Matthew 6

 Good morning and it is good to be back! Busy week, but fun seeing some good friends and spending time away from the busy-ness of the world. 

Lauren and Chris and Joseph will be back from their Myrtle Beach trip (to see his parents) late tomorrow, so life will be getting back to our crazy new normal for a while again! It will be good to have them home again for a while until they eventually move to the Albany area.

We pick up chapter 6 in Matthew this morning. This is a continuation of Matthew's perspective of the Sermon on the Mount. 

Jesus begins this chapter with a "warning" or reminder that when we do good, we don't need to have all people know about it. God sees what our actions are, and God knows if our actions are righteous...are we doing good to do good or are we doing good to be noticed by others and put up on a pedestal? It was a custom to literally blow trumpets (v 2) when someone gave a large offering! We certainly don't do that, but do we notice people that too proudly give their offerings? Or make comments like, "I have given so much to this church..." In our "current" world- people (families) did purchase pews with their own money, and it was noted by the church leaders; the lower class people got to stand in the back and enjoy worship! Jesus uses the word "hypocrite" (v 2); the Greek word "hypocrite" means actor! How many "actors" are there in your church? It is good just to do good.

Public prayer is addressed next. There are a few times when Jews would pray publicly: at the synagogue (if asked to lead communal prayer) or at prayer times (9AM, noon, 3PM) if they were out in public. Jesus cautions, as in giving, to prayer for God not for men. Public prayer is acceptable, but you don't have to stand on a soap box and let everyone know you are praying! Are we praying to God or using God as a tool to impress others? Jesus talks about going in to the "closet" to pray (v 6). The actual word was for a store room here treasures and valuable goods are kept. The concept then is that we talk with God among the valuable things in our life- God is valuable to us. Jesus then goes on and basically says, "Say what you have to say and be done." There is no need for long winded, repetitive words that don't mean anything (v 7). I think we know those people that just go on and on and on and never really say anything! I hope I am not one of them!

Jesus then provides a model for prayer (Matthew's interpretation of the Lord's prayer). We all know the Lord's prayer; we have probably said it a million times! But, do we really know the Lord's prayer. Look at the words that Jesus models, write out the words we say. What do they mean? Do we really mean what we pray or has it become just wrote memorization? Do we really keep God's name holy (v 9)? Do we really want God's will to be done here on earth (v 10)? We do really want daily provisions for life (v 11). Jesus wasn't talking in metaphorical ideas here, I think Jesus was really desiring daily food and provisions. We do want our sins forgiven (or trespasses- depending on your denomination!), but do we really forgive others (v 12)? God does not tempt us, but does allow "tests" to happen in our life (v 13). Look at the story of Job! In our weakness, we do not want temptations to happen! The closing lines give credit to God and God's awesomeness. My translation does not include the familiar ending: "For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever." There is some controversy as to the authenticity of these words. Many scholars believe that these words were added later by some author other than Matthew- so many translations do not have them!

Jesus addresses another aspect of religious life: fasting. He started with giving, then moved on to prayer and ends with fasting. Jesus expected his followers to fast. there were several days in the Jewish year that required fasting as part of the religious observance. The Pharisees would fast twice a week (Thursday and Monday to represent the ascent and descent of Moses from Mount Sinai). As with the giving discussion- Jesus says we don't have to let others know what we are doing. We are fasting for God and our worship experience! We should live our life as usual, and hold the fasting covenant with God- not with men.

We have two options when it comes to treasures (v 19). These are words warning against covetousness- the desire and rive to want and want and want. Earthly treasures aren't inherently bad- but they have no ultimate value either. The issue is when we spend our life trying to obtain more at the expense of helping and assisting others. There is always the joke that you never see a U-Haul truck following a hearse! The ancient Egyptians were buried with their gold and riches, assuming that they would follow them too heaven. However, when we unearth the tombs of the great pharaohs, we find all their gold and riches still there. My mom died about 7 years ago. When we were closing her estate down she had essentially no money. She lived in an apartment in her last years; had her cherished things; she always would do for people- give money, buy food, clothes, etc, and offer what she had to them.  As we looked at the final dollar line and the material things left in her apartment, I made the comment (something like) "Seventy years of life and this is all she has." My nephew, Liam (the one I hiked with a few weeks ago) said, "Yah, this is all she has because she gave everything away." I think God was smiling that day; I didn't know Mom's theology- but she knew money wasn't important if she was happy. 

Jesus moves to the role of biology teacher in the next set of verses, discussing our eyes. We have said things about this concept before. Eyes are the window to the soul. They are able to perceive light (goodness) and dark (evil). We can chose to focus on light or dark...but that focus then determines our fate and role. Our eyes are either directed to heavenly things (light) or evil things (dark). We get to decide- God doesn't push one way of the other.

In closing this chapter, Jesus reminds us- don't worry. We can get tangled up in the tangible things of our life, but they are meaningless when it comes to the big picture. We should be concerned about the right things- the ultimate issues of life. Jesus then gives us the well known examples of "lack of worry" the birds of the air, the lilies of the field. I need to listen to these words more. My worry and anxiety is through the roof many days in my life. I worry about everything. I need to stop and look at the flowers in my gardens and the birds at our feeders- they are content just being themselves. When today is done, today is done. Tomorrow will have its own set of trials and tribulations to deal with!

It is good to be back and thinking again! I have missed the time and reflection this study has offered me!

Thank you for the grace this last week.

Shalom+
Pastor Paul