Bible Study, Sermon On The Mount

Judging

 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

–Matthew 7:1-6

DO NOT JUDGE

Jesus’ statement “Do not judge….” could sound like we need to suspend wisdom and discernment about other people.  Yet, verse 6 tells us to discern the nature of our audience when we share the good news.  In addition, verses 15-20 address the wolves that creep in among the sheep and the necessity to judge them by their fruits.  In Matthew 6:1-18 Jesus tells us to beware of imitating the hypocrites who outwardly try to impress others but inwardly are bankrupt before God.  To do these things requires the wisdom and understanding that allows us to judge correctly.

Perhaps one of the better translations of this passage renders this phrase as “Do not judge others….” (NLT) or even “Don’t condemn others….” of the Contemporary English Version.  God the Father has given Jesus, His Son, the words that will judge the world (John 12:47-49) and on Judgment Day the Son, Himself, will divide the sheep from the goats (Matthew 25:31-33).  To assume God’s role in judging others has a consequence that is pretty intimidating: “ For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:2).

The truth must be somewhere in between this judgment with the authority of God Himself and, conversely, “to suspend our critical faculties in relation to other people, to turn  blind eye to their faults (pretending not to notice them), to eschew all criticism and to refuse to discern between truth and error, goodness and evil.”*

THE CHURCH IN ROME

Roman Emperor Claudius

When the edict of Claudius against the Jews of Rome was instituted (50-51 AD) the church in Rome suddenly transitions from being a primarily Jewish church with non-Jewish Christians to an exclusively non-Jewish church.  This edict was in force until the death of Claudius around 54 AD which means that the church in Rome settled in over the next 4-5 years as a Gentile church with all of the gradual changes that would evolve in leadership, in worship, and so much more.  So, it would be expected that significant challenges would emerge when the Jews returned to pick up where they left off only to discover that things had changed; they were now the second-class members of a predominantly Gentile church.

I believe this occasion stands behind Paul’s sitting down to compose his letter to the church in Rome.  How was the church going to manage the tensions that would have naturally emerged?  After introducing himself to a people he had not yet met (Romans 1:1-7), he begins laying the groundwork for his intended first visit with them face-to-face (Romans 1:8-17), closing with his bold assertion:

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,[e] just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith” (Romans 1:16-17).

LEVELING THE FIELD

Paul is leveling the field to nullify any attempt at “one-upmanship” through Romans 3.

21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:21-24).

How does the apostle Paul take this highly polarized group of Christians and bring them to common ground?  I believe that he does this, in part, by hearkening to the teaching of Jesus that we find in Matthew 7:1-6, our present text.  For we find similar phraseology in Romans 2:1-4 where Paul talks about the Roman Christians judging others harshly while practicing the same things about which they are making judgments about others.  The word ‘therefore’ in Romans 2:1 is important because Paul begins his discussion by pointing to those lost in the darkness in the world around them.

PAUL APPLIES JESUS’ TEACHING ABOUT JUDGING

The ‘therefore’ of Romans 2:1 refers back to his previous observations in Romans 1:18-32 as he recounts the degree of darkness that begins to descend upon those who refuse to acknowledge God (Romans 1:18-20).  When men choose to make their own path in life apart from God they begin a predictable descent into moral rebellion, sexual confusion and reprehensible behavior (Romans 1:21-32).  With each level of depravity, God withdraws His blessing and gives them over to the desires of their hearts and the consequences that come with them (verses 24, 26, 28).  Under the wrath of God this represents the lowest levels of man’s moral existence along with its attendant pain and suffering.

TSK, TSK TSK

In Romans 2, Paul depicts the Christians standing on the sidelines, looking over the darkness and suffering with their arms folded, going ‘tsk tsk tsk’, judging the depravity of men and women and their suffering, feeling righteous.  They may tell them that there is a God who loves them; but, their message is disregarded and meaningless to the godless like pearls before pigs (see Matthew 7:6).  And the Christians write them off because they won’t listen.  They turn their backs and walk away.  And, by the way, if you go beyond the outward behavior and start looking at the heart, Paul tells them: “…you who pass judgment do the same things” (Romans 2:1).

Romans 2 seems to be pretty harsh coming from a man of God to a people he has never met.  How does he know what is in their hearts?

he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant (Philippians 2:7)

I think it is because he is hearing reports from those he knows in Rome (cf., Romans 16).  The spirit Paul describes in Philippians 2:1-18 is struggling to emerge in the conflict in Rome.  This spirit of Christ will not triumph until everyone comes to realize the truth of Romans 3:22: “There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

CONCLUSION

In Matthew 7:1-6 Jesus makes it clear that we are, indeed, responsible for the speck in our brother’s eye.  He simply stresses that before you try to help your brother see the error of his ways, make sure you have attended to your own blind sides, first.  On the other hand, make sure you discern the heart of the person you are wanting to correct.  If their hearts have chosen to disregard God’s appeal to their lives they will not appreciate what you have to say.  The only appeal that will work for them will come at a time of intense suffering either on their part or on your own.

I like the way The Message paraphrases Jesus’ words:

“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.

–Matthew 7:1-5

*John Stott, Christian Counter-Culture: The Message of the Sermon on the Mount (Downers Grove, ILL; Inter Varsity Press, 1978), p. 175.

Bible Study, Vision

Vision

19 Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. 20 When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. 21 When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law,[a] I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.

22 When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. 23 I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.

24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

–1 Corinthians 9:19-27 (NLT)

Vision is a word that expresses a sense of being goal oriented, intentional or purposeful.  In 1 Corinthians 9:19-27 the apostle Paul’s vision was to introduce people to the good news of Jesus Christ.  His strategy?  Holding on to the truths of the gospel he “became a slave to all people to bring many to Christ” (vs. 19).  He  adapted to the perspectives of those he was trying to reach.  “Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some” (vs. 22).  From the missionary sent to a foreign land to a local church commissioned to reach their community, this principle is critical to success: sharing Jesus with others.

THREE “CHURCH” VISIONS

Israel’s history from the time of Solomon until the exiles returned from Babylon provides three important lessons for us today.  I have identified them as 1) an Ecclesiastes church, 2) a Haggai church and 3) an Ezra-Nehemiah church.   Vision plays an important role in each of these ‘churches’ and the next three articles will detail why I chose those three examples.

Vision Links

  1. The Ecclesiastes Church
  2. The Haggai Church
  3. The Ezra-Nehemiah Church
Bible Study, Vision

Vision 1: The Ecclesiastes Church

Vision 1: The Ecclesiastes Church

I have always believed that when king Solomon wrote the book of Ecclesiastes he was reflecting on the lessons he had learned over the course of his life as a wise man.  Now, having reached the end of his days we find him bitter, seeing life under the sun as cyclical, not linear.  Hence, his opening words:

“Meaningless! Meaningless!”
   says the Teacher.
“Utterly meaningless!
   Everything is meaningless.”

–Ecclesiastes 1:2 (NIV)

Having tried every option  in pursuit of happiness (Ecclesiastes 2) Solomon found himself wandering in circles, unable to discern a way out of his morass.  Consequently, his next generation would divide and begin a descent into confusion and turmoil that would ultimately lead to the total demise of the northern tribes of Israel and destruction and exile for the southern tribe of Judah.

Churches can find themselves following the same cyclical pattern.  Believing that they have arrived they lose the pressure to adapt and change to meet the needs of their community.  They become internally focused, keeping house, doing the same things the same ways for the same reasons.  They become cyclical in their thinking and attitudes.  Nothing changes.

In cyclical churches you can sense the hopelessness and helplessness by their insistence on maintaining status quo, keeping things the same.  New initiative ideas are  squashed with comments like “We’ve done that before”; “We can’t do it”; “We can’t afford it”; “People will leave in anger if we do that.”

They have lost a heart for the community and the contrast between them and the people of their neighborhoods becomes more polarized.  “If people want the truth they can come to us” they might say.  Thom S. Reiner calls this type of church a ‘fortress’ church. * They have lost their zeal for the world and their budgets and plans are focused upon keeping things the same.  Quite a contrast to the vision Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 9.

Vision Links

  1. The Ecclesiastes Church
  2. The Haggai Church
  3. The Ezra-Nehemiah Church

*Thom S. Reiner, Autopsy of a Deceased Church: And 12 Ways To Keep Yours Alive (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2014), chapter 4, Digital Edition.

Bible Study, Vision

Vision 2: The Haggai Church

Vision 2: The Haggai Church

The northern tribe of Israel had been decimated and taken away, never to return from Assyria.  Then came the time of judgment for the southern kingdom of Judah.  Now Babylon laid siege to the city of Jerusalem until it fell,  totally destroyed.  Its residents were either killed or taken away and the survivors would remain in captivity for 70 years.  All of these events had been foretold by the prophets such as Isaiah and Jeremiah over the years as the people of Israel continued to descend into greater degrees of rebellion against God.

The book of Ezra begins 70 years after the exile began with the first of three waves returning from Babylon as granted by king Cyrus (Ezra 1).  They began, first of all, by reconstructing the altar so the sacrifices to God could begin once again (Ezra 3:1-6).  Then they began collecting materials and initiating the laying of the foundation for the temple (Ezra 3:7-13).

Of course, once God’s people begin coming together to do great things they know that they will meet opposition and difficulties.  So, Ezra 4 details the opposition research project that Israel’s western neighbors began.  The final result of their complaint against the Jews was “Thus the work on the house of God in Jerusalem came to a standstill” (vs. 24).  No counter-letters of protest (king Cyrus himself had given them permission!), no resistance, no push back.  They just stopped.

ENTER HAGGAI

God’s vision, given to the prophet Haggai, among others, was straightforward: “Get back to work!” (Ezra 5:1-2; Haggai 1; my paraphrase).  After giving up their vision of rebuilding the temple, God asked them a question:  “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” (Haggai 1:4).

Overwhelmed by opposition and choosing not to fight the builders had simply stopped working on the temple and started fixing up their own houses.  I have often wondered if some of the collected materials dedicated to the temple construction had been taken to make paneling, adding insult to injury.  God makes it clear that this lackadaisical attitude toward the vision of rebuilding the temple is the reason why they had been personally unfruitful.

5 Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”

HAGGAI CHURCH

The ‘church’ that Haggai encountered was one where the people had concluded that the temple could not be rebuilt.  Sure, it would have been nice and we can remember when it’s splendor was known all around the world  (Ezra 3:10-14).  But, it will be too hard.  Let’s just go home and take care of our own stuff.  We just got back from exile.  We don’t have the heart to face these challengers.

Conflict has a way of causing us to pause.  Difficulties often require that we take a moment to consider our options.  Sometimes the risks can seem so overwhelming that we just give up.  It is a sentiment that is not so much stated in words; it has more to do with actions.  The Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20) is great for others to do and it would be nice if we could obey Jesus’ command to “Go!” but….we’ve got our own things to take care of, first.

And so, we get cynical and it is easy to write off the task ahead because it’s too hard.  It will upset people.  It works for them over there but it won’t work for us here.  I’ve got better things to do with my time and money.  I’ll just mind my own business.   Sentences begin with “I need….” or “I have so much debt that….” or “I can’t….” or, the most defeatist statement of all, “I won’t….”

In the end, the effects of the Ecclesiastes and the Haggai churches look very similar.

THE VISION CURE

The cure is simple but almost impossible when churches get to this point.  A Haggai has to come along and help people recall their mission and vision so the Lord can do great things in their midst.  For Haggai, the people and the priests became convicted and they chose to “obey the voice of the Lord” (Haggai 1:12).  “The Lord is with you” Haggai declared,

So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the Lord Almighty, their God…. (Haggai 1:14).

Vision Links

  1. The Ecclesiastes Church
  2. The Haggai Church
  3. The Ezra-Nehemiah Church
Bible Study, Vision

Vision 3: The Ezra-Nehemiah Church

Vision 3: The Ezra-Nehemiah Church

Ezra and Nehemiah represent the second and third wave of return from the exile in Babylon.  Each of them came back to Jerusalem with a clear vision for what they had to do.  Many of the exiles with Ezra were the priests and Levites and their mission was to re-establish the priesthood at the temple in Jerusalem.

At the head of the third wave of returning exiles was Nehemiah whose vision was also clear: rebuild the wall.  Each wave encountered conflict and incredible challenges to divert them from their respective missions.  But, they did it!

One of my favorite books about this time in Israel’s history is written by Charles R.  Swindoll and it is entitled Hand Me Another Brick.*  The stress upon repentance and prayer, planning and vision, servanthood and leadership in the life and times of Ezra and Nehemiah is inspirational.

The appeal for vision from this perspective is simple because everyone knows how important it is to have one.  We also know the price to be paid when there is no vision.  The researcher, George Barna, suggested that one definition of vision is foresight with insight based on hindsight.**

PRAYER

God, give us Your vision that we might obey and become visionary in Your service to our neighbors, families and friends and to the furthest reaches of the world!  Make us like the great apostle Paul who became all things to all men so that he might give everyone an opportunity to see Jesus!  Give us the boldness and conviction of Ezra and Nehemiah that You might be lifted up to encourage us to fulfill Your will.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

Vision Links

  1. The Ecclesiastes Church
  2. The Haggai Church
  3. The Ezra-Nehemiah Church

*Charles R. Swindoll, Hand Me Another Brick, Rev. Ed., (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1990).

**George Barna, The Power of Vision, (Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 1992).

Bible Study, Sermon On The Mount

One

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,[c] your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy,[d] your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

-Matthew 6:19-24

Jesus has just specified three common religious practices–giving, praying and fasting–designed to lead the worshiper into a more intimate walk with God (Matthew 6:1-19).  Using these as a platform for advertising one’s personal holiness and devotion to God is a tragic mistake.  With each practice Jesus makes it clear that if we do these things to impress others, that fleeting praise will be the extent of our reward.  God is not impressed for His desire is that we desire Him more than anything else.

ONE COMPASS

To make this clear, Jesus then specifies three ways we must set our life’s compass.  This is necessary to help us to navigate through our tendencies to become side-tracked. The danger is that we may be lured away by cheap imitations that will not last into eternity.

ONE TREASURE

Single-minded pursuit of the one treasure helps us keep our compass pointing in the right direction as other treasures of much lesser value tempt us.  Without a clear direction in our lives we risk being enamored with treasures that will fail us in the pursuit of eternal values in the kingdom.

ONE LIGHT

The beginning of John’s gospel focuses upon Jesus as the One Light of the world (John 1:1-18).  “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind,” John tells us.  Further, this light “shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (vss 4-5).  The Apostle John assures his readers that John the Baptist was not The Light (vs. 8).  Rather, he pointed to Jesus Christ as “The true light that gives light to everyone….”

The metaphor of eyes and light could also be understood as a single window in a dark room.*   In that room are reflections of glass or metal that give some light such as, metaphorically, the logic of science, physics or philosophy, etc.  Devoid of light from The Source of The Light, however, only leads to darkness.

There are many lights in this world that seem to help us navigate the dark corners of our lives.  In many ways they are dim reflections of the true light of Jesus Christ.  Put too much trust in those lesser lights and you will find yourself, in the end, overwhelmed by  complete darkness.

ONE MASTER

A slave’s primary objective in life is supposed to be to please his master above everything else.  His master has total control over his very life, comfort and working conditions.  The idea of trying to please more than one master at a time means that there will be conflicts that lead to impossible choices.  “If I try to please Master #1, then there will be times when I will displease Master #2. I can’t do both at the same time.”

So it is with our desire for material wealth.   This is not so much a statement about ‘the haves’ versus ‘the have-nots’.  The desire for wealth is not exclusive to rich or poor; rather it is common to all.  Consequently, so is the danger that we will desire it more than we desire God.  And that, Jesus says, is unacceptable to God.  He is to be our obsession.  He is to be our foremost desire.  Nothing in this world is to overtake our desire to walk with Him, to know Him, and to talk, think and act like Him.  He is to be our Magnificent Obsession.

CONCLUSION

God insists upon an intimate relationship with us as we imitate His generosity, speak to Him in prayer and fast in order to underline our dependence upon Him.  Further, He tells us to make Him and His kingdom our treasure, to let His Light outshine all others and to choose Him as our Master.  With those principles in place we are now equipped for living our lives accordingly by trusting Him completely (Matthew 6:25-34).

The third soil Jesus describes in the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-23) refers to “The seed falling among the thorns” (vs. 22).  Jesus tells us that this “refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.”  Our compass in life will remain true to the treasures we pursue, the light we use to illuminate our way and the things we become enslaved to serve.  Pursue those things that will last!

* Carson, D. A. The Sermon On The Mount: An Evangelical Exposition of Matthew 5-7 (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1978), p. 79.

Bible Study, Sermon On The Mount

Trust

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[e]?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

–Matthew 6:25-34

Having an intimate connection with God through lives of generosity, prayer and fasting, we resist the temptation to seek after the praise of men (Matthew 6:1-18).  Further, we have set our compasses towards things of eternal value and kept those of lesser value in perspective.  Now we are ready to talk about how we live out our faith every single day.

TRUST ME. DON’T WORRY!

When someone says “Don’t worry about it!” we often know to put up our defenses.  More often than we would like to admit, we have all been deceived into trusting people who had ulterior motives.

On the other hand, when someone else says “Stop worrying about it!” it’s like asking someone to ‘be spontaneous.’  Just the very command to do something spontaneously, by its very nature, makes it impossible to do.

But, when God says “Don’t worry!” we should listen.  If our intimate relation to him is assured and our compass is set, trusting God with our needs and interests should begin to emerge as the way we do life.  After all, this is the God who provides birds with food, who can shorten or lengthen your lives and who clothes all of nature in all of its glory.  Need clothes, food or something to drink?

SEEK THE RIGHT THINGS

Jesus assures us that if we seek after His kingdom and His righteousness then everything is in place.  You can live forever on this diet!  And, by the way, as you pursue these things, your need for food, drink and clothing will find its proper place in your day-to-day lives.  Remember?  “Give us today our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11, emphasis mine).

Of course if you want to worry about these other things then you can be just like those who do not trust in God.  They get tied in knots about things that have no eternal value.

But not you!

The God who speaks universes into existence has got you covered.

 

Bible Study, Sermon On The Mount

Fasting

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”

…

16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

-Matthew 6:1, 16-18

THE FASTING TRADITION

Fasting has traditionally been understood as a voluntary withholding of all natural food from the body for a determined period specially appointed for moral or religious ends.  The Jewish Encyclopedia notes that almost every religious movement in the world includes some form of fasting.  In Jewish tradition, there were at least 25 occasions when the more devout were encouraged to fast, including the fast of Purim which is still observed.

Under the Mosaic Law there was only, ceremonially, one day of fasting: The Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:29, 31).  This event foreshadowed the the Passion of Christ (cf., Romans 3:25; Hebrews 2:17). The imagery of the scapegoat in Leviticus 16, is significant in light of the cross.

FASTING’S PURPOSE

However, in Isaiah 58:1-12 God specifies the purpose of fasting that goes way beyond a simple ceremony.  It strikes a fatal blow to the  duplicity of man’s heart.  This is not simply some pagan ritual that people do to please God to receive His blessing.  Fasting insults God when it is accompanied by godless behavior:

“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please
    and exploit all your workers.
4 Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,
    and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
    and expect your voice to be heard on high.
5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
    only a day for people to humble themselves?
Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed
    and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
    a day acceptable to the Lord?

– Isaiah 58:3-5

God then, through Isaiah, redefines fasting.  It is loosening the chains of injustice, untying the cords of the worker’s yoke, setting the oppressed free, sharing food with the hungry, providing poor wanderers shelter, clothing the naked and receiving family members into their homes (Isaiah 58:6-7).  These activities are what open the door to the morning light, healing, righteousness, the Lord’s glory in their midst and a God who answers their cries for help (Isaiah 58:8-9).  God commands them to do away with oppressive yokes, pointing fingers and malicious talk.

It is difficult to read of this scolding of two-faced religion and not hear overtones in Jesus’ parable about the sheep and the goats on Judgement Day (Matthew 25:31-46)!

GENEROSITY, PRAYER AND FASTING

In Matthew 6:1-18 Jesus addresses three practices that are associated with religious practices all over the world: giving to others, prayer and fasting.  The overriding question that rules each of these practices is “Why are you doing this?”  In each case, if the purpose of doing these things is to impress others, you have missed the point of the exercise.

These are characteristics of your spiritual walk with God that are private, personal and intimately between you and God.  Fasting is the third of these characteristics.  The principle Jesus is sharing with us is not new and we would do well to listen to our hearts as we consider their place in our desire to be like our Father in Heaven.

FASTING SUMMARY & CONCLUSION

We all are absolutely, totally dependent upon God for all we have, all we are and all we need.  What separates the follower of Christ from the rest of the world is that we acknowledge our dependence upon Him and we declare our desire to be like Him.  That desire for Him is so strong that discipline of fasting simply places a physical exclamation point at the end of our hungering and thirsting for Him through our pleas for more before His throne.  Our desire for Him becomes so real in our lives that we cannot imagine ever walking away.  With practice, we become more and more enamored with His presence and, conversely, resistant to those things that would draw us away.

Fasting can be a sacrificial lifestyle before God.  A form of self-control or discipline that underlines our decision to be totally dependent upon God.  It can mean food or drink or music, temporarily giving up needed things to emphasize the reality of our total dependence upon God.  It can also mean permanently giving up anything that hinders our dependence upon—our hunger and thirst for–Him.

Bible Study, Sermon On The Mount

Prayer

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

…

5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9 “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from the evil one.

14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

– Matthew 6:1, 5-15

Imagine standing in front of a crowd with trumpets sounding and heralders hearlding that you are now about to pause to pray!  “Silence!” the announcer cries out!  “It’s time for this holy person to pray!”

Just the thought of such a scene brings a wince to our faces as we consider the hubris of someone willing to announce their holiness to the world! 

And then I think of the times I have prayed publicly in church, before dinner or with a family in a hospital room wondering how my audience might respond to my special choice of words…and I hang my head.  Suddenly I don’t feel so holy after all.

THEY ARE NOT MY AUDIENCE!

“They are not my audience!” I cry out in shame.  Our audience in prayer is to be to The One and Only God of heaven who desires an intimacy with me that is just between the two of us.  There is only God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit that I should be focused upon.  He will attend to the hearts of the people around me!  It really is not about me!

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” – Romans 8:26-27 (NIV)

CLOSE THE DOOR!

Jesus’ elegant prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) shines forth to teach us.  And so we learn that our conversation with our God is unpretentious, not littered with mindless repetition, but straightforward, simple yet thorough.  It is a prayer that celebrates our total dependence upon God as we live life, wrestling with our pride and arrogance under the ever-cleansing flow of the blood of Christ (1 John 1:7).

Audience of One

“…go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.” (Matthew 6:6)

Bible Study, Sermon On The Mount

Giving, Parts 1 & 2

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Matthew 6:1-4

Citizens of the kingdom of heaven keep their hearts in check by living their lives of generosity quietly.  Jesus is concerned that we might focus upon the wrong audience for approval.  At least three ways to live generous lives are available to every person.

  1. Ostentatious: “Hey everyone, watch me help this poor person!”
  2. Prideful: “Hey God! Did you see that?  I’m really good in Your sight, now, aren’t I?  Not like that person over there.  I’ll bet he doesn’t even tithe, let alone give more like me!”
  3. Perfect: “God, help me be more generous in every way, just like You!”

Jesus makes it clear that the rewards for the ostentatious or prideful are the immediate gratification they get in the moment.  In the kingdom of heaven, however, that is where their blessing both begins and ends with nothing to show for it.

In this two-part series we spend time talking about the generous life that strives to imitate God’s generosity in part 1.  Part 2 focuses upon giving consistently in a planful way that honors the Lord in faith by putting Him first.  Also in part 2 we used three charts to illustrate our own giving patterns and to encourage each other to become every more intentional in how we give.  Here are the three charts:

 

 

 

 

 

Here we see a monthly average of giving since February 2012 with a clear uptick in our present giving.

 

 

 

 

 

Here, focusing in to the last 1 1/2 years, since January 2017, we see a similar pattern as we average each month’s giving patterns.

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, we look at the week-to-week contributions over the last 1 1/2 years and the pattern swings more erratically.  This seems to reflect a more inconsistent tendency in our giving.  Hence, today’s lesson simply focuses upon making sure that we are being planful and intentional in our giving, putting God first in faith that He will provide.

Jesus is Our Shoreline