Matthew | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4:1-11 | 4:12-25 | 5:1-12 | 5:13-16 | 5:17-26 | 5:27-30 | 5:31-32 | 5:33-42 | 5:43-48 | 6:1-15 | 6:16-23 | 6:24-34 | 7-17 | 18-28 |

These small group studies of Matthew 6 contain outlines, cross-references, Bible study discussion questions, verse by verse commentary, and applications.  Visit our library of inductive Bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the Bible you can use in your small group.

Matthew 6:24-34 Inductive Bible Study – Discussion Questions and Verse by Verse Commentary

Discussion Questions

• How does verse 24 relate to the previous verses we have studied?
• What does it look like if someone is “serving” money? What will someone do if money is his master?
• What other things might be a person’s “master” besides money?
• Verse 25 says, “For this reason I say to you…” For what reason?
• What are the side effects of worrying?
• Why would people worry about these things?
• What lesson can we learn from the birds? From lilies?
• If Jesus question in verse 27 were not rhetorical, how would you answer it?
• What other things do people worry about today besides clothing and money?
• What are some things that you worry about?
• What should we do instead of worrying?
• What does it mean to seek first His kingdom? How can we do this? Each person spend several minutes writing down one or more specific examples of how to seek first His kingdom. Then share with the group.
• What principle can we learn from verse 34? Should we care about or plan about tomorrow? What is the difference between planning and worrying?

Cross-References

Matthew 10:31 – You are worth many sparrows.

Philippians 4:6-7 – Do not be anxious about anything.

1 Peter 5:7 – Cast all your anxiety on Him.

John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you.

Philippians 4:19 – My God will surely supply all your needs.

Isaiah 41:10 – Fear not for I am with you.

Matthew 28:10 – I am with you even to the end of the age.

Romans 8:38-39 – Nothing can separate me from the love of God.

Verse by Verse Commentary

1. It is impossible to serve two Masters. Jesus Himself said so. We have to make a choice to serve God or the world. Only one can be in first place. 

Reflect – What are you living for? Money or God?

You cannot take your fancy cars, electronics, golf clubs, or mansion with you when you die. You cannot even take the clothing on your back. Your soul goes and leaves everything on earth behind.

Therefore, we need to have a long-term perspective, asking ourselves the question, “Is what I am doing now going to make a difference one hundred years from now?” Jesus said we should not store up treasure on earth. Moth and rust destroy, stock markets go down, and thieves scam and steal. Even if you manage to keep your money safe, you cannot send it ahead of you to eternity.

Application: We can invest in God’s kingdom with our time and money now. In this way, we can build up treasures in heaven. Instead of using our money for ourselves, let us consider how to build God’s kingdom with it. We can support missionaries, give toward church planting and discipleship, and spend more time ministering to our families and serving God in or out of church instead of racking up hours of overtime.

Paul said that we should be content with food and clothing.

1 Timothy 6:8 – But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.

These are the basic needs in life. They are far less than what most people would consider a need. The world is very different now. People have more and expect more. Most people rarely even stop to consider and appreciate basic things that are available to us, like running water and electricity. Instead, a charged cell phone and super-fast internet are considered to be top priorities!

Application: We should be grateful for (and parents should teach their kids to be grateful for) all of the many blessings in our lives. Rather than setting our hopes on the latest and greatest thing, let us spend more time thanking God for what we already have. In your prayers, spend some time thanking God for some of the many things you have that you don’t need. Then also consider the many people in the world who still struggle with the basics. What can you do to help people who are truly in need?

Trying to get rich is a dangerous thing. Either you will get it and find out it doesn’t satisfy and you will be disappointed. Or you won’t get it and will be disappointed. This is the way for all of those who set their heart on worldly things.

In addition, the lure of riches may seduce you into doing things you would not otherwise do. For example, a person who desires most of all to honor God would not consider telling a lie to save money, whereas a person who wants to get rich would. A person who seeks God first will not consider altering paperwork illegally in order to make more money. A greedy person will.

We live in a world that is obsessed with money.

Reflect – How can you avoid falling into this trap? How can you be sure that your heart is in the right place? How can you decide whether or not you should work so much overtime in pursuit of a promotion or in order to keep your job?

Application – Consider your past year. At what times have you chosen God over money? At what times have you chosen money over God? Resolve to put God first the next time you face this choice.

2. For this reason, We should not be worried about money because it is not our focus. It is not our treasure. Our heart is not set on getting more of it.

3. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? We eat to live, not live to eat. God created us for a purpose. And that is to serve Him.

4. Do not be worried – This is a command. It is wrong to worry about money. It displays a lack of faith in God and a lack of trust in His promises.

God takes care of sparrows (and other animals), and we are more valuable, so of course He will take care of us. Of course, sparrows also do “work” for their food. They don’t just sit in their nests and wait for it to fall from the sky. At the same time, they do not worry about the future.

Who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? – The answer is no one. Worry is not productive. It zaps joy. It ruins our sleep. It causes us to be cranky. It takes away our focus from the Lord. It is a lack of faith. It can cause physical sickness.

Example of the flowers’ clothing – Flowers do not worry about the future. They are not even conscious of it. But yet they are beautiful. They are not forgotten by God. People are more valuable than flowers. God created clothes for Adam and Eve. He will make sure that you have what you need as well. Probably most or all of you here today never worried about clothes or. That means you are very blessed financially. You don’t have any needs. So why worry about stuff you don’t need? Have you ever gone to bed hungry? Instead of worrying, let’s spend more time thanking God.

5. God promises to take care of our needs –

God promises to provide for our needs. He never guarantees to give you everything you want. There is a difference. 

6. The Gentiles seek after these things –

We are not to love the world or the things in the world, although that is how most people live.

1 John 2:15-17 – Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

We are called to set our mind on the things of God rather than the things of this world.

Adam’s descendants began human culture with music, art, writing, etc. However, man’s culture is also fallen. Culture places the wrong value on many things. Things the world places value on include money, materials, respect, promotions, achievements, etc. Fallen people love these things because he thinks they can make him feel happy (this happiness is temporary).

We have a choice. Love God or love the world. We cannot choose both. Why? Because they are contradictory. Following God will often mean we are going against culture. We must not be too attached to this world. This world is fallen. It is cursed. It is sinful. It is in rebellion against God. Its ideas and values are wrong. Sometimes they sound good because of nice packaging, but that doesn’t make it right. We cannot love God and money. We cannot serve two masters.

Reflect – How can we know if we are loving the world or not?

Here are several basic tests you can use to perform a “self-exam.”

A. What do you spend most of your time doing? If you have free time, what do you spend your free time doing? Maybe some spend most of their time at parties, going to bars, hanging out with friends, and singing karaoke. If so, their idol is perhaps entertainment.

Some spend all their time playing sports, coaching sports, reading about sports, and watching sports. If so, maybe this person loves sports more than God.

Some spend all their time shopping, looking at fashion magazines, reading gossip news about Hollywood stars, or looking at themselves in the mirror. Then they love beauty and fashion more than God. But if you use your free time (or at least a good chunk of it) reading Christian books, memorizing the Bible, sharing the gospel, praying, etc., then this is a good sign.

B. What do you spend most of your time thinking about? If you are always thinking about how to make more money, what your stocks are worth, how much your house price has gone up, how much it will cost to fix your car, how many shoes you can buy, etc., then maybe your idol is money. If you spend your time thinking about your favorite sports team, then maybe that is your idol. Etc. Or do you think of ways you can grow in Christ? Do you think of ways you can help your family grow? Do you think of ways you can share the gospel?

Application: What do you spend most of your time talking about? When you are with your closest friends, what do you talk about? Do you just talk about money, beauty, fashion, sports, etc? Or do you talk about the things of God?

7. Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness –

Matthew 6:33 – But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

There is a condition to God’s promise to take care of our needs. He promises to provide for our needs if we serve God first. If we are seeking God’s kingdom first, then we will also not be worrying about earthly things. Our mind and heart will be set on the things of God. On our bed at night, we will be meditating on the Lord rather than stressing about our difficulties.

Throughout my lifetime, I have seen that this promise is true. Again and again, God has provided for my family, many times in unexpected ways. 

8. Do not worry about tomorrow –

Take things one step at a time. Do what you can and should do each day. But don’t worry or stress about what is outside of your control. Do not add future potential problems to your list of problems to deal with. Those things may never materialize, so don’t worry about them.