Mat 6:11; There Is a Reason God Keeps You Alive.

Class Outline:

Wednesday August 28, 2024

Title: MAT 6:11; There Is a Reason God Keeps You Alive.  

 

Idea: Right priorities lead us to understand that God sustains us so we may serve Him.

 

MAT 6:11

‘Give us this day our daily bread.’ 

 

Debate on meaning of “daily”.

 

“this day” is a translation of epiousion in Greek, the meaning of which is not clearly known. It is the combination of epi (on or on the basis of) and ousion (a form of the verb “to be”). So the word may mean “on the basis of being” i.e. necessary for existence. I may mean “for the current day,” “for the following day,” or “what is coming.”

 

In the context of the petition, whether it is “give us today tomorrows bread” or “give us today our daily bread” or “our necessary bread,” it all points to the same petition; we are to ask God to give us what we need to live today, for only He can sustain us.

 

MAT 6:9-11

 

Transition from first half of prayer to second half:

 

The transition is not from one idea to another completely foreign one. The bridge from “hallowed by Your name, Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” to “Our daily bread give to us today,” can be seen in our Lord’s declaration concerning His own necessary food.

 

John 4:31-34 Jesus’ evangelical work with this woman slowly draws her towards Him until the barrier she puts up is removed.

 

When He says, “I have food to eat that you do not know about,” He indicates that His life is not one that needs no food. Remember how He became hungry in the wilderness and Satan tempted Him to make bread from stones. Do you remember His reply? He quoted Deuteronomy (as He did the next two temptations). 

 

MAT 4:4

But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'"[DEU 8:3]

 

Jesus says to the disciples that His “food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.”

 

We could paraphrase Him as saying, “I live to do His will,” or, “I am sustained physically for the sole purpose of accomplishing the will and the work of the Father.” 

 

Now, apply this to the Lord’s prayer. The order is “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” and then “Give us today our daily bread.” Will takes precedence and the food we need to live is for keeping us alert and energized enough for doing His will. 

 

We are to ask daily for Him to give us “our” bread.

 

Not another’s bread, but our own. We do what is necessary for it (work, toil, labor) and always knowing, like manna from heaven, it is a gift from God.

 

Context of DEU 8:3 sheds light on God’s will and His sustaining us:

 

There are a number of transitions in Deu 8.

 

1. The Lord tested you to see what was in your heart, i.e. He let you be hungry - would you wait upon Him to provide? The Lord tested you and let you be hungry so that you would conclude that, yes you need food to live, but life is much more. Living is for doing the will of God, which life lives on every word that comes from the mouth of God (Scriptures). 

2. Vv. 4-6 is a look to the past. The Lord sustained you (them in the wilderness) and He disciplined you as a Father does His son - to teach you to obey Him, walk in His ways, and fear Him. 

 

3. Vv. 7-10 is the good news of where you are headed - the Promised Land flowing with milk and honey, where you will have so much abundance that you will be satisfied. 

 

4. Vv. 11-20 is the warning that when all physical things multiply to great prosperity, to not forget where you came from and the truth that all your abundance has come from God. That result is that no matter how much you have, you always worship and obey the Lord. 

 

It can happen to spiritual prosperity as well. We can begin to forget that the happiness and peace we experience has something to do with us, our disposition or talent or ability. We will soon lose all peace and joy after we start thinking that way.

 

In the Lord’s prayer we ask Him for “our” simplest need to survive while knowing that the purpose for our sustenance is to serve the Lord and to do His will. 

 

Matt 6:25; 33.

 

ROM 14:13-23

 

The kingdom of God is not in eating and drinking. It is in doing the will of God, which in this teaching, is not putting any stumbling block in a brother’s way.

 

“Is not life more than food?” asked Christ. The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, wrote Paul. 

 

We ask for bread so that:

We can do God’s will.

We remember every day where it comes from.

We will be thankful.

 

We ask for “our” bread so that we will not covet another’s or take another’s or long for more. 

 

Conclusion:

 

Priorities can quickly change. They are slippery things. You must remember, like the Lord did in His human excursion on earth, that the will of the Father is always first.

 

He has a will for you and works for you. Our debts to the Father are not only in transgressions and sins but in omission, the things He willed us to do and we did not.

 

It is easy for a person, fallen and sinful, to make sustenance and materials a priority.

 

PSA 143:7-12