Kingdom come / Daily Bread
Read Matthew 6:10-11 . So begin to pray by focusing on your Father who loves and cares for you (9). Then worship his holy name (Ps.29:2;...
Your holy Father
Read Matthew 6:9 . Jesus has made clear the way to approach prayer (6:5-8) but what should we pray about? We need to ask, “Lord, teach us...
Praying aright
Read Matthew 6:5-8 . This is the second of three examples which Jesus uses to show the wrong and right way of doing “acts of...
For a lasting reward
Read Matthew 6:1-4 . The opening words say literally, “Beware of doing your righteousness before men”, the same word used in 5:6,10,20....
Love your enemies
Read Matthew 5:43-48 . The command to “love your neighbour” had been corrupted by adding words not in the Bible text: “and hate your...
Overcome evil with good
Read Matthew 5:38-42 . The Law commanded restitution – “an eye for an eye” (Ex.21:24) – though even in the Law love for neighbour was...
Let your 'Yes' be 'Yes'
Read Matthew 5:33-37 . The Law said “Do not swear falsely by the Lord’s name” (Lev.19:12) and emphasised the seriousness of breaking a...
What God has joined together
Read Matthew 5:31-32 . The next illustration of this greater righteousness (5:20) addresses attitudes to divorce current at that time....
Overcoming lust
Read Matthew 5:27-30 . Just as “do not murder” has a greater application, so too does the next command: “You shall not commit adultery”...
Overcoming anger
Read Matthew 5:21-26 . To have a righteousness greater than the Pharisees (5:20) would be impossible if it meant having – and keeping –...