# Review of Simplified Matthew 6 Study
This is a strong simplification that successfully meets most of your criteria. Here are my findings:
## Strengths
✓ **Everyday Language**: Consistently 6-8th grade level. Phrases like “Give for God, Not for Show” and “Pray in Secret” immediately communicate the point.
✓ **Pastoral Tone**: Excellent. Eliminates all hedging language. Speaks directly to the reader as “you” throughout. (“Jesus teaches you,” “This chapter teaches you.”) This is actually an improvement over the Standard version in directness.
✓ **Theological Acceptability**: All positions are orthodox and acceptable across Calvinist, Catholic, and Orthodox traditions. No controversial formulations.
✓ **Young-earth/Old-earth Neutrality**: No creation timeline assumptions anywhere.
✓ **Readability**: Noticeably more concise while retaining substance. The section structure aids scanning.
## Issues Requiring Attention
**1. Verses 9-15: “A forgiven heart must also forgive” — Potential ambiguity about causation**
Current wording:
> “Jesus is not saying you earn God’s mercy by being nice. He is showing that when God’s grace truly reaches your heart, it changes how you treat others.”
**Concern**: This could inadvertently slide toward Arminian emphasis. The Standard version was more careful: “A heart truly opened to the Father’s pardon cannot remain enthroned in bitterness. Refusal to forgive exposes a soul resisting the very mercy it asks God to give.”
**Suggested revision**:
> “Jesus is not saying you earn God’s mercy by being nice. He is showing that a heart that has truly experienced God’s pardon cannot remain settled in unforgiveness. Refusal to forgive reveals that mercy has not really reached inside. Grace does not just change behavior—it transforms the inner person.”
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**2. Verses 19-24: “What you treasure shapes your heart” — The formative power is slightly underemphasized**
Current wording:
> “Jesus does not only say your treasure shows your heart. He says your treasure also pulls your heart. What you keep chasing and storing up begins to shape what you love most.”
**Concern**: “Pulls” and “shapes” are softer than the Standard’s “Investment becomes formation.” The insight about the *active molding* of desire through what we pursue is slightly diluted.
**Suggested revision**:
> “Jesus does not only say your treasure shows what is in your heart. He says your treasure also *trains* your heart. What you keep chasing and storing up gradually teaches you to love it more. Over time, your investment becomes who you are.”
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**3. Verses 16-18: “Fasting can express deep longing for God” — Missing the balance of repentance**
Current wording:
> “In Scripture, people fast when they repent, grieve, seek God, or wait for His help. Fasting can also express your hunger for the Lord and your longing for His full kingdom to come.”
**Concern**: This lists repentance first but then focuses only on longing. It should balance both:
**Suggested revision**:
> “In Scripture, fasting goes with repentance, grief, urgent seeking of God, and earnest waiting for His help. Fasting can also express your hunger for the Lord and your longing for His full kingdom to come. It is both a way of turning from what rules you and turning toward God.”
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**4. Overview — Add one sentence about the connection to Christ (optional but edifying)**
Current ending:
> “This chapter teaches you to live as a child before your Father, to pray with God’s kingdom first, to forgive as one who has received mercy, to let God rule your desires, and to trust Him with today instead of being ruled by fear about tomorrow.”
**Optional enhancement** (adds Christological depth without presuming the Old Testament sections):
> “This chapter teaches you to live as a child before your Father, to pray with God’s kingdom first, to forgive as one who has received mercy, to let God rule your desires, and to trust Him with today instead of being ruled by fear about tomorrow. In all this, Jesus shows us the life He lived and calls us to follow.”
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## Minor Phrasing Suggestions
**Verses 5-8**: “Prayer is not a trick to make God listen” — slightly reword for clarity:
> “Prayer is not a spell to make God finally hear you”
**Verses 9-15**: “Evil is not only an idea, but an enemy” — could be slightly more direct:
> “Evil is not just your personal bad habits. There is a real enemy, the evil one, who opposes God’s kingdom.”
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## What Works Exceptionally Well
– **The conclusion** is excellent. It brings readers full circle without repeating content.
– **Verse-by-verse insights** maintain the esoteric/symbolic depth while being accessible (e.g., “Mammon is money acting like a master”).
– **The use of “you” throughout** creates intimacy and directness.
– **Formatting** makes the content scannable and engaging.
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## Final Assessment
The simplified version preserves the deeper theological and symbolic insights while making them genuinely accessible. The three issues above are refinements, not fundamental flaws. With those adjustments, this would be an excellent resource for new believers and those seeking deeper understanding without jargon.