DIDASKALOS MINISTRIES Matthew

MATTHEW CHAPTER SIX
INTRODUCTION TO THIS STUDY

The purpose of this study work is to give you the original Greek language words and definitions for all the key words in this selected Bible text. This work does not make any effort to interpret the text in question, though some interpretation may occur naturally as a result of the study. The English translation used is the King James (Authorized) Version, not because it is the best translation available, but because I just plain prefer it for study!

All Scripture text will be presented in normal cased lettering, and all notes within the text will be in TRUE TYPE FONT, as shown. This (I hope) will allow you to avoid confusion between God's Word and my notes. As I update this website, I will continue to embellish the text so that anyone using NETSCAPE or MSIE 3.0 or higher will be able to read the document easier. Greek tenses are abbreviated as follows:

GREEK TENSES:

PR= Present Tense: Shows action in present time. When used with Active Voice, and Indicative Mood, often shows linear or continuing action.
AO= Aorist Tense : Simple, undefined action. The time of the action is undefined, except in the indicative mood.
FUT= Future Tense : Shows action of the verb as defined in the future.
PER= Perfect Tense: The action was completed in the past, but has lasting and continuing results into the future.
IMP= Imperfect Tense: Used only in the indicative mood, and refers to continuous or linear action in past time. As in "I was having".
PLPF= Pluperfect Tense: The action was completed in the past, with continuing results in the past.

GREEK CASES:

GEN= Genitive Case: Usually indicates possession, though it can denote source of the action.
INST = Instrumental Case: Usually denotes action on the object of the verb.
DAT= Dative Case
NOM= Nominative Case
ACC= Accusative

PL= Plural
SG= Singular

GREEK VOICES:

AC= Active Voice: Action was completed by the subject of the verb.
PAS= Passive Voice: The subject receives the action of the verb.
MID= Middle Voice: The subject acts in some way upon itself or to itself.

GREEK MOODS:

IND= Indicative Mood : Makes an assertion of fact, and is used with all Greek tenses. Example: they will go, she saw.
OPT= Optative Mood: Rarely used, it usually expresses a wish or desire.
IMP= Imperative Mood: A command to do something.
SUBJ= Subjective Mood: Makes an assertion about which there is some doubt, uncertainty, or indefiniteness.

OTHER ABBREVIATIONS:

PART= Participle : A verbal adjective, such as "having gone, receiving the gift".
ABL= Ablative of source: When something is out of something. Example, The Spirit out of God.
INF= Infinitive: A verbal noun, examples = to see, to go, to throw.

If you discover obvious errors (as I am human, and do make mistakes), please let me know. Do not contact me to argue about the doctrinal differences that you may have with my teaching. I do not argue Theology with anyone, so all Legalists, cultists, and others with extremist views, please save your (and my) time. If you want to discuss your doctrinal differences, or share a viewpoint, please contact me at Didaskalos Ministries. I am not so arrogant as to think I know it all, or even 1% of what the scripture teaches.

Chapter Outline

The central theme of this chapter is "service":

Verses 1-18, motivation in service
Verses 19-30, mental attitude in service
Verses 31-34, God's empowerment for our service

Matthew 6:1

Take heed (PROSECHETE, Pres Act Imper = keep on being alert to)

that ye do not your alms (DIKAIOSUNE = righteousness)

before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of (PARA = from the immediate source of)

your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 6:2

Therefore when thou doest (POIES = Pres Act Subj = you keep on doing)

thine alms, do not sound a trumpet (When the Pharisees gave to the Temple, they always had trumpeters announce their intention to give)

before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Matthew 6:3

But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: (Idiomatic for denoting selflessness in service)

Matthew 6:4

That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 6:5

And when thou prayest, (PROSEUCHESTHE = Pres Act Subjunctive = you may be praying)

thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen (PHANOSIN = Aor Pas Subjunctive = may receive recognition)

of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Matthew 6:6

But thou, when thou prayest, (PROSEUCHE = Pres Act Subjunctive = if you are praying)

enter into thy closet, (TAMIEION = private room. We should pray privately to God, not just when in public. The Christian is one who maintains a relationship with his Heavenly Father)

and when thou hast shut thy door, pray (PROSEUZAI = Aor Act Imperative = you will pray. Prayer is addressed to the Father, not the Son or Spirit)

to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth (BLEPON = Pres Act Part = who always sees, always glances at)

in secret shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 6:7

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

Matthew 6:8

Be not ye therefore like unto them: (literally "do not imitate them)

for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

Matthew 6:9

After this manner therefore pray (PROSEUCHESTHE = Pres Act Imperative = keep on praying [along these lines])

ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed (HAGIASTHETO = to be set apart, sanctified)

be thy name.

Matthew 6:10

Thy kingdom (Refers to the Millennial reign of Christ on the earth)

come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Matthew 6:11

Give us this day our daily bread.

Matthew 6:12

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

Matthew 6:13

And lead us (EISPHERO = to bear or carry into. Literally, "Do not carry us into trials")

not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: (TOU PONEROU = The evil. Refers to all the things that hinder us when trials come)

{For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. this part not found in many Greek MSS}

Matthew 6:14

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, (PARAPTOMATA = a sin committed against you that you know about)

your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

Matthew 6:15

But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (God cannot forgive your past sin as long as you are in the active sin of hate)

Matthew 6:16

Moreover when ye fast, (NESTEUETE = Pres Act Subjunctive = keep on fasting. Fasting should be a normal part of the Christian life, giving up the physical for the spiritual)

be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Matthew 6:17

But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;

Matthew 6:18

That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 6:19

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: (make your scale of values heavenly, not materialistic) Proverbs 23.7; Isaiah 55.7-9; 26.3-4

Matthew 6:20

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

Matthew 6:21

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Matthew 6:22

The light of the body is the eye: if (EAN, third class condition, hypothetical condition)

therefore thine eye be single, (HAPLOUS = without folds or blemishes. The eyes were considered the windows of the soul. If focused on Christ, the body is full of light. If on the world, full of darkness)

thy whole body shall be full of light.

Matthew 6:23

But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

Matthew 6:24

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (MAMONA = This was the Chaldean God of money and greed. Emphasizes that worship of money is idolatry)

Matthew 6:25

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought (MERIMNAO, Pres Act Imper = stop worrying)

for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? (God has a plan for your life. Trust the Planner, not your own resources) Numbers 20.2

Matthew 6:26

Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; (idiomatic for earned profit)

yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Matthew 6:27

Which of you by taking thought (MERIMNON = by worrying)

can add one cubit (about 18 inches, the distance measured from a man's wrist to his elbow)

unto his stature? (HELIKIAN = height)

Matthew 6:28

And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies (Lilies in Palestine are as common as weeds)

of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

Matthew 6:29

And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Matthew 6:30

Wherefore, if (EAN, First Class Condition = if, and He does)

God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Matthew 6:31

Therefore take no thought, (MERIMNAO Aor Act Subjunctive = stop worrying!)

saying, (LEGO = to say, to think [by extension])

What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

Matthew 6:32

(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) (EPIZETO, Pres Act Ind = eagerly seek or search for)

for your heavenly Father knoweth (OIDEN = perfect tense = has always known)

that ye have need of all these things.

Matthew 6:33

But (DE, inferential use = therefore)

seek (ZETEO, Aor Act Imper = be seeking)

ye first the kingdom (BASILEIA, accus sing = kingdom. There is only one!)

of God, and his righteousness; (DIKAIOSUNE, Accus Sing = righteousness. Refers to the imputed righteousness we gain by salvation through Christ)

and all these things shall be added (PROSTITHEMI, Fut Pas Ind, Gnomic Future = you can expect that it shall be added or provided to you)

unto you.

Matthew 6:34

Take therefore no thought (MERIMNAO, Aor Act Subj + ME = stop worrying now!)

for the morrow: (EIS + accus AURION = about tomorrow)

for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient (ARKETOS, Predicate Nominative = sufficient, enough. Each day brings enough trials without worrying and adding to it)

unto the day is the evil thereof.

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