Reading 3 Matthew 6

Matthew 6 Bible Reading and Study

My Key Verses are: Matthew 6:33-34.

Matthew 6:33-34 / Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. 34 Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:33-34 / Expanded Bible (EXB)

33 ·Seek first [Be concerned above all else with] God’s kingdom and ·what God wants [L his righteousness]. Then all ·your other needs will be met as well [L these things will be given to you]. 34 So don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will ·have its own worries[or worry about/take care of itself]. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:33-34 / New Living Translation (NLT)

33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

Read your favorite version of the Bible, plus the three versions or translations listed previously and then answer these questions: 

**~** PRAYER JOURNALING QUESTIONS:

1 What did you learn from each of the versions?

2 What jumped out to you about each of the versions/translations?

3 What did they say to you?

4 What did you say to God about these verses and translations?

5 What did God say to you about these verses and versions?

QUESTION: WHAT’S THE KINGDOM OF GOD MENTIONED IN MATTHEW 6:33?

See Lexicon found here: http://biblehub.com/greek/932.htm

“Kingdom” means as we might think: the power of royalty, authority, rule, kingship, sovereignty, rule.

So, this refers to God as king.

What is His kingdom?

I’ve learned this answer in the seminary, as I have read and studied the Bible, and in other Bible studies. However, I learned a long time ago how I can remember things incorrectly, or not fully. Therefore, I try to check verses, passages, and meanings of words and phrases from time to time, to make sure I still get it and that I understand it rightly and completely.

I think the Kingdom of God is eternity and heaven. Is this accurate? Therefore, I want to look at the bible alone, not at man’s definitions at this point, to make sure I obtain the Truth. I looked up this prhase” Kingdom of God” here: http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=%22kingdom+of+God%22+&qs_version=HCSB

So, here are some cross-references to help me understand what this means:

Matthew 19:23-25 / Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “I assure you: It will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven! 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

25 When the disciples heard this, they were utterly astonished and asked, “Then who can be saved?”

Hmm. It appears “Kingdom of God” and “Kingdom of heaven” are synonyms. Is this an accurate conclusion? Let’s look at more cross-references about the Kingdom of God:

Matthew 21:31 / New American Standard Bible (NASB)

31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They *said, “The first.” Jesus *said to them,“Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you.

Yes. It’s looking like a good conclusion. The Kingdom of God = the Kingdom of heaven. But, let’s keep checking cross-references to make sure we understand this fully.

Mark 1:15 / New American Standard Bible (NASB)

15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Mark 9:47 / New American Standard Bible (NASB)

47 If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell,

It seems like you either go to heaven or hell, according to this verse, which we know is true. Therefore, again, this shows how the Kingdom of God is indeed the Kingdom of heaven. Let’s look at a few more books of the Bible to make sure in a broader context:

John 3:3 / New American Standard Bible (NASB)

3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

1 Corinthians 15:45-58 / GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

45 This is what Scripture says: “The first man, Adam, became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 The spiritual does not come first, but the physical and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was made from the dust of the earth. He came from the earth. The second man came from heaven. 48 The people on earth are like the man who was made from the dust of the earth. The people in heaven are like the man who came from heaven. 49 As we have worn the likeness of the man who was made from the dust of the earth, we will also wear the likeness of the man who came from heaven. 50 Brothers and sisters, this is what I mean: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. What decays cannot inherit what doesn’t decay.

51 I’m telling you a mystery. Not all of us will die, but we will all be changed. 52 It will happen in an instant, in a split second at the sound of the last trumpet. Indeed, that trumpet will sound, and then the dead will come back to life. They will be changed so that they can live forever. 53 This body that decays must be changed into a body that cannot decay. This mortal body must be changed into a body that will live forever. 54 When this body that decays is changed into a body that cannot decay, and this mortal body is changed into a body that will live forever, then the teaching of Scripture will come true:

“Death is turned into victory!

55 Death, where is your victory?

   Death, where is your sting?”

56 Sin gives death its sting, and God’s standards give sin its power. 57 Thank God that he gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 So, then, brothers and sisters, don’t let anyone move you off the foundation of your faith. Always excel in the work you do for the Lord. You know that the hard work you do for the Lord is not pointless.

Verse 50 was the key verse. Now, we can affirm that the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of heaven are the same thing.

6 Now, here’s a good reminder after this. What sins are we guilty of personally? 7 What are temptations we struggle with? **~** Answer those two questions in your prayer journal, please.

Galatians 5:19-21 / Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity,20 idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions,dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I tell you about these things in advance—as I told you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

**~** PRAYER JOURNALING QUESTIONS:

8 Now, read Matthew 6:33 again in your favorite version/translation of the Bible and prayer journal what you’ve learned. Write a summary in your own words of what Matthew 6:33 means to you now.

9 Whose righteousness do we seek in Matthew 6:33?

10 Notice the order of Matthew 6:33 then 6:34. What does this show you? Hint: First, then…

11 What does Matthew 6:33-34 mean to you and your life?

12 How do you worry about today?

13 What do you worry about?

14 What have you worried about?

15 What seems to be something you worry about continually? Why?

16 Given what you’ve learned through Matthew 6:33-34, how can you handle your worry?

17 What are you going to apply to your life about Matthew 6:33-34 now? 

Reading 2 Matthew 5

Reading 2 Matthew 5

TODAY’S BIBLE READING OF MATTHEW 5:

Matthew 5:48 is the focus verse I’ve chosen.

Matthew 5:48 / Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

CONTEXT OF MATTHEW 5:48:

Matthew 5:43-48 / GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you this: Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. 45 In this way you show that you are children of your Father in heaven. He makes his sun rise on people whether they are good or evil. He lets rain fall on them whether they are just or unjust. 46 If you love those who love you, do you deserve a reward? Even the tax collectors do that! 47 Are you doing anything remarkable if you welcome only your friends? Everyone does that! 48 That is why you must be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.

What the context teaches me, verses 46-47 in particular, is that I am not supposed to live like the world. Never should I do something “because everybody else is doing it.” Rather, I’m supposed to go against the grain, and not conform to this world and go against it, and do what God requires of me.

What does God require of me? To live by the Word and believe in Him and in Jesus Christ. It’s really that simple.

But, how can I live by the Word, and know Him, and draw nearer to Him, if I am not in the Word all day? The answer is simple. I cannot.

OTHER VERSIONS OF THE BIBLE AND MATTHEW 5:48:

Matthew 5:48 / Expanded Bible (EXB)

48 ·So [Therefore] you must be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 5:48 / New Living Translation (NLT)

48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 5:48 / The Message (MSG)

48 “In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.

Matthew 5:48 / New American Standard Bible (NASB)

48 Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

WHAT NEW INSIGHT HAVE I GAINED FROM THESE OTHER TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE?

Honestly, not much from HCSB to now.

So, what does perfect mean in the original Greek?

LEXICON OF ‘PERFECT’:

Both words of perfect, for us being perfect and God being perfect are the same word. That’s good to know. So, it’s the same kind of perfection I am to try to attain or keep.

Perfect means, according to this source: http://biblehub.com/greek/5046.htm: Mature, complete, full-grown, brought to the finish, etc.

CROSS-REFERENCES OF MATTHEW 5:48:

Ephesians 5:1-2 / New American Standard Bible (NASB)

5 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

How am I to be perfect like God? I am to imitate Him and love God, myself, and others.

Philippians 3:8-14 / New Century Version (NCV)

8 Not only those things, but I think that all things are worth nothing compared with the greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of him, I have lost all those things, and now I know they are worthless trash. This allows me to have Christ 9 and to belong to him. Now I am right with God, not because I followed the law, but because I believed in Christ. God uses my faith to make me right with him. 10 I want to know Christ and the power that raised him from the dead. I want to share in his sufferings and become like him in his death. 11 Then I have hope that I myself will be raised from the dead.

12 I do not mean that I am already as God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal, but I continue trying to reach it and to make it mine. Christ wants me to do that, which is the reason he made me his. 13 Brothers and sisters, I know that I have not yet reached that goal, but there is one thing I always do. Forgetting the past and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize for which God called me through Christ to the life above.

Key verses of striving to perfection and maturation are verses 12-14.

I want to look at another version of the Bible and those verses:

Philippians 3:12-14 / Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

12 Not that I have already reached the goal or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, 14 I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.

Does anything else need to be said? I will meditate, think, and ponder on Matthew 5:48 and Philippians 3:12-14 today. I am to live for heaven today. Period. End of discussion.

I am to constantly strive to grow in Christ Jesus and live for heaven/eternity today. This is the goal.

MORE JOURNALING ABOUT MATTHEW 5:48:

Matthew 5:48 / Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

“48. Be ye therefore—rather, ‘Ye shall therefore be,’ or ‘Ye are therefore to be,’ as My disciples and in My kingdom.

perfect—or complete. Manifestly, our Lord here speaks, not of degrees of excellence, but of the kind of excellence which was to distinguish His disciples and characterize His kingdom. When therefore He adds,

even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect—He refers to that full-orbed glorious completeness which is in the great Divine Model, ‘their Father which is in heaven,’” (Source: http://biblehub.com/commentaries/jfb//matthew/5.htm).

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

“5:43-48 The Jewish teachers by neighbour understood only those who were of their own country, nation, and religion, whom they were pleased to look upon as their friends. The Lord Jesus teaches that we must do all the real kindness we can to all, especially to their souls. We must pray for them. While many will render good for good, we must render good for evil; and this will speak a nobler principle than most men act by. Others salute their brethren, and embrace those of their own party, and way, and opinion, but we must not so confine our respect. It is the duty of Christians to desire, and aim at, and press towards perfection in grace and holiness. And therein we must study to conform ourselves to the example of our heavenly Father, 1Pe 1:15,16. Surely more is to be expected from the followers of Christ than from others; surely more will be found in them than in others. Let us beg of God to enable us to prove ourselves his children,” (Source: http://biblehub.com/commentaries/mhc/matthew/5.htm)

OTHER CROSS-REFERENCES FOR MATTHEW 5:48:

1 Peter 1:15-16 / Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

15 But as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.

Deuteronomy 18:13 / New King James Version (NKJV)

13 You shall be blameless before the Lord your God.

Ahh! As a Christ-Follower, I am already blameless through Jesus Christ. See the following verse:

Colossians 1:21-23 / New Living Translation (NLT)

21 This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. 22 Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.

23 But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it.

Verse 22 is the key verse that is the cross-reference for Matthew 5:48. I am perfected through Jesus and how He died on the cross for the forgiveness of my sin and wrongdoing.

2 Samuel 22:31 / New Living Translation (NLT)

31 “God’s way is perfect.

  All the Lord’s promises prove true.

  He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.

So, I am made perfect through the crucifixion and Jesus Christ. But, I learn how to act more like God through being in the Word of God (2 Sam. 22:31) and as I reach forward toward the prize of heaven (Phil. 3:12-14).

2 Corinthians 7:1 / GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

7 Since we have these promises, dear friends, we need to cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit and live a holy life in the fear of God.

Wow. So, I need to be in the Bible, so I can know the promises. I am cleaned through Jesus Christ, but I need to be made aware of my sin so I don’t repeat it (see Psalm 139:23-24 after this). I can then live a holy life through the death of Jesus on the Christ, and my belief in Him, as I strive to live a continual fear of God and reverence for Him. This is how to live a life of perfection.

I can ask Him to pray about what I need to change in my life so I can bring Him more glory:

Psalm 139:23-24 / Expanded Bible (EXB)

23 God, ·examine [investigate; search; v. 1] me and know my heart;

  test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24 See if there is any ·bad thing [hurtful way] in me.

  Lead me on the ·road to everlasting life [L everlasting/or ancient way].

God will show me what in my life need to be shaped and formed more around Him and His Word, if I just pray, be in the Word, fear and revere Him and the Word, and focus on eternity. This is living perfection in the Lord and is being like Him in His perfection.

Wow. Wonder of Wonders.

**~** PRAYER JOURNALING QUESTIONS

1 Write a summary of what you learned today in this reading.

2 What really jumped out at you and why?

3 What did you say to God?

4 What did God say to you?

5 What are you going to apply to your life? How?

(Image credit: Microsoft images online 2009-2014.)

Reading 1: Matthew 2:11

NEW TESTAMENT READING OF THE DAY

Read Matthew 1-4 today. Then, read the rest of this study today.

Matthew 2:11 / Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

11 Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

There is a lot of context here and there is far more than I want to cover in the study and reflection (pondering, meditation, thinking on, contemplation) of this verse. I don’t want to go into the story of the birth of Jesus right now. Rather, I want to look at the reaction of the wise men.

Re-read the verse and pay attention to that portion.

**~** PRAYER JOURNALING QUESTIONS:

1 What did the wise men do?

2 Notice what they did at the same time at the beginning of the portion which described the action and response of the wise men when they saw the child and then Mary.

The moment they saw Him, they knew it was Him, the Messiah, the Savior and Redeemer of the world. I cannot help but how they knew for sure it was Him. Sure, the star led them there. But, how did they know in addition to that? Did they feel it? Did God tell them? Or, did God allow Himself to be seen through the babe in His mother’s arms at the time? Did they sense His holiness and power, His majesty and glory?

They went to their knees as they worshiped Him (and not Mary, please note).

They showed Him respect and bowed to Him. They bowed in the lowest and most extreme form the could, without lying flat on their faces. They didn’t just cock their heads downward. They went to their knees. I bet their heads bowed and they probably put a hand to their heart.

3 **~** What did they do next?

They gave Him the best.

They gave Him their best.

What they gave probably lasted Him for several years.

So, they looked for Him. Followed the star. Fell to their knees as they began to worship Him. They gave Him their best gifts.

4 **~** Do you give Him your best each day?

5 Do You give Him your best each moment?

6 You have the gift of time, your most precious resource and gift. Do you give Him what He deserves?

7 How can you give Him your best in each moment, starting in this moment?

8 How can you give Him your best, each moment, even as you are busy and are doing life?

Matthew 2:11 / Expanded Bible (EXB)

11 They ·came to [entered] the house where the child was and saw him with his mother, Mary, and they ·bowed down [knelt; L fell] and ·worshiped [paid homage to] him. They opened their ·gifts [treasure chests; treasures] and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

**~** 9 How do you treasure Jesus Christ?

10 How are you going to apply this verse to your life, moment by moment, starting now, not just giving Him your best, but showing Him your reverence, worshiping Him, and giving Him your best?


{KEY: Anytime you see this symbol:  **~** it means that you need to prayer journal your responses to the following. }

A New Bible Study Journey through the New Testament

Today is the start a new Bible study journey blog post series (which I will turn into books later). Part 1 (or Book 1) is a 45 or 90 day Bible study, depending on which track you decide.

In this book, and in the next, we will read the New Testament in 90 or 180 days (again, depending on which track you determine) and will cover one verse every day, which we will ponder every moment for the next twenty-four hours. We will read it, study it, prayer journal about it, apply it, review it, and evaluate it through the course of this study today, this week, month, and series.

The point of this way of doing Bible study is to ponder (meditate on) a verse every moment all day and night, and prayer journal about it. It's absorbing every treasure of the verse and letting it sink in to the marrow of our bones. It's taking the time to allow the Word of God, the Bible, to grow deeper in us and in our lives.

To often, Bible studies are jammed pack with so much information that we aren't given the chance to fully digest and absorb what we've learned. This study allows this to happen. I guarantee we'll go deeper and you'll get a lot out of it, for we're thinking on the verse every moment and apply it every moment.

If you're interested, read the introduction here:

http://www.wattpad.com/49225850-a-godly-vision-a-bible-study-journey-part-1

It was just too much to put in one blog post.

also, look at that link if you want to read it in a different format, rather than on this blog.

Please let me know if you are taking part in this study. I would like to encourage you. I welcome discussion, questions, and even suggestions.

Blessings.