OF GIVING OF ALMS, PRAYING, AND FASTING. The first part of Christ's sermon had treated of the right interpretation of the Law, shown by many examples. From scribe law He now passes to Pharisaic practice, holding up the false righteousness in its hollow mockery. A very prominent feature in the relig... [ Continue Reading ]
The false way to give alms: Therefore, when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do, in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily, I say unto you, They have their reward Christ mentions no names, but with one word characterizes... [ Continue Reading ]
The right way to practice charity:... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHEN THOU DOEST ALMS, LET NOT THY LEFT HAND KNOW WHAT THY RIGHT HAND DOETH,... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THINE ALMS MAY BE IN SECRET; AND THY FATHER WHICH SEETH IN SECRET, HIMSELF SHALL REWARD THEE OPENLY. Not the act of almsgiving was condemned by Christ, but only the manner. The work was well-pleasing to Him. Give with simplicity of heart, with so little show of self-glorification that even the... [ Continue Reading ]
The wrong manner of praying: AND WHEN THOU PRAYEST, THOU SHALL NOT BE AS THE HYPOCRITES ARE; FOR THEY LOVE TO PRAY STANDING IN THE SYNAGOGUES AND IN THE CORNERS OF THE STREETS, THAT THEY MAY BE SEEN OF MEN. Prayer is the communion of the soul with God, a confidential imparting of all needs, desires,... [ Continue Reading ]
The true manner of praying: BUT THOU, WHEN THOU PRAYEST, ENTER INTO THY CLOSET, AND WHEN THOU HAST SHUT THY DOOR, PRAY TO THY FATHER WHICH IS IN SECRET; AND THY FATHER, WHICH SEETH IN SECRET, SHALL REWARD THEE OPENLY. An emphatic contrast, "But thou. " Be as different from these hypocrite's as possi... [ Continue Reading ]
A lesson in regard to the form of prayer: BUT WHEN YE PRAY, USE NOT VAIN REPETITIONS, AS THE HEATHEN DO; FOR THEY THINK THAT THEY SHALL BE HEARD FOR THEIR MUCH SPEAKING. The chief characteristic of the prayers in heathen worship is a gabbling or babbling, a repetition without end of the same forma... [ Continue Reading ]
Warning against such absurd practices: BE NOT YE THEREFORE LIKE UNTO THEM; FOR YOUR FATHER KNOWETH WHAT THINGS YE HAVE NEED OF BEFORE YE ASK HIM. The Christians should differ from the heathen by a sharp distinction. They shall not be like the heathen; there shall be no point of resemblance between t... [ Continue Reading ]
A model prayer to show that an infinite variety of wants and requests can be compressed into a few humble petitions: AFTER THIS MANNER THEREFORE PRAY YE: OUR FATHER WHICH ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME. It does not detract from the value of the prayer that many of its words and thoughts are fou... [ Continue Reading ]
His majesty, power and might, omnipresence, and omniscience having been confessed, the thought follows: THY KINGDOM COME. THY WILL BE DONE IN EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. The kingdom of heaven, the sum total of the gifts and mercies of God in Jesus, which God has intended for all men and which is reali... [ Continue Reading ]
Temporal gifts are also included: GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD. In putting the petition in this form, Christ teaches humility and frugality. For this day we pray, taking no thought for the morrow, not yielding to anxious care. And the daily bread we are to ask for, that which is sufficient for... [ Continue Reading ]
One of the greatest spiritual and temporal needs: AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS, AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS. We daily contract an enormous, an unbelievable amount of debts before God. And the more we desire the fulfillment of the first petitions, the more conscious we shall be of our shortcomings. This de... [ Continue Reading ]
AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL. There are not many that reach the heights of moral heroism by which they welcome persecutions, Matthew 5:10; James 1:2. For the average Christian the thought of temptation and trial is in itself depressing. The petition not to be exposed to... [ Continue Reading ]
Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, a special command of the Lord being issued in this instance on account of the significance attaching to the act. Take these evidences, this evidence of the purchase, both which is sealed and this evidence which is open, the documents as now made out,... [ Continue Reading ]
A necessary warning: FOR IF YE FORGIVE MEN THEIR TRESPASSES, YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER WILL ALSO FORGIVE YOU. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. The hearing of our prayer, the granting of the benefits asked for, hinges upon our being in the right... [ Continue Reading ]
For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land. The desolation of the land of Judah would last only for the length of time which God had determined, after which He intended to restore His people to their homes. For this reas... [ Continue Reading ]
A lesson on fasting: MOREOVER, WHEN YE FAST, BE NOT AS THE HYPOCRITES, OF A SAD COUNTENANCE; FOR THEY DISFIGURE THEIR FACES, THAT THEY MAY APPEAR UNTO MEN TO FAST. VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, THEY HAVE THEIR REWARD. Fasting was a part of the religious rites of the Jews, intended to show repentance and h... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THOU, WHEN THOU FASTEST, ANOINT THINE HEAD AND WASH THY FACE,... [ Continue Reading ]
The proper method of fasting:... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THOU APPEAR NOT UNTO MEN TO FAST, BUT UNTO THY FATHER WHICH IS IN SECRET; AND THY FATHER, WHICH SEETH IN SECRET, SHALL REWARD THEE OPENLY. Again the Lord emphasizes the contrast. A mere outward show of repentance without change of heart does not befit the followers of Jesus. Fasting they may p... [ Continue Reading ]
WARNING AGAINST COVETOUSNESS AND CARE. A new topic, introducing an exposition of the first table of the Law: LAY NOT UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES UPON EARTH, WHERE MOTH AND RUST DOTH CORRUPT, AND WHERE THIEVES BREAK THROUGH AND STEAL. The question of hoarding, the service of Mammon, demanded discus... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT LAY UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES IN HEAVEN, WHERE NEITHER MOTH NOR RUST DOTH CORRUPT, AND WHERE THIEVES DO NOT BREAK THROUGH NOR STEAL.... [ Continue Reading ]
The only safe treasures:... [ Continue Reading ]
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The repetition of the same words serves for emphasis. Treasures you may and shall have, of the right kind. Treasure the treasures of the only lasting kind, in heaven, heavenly treasures, the gift and possession donated by God through grace.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LIGHT OF THE BODY IS THE EYE; IF THEREFORE THINE EYE BE SINGLE, THY WHOLE BODY SHALL BE FULL OF LIGHT.... [ Continue Reading ]
The parable of the eye:... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF THINE EYE BE EVIL, THY WHOLE BODY SHALL BE FULL OF DARKNESS. IF THEREFORE THE LIGHT THAT IS IN THEE BE DARKNESS, HOW GREAT IS THAT DARKNESS! The absurdity and dangerousness of covetousness is here illustrated, probably with reference to the Pharisees, whose attention and affections were divid... [ Continue Reading ]
Warning against Mammon: NO MAN CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS; FOR EITHER HE WILL HATE THE ONE AND LOVE THE OTHER, OR ELSE HE WILL HOLD TO THE ONE AND DESPISE THE OTHER. YE CANNOT SERVE GOD AND MAMMON. It is a general truth, commonly accepted: For a slave to serve two masters is impossible. True, undivided s... [ Continue Reading ]
Counsel against worry about food and clothing: THEREFORE I SAY UNTO YOU, TAKE NO THOUGHT FOR YOUR LIFE, WHAT YE SHALL EAT, OR WHAT YE SHALL DRINK, NOR YET FOR YOUR BODY, WHAT YE SHALL PUT ON. IS NOT THE LIFE MORE THAN MEAT? AND THE BODY THAN RAIMENT? The connection of thought is this: Avarice flows... [ Continue Reading ]
A further consideration for those of little faith: BEHOLD THE FOWLS OF THE AIR; FOR THEY SOW NOT, NEITHER DO THEY REAP, NOR GATHER INTO BARNS; YET YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER FEEDETH THEM. ARE YE NOT MUCH BETTER THAN THEY? Examples of perfect trust in God who has always provided for them: the birds do even... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH OF YOU BY TAKING THOUGHT CAN ADD ONE CUBIT UNTO HIS STATURE? In whose case will the fact that he worries about the question continually be of any aid in increasing his height, or rather, in lengthening his life? Psalms 39:5. It is simply impossible for a person, by taking thought of the matte... [ Continue Reading ]
How unprofitable is worry:... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHY TAKE YE THOUGHT FOR RAIMENT? CONSIDER THE LILIES OF THE FIELD, HOW THEY GROW: THEY TOIL NOT, NEITHER DO THEY SPIN.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YET I SAY UNTO YOU, THAT EVEN SOLOMON IN ALL HIS GLORY WAS NOT ARRAYED LIKE ONE OF THESE. To worry about clothing to cover one's nakedness must seem strange in view of the thousand miracles surrounding us. Consider, observe well, take a lesson from the lilies, He says, including in this term all... [ Continue Reading ]
Application of the argument: WHEREFORE, IF GOD SO CLOTHE THE GRASS OF THE FIELD, WHICH TODAY IS, AND TOMORROW IS CAST INTO THE OVEN, SHALL HE NOT MUCH MORE CLOTHE YOU, O YE OF LITTLE FAITH? The lilies, whose blossoms teach such a great lesson, belong to the grasses; they may even be classed as weeds... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE TAKE NO THOUGHT, SAYING, WHAT SHALL WE EAT? OR, WHAT SHALL WE DRINK? OR, WHEREWITHAL SHALL WE BE CLOTHED?... [ Continue Reading ]
Christ renews His exhortation against worry:... [ Continue Reading ]
(FOR AFTER ALL THESE THINGS DO THE GENTILES SEEK.) FOR YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWETH THAT YE HAVE NEED OF ALL THESE THINGS. It is in the form of an impassioned peroration that the Lord pleads with His hearers. All the care and worry of providing food and clothing, the continual harping on that one th... [ Continue Reading ]
The care which God demands: BUT SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU. To seek, earnestly to covet, to put the whole heart to the gaining of, the kingdom of God, is a most necessary care for the disciples of Christ, for the children of G... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE THEREFORE NO THOUGHT FOR THE MORROW; FOR THE MORROW SHALL TAKE THOUGHT FOR THE THINGS OF ITSELF. SUFFICIENT UNTO THE DAY IS THE EVIL THEREOF. Each day brings its own evil, for it is an evil world, and the enemies without and within are ever busy devising schemes to beset the heart with care. T... [ Continue Reading ]