“When You Give To The Poor…”
Matthew 06:01-34
MATTHEW 6:1-34
[Mt 6:1] Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.
[2] So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. [3] But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, [4] so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
[5] When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. [6] But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
[7]“And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. [8] So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
[9] “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. [10] ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. [11] ‘Give us this day our daily bread. [12] ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. [13] ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’]
[14] For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. [15] But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.
[Mt 6:16] Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. [17] But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face [18] so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
[19] Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. [20] But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; [21] for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
[22] “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. [23] But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
[24] “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
[25] “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? [26] Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? [27] And who of you by being worried can add a singlehour to his life? [28] And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, [29] yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. [30] But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alivetoday and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! [31] Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ [32] For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. [33] But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
[34] “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
MATTHEW 6:1-4
[Mt 6:1] Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.
[2] So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. [3] But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, [4] so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
“When You Give to the Poor…”
In this reading, Jesus prepares his disciples for both the outward and the inward tasks necessary for a deeper intimacy with God.
They are:
1. Acts of righteousness
2. Praying and
3. Fasting
In each situation, Jesus does not use the conditional term, “if [G1487 ei],” but the commanding term, “when [G3752 hotan].” We cannot afford to think the habits of God are optional; they are requirements, perhaps even prerequisites to fullness in life. They are part and parcel of the Lord’s Prayer. Like any trait critical to our long-term growth, we must exercise it to deepen it.
Among the “traits” Jesus commands us to do is “giving to the poor.” Have you noticed that many churches and many Christians consider this to be optional — after other budget items or church business plans are met? For those churches, this reading is going to be extremely uncomfortable. As you will read, “giving to the poor” is not optional for the Christian; it is a “must,” a command.
In fact, the words in this phrase are not “give to the poor,” but “Do (Poieo [G4160]) Alms (eleémosuní [G1654]).” This phrase would be akin to the DO justice of Micah, “DO acts of mercy,” or “GIVE mercy to the poor.” It does not say, “write a check to the poor.”
It is not accidental that Christ puts works of justice at the top of his list. Most Christians, however, put it at the bottom, as if it was not obligatory. Look closely; it is the opposite for our Lord. Our true prayer, our real fasting flows from justice. Prayer without justice is self-deception, it becomes a feel-good, self-massage that leaves us comfortable despite the injustice around us. This type of “personal salvation” without “communal restoration” is at the heart of meo-theism, which is the greatest deception of contemporary Christianity. We don’t hear Jesus say; “I have come to be good news to the poor, but that’s not important to you,” or, “Whatsoever you do to the least of these you do unto me, but you needn’t worry about doing that if you go to church regularly.”
In the story of the Good Samaritan it was more important to do justice (as evidenced by the despised Samaritan) than to be religious (as exemplified by the Scribe and the Pharisee).
Justice leads to service, service leads to humility and it is humility that leads to deeper intimacy with God.
Mark 10:43-45
[43] But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; [44] and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. [45] For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.
Let’s look at five important words in the opening paragraph of these verses:
1. Beware [G4337 prosech] this term is also used as “to hold to, turn to or attend to.” It is even used for the term “compelled (or a compulsion) to.” In a world of addictions and compulsions propagated by material consumption, we need to pick our “compulsions” with great care. We need to choose the habits we are going to foster daily or “beware,” because our compulsions are all too happy to pick us.
2. Practicing [G4160 poie] this term means to commit to an action. Think of it like this. We plan our upcoming week with tasks and meetings that will enhance our careers. Are we as diligent about planning our works of justice? Is “service to the poor” part of our regular weekly “must-do’s?” Do we set appointments around those tasks? Do we say, “I need do that someday” and always find something more important that presses the “least of these” to the back burner? Am I as consistent in my love of the poor as I want Jesus to be with me?
I remember asking a young incarcerated person how they knew if someone cared about him? He said; “They show up when they say they will.” Would the poor say that about me?
3. Righteousness [G1343 dikaiosun]. In Micah’s statement of true worship (do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with your God — Micah 6:8), righteousness is the “do” part of justice. It is not justice if I don’t “do it.” Compassion without action is no more than pity, an atrocity to the poor. We might restate Micah’s statement like this: “Justice – do it! Mercy – live it! Humility – practice it.”
4. Reward [G3408 misthos] this is not so much the term for, “reward,” as it is the term for, “wages due.” In this world we are on commission (communities in mission) with Jesus to reach the world with the Good News of salvation. All of our parochial plans and dreams must be a submission (placed beneath) of his commission. What is it to God if I make billions of dollars, rule a nation or am the most educated man in the world? If any of those things do not lead me to break the bonds of poverty to the least of these (to “proclaim the favorable year of our Lord” — Luke 4:19]. Then my entire life was not just worthless, but an abomination.
Matthew 25:29-30
[29] For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. [30] Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
We will be measured by our love, not the 3P’s of a consumer culture: Possessions, Position or Power:
1 Corinthians 13:1
If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
God has given each of us talents to invest for his purposes, not ours. I may be gifted at finance, politics or theology, but if — at the end of the day — children still sleep in fear or poverty in my neighborhood, then my work is not complete.
5. In Secret [G2927 kruptos] here is the image Christ presents as the perfect servant. He or she is a quiet force of justice that changes his community just like yeast changes bread. This person’s faithfulness is presented in private moments of compassion unannounced and even unnoticed except among the needy. You know their faith by their patterns, not the professions. The poor call them good news, but the powerful often ignore, suspect or are oblivious to them. Are we Christ’s “silent servants,” or bellicose believers? Does everyone have to know what we are doing or we satisfied with “The audience of One?”
We need neither grand titles nor great resources to impact the world. The greatest influencers have almost always been those who do small acts of compassion quietly and persistently.
It was the way of Jesus to model, invite, teach and delegate. His entire public ministry was focused on preparing the disciples for his death and their commission. Co-dependent relationships never prepare the people to “go out to all peoples.” In like manner, it was the way of Paul to constantly self-efface himself. Chronologically, we can trace his ministry from Apostle to disciple to servant to slave and finally to “a prisoner for the Lord [Ephesians 3:1].” The prayer of Francis of Assisi – his walking prayer rather than the prayer written about him – was, “Who are you my dearest God? And who am I but your useless servant?”
As we get closer to Christ our voices become softer – not louder, humbler – not pugnacious. Instead our actions begin to speak with defining clarity and focus.
MATTHEW 6:5-6
[5] When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. [6] But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
“When You Pray...”
In Greek, prayer [G4336i proseuchomai] means to forward desire, pre-wish or literally, to “throw your hopes forward.” Prayer is to “pre-prayer” the path ahead of you, to “precede” the day by sending God’s power to direct every step on our day’s path.
Jesus prays often by seeking solitude or waking before the disciples. In Matthew alone, Jesus prays on the following occasions:
After John died and after feeding the thousands:
Matthew 14:23
After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone.
When he blesses children:
Matthew 19:13
Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them.
Before his crucifixion:
Matthew 26:36
Then Jesus *came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and *said to His disciples, Sit here while I go over there and pray.”
Throughout the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus also teaches us to pray.
For our enemies:
Matthew 5:44
But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
Here in these verses, he teaches us that prayer is intimacy with God:
Matthew 6:6
But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. Jesus also gives us the essence of prayer:
Matthew 6:9-13
Pray, then, in this way: Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name. [10] Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. [11] Give us this day our daily bread. [12] And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. [13] And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. He teaches us that prayer will be answered in absolute fullness:
Matthew 7:7-8
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. [8] For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” He teaches us to pray in order to drive out the demoniac (the addiction, compulsion, or manipulator) in us:
Matthew 17:19-21
[19] Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not drive it out?” [20] And He *said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, Move from here to there, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. [21] [But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.]”
He shows us that prayer is the primary means to heal each other and the church:
Matthew 18:15-20
15] If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. [16] But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. [17] If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. [18] Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.
[19] Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. [20] For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.
Our Lord shows us how willing God is to respond to the faithful prayer.
Matthew 21:22
And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.
He clearly says to us that God despises the self-righteous prayer that turns a blind eye to injustice.
Matthew 23:14
[Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows houses, and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive greater condemnation.]
He tells us that prayer will protect our souls in dangerous times.
Matthew 24:20
But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath.”
Through all these teachings we should learn that prayer is the greatest offensive and defensive tool of the Christian. To proceed into our future – even for one moment – without being “preceded and pre-prayed” is a fool’s mission. Ultimately, our desire would be to go as far as to equate our very breath as prayer.
The Hebrews had three words for prayer.
1. The first use of the word for prayer [OT6419 Palal] is actually spoken to the Pharaoh in Genesis 20:7. He is told to give Sarah back to Moses and “pray” that he won’t be found sinful. The term means to 1) ask for mediation and 2) plead for favorable judgment. This is the most frequent term for prayer in the Old Testament. We know that the Holy Spirit mediates for those with a penitent heart and broken pride before God.
2. Another term is Na [OT499] and it means to plead or seek a treaty. To seek a treaty with God is to say we can no longer defend our behavior and plead for mercy on his terms. This it the prayer of Jacob in Genesis 32:11, just prior to facing what he believes will be a vengeful Esau. Trapped between his brother, from whom he stole a birthright and Laban, from whom he stole the “family jewels,” Jacob has no choice but to beg for mercy.
God hears the humble prayer of Jacob and always leans to prayers of humility.
Isaiah 66:2b
“This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.”
Humility is the first step to wholeness. When we embrace humility and plead for mercy, we are closer to God than at any other point in our lives.
3. Finally, there is the term, “Annah [OT577].” This is the term for absolute begging. It is the repentant cry of Nineveh when they hear the callous condemnation of the prophet Jonah.
Jonah 1:14
[14] Then they called on the LORD and said, We earnestly pray, O LORD, do not let us perish on account of this man’s life and do not put innocent blood on us; for You, O LORD, have done as You have pleased.
Yet, are we ready for a prayer that results in deep change, internally and externally? Then, we also must be ready for a life of great humility. Here is the image of the perfect prayer to Jesus:
Luke 18:13-14
[13] But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me, the sinner! [14] I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.
And here is the prayer that is never heard:
Luke 18:11-12
[11] The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: “God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. [12] I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.”
The closer we get to the tax collector whose posture is “in the back and on the floor,” the more likely we are to experience God response. Otherwise, as Jesus points out, we are like this Pharisee who was not praying to God, but “praying this to himself.”
MATTHEW 6:7-14
[7]“And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. [8] So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
[9] “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. [10] ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. [11] ‘Give us this day our daily bread. [12] ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. [13] ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’]
[14] For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. [15] But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.
Do not use meaningless repetition
By meaningless [G945 Battalogeō] repetition, Jesus is referring to prayers that no longer hold meaning to the one saying them or the people hearing them. Paul dedicates a section to this in his writings about speaking in tongues to the Corinthians [See all of I Corinthians 14].
Given the context of the Lord’s Prayer, we might think of “meaningless” as prayers that are not attached to actions or change.
It certainly doesn’t include prayers people say as “spiritual mantras” to lift their consciousness above worldly thoughts and concerns. I can remember my parents praying the rosary daily and including the names of their children in every decade (their were five children in our family). For my parents (and us as children), it was a way of moving our collective thoughts to a higher plane in a form of prayer to which their children could also participate.
This isn’t meaningless at all.
The principal of prayer is to make ourselves available to God’s direction and quit trying to pretend we direct life (or lives) in our little particle of the universe.
It is good on the occasion, if you are a person who likes to say recurring prayers, to stop and reconstruct them as a chef would deconstruct a dish to find it’s essential spices and herbs. Put the prayer into your own words; study the concepts behind the prayers. Find their root meanings and then reassemble the prayers as if it were the first time you were “making that dish (saying that prayer).”
Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him
This is great news for all. We don’t have to worry about the proper way to pray or the essential words that will appeal to God. Our Heavenly Sustainer knows our needs before we even ask. All we have to do is search to unite our spirits with our Creator’s spirit and let him mold our thoughts into the image of his prayer.
Our Father
Father [G3962 Patēr] Jesus uses an endearing word for father. Don’t be dismayed if you don’t have a positive or loving experience of an earthly father. Despite the adamant disagreement of some sects of believers, this word is also used for parent. In Luke, we studied the number of times that scripture (Old Testament and New) refer to God as a loving mother too.
Reflect on the person who offered you unconditional love (who sought your dignity unrelated to your accomplishments or the times you stumbled doing your best). The young people I work with in education, juvenile or foster systems don’t often have an endearing experience of either parent. We look for a remembrance of someone who loved them without manipulating them (performance-based approval). If they can’t remember one, we seek to connect them with a mentor or guide who can love them without manipulation. All the while, we make it clear that this love-without-boundaries doesn’t mean love-without-challenges. Someone who loves us will often challenge us to do our very best — not be the best, but do our best.
Notice also that this prayer begins with the all-inclusive “Our.” Not my father or even only-those-who-believe-like-us Father. It is everyone’s Father who makes the rain shine on the good and the bad alike. Who asks us to love our enemies as much as our friends.
Hallowed be Your name
Hallowed [G37 Hagaizō] to be held separate, consecrated and holy
Name [G3686 Onoma] Name or character, authority or cause
God’s name and character are set apart for a holy purpose. We often think about people who use the Lord’s Name in vane. The actual phrase would be to use God’s name vainly or in vanity — a dust storm in the desert.
The true meaning of the term, “in vain,” is derived from a town crier who receives the scepter of the king — giving him permission to make announcements on the king’s behalf. However, instead of using the King’s approval to share the King’s story, the crier uses the King’s scepter to make up a story that brings him personal benefit.
I think of preacher’s who have made insane amounts of money off the needs and hopes of the lonely, isolated, elderly or poor, living in luxury with no thought of justice or kindness. The measure of a person’s closeness to the Lord can be found in a lifestyle embodying the Beatitudes and the beginning of this section on prayer, “When you give to the poor.”
That is the Lord’s cause and it was Jesus’s cause as well, expressed in his mission statement [Luke 4:18-19]. Are we “good news to the poor?” Do the poor call us, “Good News?”
On earth as it is in heaven
The Kingdom of God reigns in any heart or community that practices the way of service and the way of the servant is the essence of the beatitudes.
Heaven has existed since the inception of time and will exist throughout all of time. In the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus, Jesus depicts heaven as a place where the rich cannot use the poor for their purposes any longer [Luke 16:19-31].
When we think of the character of God, we can deduce the character of heaven — omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. When we think we can fit God or heaven into our realm of reasoning we’ve moved from faith to ideology. Both are far greater than our imagination, let alone our intellect.
This however does not prevent some people from speaking about God as if they alone had authority or a favored pipeline to knowledge and wisdom. Of course, this theological belligerence has led to crusades, wars and jihads throughout history.
If you have a choice between aligning yourself with someone who speaks with humility and someone who speaks with adamant clarity, choose humility and flee clarity.
Our daily bread
Daily bread [G1967 Epiousios] for the coming day, subsistence
The concept of “daily bread” is thematic throughout the Bible. Look at how the writer of Proverbs expresses this idea.
Proverbs 30:8-9
8 Keep deception and lies far from me, give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is my portion, 9 that I not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the LORD?” or that I not be in want and steal, and profane the name of my God.
Most of our concerns and distractions come from not living in the moment but from fearing we won’t have enough.
· Enough for when, for today, for a lifetime?
· How long is your lifetime?
· What is enough?
It seems our culture is locked into a belief that enough is more and we can no more have enough than we can accomplish more.
Throughout Scripture the concept of enough means not to possess more but to simplify our wants until they actually match our needs.
When we pray for our daily bread, we should also pray that our wants align with God’s — that all people, everywhere have their daily bread as well and we don’t take more than our fair share of the world’s resources from either the present or the future.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven
How do we reach a state of absolute forgiveness? Be absolutely forgiving.
The term for forgiveness actually means to pay the ransom for someone who has been kidnapped. Jesus makes the point that we should forgive lavishly.
Forgiveness is tied to understanding and understanding is tied to empathy. It is one of a myriad of skills under the heading of Social Intelligence or Emotional Quotient (EQ). EQ is more closely related to job performance and career happiness than IQ (Intelligence Quotient). In fact, there is significant research that tells us that IQ without EQ is tied to unhappiness. In our schools we largely focus on raising people’s Intelligence — their book knowledge.
Daniel Goleman, often recognized as the Father of Emotional Intelligence, recently released a study that shows you can’t teach EQ, however you can deepen compassionate experiences. Schools that try to decrease bullying by teaching classes on values don’t understand the importance of Goleman’s research.
If we want our children to be more compassionate and have lasting well-being, we need to focus on broadening their compassionate experiences. In my own experience, as we take high-risk young people out of institutionalized settings and provide compassionate experiences for them, they deepen their empathy and increase their self-esteem. This also increases their affinity for the environment at schools, which positively affects their grades. The most important activities we can provide young people are not to “teach them endless lessons,” but let them experience an opportunity to give to someone whose needs are greater than the students. Take them to a children’s hospital, a rest home or day care at a homeless shelter and have them care for the people in those places.
We’ve been able to emulate these results by having older students in our schools teach the values they learn to the younger students in their schools, creating climates of compassion, forgiveness and empathy. We are not teaching classes on anti-bullying; we are building cultures of courtesy.
Deliver us from evil
Deliver [G4506 Rhoumai] Drag us from the clutches
Evil [G4190 Ponēros] the Evil One, the vicious one, worthlessness
Jesus identifies evil as a way of worthlessness and/or a specific malevolent being with the intent of dragging us into worthlessness.
What is worthlessness in the eyes of the gospel?
Matthew has Jesus using the term once.
Matthew 25:26-30
26 “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. 27 ‘Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. 28 ‘Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’
29 “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 30 “Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Luke uses the term once as well, referencing the same story.
Luke 19:20-27
20 “Another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I kept put away in a handkerchief; 21 for I was afraid of you, because you are an exacting man; you take up what you did not lay down and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 “He *said to him, ‘By your own words I will judge you, you worthless slave. Did you know that I am an exacting man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow? 23 ‘Then why did you not put my money in the bank, and having come, I would have collected it with interest?’ 24 “Then he said to the bystanders, ‘Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ 25 “And they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas already. ’ 26 “I tell you that to everyone who has, more shall be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 27 “But these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence.”
The way of the Evil One — where he wants to drag us — is the way of wasted ability. Burying the talents God gives us and letting fear rule our lives. The way of Jesus is a way of giving, forgiving and vulnerability. Emptying ourselves gratefully that we might become a blessing to others. We must be broken to be blessed and blessed when we’re broken.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever
This phrase (a doxology) is bracketed and not used by Catholics as part of the Lord’s Prayer (Catholics would say, the Our Father). The reason is not because there is anything theologically unsound about the statement. The primary difference is if you are using this form of the prayer, which Jesus taught to the crowds as part the beatitudes or Luke’s shortened version, which was a direct response by Jesus to the disciples requesting that Jesus teach them to pray.
Luke 11:1-4
11:1 It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.” 2 And He said to them, “When you pray, say:
‘*Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come.
3 ‘Give us each day our daily bread.
4 ‘And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.’”
Neither version is “more right” than the other. Go with the tradition that leaves you most open to responding to God. However, if you are celebrating with a community whose tradition is different than yours, it is usually best to go with their tradition (or you could find yourself the only person in the congregation saying the doxology).
Amen
“Amen!” Is a statement of action and acceptance. It was primarily a military response — as if your general said to you, “Take that hill.” And your, “Amen,” would mean, “It shall be done as you say.”
When we say, “Amen.” We are saying to God, “It shall be done as you’ve bidden.”
Prayers are acquiescence and action. When a prayer does not seem to receive a response it may well be that God has something better in mind for us or there has been little or no action on our part. We are clear on what we are asking God to do. But how clear are we on what God is asking us to do? When we ask God to assist the poor, do we take meals to Main Street or leave our prayers at the church foyer?
For if you forgive others
This is one of the toughest “if’s” in scripture. The forgiveness we receive is directly related to the forgiveness we offer.
Very little prevents us from a life of freedom and joy than the anger we hold and sadly, most of the anger we hold is not righteous anger (about the injustice in the world) but self-righteous anger — due to some perceived fault in our lives that probably has more to do with false expectations on our part than failure on the other person’s fault.
A great marriage professor I had once said, “Do we expect our partners to be perfect or to be themselves? The first is a setup, the second is more likely what we will experience.”
A study by Yale once found that — in longitudinal marriages of forty-plus years — the partner could only change their mate 15% in all that time. So 85% of the annoying problems the couple had at wedding lasted throughout the marriage.
Joy is not in changing someone but in changing our expectations of someone — focusing on the part we can change and being grateful for the rest.
If we want to be angry (and Jesus also became angry), be angry with issues of justice and righteousness. Pick a specific area of injustice that moves you deeply. Then do something about it — besides just prayer in the vestibule. Act on what you’re asking for. Act consistently and persistently. Little things done well over time make an impact. Word about your endeavors will spread with your effectiveness. Let word-of-mouth be your marketing.
Treasures on Earth
MATTHEW 6:16-18
[Mt 6:16] Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. [17] But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face [18] so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
Whenever you fast...”
Early in his first year of ministry, Christ was condemned for not fasting:
Mark 2:18
John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and they *came and *said to Him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”
He goes on to give his reason for not fasting:
Mark 2:19
And Jesus said to them, “While the bridegroom is with them, the attendants of the bridegroom cannot fast, can they? So long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.”
Would the disciples have been confused when Jesus preached fasting at one time and rejected fasting at another? Probably not. Jesus fasted and encouraged fasting throughout his ministry. Once again, just looking at Matthew, Jesus made these remarks about fasting…
· Jesus told his disciples that he fasted forty days in the wasteland to prepare for Satan’s temptations [Matthew 4:1-11]
· He instructs them that fasting – accompanied by joyful service – leads to powerful spiritual clarity [Matthew 6:16-24]
· And, as we mentioned before, Jesus tells us that only the combination of prayer and fasting can unseat the deepest demons from our lives [Matthew 17:19-21]
So, why did the disciples not fast with Jesus around? Because he is the bridegroom come for the bride and no one should wear a sorry face to the wedding [Matthew 9:14-17, Mark 2:18-22]. As Jesus prepares for his death, he also prepares the disciples to fast and pray during the hardest times. By the early church of Acts, fasting was a frequent and common task the church undertook prior to every major decision it made. Look at these examples:
The church fasted before sending missionaries out to the world:
Acts 13:1-3
[1] Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. [2] While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. [3] Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
She also fasted before choosing elders.
Acts 14:23
When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
Paul tells a Gentile crew that is floundering at sea to fast in order to hear the Lord’s purpose in the storm.
Acts 27:9-10
[9] When considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous, since even the fast was already over, Paul began to admonish them, [10] and said to them, Men, I perceive that the voyage will certainly be with damage and great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.
When Jesus returns, the time for fasting will be over once again, however at that time we will be done fasting permanently. But for now, when we give to the poor and when we fast, it is to make us more attuned to the subtleties of God in a culture that compulsively overindulges in practically every area of life. If we allow it, our choice to feel the pangs of purposeful hunger will awaken us to our true bread of life. Fasting can clarify our independence from the materialism, manic need for approval and manipulation of this world and instead teach us the nuances of a God who is most comprehensible in our silence.
We don’t have to consider that all fasting is from food. It may be better for us to fast from a compulsion or bad habits, for example, I often encourage school staffs to fast from sarcasm and cynicism.
MATTHEW 6:19-21
[19] Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. [20] But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; [21] for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Treasures on earth
Let’s look at some of the critical concepts that Matthew uses in his writings.
Treasure [G2344 thesauros]
Matthew uses a term, thesauros, from which we get the word thesaurus. A thesaurus shows us the full use of any word.
In my work with incarcerated youth, I recognize that many young people only lash out in anger once they have run out of words. Expanding their emotional vocabulary may actually alter these young people’s lives and can even prevent tragedy.
Wars are started when words fail, when politicians decide to throw their nation’s children into battle instead of seeking “the right words.” The right word in the right moment can change the course of history. The right word in fact did change history; that word was Jesus. He is the “thesauros” that changes lives, families and communities. He is the treasure that is worth selling everything to possess:
Matthew 13:44
The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”
Are our lives filled with treasure? Look at how Jesus uses this word later in Matthew:
Matthew 12:35-37
[35] The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. [36] But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. [37] For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.
If Jesus is in my thesaurus, my life should be a treasure to others and goodness will flow from my tongue and into the lives of those around me.
Destroy [G853 aphaniz]
To the Greek, destroy meant to neglect, perish or even “make unseen.” Think about it, we not only destroy someone by killing their body or their reputation; but we destroy them even more when we ignore them. More children are destroyed by neglect than physical abuse every day.
Neglected children become adults who are easily manipulated by the need for approval. When our treasures are based upon other people’s approval (someone else valuing us); we are most susceptible to being destroyed. This world is filled with neglect — I see it all the time in our outreaches — but there is one who will never neglect us and there lies the treasure that no one can destroy.
Jesus tells us that in this world, even a parent will neglect (destroy) his own child:
Matthew 7:9-11
[7:9] Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? [10] Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? [11] If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!
However, our true Father will never neglect us.
MATTHEW 6:22-25
[22] “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. [23] But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
[24] “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
Full of light
Full of light [G5457 Phōteinos] illumined
Have you ever noticed those people who walk into a room with an aura about them? Every one around them seems to change their countenance as they walk buy. They whisper a word of hope to one person, encouragement to another. People walk away from their encounters with them more vital and enthusiastic. We would say that person is charismatic; Jesus would say they are “full of light.”
We too can be “full of light” if our eye is clear [G573 Haplous]. Clarity of vision is also known as focused vision. To have a single-eye focused on serving Jesus. It is similar to the statement in the Beatitudes, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God [Matthew 5:8].” We might add to this, that others will also see God in us.
The type of light, [G5457 Phōs], is caused by a chemical reaction — not a reflection. It is an internal light that shines outward, not an external light shining upon us.
Having such a light means we are focused by daily prayer, a habit of continually aligning our path with God’s way.
No one can serve two masters
The two masters that Jesus contrasts are God and wealth. When does wealth become our master? When we spend more time focused on gathering wealth than serving our Lord. How do we find out if we are serving wealth? Look at our weekly calendar. Do I have more time built in my calendar to pursue wealth or be of service to Christ and the least accepted?
This is not a guilt-ridden exercise; it is simply a way of examining whether our focus shines on God in our life or shines on wealth. What light do I want to exude from my life? What is my internal focus, it will have external results.
MATTHEW 6:25-26
[25] “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? [26] Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?”
Do not be worried about your life
To “neglect” or “ignore” God is true destruction. Instead, let us make God our only treasure and then our hearts will never be at this world’s mercy.
Steal [G2813 klept]
When I speak to victims of crime, the most frequent phrase I hear is; “I felt violated.”
To steal is not just to take a possession of something, but also to take possession of someone. It is to rob them of their dignity – not just their belongings.
This is what sin does, even sins we believe to be private. Every act of sin adds to a web of distrust that steals dignity from others. Yet, every act of selfless love breaks those strands of distrust by restoring dignity, breaking the bonds of ignorance and neglect and restoring broken people into communal relationship. That is the true meaning of religion: restoring what is torn (re-ligion means “re-binding torn ligaments”).
In Rome, if a slave ran away, the master would “hobble” him by cutting the ligaments in the back of his calves. When Jesus “re-binds” us; he restores our torn ligaments and sets us free. However, through his death and resurrection, that responsibility has fallen upon you and I.
How often has my “thesaurus” been filled with words that are truly religious: Words that rebind, restore and encourage?
Isaiah 35:3-4a
[3] Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble. [4] Say to those with an anxious heart, “Take courage, fear not.”
Is the thesaurus in my life filled with healing, re-binding and the restoration of dignity? Only then, will I be able to embrace the “fullness of the treasure” we call Jesus Christ. In a world that steals dignity and hobbles people, will I be one who restores?
Isaiah 58:12
Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will raise up the age-old foundations; and you will be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the streets in which to dwell.”
So there it is, inwardly we pray, hungrily we fast and outwardly we restore the poor. Our ultimate paradigm for joy will not be in the treasures of this earth, but the treasures of God’s heart. Do I treasure those whom God treasures? Am I a rich, rebinding word to the enslaved and hobbled? Am I a thesaurus of hope to the people around me? Do I replace the dignity of those who have been neglected and violated? That is the only treasure that is everlasting.
Essentially, “when we pray,” our Lord tells us, the breath of God fills us and flows from us in words of encouragement and hope. That’s the treasure, the thesaurus of our life.
Is not life more than food?
Jesus confronts worry on a number of occasions even comparing it to drunkenness and dissipation (incapacitated by a hangover) at one point [Luke 21:24]. It is hard for us to equate worrying with an attitude that Jesus so deeply disfavored, because it seems to have become an acceptable way of life for many in our culture. Some even confuse worry with prayer or only pray when they’re worried.
The writers of the books of Thessalonica tell us instead
1 Thessalonians 5:16-19
16 Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not quench the Spirit…
God’s will is for us to rejoice in him. In fact, that Psalmist tells us that this is how God shapes our hearts, through our delight.
Psalm 37:4-8
4 Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He will do it.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your judgment as the noonday.
7 *Rest in the LORD and wait *patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath; do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.
It is a conditional statement, “If we delight, God will shape our desires.” But we have to do our part too. Our part is to delight, to rejoice always. The Lord’s will is for us to delight in him. Just as any good parent delights in their child’s joy.
MATTHEW 6:27-34
[27] And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? [28] And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, [29] yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. [30] But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! [31] Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ [32] For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. [33] But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
[34] “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?
This question is a great reality check. Does worry add to our lives? Research would tell us it does the opposite; it lowers our resistance, joy and resiliency. In short, worry is a bad habit. We can choose to substitute our worries for habits that are more life-giving. This is what Jesus tells us in the next phrase.
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness
True prayer, responding to God by saying, “Your will, not mine [Matthew 26:39],” and understanding that God’s will is our ultimate delight, will restore to us the “joy of our salvation [Psalm 51:12].”