Sermon on the Mount – Thoughts on Matthew 6
Sermon on the Mount – Thoughts on Matthew 6.
“Great multitudes followed Jesus, from Galilee, and Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan. And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying,…” (Matthew 4:25-5:12).
Jesus had just been touring the entire region in a flurry of teaching, preaching and healing. Huge crowds were following Him from one place to the next. So He decided to take His closest disciples aside to a hilltop near Capernaum for a special word. Apparently by the end of His teaching there on Mt. Eremos, many others must have joined them, because the Sermon on the Mount closes with this: “By the time Jesus finished speaking, the crowds were astonished and overwhelmed by His teaching, because the words of Jesus carried such great authority, quite unlike their religious scholars.” (Matt. 7:28-29). Earlier Jesus had just finished declaring to the people that the Kingdom of heaven is at hand (4:17), that it is drawing near, and now here on this huge hill near Capernaum, He wants to reveal the characteristics of that Kingdom. He has a strong desire to teach His disciples the character traits of the citizens of heaven. In the Sermon on the Mount, reported by Matthew in chapters 5, 6, and 7, Jesus describes not only the ideal conditions of the heart, but also what will result from those attitudes of the heart. He unpacks exciting and fresh interpretations of the Law of Moses that fulfill what God had in mind when He gave them to Moses on Mt. Sinai so long ago. Jesus expands on features of God’s Kingdom and what the way of Jesus looks like. As the disciples will see in the next three years, Jesus Himself provides the example we all need to follow His Way. We don’t know if this Sermon on the Mount is one long sermon taught in one stretch, or if it is a compilation of His teachings that Matthew decided to weave together. Either way, this Sermon is God’s word and provides the nucleus of the Christian way of life, including the Golden Rule, “Always treat others as you would like them to treat you.” (Matt. 7:12).
THOUGHTS ON MATTHEW 6:
Motives for Giving. (Matthew 6:1-4). All those with pure motives, please stand up. Anyone? The truth is, even if we think we have pure motives to do a good act, it’s still somewhat of a guess, because we remain a mystery unto ourselves at that deep a level. Nonetheless, we can do our best by opening our eyes and examining our motives. But only God has the visual acuity to see into the true status of our hearts. “Search me thoroughly, O God, and know my heart! Try me, and know my thoughts! And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24).
As we continue to be aware of our motives as deeply as possible, God will initiate the process and begin revealing to us the reasons we do the things we do. We will gradually be given insight into ourselves as we work on it, as we volunteer to be good in ways that are quiet, in secret even. Purity of heart comes gradually, and this is where God really wants to go to work. God wants to purify our hearts, He wants pure motives for our actions. He wants our hearts to be clean inner reservoirs of unsullied instincts and impulses. He wants us to be wiped clean of hidden agendas and double-mindedness. God wants us to have undivided hearts. He longs to see our motivations become unmixed with our inner vestiges of sinfulness. He wants to witness a pure mountain stream flowing at our deepest level way below the surface, with all the impurities washed away. But God needs our cooperation as we seek that same mountain stream and learn to act accordingly. Truthfully, only God can purify us at that subterranean level in the pursuit of pure motivations. Only the Holy Spirit can take the lead in that process. “There are great dangers in the practice of piety. Nothing is as offensive as people who make a great show of their piety. Jesus never spoke more angrily than when He spoke of these people. He called them hypocrites. The word comes from the stage, where people put on a mask to act a part in a play. Christian behavior can be put on like a mask. It has the immediate effect on the spectators of giving a pleasing impression, and just as at a play, they will often break into applause. But there is no applause in heaven for such people. And there will be no applause for us if we become their understudies and take their place on the contemporary religious stage.” (from a sermon by Eugene Peterson).
The Lord’s Prayer. (Matthew 6:9-13). Here are seven (7) versions and paraphrases of the Lord’s Prayer for alternate use.
(1.) Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be your Name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory. Amen. (NIV, Matt. 6:9-13).
(2.) Our Father Abba, who lives in heaven, may your Name be honored everywhere by everyone.
May you reign as King here on earth exactly as you rule in your heavens.
Provide what is needed this day to remain your living sacrifices.
Forgive us our offenses, as we learn how to forgive those who offend us.
Protect us from temptation, and deliver us from the Evil One.
For you are the King of all creation, powerful and glorious, for all eternity. Amen. (Steve Larson).
(3.) Our Father, dwelling in the heavenly realms, may the glory of your Name be the center on which our lives turn.
Come and begin your kingdom reign, and cause your every purpose to be fulfilled on earth, just as it is fulfilled in heaven.
Give us today our continual bread.
Forgive us the wrongs we have done, as we ourselves release forgiveness to those who have wronged us.
Do not let us be put into the ordeal of testing, and set us free from the Evil One.
For you are the King who rules with power and glory forever. Amen. (The Passion Translation).
(4.) Our dear heavenly Father, may we keep your Name holy and precious in our hearts and minds.
We invite you to be our King here and now.
Strengthen us to obey your wishes on earth, just as the angels obey your desires in heaven, with gladness and singleness of heart.
We ask for heavenly manna and earthly bread, all that is required this day to serve you.
Forgive us when we sin against you, Lord, and help us to forgive others from the heart when they hurt or wrong us.
Keep us from tempting situations, protecting us against the wiles of the devil.
For you are the powerful and glorious King, now and forever. Amen. (Steve Larson).
(5.) Our Father in heaven, reveal who you are.
Set the world right. Do what’s best – as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You’re in charge! You can do anything you want!
You’re ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes. (The Message).
(6.) Our holy Papa in heaven, may your great Name be glorified among all people.
Set your kingly throne on earth and in our hearts, so that we have the privilege of obeying you here as your servants do in heaven.
Sustain us daily from your storehouse of mercies.
If we sin today, please forgive us. Enable us to be as forgiving with others as you are with us.
Help us conquer the difficult temptations of daily life, living in your victory over Satan.
For you are the true King, full of power and glory forever and ever. Amen. (Steve Larson).
(7.) Our glorious Father in heaven, honored be your Name.
May your kingdom come and your will be done, here on earth as it is done in heaven.
Give us today the pilgrim’s bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who have trespassed against us.
Lead us away from temptation, and rescue us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom, and the power and the glory. Now and forever. Amen. (Steve Larson).
Forgiveness. (Matthew 6:14-15). Forgiveness is a sign of mercy. I’ve heard it said that forgiveness is the process of giving up the right to punish. If someone wrongs you, to forgive that person would be to give up the right to punish that person in your heart. Forgiveness is giving up the right to hold a grudge, to keep score, to seek revenge, to stand in ultimate judgment of that person. Because of Jesus, God gave up the right to punish us. In His mercy, He forgave us. God is forgiving, and since we are made in His image, we are to be forgivers as well. Every person, no matter how depraved or guilty, has dignity and sanctity because of His image. God hates divorce, says Scripture. Which means God hates division between the people He has made. Ideally, forgiveness is a part of that process of reconciliation, which involves confession, forgiveness, accountability, and resolution. Forgiveness is one way to honor the dignity of the other person, it is one step in the healing of the inevitable woundedness between people. Forgiveness heals two hearts: the wronged and wrong-doer. The wronged will have a difficult time getting over the offense, and the wrong-doer will continue acting out of woundedness until forgiveness occurs. Forgiveness is a big part of the healing process for both parties, and unforgiveness hardens the heart of both parties. Forgiveness opens a space in each heart for the Spirit to operate. If you are wronged too deeply to forgive, only God can do the forgiving through you. Actually, God is needed throughout the whole process of forgiveness.
In other words, the amount of forgiveness we owe to our brothers and sisters is nothing, it is microscopic, compared to the forgiveness God offers to us. Forgiveness of others should reflect gratitude to God. Forgiveness seems to be a divine process, whereby forgiveness of others is how we live into God’s forgiveness of us. Whatever someone else can do to us is as nothing compared to the level of our indebtedness before God. The bottom line seems to be that God is expecting us to work out His forgiveness of us by our forgiving others.
It seems we don’t have the luxury of watering down these words of Scripture. Instead, we take them to heart and ask for God’s help in this process of forgiveness.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (Matt. 5:7)
“Forgive each other, just as in Christ God has forgiven you.” (Eph.4:32)
“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” (Mark 11:25).
“Forgive us the wrongs we have done as we ourselves release forgiveness to those who have wronged us.” (Matt. 6:12).
Forgiveness is so near and dear to the heart of God, it is so intertwined with the essence of God’s character and purpose, that when genuine forgiveness is offered, something supernatural happens. When forgiveness is released to an offender, a space is created in which the Holy Spirit can operate. When forgiveness is offered, the Holy Spirit is released into that spiritual space. When Stephen was forgiving his killers in Acts 7, Saul was standing in their midst, approving of the execution, holding the coats of those doing the stoning. I believe the Spirit of Jesus started His work on Saul’s soul at that time, when Stephen released the Spirit to operate during the act of forgiveness. Forgiveness is the first domino to fall during the process of transformation, the holy work of God Almighty. On the other hand, I further believe that the withholding of forgiveness actually hinders the work of God’s Spirit.
Wealth. (Matthew 6:19-21). What does it mean to lay up heavenly treasures, to be rich toward God? It means using your possessions and surplus the way God would want you to. Don’t let your wealth distract you from a relationship with God and others. Serve the needy with the goods you have. Recognize that everything you own is on loan, including your soul, and your time on earth. Don’t forget your concern for the next life as well as this one. Invest in a heavenly relation with God through prayer, study, obedience and Gospel virtues. Communion with God and service to others makes you rich in heaven. Love God and love your neighbor, and you are laying up treasures. In Jesus’ parable about the rich fool in Luke 12, God basically says to the fool in no uncertain terms, as Kenneth Bailey put it, “Look at what you have done to yourself! You plan alone, you build alone, you indulge alone, and now you will die alone!” The rich fool has lived a pitiful life.