Matthew 6:24

TRUST IN OUR HEAVENLY FATHER. -- Matthew 6:24-34.

GOLDEN TEXT. --Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.-- 1 Peter 5:7. TIME AND PLACE. --As in the preceding lessons. HELPFUL READINGS. -- Matthew 6:16-23; Luke 16:9-13; Psalms 55:22; Luke 12:22-31; Psalms 23:1-6. LESSON, ANALYSIS. --1. God and Mammon; 2. The Birds and the Lilies; 3. Seek ye first the Kingdom.

INTRODUCTION.

In the Sermon on the Mount the Lord outlines the principles of the expected kingdom of heaven which he would soon set up. He first presents its beatitudes, the character of its citizens, and their influence (salt and light) upon the world. He then shows that he does not destroy the law of Moses, but that he and his kingdom fulfil it; but he shows that the morality of the kingdom is far higher--reaching the heart and spirit--than that of the law, and reviews six different precepts of the old law, and gives them in their new form. After this, he shows what must be the righteousness of the kingdom, and illustrates by alms, prayer, and fasting. Then he shows that its citizens must not have their hearts set on getting lands, houses, and earthly treasure, as is the custom of earthly kingdoms, but that in the kingdom of heaven the treasure laid up must be heavenly treasure. Our present lesson shows that this is safe, because its citizens are under the care of the Heavenly Father, and he will see that his true and faithful and trusting children do not come to want.

I. GOD AND MAMMON.

24. No man can serve two masters.

He cannot give his heart to two services at the game time. He cannot follow two callings successfully, or have two chief goods. The heart demands. single paramount object, and the real service will go where the heart leads. This is. statement of. general truth. If the heart of. servant is stolen away, or the heart of any one dearer than. servant, then the service will go elsewhere. Two suppositions are suggested: He will either hate. and love B, or cleave to. and despise B. He may hate his proper master and love. usurper, or if he clings to and loves the former, he will despise the one who seeks to supplant him.

Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

This is the direct application. The Chaldee word "Mammon" means money or riches. It is here personified as an idol, like the Plutus of the Greeks, who worshiped the god of wealth. "Mammon" originally meant "trust" or confidence, and riches is the trust of worldly men. If God be not the object of supreme trust, something else will be, and it is most likely to be money. We must choose; not the possession of money, but its mastery over the mind is condemned.-- Schaff. One hundred million dollars did not save Wm. H. Vanderbilt from falling dead in his own parlor, without. moment's warning. Money has its uses, but it cannot save. It is not. god. God only can deliver, and he is the only safe object of trust. We cannot trust both or serve both. Who shall have our hearts?