by Jen | Jul 22, 2025 | 5-15, DISO studies, Matthew 6
NEW TO THIS STUDY? START HERE.
Hi! As usual, this week generated a lot of notes. Remember, you can always use email or my contact form if you have any questions about my work in this or any other post.
Last Week’s Work
WRITING TYPES
From my survey, the predominant writing type in Matthew is narrative: it’s the story of Jesus Christ’s ministry on earth. For our study text, I also found a lot of instruction. That’s because Jesus used commands, outlined proper prayer procedure, and drew comparisons for his audience. All of these are effective teaching techniques used in instructional design. I also think the literal context and interlinear research backs this up as well.
LITERAL CONTEXT
Matthew 6:5-15 is taken from text commonly recognized as The Sermon on the Mount (chapters 5-7), during which Jesus taught his disciples (5:1-2). In the opening verses of chapter 6, I noticed He introduced his topic in v1 (righteousness), then used parallel phrases to outline three aspects of that practice: … when you give… (vv2-4), … when you pray… (vv5-13), and … when you fast… (vv16-18). This is another instructional technique that helps learners remember important information.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
According to the ESV Global Study Bible, this book was written between AD 55 and 65 by Matthew (also known as Levi), a disciple and former tax collector. It’s likely he wrote this directly for members of the early Christian church in Antioch of Syria. According to Bibleatlas.org, this Antioch (not to be confused with the Pisidian Antioch mentioned in Acts 13-14), was a large city, home to Jews and Gentiles, and one of the first places Christianity was established outside Palestine.
The purpose of Matthew’s gospel was to show his audience (Jewish and Gentile) Jesus was the awaited Messiah and to encourage them in this new and different belief system.
Based on all this information, I believe our study text should be interpreted literally.
INTERLINEAR RESEARCH
In my focus verse (6:13), the Spirit directed me to research the key English words lead and temptation:
- Lead (G1533 eisenenkēs). This word appears just two times in the whole Bible: both in recitations of this prayer Jesus taught His followers (Matthew 6:13 and Luke 11:4). Derivatives of G1533 appear six more times, though; and those instances are consistently translated to bring in English. A very different action!
In my struggle to make sense of this, the Spirit reminded me of similar English phrasing found in Matthew 4:1, where Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness for one specific purpose: to be tempted by the devil! Matthew didn’t use the same verb for led there (it’s G321, anēchthē, which, interestingly, is also sometimes translated brought!), but I’m planning to revisit this as a cross-reference anyway since the phrasing is so close.
- Temptation (G3986 peirasmon). This refers to an experiment or test by which something—like a theory or a trait—is proven or developed. I wonder if Jesus was instructing His disciples to ask God to be excused from trials they might not successfully complete-? I don’t yet know. I’m looking forward to getting more clarity next week.
One final note: I commented a couple weeks ago on Jesus’s use of different terms to describe what petitioners should ask God to forgive ( our debts, v12), and what He said petitioners themselves must forgive (the trespasses of others, vv14-15) to gain personal absolution. This week, I reviewed those two Greek words and found:
- Debts (G3783 opheilēmata). In v12, this is used to denote something owed; an after effect of an obligation. That made me think about our study of Genesis 3 and how God could have killed Adam and Eve immediately when they ate the fruit, but He didn’t. Instead, the debt of disobedience carried forward, until Jesus’s death paid it in full for all who believe in Him.
- In vv14-15, Matthew used paraptōmata (G3900), meaning unintentional error or willful transgression. That seems to cover about anything someone could do to need forgiveness, doesn’t it? It also helps me see the difference: we ask God to forgive us when we willfully disobey (as Adam and Eve did) only to the extent that we forgive others’ mistreatment, whether they did it on purpose or not. Not easy!
Dig-In Challenges
This week, let’s wrap up the second half of the Refine step by examining cross-references and other translations.
- Don’t forget to begin with your prayer from Step 1.
- REFINE: Then consult a concordance or online cross-reference study tool (I’ll be starting at this blb.org page) to find and read through the available cross-references for the verses you’re most interested in and log what the Spirit shows you.
NOTE: if you’re interested in other verses, follow the above link, then scroll to the verse you want to study, click the TOOLS button on the left side, and choose Cross-Refs from the menu.
- REFINE: Finally, compare at least a few other translations of your study verses and write about what you find in your study journal. I’ll be comparing ESV, AMP, NIV, and GNT using this biblehub.com page. You can compare your own verses from that link by entering them in the Enter Reference or Keyword box at the top of the page and clicking the spyglass icon there.
I’m looking forward to sharing what I discover with you next week. I hope you’ll join me then!
GO TO WEEK 7 >
by Jen | Jul 15, 2025 | 5-15, DISO studies, Matthew 6
NEW TO THIS STUDY? START HERE.
Welcome back!
Last Week’s Work
COMPARISONS
Here’s how the Spirit guided me as I looked for comparisons:
- Jesus did not want his audience to pray as the hypocrites did—in public so people would see them. This type of prayer gains nothing but public attention (v5).
- Nor did He want them to pray as the Gentiles did—repeating empty phrases and many words (vv7-8). God doesn’t need ritual or long explanations—He already knows what we need (vv7-8).
- Instead, He instructed them to pray privately (v6), and he gave them a model for prayer: “pray then, like this” (v9). Here, I felt the Spirit prompt me to view like as meaning “similar to,” not “the same as.” In other words, I believe rather than instructing His followers to say those exact words, He wanted them to use this model: begin by addressing God as Father above all fathers and give Him the glory. Next, align their priorities with His: that His kingdom be established and His will be done on earth as in heaven (see v10 discussion, below). Then, finally, ask for what we need: provision, forgiveness, protection from evil.
- Next, I sensed an important distinction between petitioning God for what we want versus what we need in vv5-13. The only wants discussed are in the negative examples (the hypocrites’ desire to be seen by others, and the Gentiles’ use of lengthy appeals to get their way). But three needs are mentioned specifically: daily bread (v11), forgiveness (v12), and help fighting temptation/ evil (v13). I don’t think this means Jesus counseled against asking God for wants, though.
- In v10, His followers are instructed to ask that God’s will be worked out on earth the same way it is in heaven. At first, I worried how I’d know if I were doing that right; but then I realized the obligation isn’t to make God’s will happen our way, but to agree that’s the goal, and support it’s achievement His way.
- In v12, we ask that God forgive us only to extent we extend the same grace. As I read that, I realized the scales are already skewed: God has already forgiven me so much more than anyone has ever owed me! Even so, v15 makes it pretty clear if I’m not forgiving others everything, there’s really no point in asking God to forgive that for me!
Finally, though the word but often indicates contradiction, I don’t think its use in v13 does. Rather, I think it’s there as repetition: to emphasize the importance of our request that God protect us from temptation and other forms of evil.
CAUSES/MOTIVATIONS
I didn’t find any cause connectors in my focus verse (Matthew 6:13). I did notice two in verse 5, though: “… you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others (emphasis mine).”
In other words, Don’t be like the hypocrites because they love to stand and pray in [public places], [so] that others can see them. Their motivation for praying wasn’t to be heard by God, but to impress others.
In vv7-8, for appears three times as a connector, signaling two reasons Jesus’s followers should not imitate the Gentiles’ example: … for [because] they think they will be heard for [because of] their many words, and … for [because] your Father [already] knows what you need… Finally, in the last four verses of the study passage, I saw Jesus had a single reason for instructing His audience to pray for forgiveness and help against temptation and evil. It was … “for [because there’s a condition to forgiveness, which is:] if you forgive others, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others, neither will [you be forgiven]!
CONDITIONS/METHODS
Isn’t that last revelation of cause also an amazing segue into our conditions/methods discussion? God is so good like that! Though, again, I observe that God has already forgiven me so much more than I’ve ever even had a chance to forgive in others. How to reconcile this? I think it’s simply a matter that God’s love for us is so great, He can forgive even when we are not worthy of that forgiveness. All the more reason to give Him glory! Finally, in v13, it seems to me the prayer is about keeping the requestor from tempting and/or evil conditions. I’m looking forward to digging more deeply into this verse and really understanding what is meant there, since nothing I’ve uncovered so far clarifies what Jesus meant. I just can’t wrap my head around the idea that God would “lead us into” clearly bad things!
Dig-In Challenges
This week, I’ll start refining my understanding of this passage:
- PRAY. Of course!
- REFINE by skimming the book of Matthew to determine which of the following types of writing appears most often in it: instruction, law, letter, narrative, poetry, or prophecy. Then reread Matthew 6:5-15 to see what (if any) other types are in use. Note all the types you find on your Scripture study sheet or in your journal. Recognizing writing types helps us determine whether the author intended the text to be interpreted literally or have an alternative meaning the original audience would probably have understood.
- REFINE: Next, research the book’s historical context by referencing an Introduction to the book of Matthew. This can be found in most bound Bibles immediately before Matthew 1, or by checking out the ESV online. Introductions are written by Bible publishers and provide historical details like who wrote the book, to whom, and when. They often also contain a summary of the book’s content. As you read the intro, note any relevant or interesting facts. Based on what you discover there, how will you interpret Matthew 6:5-15?
- REFINE: Last, look up the meaning of a few key words and/or phrases from your study using an interlinear Bible tool. I like Biblehub.com’s Greek tool for this research. To use: Click the blue arrow to the left or right of the verse citation (“Matthew 6:1”) to scroll to the verse containing words you want to review, then click the number in the Strong’s column that corresponds to the English word or phrase you’re researching. Note anything the Spirit highlights in the information provided.
This “refining” step is more involved than the “mining” we did earlier, but I encourage you to use these tools and dig as much as you can this week. I pray the Spirit will bless your efforts, my friend!
GO TO WEEK 6 >
by Jen | Jul 8, 2025 | 5-15, DISO studies, Matthew 6
NEW TO THIS STUDY? START HERE.
Thank you for joining me here. As I write this, I’m praying for the families affected by the flood that recently devastated areas along the Guadalupe River in Texas, especially those who have lost loved ones. May they find comfort, help, and healing among us and from above.
Last Week’s Work
REPETITION
With the Spirit’s help, I noticed the repetition of the phrase when you pray, which highlighted three statements about praying I summarized thus: don’t be a hypocrite (v5), pray in private (v6), and don’t drone on and on (v7). I believe these statements were made to emphasize two aspects of God: He sees you when you pray privately and will reward you (v6); and he knows what you need before you ask him (v8).
Next, I noticed various forms of forgive in vv12, 14-15. These establish the principle that forgiveness will be granted to us in the same measure we grant it to others. It’s interesting that Matthew referred to what is being forgiven as debts (v12) in the prayer, then used the term trespasses in the follow-up statement after the prayer. Though these verses aren’t my primary focus in this study, I wonder about the use of such dissimilar English words. If I have time when I’m working through the Refine step, I’d like to see if there’s a literal difference in the original text and what that might mean.
Finally, I noticed several “not”s in this passage:
- Do not be like the hypocrites… (v5).
- Do not heap up phrases… (v7).
- Do not be like them (v8).
- Lead us not into temptation… (v13).
- If you do not forgive… (v15).
Of the five instances above, only the fourth, from my focus verse (v13), is part of the prayer pattern. The rest reflect Jesus’s teaching about the bad examples of the hypocrites and Gentiles, and the importance of treating others as you want God to treat you.
SPECIAL STATEMENTS
Seven Commands. Three of these are recorded in the first three bullets, above (do not be…, do not heap…, do not be…). Of the other four, three are in v6 (go into your room… shut the door…pray to your Father), and the last is in v9 (pray like this…).
One Prayer in vv9-13. But maybe not! Although it sounds like a prayer, and I’ve been praying almost those exact words for more than five decades in various church settings, this week the Spirit has really been drawing my attention to the phrase pray then like this… (v9, emphasis mine). More on that next week!
Two Promises. Your Father… will reward you when you pray privately (v6), and your heavenly Father will also forgive you when you forgive others (v14). Both of these are really good news!
Four Requests. These are all located within the prayer pattern: Give us this day our daily bread (v11), Forgive us our debts (v12), Lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil (v13). The first two seem straightforward, but the last two? I’ll be glad to get some clarity there!
Three Warnings about ineffectual prayers—Do not be like the hypocrites… they have received their reward (v5), Do not heap up empty phrases and do not be like [the Gentiles] (vv7-8)—and how forgiveness works in the kingdom of God: If you do not forgive others…, neither will your Father (v15).
LISTS
This may be a first in my studies: I noticed a list and a sub-list here! They are:
3-Step Prayer Procedure:
- Don’t grandstand (v5); pray in private (v6).
- Don’t try to wear God down with words (v7)
- Follow this 5-Step Prayer Pattern:
A – Honor God (v9).
B – Align your will with His (v10).
C – Mention your need (v11).
D – Ask for forgiveness (v12).
E – Ask for protection from the real enemy (v13).
Dig-In Challenges
This week, let’s wrap up Step 3 by:
- PRAYING: As always, start with the prayer we wrote for Step 1.
- MINING: Read through the passage again looking for comparisons in or related to your focus verses. Look for similarities using like or as, quantitative/qualitative comparisons using more or less, and/or contrasts.
- MINING: Next, look for causes or motives by focusing on key words or phrases I call cause connectors. In this chapter, look for the connectors for and that. Then check the text surrounding the connector for an action and the reason or explanation for that action. For example: in the sentence,
I went to the store because I was out of milk:
the action = I went to the store because the reason = I was out of milk.
NOTE A: for and that don’t always connect an action and a reason. To determine if they do in this passage, read the sentences containing these words replacing for with because, and that with so that or in order that. If the new sentence makes sense and means the same as the original, make a note of the action and its cause.
NOTE B: With all these connectors, you’ll find the action before the cause connector and the reason after it (like the example above).
- MINING: Finally, see if you can find any conditions/methods required for something to happen. For example, does the text say if or when a certain condition is met, some outcome will happen (e.g., whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith (Matt 21:22)? Or does the author describe a particular method by which something happens—for example, specific steps taken to achieve something, or more generally by or through attributes or actions (e.g., saved by grace, through faith (Eph 2:8)? Does he use any adverbs (-ly words) that describe how action was accomplished?
These exercises are more involved, I know, but I’m confident you can do this with the Holy Spirit! Don’t forget to check your How to Dig Into Scripture Ourselves guide, and you can always reach out to me at [email protected] if you have questions.
GO TO WEEK 5 >
by Jen | Jul 1, 2025 | 5-15, DISO studies, Matthew 6
NEW TO THIS STUDY? START HERE.
Happy Independence Day to my U.S. readers! Amid the hot dogs, potato salad, and fireworks, let us all pause and thank God for the durability of this democracy. May we always strive to be one nation, under God indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Amen!
Last Week’s Work
MY PERSONAL TREASURE
This time, as I prayed over my huh?s and wow!s from last week, I was drawn to the prayer’s final request: “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil [or the evil one]” (v13), and I recorded these three thoughts:
- This is the last of the requests. I’ve mentioned before the primacy and recency learning principles: material presented first and last should be the most important because it’s easier for learners to recall that information.
- The choice of verb, lead, seems strange: does God actually lead us to temptation? I thought that was Satan’s job.
- And didn’t Jesus already deliver us on the cross?
So, in this study, I intend to focus on the phrasing in Matthew 6:13.
WHO (FIVE CHARACTERS)
This passage is part of a larger discourse by a character referenced only as I (v5), but Matthew identified Him earlier (in context at 4:17) as Jesus. Jesus refers to His audience as you/your throughout the passage. And they also seem to be a least part of the group referred to as our (v9), us (vv11-13), and we (v12)—with Jesus, I assume.
He also used your, as well as who in vv9-10, to refer to the Father character (v6). I think it’s interesting Jesus didn’t call Him God in this passage.
The last characters I noticed were the two bad examples: the hypocrites/they/their in v5 and Gentiles/they/their/them in vv7-8.
WHERE (FIVE LOCATIONS)
Jesus begins his instruction on prayer with a discussion of where one should pray: not in the synagogues or at the street corners, but alone and in your room with the door shut (v5). He does have good reasons for that though, and we’ll explore them more this coming week!
The other two locations present two contrasts (more on that in two weeks!): the Father is in heaven, and that’s where His will is done (vv9-10). But on earth, where this discourse took place, the audience is enjoined to pray for God’s will to be done (v10).
WHEN (THREE TIMEFRAMES)
By repeating the phrase when you pray (vv5,6,7), Jesus infers that prayer is something the audience already does, and he explains three important prayer techniques: don’t grandstand like the hypocrites, pray in private, and don’t heap up empty phrases like the Gentiles.
The second timeframe I noticed was in v8: Jesus says God already knows what you need before you ask for it. And last, in v11, I discovered Jesus’s prayer is intended to ask for bread daily. That makes me think prayer should be a regular, daily occurrence.
Dig-In Challenges
Here’s my plan for this week:
- PRAY the prayer I wrote last week before I study.
- MINE: Look for repeated words or phrases like(hint hint) when you pray in this passage; and check for synonyms or pronouns that might refer to emphasized concepts, too.
- MINE: Locate any special statements (blessings, commands, curses, prayers, promises, requests, and/or warnings) in the passage.
- MINE: Note any lists (3 or more similar items) mentioned in Matthew 6:5-15.
Remember, you can download this printable summary of the DISO process for more specific instructions. I hope you’ll check in with me next week!
GO TO WEEK 4 >
by Jen | Jun 24, 2025 | 5-15, DISO studies, Matthew 6
NEW TO THIS STUDY? START HERE.
Hi there!
Welcome back! As I write this, geopolitical events in the Middle East make me wonder (again!) if this is the conflict to end all conflicts, but only God knows that for sure. Even so, time is running out. In our last online study we saw eternal life comes only from belief in Jesus as the son of God (John 3:16-18). My friend, if you are on the fence about Jesus, I encourage you to seek whatever information you need to decide in your heart that He is God’s Son who died for you. When we pass from this earthly existence, it will be too late to choose Him as Savior (Luke 16:26; Hebrews 9:27-28).
Know also, your decision for Christ doesn’t mean you have to join a church or even go to church. But this earthly walk is so much better when we find a place of sanctuary where we can be with other Christians, learning and teaching among them. Church is simply a place—like this study, really—where you can go to learn more about Jesus and talk with members of the family of God. He will draw you to the right place for you if you let Him. Now, let’s dig in!
Last Week’s Work
MY PRAYER
For this study, I’m praying:
Lord, thank You for another chance to study prayer, and specifically, the prayer You gave us. Open my eyes, heart, and mind so I can: see what Your Spirit—my Helper—wants me to see, understand it as Matthew and his audience did, and make a plan to align with the principle I’ll discover here. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen!
HUH? and WOW! MOMENTS
These are my questions and discoveries from surveying the passage:
HUH?s
- What does Matthew mean in v6, “… your Father who is in secret”?
- Do vv7-8 mean we shouldn’t pray long prayers?
- What does it mean to “hallow” the Father’s name (v9)?
- How do I know God’s will (v10)?
- Referencing the footnote to v13: “For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen:” what’s the origin of that phrase? Why was it left out of some manuscripts?
WOW!s
- Don’t pray in public to be seen by others if you want God to grant something beyond people’s attention (v5).
- Hypocrites (v5) and Gentiles (v7) weren’t effective prayer warriors.
- Verses 9-10 indicate actual petition should come after “hallowing” God’s name and submitting to His will.
- The only physical request mentioned is for food (v11).
- We will be forgiven to the extent we forgive others (v12, vv14-15).
- The final request is to not be tempted, but “delivered” from evil (v13).
Dig-In Challenges
If you’re studying this passage with me, listen to the Spirit this week, and choose a personal Huh? or Wow! to dig more deeply into. Going forward, I’ll refer to this as your personal treasure. It can be something you noticed in your study, one of the items I’ve listed above, or anything else the Holy Spirit has laid upon your heart as you think about this passage. As we study, we’ll consider everything in the chapter, but we’ll gradually narrow our focus to the verses that talk about our treasure.
- PRAY for the Spirit to direct your focus for the remainder of this study. In your journal, record the personal treasure He identifies, along with any verse(s) relating to it from the study text.
- MINE: Read Matthew 6:5-15, focusing on the setting (who’s involved, and where and when the action took place). Note anything the Spirit emphasizes about the characters involved, any locations mentioned, and any timeframes discussed.
I hope you’ll check in next week to see what the Spirit is showing me.
GO TO WEEK 3 >
