Sermon on the Mount #8 – Weekly Study Questions
Treasures in Heaven
Sermon on the Mount (CGS#8) – Matt. 6:16-24
INTRODUCTION: What does it mean to live an authentic life of worship? This question is at the heart of the Sermon on the Mount. It is the center of the Jesus’ words in 6:1-18. We’ve already heard Jesus speak about giving to the poor and about prayer. Now, we hear Jesus speak about fasting. Here is how Dr. Don Carson sums up this section. “In Matthew 6:1–18, Jesus focused on three dominant practices in Jewish piety of the first century: giving to the needy (vv. 2–4), praying (vv. 5–15), and fasting (vv. 16–18). In each case, the heart of the warning was that acts of piety must never be done out of a desire to win the praise of others (see also John 5:44; 12:43). Those who stoop to such motives may indeed win human applause; but that is all they get—“they have received their reward in full” (Matt. 6:2, 5, 16). Their acts of piety have no significance at all so far as God is concerned. The proper way to avoid such traps is to practice a great deal of piety in private. People should not learn about our acts of kindness and our generous gifts—especially not from us! And we may be quite sure our piety does not amount to much if our public praying is the bulk of our total prayer life, rather than a tiny part of the overflow of our secret praying. Fasting likewise becomes worthless once it has become public and regulated.” [1] Fasting was and is to be a time of focused discernment or pursuit of the Lord’s will and direction in a particularly difficult or pressing time. It was and is never to be done for public acclaim. Again, Jesus is reminding us of what God has said all along, his people will be authentic worshippers, and authentic worshippers are only concerned with one thing, God’s glory.
To drive this point even further, Jesus then talks about our treasures. His words in Matthew 6:24 are both piercing and pastoral: “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” In this teaching, Jesus speaks directly to the core of our hearts, calling us to undivided loyalty. His message is clear: divided devotion leads to distorted living. We were created to serve and love one master—God Himself. At first glance, Jesus’ words can feel harsh or restrictive. But consider the tone of Jesus: He is not only warning us but freeing us. Serving two masters fractures the soul. It disrupts our focus and confuses our purpose. We become like ships with two captains, turning in circles, never finding harbor. Jesus’ call is not a burden—it is an invitation to wholeness. He invites us to love God with everything we are: heart, soul, mind, and strength. F.V. Filson wisely observes, “If man divides his interest and tries to focus on both God and possessions, he has no clear vision, and will live without clear orientation or direction. Life not focused on God’s claim and command is lost in spiritual darkness.” [2] This is not just a theological statement—it’s a pastoral one. When our hearts are split between God and lesser loves, we wander. We become anxious, preoccupied, and spiritually dry. The light of Christ dims, and the joy of knowing Him becomes clouded.
So when we consider the aims, pursuits, and purposes of our lives, Jesus exhorts us to be completely focused on God’s glory. This is why we have the life question, “How are my investments doing?” This question isn’t talking about earthly investments. It is talking about heavenly investments. Am I purposely and wholeheartedly investing in the kingdom of God? How and where am I investing my resources (time, talents, and treasure)? Jesus makes it clear if our worship is for public display, then the praise we get from others is our reward. But his people, Christians, are to pursue God’s glory, and we can’t do that while trying to serve two masters. Divided loyalty is no loyalty at all. Jesus gives us the fullness of eternal life, and we are to give him the fullness of our worship in thankfulness. Authentic worship has a singular focus… God’s glory.
GETTING STARTED – As a group, take time to answer this question. Who is a regular (everyday) person who has exhibited the kind of devotion and authenticity that Jesus commands? How did their wholehearted love for God impact their decisions and actions?
Example: For me, Kyle, it was the dad of a high school friend. He would buy extra sets of tools to lend out to others. He told me once, “God has blessed me, and I want to be a blessing. I’ll buy extra sets of tools to lend out so that I’m not upset when they don’t come back or get broken.”
IN THE WORD – Let’s dig back into the passage(s). It is important to strengthen our muscles in reading God’s Word. On Sunday, we walked through the passage in the sermon. Hopefully, that helped you to see the landmarks of the passage with fresh eyes. Now, with your group, go back through it and see what God is saying to you specifically.
First, before you read the passage, take a moment to ask God’s Spirit to quiet your mind and heart and to illuminate the text to you. Second, read the passage aloud to the group. Then, follow the simple method below. (O.P.A)
Observe: Make 8-10 observations from the passage. Pay close attention to observe and note repeated words and phrases, names, places, and themes.
Principles: From your list of observations, what patterns or big ideas do you see emerging? Can you distill it down into 2-4 big idea truths?
Apply: Moving from your list of principles, it is time to apply God’s Word. Remember, we believe that God’s Word is living and active and that it can change the way we live Monday- Friday. What is one tangible way to apply a truth from your list above?
Note: Another way to approach your time together is to talk through the following questions.
- What did you hear God’s Spirit say to you through the passage this week? How does it encourage you? How does it sharpen you?
- How have you seen God at work in your life this week? Have you enjoyed him? Have you heard his voice and the leading of his Spirit? Big ways or small ways.
- Take time to sincerely engage with the question, “How are my investments doing?”
- How do you spend your time?
- How are you using your gifts and talents to serve at CCC?
- What is your perspective and practice of financial giving? Joyful or reluctant?
- What is a step of purposeful obedience and growth in these areas for you?
[1] D. A. Carson, God with Us: Themes from Matthew (Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2009), 43.
[2] F. V. Filson, A Commentary on the Gospel according to St. Matthew (London, 1960)