Hello All,

Please join us, our Zoom Link is below for this Saturday’s session at 8:00 AM PST 02/21/2026. I am blessed by the presence of each one of you in my life. We show gratitude to God by “giving thanks in all circumstances …” [1Thess. 5:18a]

We will continue our study of Matthew. [Matt. 5, 6, 7] These chapters are simply quite dense, but we will take our time, there is no rush, we do not want to miss any important elements of Jesus’ teachings. In this study session we will review [Matthew Chapter 6:1-13]. It is here that Jesus lays out the proper giving of alms and how we are to pray. This is a portion of the Similitudes.

It is my prayer that you are able to join us.

Love, hank

Zoom Link:
For Study, Prayer and Fellowship – 8:00 AM PST 02/21/2026:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82968961343?pwd=LzcwVjJKcWVESDRURlhDcXlNV0JUdz09
Meeting ID: 829 6896 1343
Passcode: 77299ere:

Bible Study Notes:

02/21/2026 – Prologue – This is one of those times where the choice of a verb is crucial. Too many people use the word believe when they should be using think. However, in the case of this prologue we may need to apply both verbs equally. The topic is the act of prayer which is key to holding Christianity as a living tradition. If we settle for the patterns of habitual and reactionary thought, any new aspect that emerges will predictably be subdivided into ideological camps. For example: Catholic v. Protestant, intellectual v. emotional, or active v. reflective mind. 

Instead, God wants us to approach prayer through the prism of Jesus and utilize prayer as a vehicle to enter into and interact with our suffering world. The kingdom of God on earth [Lord’s Prayer – Matt. 6:9-13] is Jesus’ specific command to humanity. Thus, it was included in the [Beatitudes – Matt. 5, 6, 7] Some folks tend to approach the Sermon on the Mount as complete; others claim the Sermon on the Mount requires the full four Gospels to totally understand Jesus’ message. As Jesus emerged from His temptation in the desert, He had to deal with the challenge of entering the Kingdom – His kingdom on earth which . His second challenge was how to convince the folks of their challenge – how they too were to become citizens of His Kingdom? 

[Matt. 6:1-4] – Alms/Giving to the Needy – Jesus’ teaching, with authority, now moves from the true meaning of selected aspects of God’s Torah. [Matt. 21-48] Jesus takes these verses as used by Matthew from [Ex., Lev., and Deut.] to show that God is not self-centered and develops them as motives with which His disciples engage in deeds of piety as interpreted in Israel in the 1C. Jesus’ warning to His disciples is to avoid living lives of piety (“your self-righteousness”), that are lived out with the hope that others will notice and be impressed – whether it is charity, prayer or fasting. Jesus is saying, we may receive the response of blessing from only one source: either the folks or from the heavenly Father. Pick one! 

Here is a ‘watch your step’ moment. Jesus’ material is honest, has symmetry, and is logical. However, from time to time He breaks His sequencing to teach on what appears to be a bit disjointed, when He does this, it is an indication that He is being emphatic or stating something important. Our study today [v. 6:1] is such a moment where He informs us how we should act when performing deeds of mercy and charity. [v. 6:2-4] Jesus expects His disciples to be merciful. He tells them so in [v. 5:7] The sinfulness of seeking glorification by men runs counter to being salt and light. [v. 5:13–16] He further states that we are to do good deeds to glorify God in heaven. [v. 5:16] All throughout [Chap. 6] Jesus is inviting (key word) His disciples to live their lives under the loving care of God and trust God as their Father, because of Jesus, God’s son. [v. 6:4] “Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Classic logic – if/then statement) Remember, in the end, God will sort it all out and God’s blessing is the only one that counts. God sees good deeds, even those done in secret. Thus, we, His disciples, are free from needing the approval of others.

[Matt. 6:5-15] – Prayer – We may have to bifurcate these 11 verses. They contain the gorgeous mountain referred to as the Lord’s prayer. After teaching the true motives for the works of charity, Jesus addresses the topic: rightly motivated prayer. Note: the same conditions exist today  as in the time of Jesus; and the similarity of Jesus’ comments on alms-giving, above, [v. 6:2-4] with teachings on prayer [v. 6:5-6] and to come, His teachings on fasting [v. 6:16-18] Matthew takes us deeply into Jesus’ revelation about the form and content for prayer. [v. 6:7-15] Prayer that is pleasing to God is simple, not long-winded, reveals our attitude about God and is rooted in the knowledge that the Father in heaven knows the needs of Jesus’ disciples. Jesus then gives us the prayer we have long cherished – the Lord’s Prayer. Luther proclaimed, This prayer is far superior to all others that we might devise ourselves … Thus, there is no more noble prayer to be found on earth.”

Prayer is addressed to God and only God can rightly respond to prayer. Jesus then proceeds to inform us that there is a supreme contradiction and hypocrisy when human beings posture and pose in their praying so as to be visible to other people. (Even admired by others.) And if we posture in that manner, we silently redirect our prayers away from God and toward those to whom we are visible and to ourselves. It then becomes obvious what response we will receive. By contrast Jesus suggests a manner in which we can avoid misdirection of prayer: – go – into a small closet – the door locked – in secret – where no one can see you – except your heavenly Father – to pray. It is there that you will be seen by your heavenly Father. [v. 6:6, which echoes v. 6:4] Our life is under the care of our Father and God is our Father in heaven. He will respond to our prayer with blessing.

Your Father knows our needs. [v. 6:7-8] These words contain a large offering of theology and guidance as we, Jesus’ disciples, desire to pray. Remember this authoritative revelation on prayer is deeply rooted in Jesus’ 1C. Jewish context. Here Matthew gives truth and help to the disciples for all times (including now) – as long as the disciples pray – until the reign of God comes in all its fullness. At that point all prayer will dissolve into pure praise and thanksgiving. Jesus’ disciples are not to be like outsiders, non-disciples, or unbelievers when they pray. Jesus rejects the thinking that God needs extra effort on the part of His devotees in order for prayers to be heard. Long-winded prayers are not a sign of piety, nor a guarantee that God will answer our prayers. This is life under the Father’s care. Jesus’ disciples do not need to be like “the Gentiles.” [v. 6:7] Our Father knows, before we ask Him, of that which we need! [v. 6:8]

[Matt. 6:9-13] – The Our Father – Nine short lines – form the heart of Christian prayer. Be still – let that sink in. Then let Jesus’ comment, “Pray indeed like this.” [v. 6:9] Let that sink in, we have two directions to choose from: 1) Pray the Our Father verbatim as countless disciples do on a daily basis. Note: There are two versions of The Lord’s Prayer: The longer is from [Matt. 6:9-13] and the shorter in [Luke 11:2-4]. Biblical scholars debate this topic: Some claim the Luke version was first, others claim that Jesus spoke often about prayer and may have uttered a larger number of versions. In other words, the Apostles may have been aware of variations. However, that Jesus is the author is beyond dispute! The Lord’s Prayer is so popular and widespread it could be said that it is a common prayer of all with any sense of religion. Go to any public gathering, with a mixture of attendees (some non-believers), and one will find upon a public recital of the Lord’s Prayer there is universal participation. This quite possibly is an indication that a non-believer, through the recital is being approached by God. 2) However, The Lord’s Prayer is not common property. It is for Jesus’ disciples. Some have suggested that it might be better referred to as the ‘Disciple’s Prayer’. Only those who have been called to faith and discipleship receive the privilege of addressing the Father of Jesus, as Our Father. It is only Jesus’ disciples, the ones taught to pray this prayer, who have come to believe that the reign of God has already begun to manifest itself in history, on earth – through Jesus.         AMEN

Love, hank

Hank Hohenstein, OFS

Land Steward

161 Osprey Vista

Shady Cove, OR 97539
Cell: 541-973-5442

hankhohenstein@gmail.com