 verses! As a child of divorce, I can find it difficult to understand the Bible’s description of God as my Heavenly Father. At times, father is a word that stirs up emotions like shame, bitterness, loneliness, and anger. Having a father who knows my needs and sees what I do in secret can seem simultaneously frightening and implausible—until I examine the Bible (His Word) a little more.

My Father’s Word says that:

  1. I am made in His image (Genesis 1:27).
  2. He designed every part of me and also knows everything about my past and my future (Psalm 139:13-16).
  3. Even though He knows all of my sins, He still loves me and sent Jesus to take my punishment (Romans 5:8).
  4. He is merciful toward me, and I have been saved by His grace through faith in Jesus (Ephesians 2:4-7).
  5. He claimed me as His child (1 John 3:1).
  6. His faithfulness has no end (Psalm 100:5).
  7. His love for me endures forever (Psalm 136:23-26).

Given that, I can view fatherhood through a whole new lens. The concept of a Father who knows my needs and sees what I do in secret is not frightening and implausible—it's comforting and freeing. I have a Heavenly Father who loves me and has given me the incredible gift of salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9). My Heavenly Father also loves my earthly parents the same way, even in spite of the choices that led to their divorce. My job is not to hold those choices over them because they hurt me, but to forgive as I have been forgiven (Matthew 6:14-15; Ephesians 4:31-32). Divorce has stung our family, but it is not our identity. We are children of God, loved by a good Father who knows exactly what we need even before we ask it (Matthew 6:8b).

Discussion Questions

1. Is a God that sees all of your secrets frightening or freeing to you? Why?

2. Viewing God as a good Father requires trusting in His love for us. Of the descriptions of His love listed in this devotional, which one is hardest for you to believe in and trust? Which one is easiest?

3. Are there past events or circumstances in your life that cause you to cling to emotions like bitterness or anger? Now read Ephesians 4:31-32. With whom do you need to have a conversation this week to begin to move toward forgiveness?

 

For further study on Matthew 6:1-6, listen to the sermon false religion & outward righteousness from Watermark Community Church. 

If you want to learn more about the Lord's Prayer, Blake Holmes teaches and explains the Lord's Prayer found in Matthew 6.