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?