Matthew 6 - Introduction
CHAPTER 6. THE SERMON CONTINUED. From Scribe law, the main theme of Matthew 6:21-34, the Teacher passes to speak of Pharisaic practice.... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER 6. THE SERMON CONTINUED. From Scribe law, the main theme of Matthew 6:21-34, the Teacher passes to speak of Pharisaic practice.... [ Continue Reading ]
describes the general character of Pharisaic righteousness. hen follow three special examples: _alms_, Matthew 6:2-4; _prayer_, Matthew 6:5-6; _fasting_, Matthew 6:16-18. The transition from the one theme to the other was almost inevitable, and we may be sure that what follows formed part of the ins... [ Continue Reading ]
_Almsgiving_. Matthew 6:2. ἐλεημοσύνην, mercy in general, but specifically alms, as a common mode of showing mercy. Compare our word charity. σαλπίσῃς : to be understood metaphorically, as there is no evidence of the literal practice. Furrer gives this from Consul Wetstein to illustrate the word. Wh... [ Continue Reading ]
μὴ γνώτω : in proverbial form a counsel to give with simplicity. Let not even thy left hand, if possible even thyself, know, still less other men; give without self-consciousness or self-complacency, the root of ostentation. ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ : known to the recipient, of course, but to no other, so far a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Prayer_. ὡς οἱ ὑποκριταί, as the actors. We shrink from the harshness of the term “hypocrite”. Jesus is in the act of creating the new meaning by the use of an old word in a new connection. φιλοῦσι stands in place of an adverb. They love to, are wont, do it with pleasure. This construction is commo... [ Continue Reading ]
: true prayer in contrast to the theatrical type. σὺ δὲ, hou, my disciple, in opposition to the “actors”. ὅταν, when the spirit moves, not when the customary hour comes, freedom from rule in prayer, as in fasting (Matthew 9:14), is taken for granted. τὸ ταμεῖον, late form for ταμιεῖον (Lobeck, _Phry... [ Continue Reading ]
βατταλογήσητε : a ἅπαξ λεγ. in N. T., rarely used anywhere, and of doubtful derivation. Some (Erasmus, _e.g._) have thought it was formed from Battus, the stammerer mentioned by Herod. (iv. 155), or from a feeble poet of the name who made long hymns full of repetitions (Suidas, Lexicon), but most no... [ Continue Reading ]
_Further instruction in prayer_. Weiss (Mt.-Evan.) regards this passage as an interpolation, having no proper place in an anti-Pharisaic discourse. Both the opinion and its ground are doubtful. As regards the latter, it is true that it is Gentile practice in prayer that is formally criticised, but i... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 6:8, οὖν, infers that disciples must not imitate the practice described, because it is Pagan, and because it is absurd. Repetition is, moreover, wholly uncalled for. οἶδεν γὰρ : the God whom Jesus proclaims “your Father” knows beforehand your needs. Why, then, pray at all? Because we cannot... [ Continue Reading ]
οὕτως, thus, not after the ethnic manner. προσεύχεσθε : present, pray so habitually. ὑμεῖς : as opposed to the Pagans, as men (_i.e._) who believe in an intelligent, willing God, your Father. The prayer which follows consists of six petitions which have often been elaborately explained, with learned... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord's Prayer_. Again, in Luke 11:1-4 _vide_ notes there. Here I remark only that Luke's form, true reading, is shorter than Matthew's. On this ground Kamphausen (_Das Gebet des Herrn_) argues for its originality. But surely Matthew's form is short and elementary enough to satisfy all reasonabl... [ Continue Reading ]
Ἐλθέτω ἡ βασιλεία σου : second petition. The prayer of all Jews. Even the Rabbis said, that is no prayer in which no mention of the kingdom is made. All depends on how the kingdom is conceived, on what we want to come. The kingdom is as the King. It is the kingdom of the universal, benignant Father... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fourth petition_. τὸν ἄρτον ἡμῶν : whatever the adjective qualifying ἄρτον may mean, it may be taken for granted that it is ordinary bread, food for the body, that is intended. All spiritualising mystical meanings of ἐπιούσιον are to be discarded. This is the one puzzling word in the prayer. It is... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fifth petition_. ὀφειλήματα, in classics literal debts, here moral debts, sins (ἁμαρτίας in Luke 11:4). The more men desire God's will to be done the more conscious they are of shortcoming. The more conscious of personal shortcoming, the more indulgent towards the faults of others even when committ... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sixth petition_ : consists of two members, one qualifying or limiting the other. μὴ … πειρασμόν, expose us not to moral trial. All trial is of doubtful issue, and may therefore naturally and innocently be shrunk from, even by those who know that the result may be good, confirmation in faith and vir... [ Continue Reading ]
ὅταν δὲ : transition to a new related topic. σκυθρωποί, of sad visage, overdone of course by the “actors”. Fasting, like prayer, was reduced to a system; twice a week in ordinary Pharisaic practice: Thursday and Monday (ascent and descent of Moses on Sinai), artificial gloom inevitable in such circu... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fasting_.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἄλειψαι, νίψαι : not necessarily as if preparing for a feast (Meyer and Weiss), but performing the usual daily ablutions for comfort and cleanliness, so avoiding parade of fasting by neglect of them (Bleek, Achelis). The foregoing inculcations of sincerity and reality in religion contribute indirec... [ Continue Reading ]
_Counsels against covetousness and care_ (reproduced in Luke 12:22-34, with exception of Matthew 6:22-23, which reappear in Luke 11:34-36). An interpolation, according to Weiss. Doubtless, if the Sermon on the Mount was exclusively an anti-Pharisaic discourse. But this homily might very well have fo... [ Continue Reading ]
_Against hoarding_. θησαυροὺς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, treasures upon earth, and therefore earthly, material, perishable, of whatever kind. σὴς, moth, destructive of costly garments, one prominent sort of treasure in the East. βρῶσις, not merely “rust,” but a generic term embracing the whole class of agents whi... [ Continue Reading ]
θησ. ἐν οὐρανῷ : not = heavenly treasures, says Fritzsche, as that would require τοὺς before ἐν. Grammatically this is correct, yet practically heavenly treasure is meant.... [ Continue Reading ]
ὅπου θησ.… ἐκεῖ καρδία. The reflection goes back on the negative counsel in Matthew 6:19. Do not accumulate earthly treasures, for then your heart will be there, whereas it ought to be in heaven with God and the Kingdom of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Parable of the eye_. A difficult passage; connection obscure, and the evangelic report apparently imperfect. The parallel passage in Luke (Luke 11:33-36) gives little help. The figure and its ethical meaning seem to be mixed up, moral attributes ascribed to the physical eye, which with these still... [ Continue Reading ]
_Parable of the two masters_. Οὐδεὶς : In the natural sphere it is impossible for a slave to serve two masters, for each claims him as his property, and the slave must respond to one or other of the claims with entire devotion, either from love or from interest. ἢ γὰρ … μισήσει … ἀγαπήσει : We may t... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 6:25, διὰ τοῦτο : because ye can be unfaithful to God through care as well as through covetousness. μὴ μεριμνᾶτε : μέριμνα from μερίς, μερίζω, because care divides and distracts the mind. The verb is used in N. T. in various constructions and senses; sometimes in a good sense, as in 1 Corint... [ Continue Reading ]
_Counsels against care_. More suitable to the circumstances of the disciples than those against amassing treasures. “Why speak of treasures to us who are not even sure of the necessaries of life? It is for bread and clothing we are in torment” (Lutteroth).... [ Continue Reading ]
ἐμβλέψατε εἰς, fix your eyes on, so as to take a good look at (Mark 10:21; Mark 14:67). τὰ πετεινὰ τ. ου., the birds whose element is the air; look, not to admire their free, careless movements on the wing, but to note a very relevant fact ὅτι, that without toil they get their food and live. σπείρου... [ Continue Reading ]
τίς δὲ, etc. The question means: care is as bootless as it is needless. But there is much difference of opinion as to the precise point of the question. Does it mean, who by care can add a cubit to his height, or who can add a short space of time, represented by a cubit, to the length of his life? ἡ... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lesson from the flowers_. καταμάθετε, observe well that ye may learn thoroughly the lesson they teach. Here only in N.T., often in classics. Also in Sept [43], _e.g._, Genesis 24:21 : The man observed her (Rebekah), learning her disposition from her actions. τὰ κρίνα, the _lilium Persicum, Emperor'... [ Continue Reading ]
λέγω δὲ : the speaker is conscious He makes a strong statement, but He means it. οὐδὲ, not even Solomon the magnificent, most glorious of the kings of Israel, and on state occasions most gorgeously attired. ἓν τούτων : the lilies are in view, and one of them is singled out to vie with Solomon.... [ Continue Reading ]
εἰ δὲ τὸν χόρτον. Application. The beautiful flowers now lose their individuality, and are merged in the generic _grass_ : mere weeds to be cut down and used as fuel. The natural sentiment of love for flowers is sacrificed for the ethical sentiment of love for man, aiming at convincing him of God's... [ Continue Reading ]
οὖν, goes back on Matthew 6:25, repeating the counsel, reinforced by intervening argument.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Renewed exhortation against care_.... [ Continue Reading ]
τὰ ἔθνη, again a reference to heathen practice; in Matthew 6:7 to their “battology” in prayer, here to the kind of blessings they eagerly ask (ἐπιζητοῦσιν); material only or chiefly; bread, raiment, wealth, etc. I never realised how true the statement of Jesus is till I read the _Vedic Hymns_, the p... [ Continue Reading ]
_Final exhortation against care_. Not in Luke's parallel section, therefore regarded by Weiss as a reflection appended by the evangelist, not drawn from apostolic doctrine. But it very fitly winds up the discourse. Instead of saying, Care not about food and raiment, the Teacher now says finally, Car... [ Continue Reading ]