Sermon On the Mount | MATTHEW 6:19-34 | DEALING WITH MONEY AND ANXIETY

I.  Introduction:

            Note:  We are going to take today about money and anxiety!  So many of us are captive to anxiety.  Jesus ties these two issues together. 

However, once He has brought up the issue of money, He goes on to deal in more detail with what causes our anxiety, and it is not money itself.  Jesus'

words may sound uncomfortable at first but they hold out to us the hope we need in dealing with worry.

            We live in a very materialistic society, and yet since we are beings with bodies as well as a soul, I think these issues have always been

relevant in all types of societies.

 

II.  The Issue of Proper Focus and Its Results:  Matthew 6:19-24.

>>>>  Have someone read Matthew 6:19-21.

            Q  What does verse 21 mean?

               An = The word "heart" in Hebrew means not just "emotions" but includes the "mind" as well.  In the Old Testament it is often translated

as "mind".  However, since our mind includes the emotions as well as intellect the word "heart" can be understood by our English word "consciousness". 

Jesus says what we really value is shown to us by what comes to our consciousness most often.

            RQ  What has preoccupied your mind lately?  Is it finding a mate, a boyfriend, a certain girl, a job, financial pressures, a boat, a car, a

promotion?

            Note:  What we really treasure is where our heart is.  I remember taking my wife on our first over night vacation months after our first

son was born.  We were going to Mariposa (outside of Yosemite, which is beautiful) for a much needed rest.  Our parents had our son and they were

excellent baby sitters with plenty of experience.  However, we did not get to the end of the afternoon when my wife persuaded me to go back.  Her

treasure was not in her needing an exciting, romantic, relaxing time, her treasure was that little boy!  Her reaction is totally correct, totally

understandable and quite proper in Jesus' way of thinking!

            I often have had my wife's priorities concerning our children, but I also must confess that money pressures, career opportunities, success

at the job have often been where my mind is.

            RQ  What is our treasure, because is that not where our heart or consciousness thinking is centered?

>>>> Have someone re-read Matthew 6:19-20.

            Q  Where is Jesus telling us not to have our treasures?

               An = Not in things that are temporal.  It is not because Jesus does not want us to enjoy or have earthly treasures, but because if they

become central we will be disappointed.  Such treasures will disappoint because they will not last.  Jesus wants us to enjoy forever what we have

set our hearts on!

            It is an obvious fact of life, though one we often refuse to admit, that things in this earthly life are not lasting.  The closer we come to

death, the truthfulness of what is said here becomes more and more obvious. 

            RQ  If you win souls to Christ, or help others stay healthy spiritually, beings that will last forever, is not this the more valuable way to

spend one's youth?

            RQ  If this truth is so obvious, why do we human beings not see it?

            RQ  Why are we so caught up with things that are so obviously temporal?

            Note:  Perhaps, the answer is in what follows....

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 6:22-23.

            Q  What is Jesus saying here?  How is the eye the lamp of the body?

            Q  What does a lamp provide?

               An = light so that we can see.  We cannot see if there is no light.

            Q  So what happens if your eye is bad?

               An = The eye (if good) is the window (so to speak) for images to be seen in your brain.  If your eye is defective, your brain cannot "see"

images.  So if your eye is bad you are blind. 

            Note:  Jesus is not talking here about literal eyesight, but spiritual or intellectual sight.  Eyes in the Old Testament are the metaphor for

"perceptiveness".  We have a little of this in English when we say:  "Oh, now I see".  If one sees then one perceives, one understands.  If one has good

eyes that can see, then one can perceive the truth.  If we have eyes that cannot see then we have no ability to see the truth.  

            A seminary friend once said:  "The jaundice eye always sees yellow."  In other words, if your blood is tinged with jaundice (a yellowing)

then what you see is filtered through a yellowed lens.  Everything you see will be yellow.  Similarly, Jesus says in Matthew 20:15 that man cannot

understand certain good actions if his "eye is envious".  In other words, envy takes away proper perspective, proper understanding.  So here, one's ability

to see truth can be blinded by having the wrong treasures.

            If you choose in faith to value eternal treasures then you will "see life differently".  It is a risk, however, to value eternal things over

things we can count, touch, and physically see.  It is a "gamble", if you want to use a different word, that there is a heaven, a hell, and a God of

righteousness who will guarantee our eternal reward.

            Q  Can we be perceptive if we have wrong treasures?

            Q  Is having proper treasures optional?

>>>>  Have someone read Matthew 6:24.

            Q  Is an eternal perspective optional?

               An = God and money (the definition of "mammon") cannot both be worshipped.  They will rival one another and a choice will have to be

made.  Money can become an idol, a rival god.  (I am sure Jesus' audience was automatically reflecting on Deuteronomy 6:5:  "And you shall love the Lord

our God with all our heart and with all your soul and with all your might."  The average Israelite knew "idolatry was not an option".  If was not an option,

then nor is it one now.

            Q  What if one cannot "see" that we cannot love both?

 

III.  Basic Needs and Anxiety:  Matthew 6:25-34.

            Q  How many of you have met Christians that are impractical and never handle their finances properly and call it faith?

            Q  How many of you know young people, who are naive, and do not think about the fact that bills do not pay themselves, will let you pay

them, but then challenge you to have faith?

            Note:  If you have met such folks, it is hard to take them seriously, however, one can be responsible and have faith.  In fact, one has to be

responsible because whether one is a good Christian or not one still has to eat, to put on clothes, etc.  Whether we are spiritual or not we have a body, a

physical body, and it needs to be fed and clothed.

            If our body does not get fed or clothed, we die....  It is natural to be concerned about this, it is natural to have anxiety about our basic, daily

needs.  Jesus knows this, anxiety is a real part of dealing with the reality of meeting our daily needs.  So when He challenges us to be free of the love of

money, He knows that what He is telling us could make us more open to anxiety.  It takes money, "mammon" to survive.

            So Jesus addresses the issue of anxiety....

>>>>  Have someone read Matthew 6:25.

            Q  What behavior is Jesus forbidding?

               An = Anxiety, or worry about this life as to how we shall eat, drink, or be clothed.

            Q  How many times is the word worry or anxiety found in verses 25-34?

               An = I count 5 times:  25,27,28,31,34.  Obviously the next few verses are all about handling anxiety, worry or apprehension concerning

our daily needs.  Jesus does not want us to be naive, or irresponsible, but free and for good logical reasons.  Reasons we shall soon see.

            Q  Towards the end of verse 25, Jesus asks a rhetorical question (one that asks one to think about an issue, not formulate an answer)? 

What is that question asking us to think about?

               An = Is not life what we are more than the things that help it survive?  Is not life more than just existence.  

            Note:  Those who know this truth the best are often those who have excess of money.  So many European and American (or rich Asian)

youth are so easily depressed, and have lost interest in life because they have plenty of food, plenty of clothes, but life is more than these.

>>>>  Have someone read Matthew 6:26-30.

            Q  What two things in nature does Jesus ask us to observe and ponder?

               An = birds of the air and the lilies of the field.

            Q  What can looking at the birds of the air and the lilies of the field teach us?

               An = That God provides for them and they do not have barns or treasuries and though the lilies are incapable of clothing themselves they

are more beautifully attired than the wealthiest man on earth could accomplish.  

            Q  Does anxiety help?

            Q  If anxiety cannot help, why do we humans do it?  

            Q  Why do so many of us ruin our health, our joy, our enjoyment of what we do have with anxiety when worry does not help?

            Q  How would Matthew 6:21-23 answer that question?

               An = We have the wrong treasures, non-eternal treasures, and it has blinded us to reality.

            Q  When we are anxious or consumed with worry, whom have we effectively proclaimed that we do not believe in?

            Q  Whom do we not have faith in?

>>>>  Have someone read Matthew 6:31-32.

            Q  How is Jesus motivating us not be consumed with worry in the beginning of verse 32?  What is His negative motivation?

               An = We are like the Gentiles (the non-believers, who do not know the beauties of God as revealed to His people).  We are pagan.

            Q  How is Jesus motivating us to be free of worry in a positive sense at the end of verse 32?

               An = Realize who God is.  Not only does He exist, but He is aware of(intimate with) our needs.  If we have the right view of God it will

change us.

>>>>  Have someone read Matthew 6:33-34.

            Q  Remember Jesus opens this section in verse 19-20 talking about having the proper mental focus, what are we to focus on here in

verse 33?

               An = The reign of God and being righteous.  If we focus properly all these valid, basic needs will be taken care of.

            Q  What does it mean to "seek the kingdom and His righteousness"?  What does that mean for you?

            Q  What are we not to focus on according to verse 34?

               An = What we cannot control, namely tomorrow.  

            Q  Why is it not good to worry about tomorrow?

>>>>  Have someone read Proverbs 18:10-11.

            Q  How do these two verses relate to Jesus' discussion?

            Q  Has God changed?

Sermon On the Mount | MATTHEW 6:5-15 | PRAYER

I.  Greetings and Introduction:

            This week we will look at how to pray.   This section contains teaching on our attitude towards God when we pray, a model prayer (which

is the Lord's Prayer) and Jesus' own commentary on the Lord's Prayer.

            Our study will therefore include three sections:  words of wisdom on prayer (7-8), the Lord's Prayer (9-13) and Jesus' commentary on what

is very important to Him about His prayer (14-15).    

            Note:  One of the most famous passages in the New Testament is the Lord's Prayer However, what is familiar can easily become

meaningless and we miss what is actually before us.   

II.  Instructions on Prayer:  Matthew 6:7-15.

            A.  A Word of Wisdom From Jesus About Prayer:  Matthew 6:7-8.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 6:7-8.

            Q  Is Jesus forbidding us to repeat a prayer?

               An =  Jesus is not saying that you cannot repeat a prayer.  Jesus repeats a prayer many times in the Garden of Gethsemane (in the very

book of Matthew, i.e. 26:36-42 and see also Luke 11:5-10).  He is saying do not take God for a fool.  You cannot make God respond with a lot of words.  He

is an Intelligent Being.  He wants us to pray to Him as an intelligent being just as you want your children or your friends to talk to you.

            RQ  Would you not be offended if a friend asked a favor sixty times, thinking that was the only reason you would respond?

            Note:  Oswald Chambers (Studies In the Sermon On the Mount, p. 60) reminds us that "God is never impressed by our earnestness."

            Note:  Then He shows us practically how to pray.  

 

III.  The Lord's Prayer, Matthew 6:9-13

            A.  The Framework: 9 and 13b.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 6:9

            Q  According to this verse what is the purpose for giving this prayer?

               An = Notice that Jesus did not say "pray these exact words" but "pray in this way" or as the NIV says it:  "This, then, is how you should

pray".  So what pattern, or content should guide our prayer life.

            Note:  Jesus knows that his disciples knew many public prayers for they were beautifully spoken or sung in the great Temple or in

synagogue, what He is teaching is prayer for their private, closet prayer life as well.  It is perfectly alright to pray the Lord's prayer in public but it is

also a guide for our use in private prayer as well.

            Note:

            Before we go on, let me make one observation:  if one examines the structure of the Lord's prayer as found in Matthew 6:9-13 we will find

a curious but clear structure.  So lets look at that structure.  The Lord's Prayer could easily be seen to have six parts in my opinion:  An Invocation,

Four Requests, and a Benediction.  Let me explain further.  

            Note:  Verse 9 opens the Lord's Prayer with what is commonly called an "Invocation".  

            Q  What is an invocation?

               An = It means to call upon, or address someone.  >>> Turn with me to Psalm 46:1 and let me read it to you. Notice God is

addressed as a refuge or shelter, now go over to Psalm 49:1,2 and lets read this.  Notice here is not God who is addressed but the peoples of all

stations.  Now go over to Psalm 50:1 and lets read it.  Here the invocation is to God but now a different aspect of God is addressed, His might and

power.  The invocation is an indication of who and what aspect of that person is being addressed.

            The Lord's Prayer opens with an invocation:  let us read it in English, and see what it means.

            Note: Our Father, who are in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name.  Lets break this down.

            --"Our Father"--God is understood as our "dad", in Aramaic it would be "Abba", or "Daddy".  In the ancient Jewish culture, Fathers deeply

loved their children and many Armenian families still understand how deeply the love can be towards "dad".  By calling God "our Father"  we are saying

we know God intimately, loving, personally cares for us.  He is not just God, but His my father!  As we draw closer to God we will increasingly feel

this closeness and this bond.  In my own case, as great as my grandfather and father were, God is more.  There is an intimacy that even supersedes that

closeness and love.

            Q God is not only called "our Father" but also what?

               An = Notice the next phrase, "who are in Heaven".  God is not only our father, but He is the Lord of the heavens.  He is not our personal

guru or divine pet!  He is in heaven, far away, and far above all that is on earth.  

            So, God is both intimate and God is great and awe-inspiring.  He is not only "immanent" but also "transcendent", above and beyond anything

a human being can imagine.

            Note:  To make sure we understand this, Jesus follows up with "hallowed be your Name", or "Holy is your Name".  He is to be sanctified and

holy in our understanding.  The Jews knew that to truly come before God with joy they needed to understand His Holiness:  >>>> Turn to

Psalm 34:3.

            Q So how do we pray?  In what manner or pattern do we open our prayers, in what attitude towards God are we to have when opening in our

personal, private prayer life?

               An = We should approach God with confidence that He is our father but that He is awesome in power!  He is both intimate and yet

almighty.  We should know that He deeply loves us, but that we are also addressing the Lord of the Entire Cosmos.  We should know that we are

approaching not only He who loves us but He who is to be worshipped in holiness.

            B.  The Body of the Prayer:  Four Requests:  Matthew 6:10-13a.

>>>>  Have someone read Matthew 6:10.

            Note:  Now we move onto the body of the Lord's Prayer.  It opens with a request in verse 10.  "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on

earth as it is in heaven."   May your kingdom come.  Where God is king then His will is followed.  We are being told to ask for God's lordship to begin.  

            Note:  Naturally, another way of saying this would be "may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven".   You see if God is king in heaven

when His will is obeyed, then we are to ask God's will to be on earth.  May God have His way!

            Note:  Asking God's kingdom to come and then for His will to be done is an example of Hebrew parallelism.  Again to see how Jesus is

structuring His prayer, turn to Psalm 112:2,7.  See how the phrases are repeating some of the same thought in different ways.  Now turn to Psalm

114:4 for another example, Jesus is saying in verse 10 the same thing twice!  For Hebrews to Repeat a matter shows its importance!

            Q What is Jesus saying?  How should our prayers be like, if we follow His direction?

               An = Perhaps, another way of saying it would be:  May you be truly King, not only in heavens and in the ages to come, but with me on

earth, now.  It is a prayer of submission.  He must be king, not us.  His will, not our will, should dominate.  1)  Many people do not like to take the

Bible seriously because then we will know what God thinks and then if we are true Christians then we would have to conform.  If we say the Bible is not

true, then we can make up a god and what we wish him to want in our own image.  Also 2), many do not want to hear from the Holy Spirit, but want to do

what we want.  When we do this, we have made a god in our image.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 6:11

            Q What does the second request mean?

               An =  "Give us today our daily bread".  Notice we are to ask for our daily sustenance.  God does not say ask for luxury, but to ask for our

daily needs.  God does care about our needs and so He commands us to ask for them to be fulfilled.  What you really need you are to ask for.

            Q What would you think of the child who said:  "Dad, or Mom, give me five thousand dollars, so I do not have to be bothered with talking

with you again?

            Q Do you like being dependent on God?

               An =  So many times we want to be given our needs twenty years in advance, where God wants us to be daily dependent upon Him.  We

want security but He wants relationship.  What would we think of the child who said, "Forget-you parents, I just want enough money for the next twenty

years and I do not want to need to talk to you to again."  God wants us to daily come before Him with our needs.  Some people have called it living on the

edge.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 6:12.

            Q What is the third thing we are to ask for?

               An =  The third thing we are to ask for is something that Jesus knows we need have need of:  forgiveness.  "Forgive us our debts, as we

forgive our debtors".   The Lord knows we need daily sustenance.  The Lord also knows we need to submit to His will, and He knows we need

forgiveness.  So, He says:  "Ask for it."  

            Note:  Notice of the four requests that we are going to look at in the Lord's Prayer, only this one has a condition.  God does not say, ask for

daily bread, but first fast six hours then I will supply your need.  He does not say ask for My will to be done only after you have given your tithe.  There

are no conditions attached to these requests but here there are stipulations.  There are conditions to forgiveness.  You must forgive those who have hurt

you.

            Note:  Charles Williams says the word "as" is the most terrible word in the English Bible.  It is so hard to forgive those who have hurt us,

but Jesus says it is not optional.  You must forgive to be forgiven.

            Q Why is it so hard to forgive?

            Q  Can we afford to forgive?  Can we afford to forgive those idiots at work?  Can we afford to forgive certain relatives?

               An = Strange question?  Not really!  Think of it this way, if we forgive, then the devil tries to tell us, we will be diminished.  We must

have our due!  Our debts must be recognized and covered.  Can we afford to forgive?  

            Q Can we afford to forgive?

               An = If we will forgive, will we not have faith in God?  If we have such faith we will not only not be diminished we will be like our

heavenly Father?   Note:  There is one difference to being like our heavenly Father, Chrysostom (p. 136) reminds us, that we have need of becoming

great, God already is!  He merely wishes to show us the way!

            Note:  There is another parallelism here (a contrasting one), i.e. forgiveness is spoken about twice, because forgiveness is very

important!

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 6:13a.

            Q What is the fourth thing we are to ask our Father for?

               An = The fourth thing we are encouraged to ask for is also in parallel form:  "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the

evil one".  We are to ask our Lord for help in temptation.  We are to anticipate and pray about the needs we have or others have in temptation and pray

before the trouble begins.

            EX  You can give an example of your own here.  The key issue is that one anticipates a problem and then begins to pray.

Time I realized I would be tempted to fight with a close friend, and so prayed that it would never happen, it didn't.  We are not asking God to give us

not temptation but to help us not to succumb!

            Note:  The real enemy is not those who hurt us, but the devil, the "evil one".  Satan tries to use the mistakes and selfishness of others to

tempt us, but the real enemy is the devil!  Beat the devil, you do not need to beat the one who has hurt you.

            Q The text does not say:  "Lead me not into temptation", "Let us not into temptation."  I believe this opens the door for us to pray not only

for ourselves but for our friends, our children, and relatives.  Perhaps, we need to begin praying for those we love when see them being drawn into

temptation.  Do not gossip about them!  Do not worry about them!  Pray for them!  It is the last thing the devil wants you doing.  Again, you

have a parallelism, a repetition, i.e. it is important to seek help for ourselves and others against temptation, through prayer!

            C.  The Closing Or The Benediction.  Matthew 6:13b.

>>>> If you have to recite or read from the "King James" version the benediction.

            Note:  Our prayer ends in some translations with "For thine is the kingdom and power and the glory forever".  This is the closing phrase,

the Benediction, the ending of the prayer.  Scripture has many of these types of closing and we usually end our Sunday morning worship service with one.

            Note:  Some of your translations do not have this part because some of the earliest manuscripts do not have this.  

            Note:  In affect, what this phrase is saying is that God totally in control, with endless might, power and glory.  So our part is to verbalize

this and acknowledge to the world that in Jesus is eternal power and glory.  It is true, what we need to do is to proclaim that truth to the world.  It

will help the world and most of all it helps us, ourselves, realize that this is reality.

 

IV.  Jesus' Own Commentary or Emphasis on His Prayer:  Matthew 6:14-15.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 6:14-15.

            Note:  Notice that Jesus is referring back to only one part of the Lord's Prayer.

>>>> Have someone re-read Matthew 6:12.

            Q What is the condition for our being forgiven?

               An = Forgiving others!  Jesus does not want us to miss that!  If we do, we can slip into being a hypocrite, a religious prig, a dead

person, who everyone sees as religious but is totally not pleasing to God.  We could totally miss the boat!

            Note:  So notice Jesus repeats the issue twice!  He loves us and knows our tendency to forget unpleasant issues.  Jesus speaks of this

issue of forgiveness four times.

            Note:  Notice, He first tries to persuade us with a promise in 6:14, and then He tries to persuade us with a threat in 6:15.  He promises

and threatens because He wants to persuade us to the fullest extent.

            Note:  Those of you who are teachers know that you have to motivate both ways to be affective with students.  

            EX  I used to assign some tremendously hard papers in my classes and I would promise them that if they did them they would never forget

what they wrote and it would be one of the best things they experienced in my classes.  I was right, it was true!  However, I would also say if you do not

do the paper you do not pass the class.

            Q  How many students would put a 75+ hours into a paper without the threat?  

               An = Not many.  But without the promise they would get discouraged when the going got rough.  We humans need both positive and

negative encouragement.  God knows this and so wisely, lovingly repeats only one part of the Lord's Prayer.

            Note:  Let me tell you a secret.  If you learn to forgive others who have terribly hurt you it could be the key to your spiritual success.  It

could be the key that unlocks your relationship to God.  It could make you real!

            RQ Who is it that has really hurt you?  

            Note:  Bring that person before your mind and then let me ask you another question!

            Q  Is Christ asking too much of some of you today?

               An = If we have been truly hurt by another human being, we need His supernational grace.  If we have been hurt deep enough, we

need help to forgive.  Our very chance at pleasing God depends upon it.  Some of you have been hurt so bad that none of can understand how deep that hurt

is, but God.  

            Note:  He understands, and He is present right now to begin the process you need to be free.

Sermon On the Mount | Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 | BEING RELIGIOUS OR BEING FREE

I.  Greetings.

 

II.  Introduction:

            Today we wish to see what else Matthew has to say to us about outward religious actions.  We want to talk briefly this morning on two

issues:  being religious and being free.

            Note:  When a child, I often spent the weekend at my grandmother house.  We often were asked to work:  dust the stairs, weed a few

small flower beds (essential work, you know, that had we not done them the entire house would have corroded and the house would have collapsed.  Ha!). 

But we did work, and then in the afternoon we got to go "downtown" (where the department stores were).  We took the bus to downtown.  If we had

worked we got $.50 to spend.

            Q  What was grandmother doing?

               An = Two things:  First, she was teaching us a work ethic.  I do not remember the stairs ever being overly dusty or the weeds

overgrown in the flower beds.  We needed to work more than the work needed to be done.  Second, she was teaching us good behavior had good reward.

            Q  What is the function of rewards?

            An =  Reward shows the will and pleasure of the rewarder.  It indicates what pleases them.  In my grandmother's case what pleased her

was actually very good for us.  What pleased her blessed us.  Not all authorities are that way, but it is that way in God's case.  What pleases God is what

winds up being for our best interests.  With that in mind let us read Matthew 6:1.  Here we have a key insight into how to obtain reward from God.  God

will reward us to let us know what pleases Him, and what pleases God will bless us!

 

III.  Basic Principal:  What God rewards is Hidden Religious Behavior.  Matthew 6:1

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 6:1.

            Q How can we lose our rewards in heaven, or how can we displease God?

               An = By practicing our good deeds before others so that they can see it.  

            Note:  God is warning us against losing our rewards in heaven.  We could do righteousness and yet lose all the reward from doing it.  God

does not wish that for us, and so He warns us.

            RQ Well you might ask, what good deeds and what do you mean practicing our good deeds "before" others.

               Note = Jesus will now follow in Matthew 6:2-18 and give three specific examples of how we are to live a righteous life but not do it as

a "spiritual premadonna".  Oswald Chambers would say, Jesus explains how to be religious without being a "religious prig".  Lets look at His first

example....

 

IV.  Illustrations of the Basic Principle:  Matthew 6:1-4, 16-18

            A.  First Illustration:  Matthew 6:2-4:  Giving to the Needy.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 6:2-4.

            Note:  One of the main ways to be pious in Jesus' day was to give to the poor.  Notice, Jesus assumes His disciples will be giving

for He says:  "When therefore you give to the needy...." and He repeats that phrase in Matthew 6:3.  If we are not giving to the needy then we are not being

properly righteous.  

>>>> Turn to Deuteronomy 15:7-8 and 10-11 and have two different people read these verses...

            Q  What specific blessings attached to helping the poor.            

               An = The Lord will bless us in all your work and all your undertaking.  In others words, your career, will prosper (Deuteronomy 15:10)!

            Note:  However, according to Jesus, we could do it such a way as to lose all of our rewards from God.  Remember, Matthew 5:17-19, Jesus

is going to fulfill, not abolish the Law, He is going to complete it, make it perfect.

            Q Looking back to Matthew 6:2-4, do you see what the key ingredient is for giving to the poor?

               An = Doing it in secret.  Hypocrites, "religious prigs", "spiritual premadonnas" do it for show.  They want an audience.  All through the

Sermon on the Mount, we have and will see that to live out such teaching must be done through faith.  Faith, implies choice....

            Note:  A choice has to be made!!  What type of reward do you want:  God's or man's?

            Q Why does Jesus call those who chose the praise of men hypocrites?

               An = Because they chose the praise of men but "pretended" to be seeking the praise of God.  In short, they were putting on a phony,

unreal mask.  They were lying about their spiritual condition.  

            Q Ever noticed that you are often discouraged when you listen to someone tell you of all their good deeds?  Why is that?

               An = Encourage the group to give careful attention to their answers.  They could learn a lot here that would help them to be sensitive to

those in your group, family or church in the days to come.  Then, when they have given their points add:   

            RQ  Ever notice that some people are religious and being around them is like being in the presence of beauty, and it is an uplift?  

            RQ  Ever noticed that being around some people, who are so "righteous" is a repulsive experience.  

            Note:  It could be that they are pretenders, they are liars, and somehow being around liars who represent the God of truth is repulsive.  

            Q Does this sound harsh?  

               An = If you have ever had to suffer through such things, this is not too harsh.  Also, some of you do not want to have much to do with

religion, and it is not God you are upset with, but "religious pretence".  True religion is refreshing to those seeking truth (and infuriating to those who

hate truth).  True religion gets us to the true God.

>>>> Have someone re-read Matthew 6:3.

            Q  What does this mean to you?

               An = Give and do not let your "right hand know what your left hand is doing".  Some scholars say "left-hand" in Arabic stands for your

best friend.  So your giving should be so secret that even your best friend does not know all that you do (Robert Gundry, p. 102). However, most likely it

means we should give without even being aware of the fact that we are giving.  Matthew is probably the best interpreter of Matthew!  Here is what

Matthew later says on this issue.

>>>> Turn to Matthew and you read to them 25:34-40.    <

go to Ecclesiastes 12.>>

            Note:  Notice that the righteous do not even know they have been doing such great things.

            Note:  Finally, realize that our Lord does see all and that though men do not know what we do, He does!   

>>>> Have someone read Ecclesiastes 12:14.

>>>> Have someone read John 4:24.

            Note:  Give, and keep quiet about it, it could start your worship towards being true worship, from deep within your spirit.  Some of us

today are caught, the beginning or real worship, truly pleasing God may begin not with excessive prayer, church attending, retreats, study, etc., but a

simple act of faith:  give and keep quiet!  We often want to be religious, Jesus wants us to have faith.  It is a choice to have faith, one you can make

right now.  We should be aggressively be about giving to the needy but aggressively be about keeping it secret.

            (There is a wonderful book written on this subject called the Magnificent Obsession by Lloyd C. Douglas, it was a best seller in America for

18 months, and it has a follow-up book called Doctor Hudson's Secret Journal.)            

            B. Second Example of Being Properly Religious:  Prayer,  Matthew 6:5-8.

            Note:  Jesus gives us the second important "pious" act:  that of prayer.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 6:5-6.

            Q Do you see the same pattern here with prayer as found above with the issue the of giving to the needy?

            Note:  Again, Jesus demands His followers make a choice:  whether to be private or public.  Private prayer brings reward from God

public brings reward from men.  

            Q Is Jesus demeaning public prayer?

               An = Absolutely not!!  There are many places where public prayer is encouraged and we have records of some of Jesus' public prayers. 

The issue is ostentatious pretence.  The real issue is whether we pray to be "seen by men" or "seen by God".  We should never be afraid to be seen by men

as those who pray (see Matthew 5:13-16), but we should be those who hid the bulk of our prayer life.  Prayer meetings are fine, but private prayer is

essential.

            Q Why is Jesus so hard on those of us who want a little recognition?  Why is Jesus so hard on us being "appreciated" for the good things

that we do?

               An = The answer is that He loves us.  If we want to "free", if we want to be "real" then do your righteous acts privately and then you

will know who you are!!  You will find out what your real motives are.  You will be righteous because you truly want to please God and for no other

reason!  You do not want to be religious, you want to be real.

            B.  Third Example:  Fasting, Matthew 6:16-18.

>>>>  Have someone read Matthew 6:16-18.

            Q  What is the subject or religious action that these verses speak of?

            Q  What do you think of when you think of fasting?

            Q  Is it a common Christian practice?

            Q  What is it for?

               An = Again, when Jesus speaks of it, He is assuming that His disciples are doing it.  If you have not been involved with fasting, then it

is something you might need to start doing.

            Note:  The act of fasting must again, be done in secret.  You are to pretend, but pretend that you are not in the act of fasting.  Be cheerful,

dress well, put on a show, but not to be a hypocrite, but a true disciple.

            Q  So again, why do it, what is the reason or benefit of such a practice?

               An = Have someone make a list, while answers are being given and when they are through have them read that list back to the people.

            Note:  Surely, there are multiple good reasons for fasting.  It does give many people a read boost health wise, it gives us disciple and self

control, and it seems to aid our praying (Raul Ries once said "There is real power man, in fasting."  He then said nothing more but changed the subject.) 

Let me give you three concepts about fasting in the Bible.

            First, In the Old Testament there are no instruction about "how" or "how long" to do it.  The Old Testament does often tie it to repentance

and certainly to prayer.  But whether you drink juice, or drink just water, or fast from sun up to sun down, or 24 hours, or 72 hours, etc. is never spoken

of.  God has wisely left that up to us.  I know a one individual who fasted till noon everyday for weeks for their child, another man fasted days on end so

God would help his wife become pregnant, another fasted 5 days so his friend would not die of cancer, another fasted one day a week for the health of his

mother.  You make up the rules.

            Second, Oswald Chambers says it is a form of "concentration".  It helps the believer to know what he or she really wants, fasting helps

us concentrate on what is really valuable to us.  It is a choice to prioritize, and of course, that priority show never be shown off, it must be done in

secret.  If you do a group fast with your Bible study or with a group of friends it is not obviously a secret thing, but still a valid form of concentration. 

Your friends will know, but then, at least do not tell others beyond your group.

            Third, keep it secret.  Do it so you know what you really value and you know you want an answer to prayer if you will fast for the

answer.  It lets us know just how much you love someone or want forgiveness, or guidance but keep it secret.  You might need to get quite creative in

hiding it, but hiding it is so important.

            Keeping a secret can be so empowering, so ennobling, so life-changing.  Some of us are so desirous of being considered noble, of being

considered a woman or man of character, or of being regarded as "spiritual".   

            RQ  Would it not make more sense to be such a person rather than be regarded as such?

            You will be different if you follow His advice.  You will please Him, it will bless you!  You will be, and know one will know, but deep down

in the very depth of your being you have made a choice, a choice no one will ever know about, but God will see.  You will be noble, will be a person

of character, a truly spiritual individual. 

            The key is simple, it is handed to you in an earthly and accessible for to everyone, give and fast, but keep it quiet.  Choice to have faith,

choose that it is more important to please God than to show-off before others.

Sermon On the Mount | MATTHEW 5:31-32, 38-48 | JESUS AND THE LAW: Blessed Are The Peacemakers

I.  Introduction:  This story was relevant to me and so I used it, you would probably do better with a story of your own.

            Note:  I read a story from this week from Thomas and Cynthia Hale medical missionaries to Nepal for twenty five years.  In reading some

of their accounts of dealing with the practical difficulties of running a missionary hospital, Mr. Hale recounted a story of how the communists in the

seventies tried to destroy the work of the hospital.  As each encounter with the communists was narrated I tried to put myself in Mr. Hale's place: 

giving up my entire professional career for a foreign society, working and living in harsh conditions and working long hours and then having young, naive

students destroy it all in the name of ideology.  

            What surprised me was that I would have lost my temper and challenged the situation.  I then read how with patience, fairness, and

gentleness the crisis was averted and the hospital was able to continue its ministry to the sick and hurting of that society.  As I read a Scripture was

brought to mind:  "The anger of man, does not accomplish the righteousness of God" (James 1:20).  Let us see how Jesus would amplify this statement of

foregoing anger in two ways:

            Note:   We have noted that Jesus is showing us how to exceed the righteousness of the religion of His day.  He had a simple pattern that

we observed last week.  Jesus quotes the Law then gives His amplification or fulfillment of that Law often followed with additional helps.  We saw that

Jesus shows us three times how to "exceed" the Law so as to be under the reign of Jesus Christ.  So let us look at two three examples of this today.  

 

II.         No Divorce.  Matthew 5:31-32.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 5:32-32

            Q  Do you see the pattern?  Do you see the first three parts?

               An = Jesus quotes the divorce law in Deuteronomy 24:1,3.  He then says, "But I say unto you", and finally, Jesus radicalizes or "fulfills"

the law.

            Q  How does Jesus "fulfill" or "full-up" or go the very intent of the Law about divorce?

               An = Moses said you had to give the divorced woman a certificate, obviously, to protect and give her some legitimization.  Jesus is

going even further, the best legitimization for a woman to have in marriage is for not to be dissolved.  If she commits adultery, she obviously wants it

dissolved.  

            Q  Does this teaching make up uneasy?  Why?

               An = This teaching does have some advantages:  1) We have a society filled with children whose father's have left them vulnerable,

confused and and in some cases financially disadvantaged.  2) The best thing for a man is end his life is knowing he took good care of his children and

wife.  The best thing for a woman, and if you turn the genders around, a man, (which is legitimate to do because only men could iniciate divorce then, so

Jesus only addresses then men) is to make them secure.  3)  It so healthy for people to keep their vows, their promises.  Getting divorced, except for

unchastity or marital unfaithfulness, is breaking one's word.

 

III.  Overcoming Evil with Good.  Matthew 5:38-42.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 5:38.

            Q  What does this law mean?

               An = This is the famous Lex Talionis (found three times in the Old Testament, Exodus 21:24, Leviticus 24:20, Deuteronomy 19:20 and in

other ancient Near Eastern Law codes). The legal community has long seen this law teaches two things:  that misconduct should be punished, but the

punishment should fit the crime.  

            Q Is the Old Testament Law just into "justice" or does it also demand "mercy"?

               An = To answer this let us take a quick look back at the Law in Exodus.  Turn to Exodus 23.

                        >>> Have someone read Exodus 23:4,5,9.  Here we see that there is a commandment to have and extend mercy to

even those whom it does not justly belong.

            Note:  Jesus though, wants to "fulfil" or "exceed" this standard and watch what He does.  >>>> Read Matthew 5:39-42.

            Q Do these sound impossible or impractical applications?

               An = Encourage them to really tell the truth here.  These seem to be impractical.  Do not resist an evil person?  If you do not stop

bullies they just get bolder and worse.  What does Jesus mean here?

            Q What four practical examples of how not to resist evil are given in these verses?

               An = After they have listed the four go back and deal with each one.  He gives us four:   1) If someone strikes you on the right check

offer him the other.  This speaks of being insulted.  Do not return insult with insult, let them take another shot says Jesus.  2)  If someone wants to

take something of yours that is rightfully yours let them have it.  In the Israel one was forbidden to take a poor man's cloak.  If someone tried to sue for

your cloak you would easily beat them in court.  Jesus says let them take everything until you are naked.  3) If someone forces you to go a mile.  Roman

soldiers often made peasants in an occupied country carry their baggage.  Jesus says go the extra mile.  

            Q What do these three situations all have in common?  

               An = In all three cases following these ideas could leave us vulnerable and compromise our dignity.  It could leave us emotionally

naked.  How can we live if we are constantly insulted and the insults are not true or at least only partially true?  How can we have some of our dignity

taken away and not press our advantage to get it back?  How can someone take advantage of us and we not resent it?  This sounds impossible to do.

            Q Let me ask you another question.  What if someone has insulted us, or taken advantage of us and we insult back, get bitter or angry

resent their taking advantage of us?  Are we free?  Are we greater people?  

               An = Of course, we are not free, and of course, we do not witness for our Lord.  We are no different than the world.  What makes us

Christians is not that we give money to a church or good causes, go to church and have superior, biblical theology.  What makes us Christians is that we

love Jesus Christ.  We just do not do anything He tells us to do.  You know it gets worse...

>>>> Let me re-read Matthew 5:42.

            4)  Q How many of us know of relatives or friends who have relatives who would sponge off anyone, endlessly, until nothing remained

because they were so lazy.  

            An = It does not seem to be.  There are times when giving to some people is wrong and harmful, and Jesus is also aware of this.  However,

let me show you something.  Jesus is not counseling passivity.  He is counseling aggressiveness.  He is saying do not merely tolerate people who are

abusive, but go on the offensive.  Aggressively try to aid them.  Do not be a passive victim, but be an aggressive giver.  In all four cases you resist evil

not with bitterness, resentment or reprisal but you resist evil with positive action.

            1)  If someone one insults you, let them take another shot.

            2)  If someone tries to take your dignity in one area that is crucial to you, do not worry about them coming after even a more private and

necessary area of your life.

            3)  If someone miss uses your hospitality, or kindness aggressively give them more than they asked for.

            4)  No not be paranoid of the takers in this life.

            Q Can we afford to be emotionally naked?  

            Q A bigger question is, will God protect us, will we survive?

            Q Is there a God in Heaven who wishes to bless us with His commandments?  Are these blessings or sure-fire ways to be miserable until

we get to heaven?

            

IV.  Being Like the Father.  Matthew 5:43-48.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 5:43.

            Note:  The Law tells us to love our neighbors and hate those who are threats to our well being.  This sounds fair and correct.  But as you

might expect Jesus Christ wants more...

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 5:44.

            Note: It is one thing to not take revenge against enemies but to pray for them seems to be asking for too much.

            Q Is this practical?

               An = I have been trying this one.  It is!  I have to pray pretty hard sometimes, but it is amazing.  If you do it, you get a gift.  Let me

show how Jesus describes the gift.

>>>> Read Matthew 5:45-48.

            Q What is the gift?  What is Jesus holding out as a motivation in these verses?

               An = In 5:45, we can be sons of the Father.  We can be like Him.  In 5:46-47 we can be different from the world.  We can be more than

knee-jerk reactionists, we can be aggressive choosers, folks that are different.  Finally, in 5:48 we can be "perfect" like our heavenly father is

"perfect".  

            Q What does it mean to be perfect?

               An = The word has more the meaning of being complete, coming to fulfillment.  "teleos" moving towards a goal.  We are to be

purposeful people, complete people, full people, like the personhood of Almighty God.

            Q Will God take care of us if we do not resist evil?  Can we survive?

               An = >> read to them the following verses from Psalm 56:8-13.  If we do not resist evil, what will happen to us?  This might

be answered when we look at the one who told to do these things:  Jesus Christ.  What happened to Jesus for He lived out in His life what He is asking us

to do.  

            Q Will we survive emotionally or psychologically if we risk being made naked by certain people?

               An = The answer is really dependent on whether there is a God.  Will He really be there?   Do I really believe in God.  

            Q If we do believe how do we get the courage to follow what He asks of us?  How do we get motivated to even try obeying these

commands?

               An = Many of motivated in many ways but perhaps two thoughts can be briefly given:  how deep is my love for Jesus, and can my love for

Him, to please Him motivated me, also do I want to be like Him?

            Note: I can be very, very short tempered.  When I am threatened or verbally attacked or get excited about someone seeing my point of

view, I often get angry, aggressive, verbally abusive, etc.  Jesus' words stand in such contrast to my actions.

>>>> Let me read to you Matthew 5:5.

            Note:  I am beginning to understand that Jesus' words take great restraint, great discipline and great courage, great faith to follow.  I am

beginning to think "humility" is a power-virtue.  Mr. Hale was meek and he succeeded in bringing good doctoral care to his part of the earth.

            I want to grow to be like Mr. Hale was in that particular situation in Nepal.