Matthew 6 Bible Study: Putting God First and Learning to Trust Him
Key Scripture: Matthew 6:33 (KJV)
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
Introduction: What Does It Mean to Put God First?
Have you ever found yourself worrying about tomorrow, wondering how things will work out, or feeling overwhelmed by everything life is asking of you? Maybe you've prayed about a situation but still find yourself trying to figure everything out on your own.
We all experience moments like these. Sometimes, we get so caught up in the demands of everyday life that we forget to put God at the center of it all.
In Matthew 6, Jesus teaches us how to live with a heart focused on God. He talks about giving, prayer, fasting, money, worry, and trusting our Heavenly Father.
Although these subjects may seem different, they all point to one important question: Is God truly first in our lives?
As we study this chapter, let's look at what Jesus teaches us and how we can apply His words to our everyday lives. Proverbs 3 Trusting God
1. Matthew 6:1–4 — Give with the Right Heart
Jesus begins by teaching about giving to those in need. He warns against doing good deeds simply to be seen and praised by others.
In Matthew 6:1, Jesus says:
"Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them..."
Jesus is teaching us that our motives matter. It's possible to do something good on the outside while seeking recognition on the inside.
For example, we might help someone because we genuinely care about them, or we might help because we want others to notice how generous we are. The action may look the same, but the heart behind it is different.
This doesn't mean we should never let others see us doing good. Rather, we shouldn't make human approval the reason we do it.
Sometimes, we do so much for other people that we become disappointed when nobody acknowledges our efforts. It's natural to appreciate a thank-you, but our desire for recognition shouldn't determine whether we continue to do what is right. How to Pray for Discernment
Jesus reminds us that our Heavenly Father sees what others may never notice.
How we apply this today:
Look for opportunities to show kindness without expecting anything in return. Help someone in need, encourage a friend, or do something thoughtful simply because it's the right thing to do.
We don't have to announce every good deed. God sees the heart behind what we do.
Reflection question: Am I doing good to honor God, or am I depending on other people's approval to feel valued?
2. Matthew 6:5–15 — Prayer Is About Our Relationship with God
Jesus moves from giving to prayer. He warns against praying to impress others and teaches that prayer should be sincere.
Prayer isn't a performance. It's an opportunity to communicate with our Heavenly Father.
We don't need impressive words or a perfect speech to approach God. We can come to Him honestly, expressing our gratitude, confessing our struggles, asking for help, and seeking His guidance. How to Grow Stronger in Faith
Learning from the Lord's Prayer
In Matthew 6:9–13, Jesus gives His disciples a model for prayer that has become known as the Lord's Prayer.
It teaches us several important principles:
"Our Father which art in heaven" reminds us that we can approach God as our Father while honoring His holiness.
"Hallowed be thy name" teaches us to approach Him with reverence.
"Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done" reminds us to seek God's purposes rather than insisting that everything happen our way.
"Give us this day our daily bread" teaches us to depend on God for our daily needs.
"And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" connects receiving forgiveness with our responsibility to forgive others.
"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" expresses our need for God's guidance and protection.
Notice that the prayer begins with God—His name, His kingdom, and His will—before turning to our daily needs. The Lords Prayer more in Depth
This is a beautiful reminder that prayer isn't only about asking God to change our circumstances. It's also about allowing Him to shape our hearts.
The Importance of Forgiveness
Jesus places special emphasis on forgiveness in Matthew 6:14–15. "We are Forgiven" Tee on my Printify Shop
Forgiving someone who has hurt us can be difficult, especially when the pain is deep. Forgiveness doesn't mean pretending the hurt never happened, excusing wrongdoing, or allowing someone to continue harming us.
It means bringing our hurt before God and choosing not to let bitterness control our hearts. Sometimes forgiveness is a process that requires prayer, time, and healthy boundaries.
We need God's grace to forgive others, just as we depend on His grace for our own forgiveness.
How we apply this today:
Make prayer part of your daily life. Talk to God honestly, listen to His Word, and ask Him to help you develop a forgiving heart.
Reflection question: Am I making room for an honest relationship with God, and is there someone I need His help to forgive?
3. Matthew 6:16–18 — Seek God Sincerely
Jesus next addresses fasting. 7 Days of Fasting to Renew Your Spirit
In biblical times, fasting was a way of expressing devotion to God, often involving abstaining from food for a period of time. Jesus warns against making fasting a public display to gain admiration.
The issue isn't whether someone else knows that we are fasting. The issue is whether we are seeking God sincerely or using a spiritual practice to impress people.
It's possible to look spiritual on the outside without allowing God to work in our hearts.
Jesus calls us to a faith that is genuine, not one built around appearances.
Our relationship with God isn't measured by how spiritual we look to others. What matters is whether we are sincerely seeking Him.
How we apply this today:
Whether you're praying, fasting, reading Scripture, or serving others, examine your motives. Are you doing these things to grow closer to God, or are you more concerned with how others perceive you?
Our spiritual lives should be rooted in love for God rather than a desire for recognition. "Prayer isn't about Perfect Words" Tee on my Printify Shop
Reflection question: Am I more concerned with appearing spiritual or with genuinely growing closer to God?
4. Matthew 6:19–24 — Where Is Your Treasure?
Jesus turns our attention to the things we value most.
In Matthew 6:21, He says:
"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
Think about that for a moment.
The things we treasure often reveal what matters most to us. Our priorities, time, attention, and decisions can show where our hearts are focused. Bible Journals on Amazon
There is nothing inherently wrong with having money, enjoying possessions, or working toward goals. The problem arises when these things become more important than God.
Money can provide for our families and meet practical needs, but it cannot give us lasting peace or replace our relationship with our Creator.
Jesus also teaches in verse 24 that we cannot serve two masters. He specifically warns that we cannot serve both God and mammon, a term referring to wealth or riches.
This challenges us to consider whether our desire for financial security, possessions, or success is beginning to control our decisions.
We can spend so much time trying to gain more that we neglect the things that matter most: our faith, our families, our relationships, and our spiritual well-being.
What Does This Mean for Us?
Putting God first doesn't necessarily mean giving away everything we own or abandoning our responsibilities. It means keeping the right perspective.
We can work hard, manage our finances wisely, and plan for the future while remembering that our ultimate security rests in God, not in our possessions. Matthew 6 Merch on Amazon
How we apply this today:
Examine your priorities. Consider how you spend your time, what receives most of your attention, and what you are working hardest to obtain.
Ask God to help you value what matters to Him and to hold earthly possessions with an open hand.
Reflection question: If someone looked at my daily choices, would they see that God holds the most important place in my life?
5. Matthew 6:25–32 — Do Not Let Worry Control You
This section of Matthew 6 speaks to something almost everyone experiences: worry.
Jesus addresses concerns about food, drink, clothing, and the basic necessities of life. These were real concerns for the people listening to Him, just as financial and practical concerns are real for us today.
Jesus points to the birds of the air and reminds His listeners that their Heavenly Father feeds them. He also points to the flowers of the field, which are clothed in beauty without laboring over their appearance.
His point is that if God cares for His creation, we can trust that He knows and cares about our needs.
This doesn't mean that faithful Christians will never experience hardship, financial struggles, illness, or uncertainty. Nor does it mean we should ignore problems or avoid planning responsibly.
Rather, Jesus is teaching us not to let anxiety become the force that governs our lives. How to Pray for your Children
Trusting God When Life Feels Uncertain
Sometimes, worry comes from wanting answers we don't have.
We want to know how a situation will turn out, when a problem will be resolved, or whether everything will be okay.
When we cannot see what lies ahead, it's easy to imagine the worst.
But worrying cannot give us control over the future. It can only consume the peace and energy we need for today.
Faith invites us to bring our concerns to God, take the next responsible step, and trust Him with what we cannot control.
We may still feel worried at times. Trusting God doesn't mean we never struggle with our emotions. It means we keep turning toward Him in the middle of those struggles. How to Pray in Difficult Times
If you are facing a difficult season, remember that you don't have to pretend everything is fine to have faith. You can be honest with God about your fears and ask Him for wisdom, provision, strength, and peace.
How we apply this today:
When worry begins to overwhelm you, pause and pray. Identify what you can reasonably do about the situation, take that step, and entrust the outcome to God.
Remember that God knows what you need, even when you don't know how everything will work out.
Reflection question: What concern am I carrying today that I need to bring to God instead of allowing it to consume my thoughts?
6. Matthew 6:33–34 — Seek God First and Take One Day at a Time
We come to the central message of the chapter.
Matthew 6:33 says:
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
This verse is often quoted, but what does it really mean to seek God first?
Seeking God's kingdom means making His rule, His purposes, and His ways the priority in our lives. Seeking His righteousness means desiring to live in a way that honors Him. "God for Every Season" Tee on my Printify Shop
It means asking questions such as:
What does God's Word teach me about this decision?
Am I responding with love, honesty, and integrity?
Am I trusting God, or am I allowing fear to direct my choices?
What would it look like to honor God in this situation?
Seeking God first isn't something we do only on Sunday mornings or when life becomes difficult. It's a daily decision to include Him in our priorities, choices, relationships, and responsibilities.
What About the Promise in Matthew 6:33?
Jesus tells His listeners that as they seek God's kingdom first, their Heavenly Father knows their needs.
This is not a promise that believers will receive everything they desire or never experience hardship. The surrounding passage is about trusting God for the necessities of life rather than being consumed by anxiety over them.
God calls us to put Him first while trusting His wisdom and care, even when His provision doesn't look the way we expected. Proverbs 25 Widom Bible Study
Don't Borrow Tomorrow's Trouble
In verse 34, Jesus teaches us not to worry about tomorrow because tomorrow will have its own concerns.
This is a reminder to live faithfully in the present.
We can prepare for the future without becoming consumed by it. We can make plans without assuming responsibility for every possible outcome.
Sometimes, the best thing we can do is stop trying to solve tomorrow's problems before they arrive and focus on what God has placed before us today.
How we apply this today:
Start your day with God. Spend time in prayer, read His Word, and ask Him to guide your decisions.
When tomorrow's uncertainties begin to weigh on you, remind yourself that you can trust God with the future while faithfully living today. "God Restores Hope" Tee on my Printify Shop
Reflection question: What is one practical way I can put God first in my life this week?
Three Important Lessons from Matthew 6
As we reflect on the entire chapter, three important lessons stand out.
1. God cares about the condition of our hearts.
Whether we are giving, praying, fasting, or serving others, our motives matter. God desires sincerity rather than outward appearances.
2. Our priorities reveal what we value most.
The things that receive our time, attention, and devotion can reveal where our hearts are focused. Jesus calls us to treasure God above earthly wealth and recognition.
3. We can trust God without knowing every answer. "Jesus My Love" Sweatshirt on my ETSY Shop
Worry cannot guarantee tomorrow's outcomes. We are called to seek God, meet our responsibilities, and trust Him with the things beyond our control.
Personal Reflection: Putting Matthew 6 into Practice
Before finishing this study, take a moment to reflect on these questions:
Is there an area of my life where I have been seeking people's approval more than God's approval?
Is there someone I need to forgive, or a hurt I need to bring to God?
Have money, possessions, or worldly concerns taken too much of my attention?
What worry do I need to surrender to God?
What is one change I can make this week to put God first?
You don't have to change everything overnight. Spiritual growth happens as we continue to learn God's Word, trust Him, and put what we learn into practice.
Choose one area to focus on this week and ask God to help you grow. "Let God Lead You" Sweatshirt on my ETSY Shop
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your Word and for the lessons Jesus teaches us in Matthew 6. Help us examine our hearts and make sure our lives reflect a sincere desire to honor You.
Teach us to give with love, pray with faith, forgive others, and seek You above the things of this world.
When we become distracted by money, responsibilities, and the uncertainties of life, remind us that You know our needs. Help us trust You even when we cannot see how everything will work out.
Give us wisdom to make good decisions, strength to face difficult circumstances, and peace when worry tries to overwhelm us.
Help us seek Your kingdom first, not just in our words but in our daily choices. Teach us to live faithfully today and trust You with tomorrow.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
Final Thought
Matthew 6 reminds us that a life centered on God is not a life without responsibilities, difficulties, or uncertainty. It is a life in which we learn to face those things with faith.
We don't have to earn God's attention by impressing people. We don't have to find our security in earthly possessions. And we don't have to carry tomorrow's uncertainties as though everything depends on us.
We can pray sincerely, love others, make wise decisions, and trust our Heavenly Father to care for us.
When we seek God first, we learn to place our hearts, our priorities, and our worries in His hands.
May we remember to seek Him daily, trust Him faithfully, and live one day at a time!
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