Matthew 5:3… “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Commentary…
The word “blessed” here is a plural adjective. One might translate it as “many blessings.” The word carries the connotation of being happy. Those who are happy, who are blessed with many blessings, are “poor in spirit.” The word for “poor” here comes from a verb form meaning “to shrink, cower, or cringe” – characteristics of poor beggars. The other word for poor in the Greek text of the Bible denotes one who has something but not much. It describes the poor widow in Luke 21:2 who had two copper coins that she gave as an offering, but it was all she had. The word in the passage at hand doesn’t simply mean poor, but begging poor. It is used of the beggar Lazarus in Luke 16:20. To be this poor “in spirit” carries the meaning that this is not an act – it is genuine because it comes from the spirit. To be “poor in spirit” is simply to recognize that one is lost, hopeless, and helpless apart from Jesus Christ, utterly depraved – regardless of his education, wealth, and social status.
Now the latter part of the verse gives the reward for being blessed: “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” God’s Kingdom is for those who are not proud. It is for those who measure everything they do with who God is, not who their neighbor is. Notice the tense of the verb: IS. Those who are poor in spirit are actually partaking of the Lord’s Kingdom in the here and now. I believe that God’s Kingdom will be greater realized when He comes again, but the fact that Christ lives in us, and He Himself is the Kingdom, means that His Kingdom dwells within us if we truly know Him and serve Him.
Food for thought…
Contrary to
what the Bible teaches, the world tells us that being happy does
not come from being “poor in spirit.” Rather, the world tells us “happy are
those who are proud, who believe in what they can accomplish.” This is not what the Bible teaches. Evaluate
today who you are. Where does your self-esteem come from? Do you like to tell
people about your college degrees so as to make yourself look good? Your success in business? Your success as
a parent? As always the Bible flies in the face, as it were, of that
which the world tells us is success. Oftentimes the best way to measure success
is to take what the world says it is and do the exact opposite. Put aside your
pride today in yourself and view yourself as the poorest of beggars who has a
continual need for the Savior. You will be plurally
blessed, for yours is the
Matthew 5:4… “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
Commentary…
As with all these so-called “Beatitudes” this one is somewhat paradoxical because what it demands is completely opposite of what the world today teaches. It might be translated, “happy are those who are sad.” Those who mourn are not seen as being “blessed.” Those who mourn are pitied and prayed for. The unspoken comment about them is, “I’m just glad I’m not in your shoes.” But this ought not be!
The poor in spirit (Matt. 5:3) are the ones who “mourn” because spiritual poverty leads to godly mourning. The English word for “mourn” has nine different words in biblical Greek. The one used in this passage is the strongest and most severe of those Greek words. It represents heart-felt grief at its deepest – the kind a parent would have over losing a child. There is scarcely no greater grief a human can endure than losing a loved one, especially a child.
Why would we mourn? Because we are sinners filled with sin. We let God down on a daily basis because we have “missed the mark” (literally “sinned”). We mourn over our sin. Now happiness is not found in the mourning itself, rather, happiness is found in God’s response to it – with the forgiveness that mourning brings. Mourning is a dwelling with the God of forgiveness.
What happens as a result of mourning is that we “shall be comforted.” Those who mourn need comfort, and that comfort comes in knowing we are forgiven for that which we mourn for. The tense of the verb here is future, “shall be…” Our comfort comes from mourning over our sin which produces God’s forgiveness. Happy are those who do so.
Food for thought…
What does the world say about this biblical truth? First, the world does't understand biblical grief because the world doesn't understand sin. As for worldy grief, however, oftentimes we are just told to "get over it" -- deal with it, and put on a smile. Just hide your problems and pretend to be happy. “Don’t worry, be happy!”
True happiness is an internal joy, and it comes after mourning. It comes after sorrow. I challenge you to look back on your life today and recall the sins of your past if you've not dealt with them. Mourn them if you haven’t already. Your life may be missing the joy that comes as a result of a time of great mourning and deep regret over the sins of your past. God has forgiven you if you’ve placed your faith in Jesus Christ, but have you forgiven yourself? “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Everyone wants comfort and joy, and the answer is clearly given in how to find it. Unfortunately people today look in all the wrong places and find all the wrong answers, and as a result find no comfort at all.
Matthew 5:5… “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
Commentary…
The word for “meek” is from a Greek word that means “gentle, mild, soft.” Used for humans it meant to be submissive, quiet, and tenderhearted. The Apostle Paul referred to the gentleness of Christ in 2 Corinthians 10:1 as a pattern for his own attitude. Whereas being “poor in spirit” in Matt. 5:3 focused on our own sinfulness, being meek here in 5:5 comes from a focus on God’s holiness. There is an attitude of humility in both virtues. An honest self-examination reveals our sin which makes us poor in spirit, broken, as it were; an honest look at who God is humbles our own pride by seeing how great He is. In light of who God is there is no comparison.
Meekness is the opposite of hot-tempered violent men who seek revenge and justice in their own ways. On the contrary, meekness pays no attention to injustices done to itself. Rather, it knows that God is in control and He is the one who humbles and avenges. In a nutshell, being meek is not the same as being weak. Meekness is power under control.
The result of the man who is meek? “They shall inherit the earth.” This sounds so paradoxical because those who conquer the earth are the powerful, the vengeful, the strong. This is the way it has been for millennia. However, since God is in control, not man, it doesn’t really matter what strength man shows in his knowledge and power. The power lies with God, and the man who is meek is the man who inherits, receives, the earth.
Food for thought…
The world says, “blessed are the strong and intelligent, for they shall conquer the world.” As always God’s words are quite contrary to man’s. We are more about “clearing our names,” “climbing the company ladder,” and “making a name for ourselves” while God’s name is blasphemed as a result.
Focus today on God’s holiness. Stop thinking for one day about yourself, and think about God. If you need a prompting then read Revelation 4-5 for a picture of God’s holiness. In light of who God is and what He does your life will grow strangely unimportant. You will become meek, and your reward is an inheritance of the earth when Christ returns for His children.
Matthew 5:6… Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”
Commentary…
The blessings of this passage come from a strong desire to know and follow God. Just the desire itself brings satisfaction. As with all the Beatitudes from Matthew 5:3-10 the word for “blessed” is plural, meaning that the blessings this virtue produces are many. Here the virtue is a “hunger and thirst for righteousness.” The word for “righteousness” here is another way of saying “God.” “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for God.”
This passage
relates to the previous ones. A person who is poor in spirit (5:3) realizes his
sinfulness, and he mourns it (5:4). He then looks to God and is humbled,
humiliated over his own self in light of who God is. He becomes meek and gentle
(5:5) as a result, forgetting his own accomplishments. He has the
Jesus speaks not of food here, he speaks of a spiritual need. Those who hunger and thirst after God, after righteousness, will be satisfied, they will be filled. The catch is you have to hunger and thirst. When we get hungry and thirsty we go and satisfy that need by getting something to eat and drink. We do it three, four, and five times a day because we know we need it. The problem with righteousness is that people don’t hunger and thirst for it. If they did they would be filled, and our world would be cured of its hunger, its emptiness, which produces a great separation between them and God.
Food for thought…
Those who are
really hungry, who have gone without food for a time, think only of food and
drink. It happens to most of us around
Do you hunger and thirst today, truly long for, righteousness as it is defined in the Holy Scriptures? Pray today that you would if you don’t already. Ask God to create a hunger and thirst for Him, for His Word, His Truth, His Way. That’s a prayer that He’ll answer every time with a smile and a resounding “yes!” Just as food and drink are required to keep the body alive, righteousness is the food that keeps the soul alive.
You spend much of your time feeding your body that will die; how much time do you spend feeding your soul that will never die? Give it the food it needs for eternal life with God – righteousness – and the remainder of your days will be spent walking with Christ – both here and in the afterlife.
Matthew 5:7… “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”
Commentary…
There is a marked difference in this beatitude compared to the previous ones in vv. 3-6. Whereas the others focused on man’s inner self, this one, and the following ones, focus on the outward manifestations of what has previously occurred, namely, becoming poor in spirit, mourning, being gentle, and hungering/thirsting for righteousness. Mercy comes as a result of these great happenings in a man.
A person has to be a Christian before he can act like one.
Being merciful is not about being laid back, and like water on a duck, as it were, letting all things just “slide by”; no discipline, punishment, or judgment. This is not what being merciful is about. Mercy is closely associated with grace, and where grace is associated with men and their sins, mercy looks especially upon the miserable consequences of sin. Mercy pities sin and desires to relieve the person of sin’s consequences. Blessed are those people who have mercy, for when the time comes for God’s mercy they will be the ones to receive it.
Food for thought…
As Christians we are to behave like Christ. Of course the only way to know how Christ behaved is to read the story of his life and his teachings in the Holy Scriptures. Jesus Christ had mercy on us, and God sent His Son, Jesus, out of mercy for us. God had mercy on us while we were in our pitiful state of sin – our slavery to it. Reflect on your own sin today, and thank God that he pitied you enough and had mercy on you to send His Son to take that away.
There’s a fine line to be drawn between being merciful and fulfilling one’s obligation to discipline those in need. We have mercy on those who cannot help themselves just as God had mercy on us – a people who were unable to help themselves due to sin’s blinders. However, we are to be loving in another way to those who can help themselves and choose not to. We discern each situation, and sometimes mercy comes through great discipline in our own lives and the lives of others. God shows us mercy when He disciplines us for blatant disobedience. He fails to show mercy when He allows us to sin blatantly without consequence. Of course that never happens, and because it never happens with God it ought not happen with us either. Remember that when your children or a subordinate at work blatantly disobeys you as opposed to just making an honest mistake.
Matthew 5:8… “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
Commentary…
I think the purpose of all religions is to “see God” as this verse leads on. The Beatitudes cause us to see God, and the eight passages (Matt. 5:3-10) correspond to each other for our quest to see God. The first three climb up the mountain, as it were. The fourth one reaches the summit (hunger and thirst for righteousness), and the following ones reflect the ones that came before as we slide down the proverbial mountain. Being “poor in spirit” corresponds to being “merciful”; “mourning” corresponds to being “pure in heart.” Mercy only comes after we see ourselves for who we really are, those needing mercy, and purity of heart comes only after a true confession and repentance over our sins.
Who are the “pure in heart?” They are the ones who mourn over their sin (5:4), over the impurity of their hearts. Just the recognition of an impure heart creates a pure heart! True Christian faith is not ultimately a condition of the intellect, of doctrine or understanding, rather, it is a condition of the heart. Though doctrine and intellectual understanding are essential, they mean nothing without a heart that is pure – one that mourns over his sin. The heart is the center of the personality, and it isn’t primarily emotional. The heart, a pure heart, contains the emotional, the intellectual, and the will. Those with hearts that are pure will (future) see God.
Food for thought…
Are you a doer of “good deeds”? Evaluate why you do good today. Chances are your motives for being good are so impure that your good deeds aren’t really good at all. Do you put money in the offering plate at church out of thankfulness for what you have, or do you do it to get something in return or for recognition? Do you give to the poor to get your name in the paper, or do you do it to really help another soul? Why do you do good?
Take your good deeds today and lay them before God. Confess to Him that your motives are impure, and mourn for yourself. Confess that you are impure before God, and that one act might very well purify your heart and motives. You will then be “pure in heart,” one that will actually see God. To be pure in heart is to keep the first and greatest commandment: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength.”
Matthew 5:9… “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
Commentary…
This
Beatitude corresponds to “blessed are the meek” in 5:5. The meek, or gentle,
humbly bow before God after mourning their sin. Meek and gentle people are by
default peacemakers because they have no axe to grind with anyone in light of
who they are. It is important to note that the peace here has nothing to do
with the absence of conflict and strife. Rather, this peace is about the
presence of righteousness – the presence of God because it is God that has
brought about peace (
Of course the world today doesn’t understand true peace, and we cannot have true peace with the world by compromising what God has called peace, namely, Himself in the person of Jesus Christ. He Himself is that peace, and any compromise on who God is is a weak and fragile peace. Our world is without peace because it is without God. But the true messengers of peace are believers in Jesus Christ. The false peace of the world is not something hoped for by Christians. Their peace comes from God, something the world cannot understand nor can it take away.
The result of being a peacekeeper? “They shall be called
sons of God.” The tense of the verb form here is a continuous future passive,
so what it really means is that throughout eternity peacemakers will go by the
name “sons of God.” Can there be a better name to be called? God has declared them to be His children. Others are in
danger of being called what Jesus called the religious leaders of his day,
“children of their father the devil” (John
Food for thought…
If you’re a believer in Jesus Christ how do you measure up to being called a peacemaker? Do you share the Truth in love, or do you share it looking for a good theological argument? Are you more concerned today with the peace in the world as it pertains to terrorism and/or nuclear attack? Just remember that every treaty that has ever been made between two or more parties has been broken. The only peace worth striving for is the peace that Jesus speaks of. Being that kind of peacemaker makes you a “son of God.”
Matthew 5:10… “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me. Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Commentary…
The last of the Beatitudes is the grand finale. Those who hungered and thirsted for righteousness in 5:6 are now persecuted for it – and blessed. The blessings are once again plural, but they come as a result of being ridiculed, even murdered. Jesus elaborates more on this virtue when he describes what will happen to those who associate themselves with his name. They’ll be insulted, persecuted, lied about, and have their names degraded just for having the virtues God calls us to have in the Beatitudes. Instead of wallowing in self-pity Jesus says to REJOICE! Be glad! How can we be glad you ask? Because Jesus himself and the prophets of old were treated the same way. You’re in good company to suffer in like manner.
The reward for persecution IS the kingdom of heaven – the place where we live out eternity in the presence of God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The tense of the verb is present, which is to say right now. We live in the kingdom of heaven, though the full realization of God’s Kingdom is yet to come.
Food for thought…
If the
kingdom of heaven is for those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness
we must ask ourselves if we’re being persecuted for the sake of righteousness.
Does anyone even know you are a Christian, or have you kept that a secret so
that you don’t have to suffer persecution? God’s kingdom belongs to those who
do suffer for Him. We may not have to suffer the way Jesus and the prophets did
(through death), or even the way the early church suffered (they were literally
fed to the lions in Rome), but if you aren’t persecuted for something relating
to your belief as a Christian then you are either not a Christian and think you
are or you’re just too ashamed to “come out of the closet” and suffer a bit. In
either case, the
Try passing this e-mail around to a few of your friends – whether Christian or non. I can assure you that you will suffer a bit of persecution. If you don’t then you’ve at least taken a bold step in that direction. Remember, if you receive some ridicule as a result, rejoice over it.
Matthew 5:13… “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.”
Commentary…
The “you”
in the sentence is emphasized in the Greek text, and it is plural as it is
addressed to the twelve disciples. Jesus calls them a strange thing: salt. This
has been variously translated through time, but I think the best way to
understand it is that Christians are a preservative to the world – much the way
salt was then. Just the presence of God’s people on earth preserves the earth.
When they are removed during the Rapture (1 Thes.
The second part of the verse implies that salt can lose it’s flavor. This compound, sodium chloride, simply cannot cease to be salt. However, it can be watered down and rendered ineffective. There is lots of salt (Christians) is the world today, but too many are ashamed and don’t act as such. These so-called “Christians” are “no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.” Impure salt, salt that was mainly taken from the salt pillars around the Dead Sea, was typically thrown out onto the road and trampled into the dust by those who walked by. This appears to be the fate of those who call on the name of Jesus Christ but who cannot do so in public for fear of ridicule. They are no longer good for anything.
Food for thought…
What about your Christian witness? When people see you coming do they watch what they say? Are foul jokes and language kept from you, or do people just feel comfortable enough to say anything? Remember, your very presence, not necessarily your words in this case, is a preservative for the world. If the debauchery and decadence that surrounds you isn’t kept in check by your presence then you must evaluate your reason for being here at all – if you call yourself a Christian.
If God has Christians here to act as a preservative for the world – and some aren’t doing their job – what purpose do they really have? Would people say that you preserve the dignity and honesty of what a Christian should look like? If not, why? If so, keep it up. “Salty” Christians are the reason the sky hasn’t fallen yet, but when they go it goes.
Matthew 5:14-16… “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put in under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way let your light so shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
Commentary…
In the same breath that Jesus calls believers “salt” in verse 13, that is to act as a preservative of the world, he now calls them “light.” Now salt preserves just by being salt, but light illuminates. Christians as salt keep the world from God’s judgement just by being Christians. But by being light to the world Christians share the good news of Jesus Christ. The good news of Jesus turns darkness into light. As salt we keep the world from God’s wrath; as light we give the world life. Just as a city that sits on a hill is seen by all, so too are Christians supposed to be seen and heard by all. The analogy is simple.
Jesus goes on to say that it is ridiculous to light a lamp and hide the light. Who would do that? In the same way it is preposterous for a self-proclaimed Christian to hide his/her beliefs. We are supposed to be knowledgeable about who we are in Christ and to be outspoken about it at the same time! To not be is to use the same logic of lighting candle for light and hiding the light.
The last verse is the commission: shine your Christianity, your light as it were, so that all can see. It’s in your good works that people see your light – the light of Jesus Christ. Notice that the good works come as a result of knowing Christ – they don’t get you Christ.
Food for thought…
How about a little light-shining today? While you work on being a preservative to those around you, spend some time thinking about how you’re going to shine the light of Jesus on those around you. Our purpose is twofold: preserve and proclaim. Preserve the world through being what God called you to be. Proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ not only in your words, but back them up with your good works.
A word of warning: The Gospel of John tells us in 1:4-5 that Jesus is light, and His light shines in men, that is in those who are his children. It also says that the “light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” Don’t be surprised, as you shine your light, if the world rejects you. They will, for they haven’t understood the light.
Matthew 5:17… “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the prophets. I did not
come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
Commentary…
When Jesus speaks of the “law” here he speaks of the Ten
Commandments as given by Moses, commonly known as the Decalogue. The prophets
he speaks of are the Old Testament writings of the prophets, and they attested
to the Law of Moses. When used together, the Law and the Prophets, refer to the
same thing: the laws of God as spelled out in the Old Testament.
There
was always something about the Law that was missing for
In
the days before Jesus and during his days there was a group of pious men known
as scribes and Pharisees. These men knew the Law of Moses, and they knew they
couldn’t uphold it anymore than anyone else could. What they did was add
loopholes to the Law that made the people think they actually could keep the the Ten Commandments. Their loopholes made the people very religious in the sense that if they did certain things and kept away from
certain other things then they could be called righteous. In doing so they
missed the heart of the Law. Jesus did not oppose the Law but an illegitimate
interpretation of it that set up regulations and ignored character.
When
Jesus came on the scene, the people who followed him most likely were hoping
that he would tell them to put the OT Law aside in favor of his new order. He
didn’t do that. Rather he told them that he IS the fulfillment – the completion
of the Law. To “fulfill” the Law was to “complete” the Law. The Law was given
to show the people their need for God – because they couldn’t keep what God
told them to keep, and neither can we.
To fulfill the Law meant suffering the consequences for disobedience to it.
Jesus did that, bringing salvation to those who place their trust in him. So
the missing element of the Law was salvation from it, and Jesus provided that.
He fulfilled it. He completed it. Those standards remain God’s standards, and
as the verses that follow teach us, we should continually uphold the law and
teach it as well.
Food for thought…
Today people go to church and go through the motions of
worship without actually worshipping God. They think that their attendance,
their tithe, their “good works” make them “good people.” The heart of God’s Law
today is the same as it was in OT days. It’s not about what you do – it’s about
who you are. Evaluate who you are, not what you do “for God.” Christ came to
fulfill the Law. Our obedience to it is impossible, and attempting to act out
good works to please God and hope for salvation is sinful. Our good works come after we recognize that Jesus is the
fulfillment of the Law – our good works are nothing more than evidence that we
know Jesus fulfilled and completed the Law.
Following the Ten Commandments is a worthy endeavor.
You’ll fail, however, every time you make that effort. Praise God today that He
fulfilled them and that you are “in Christ.”
Matthew 5:18… “I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.”
Commentary…
In the previous verse Jesus makes it clear that the OT Law is by no means insignificant. Rather, he is the fulfillment of that Law. In keeping with that thought, now he says, with great certainty, that even though he is the fulfillment of the Law, the Law still stands. It will stand until heaven and earth disappear. Going further, Jesus says that even the smallest letter of the Law (the Hebrew yod) and the tiniest mark on a letter (a serif) would not pass away as they have great significance. Their passing will not come until everything is accomplished. For those hearing this message they must have felt the burden of the Law grow heavier and heavier.
Today everything still isn’t accomplished, and heaven and earth have not passed away, so the Law, as it is summed up in the Ten Commandments, is still of utmost importance. What this means is that in studying the Old Testament there is nothing in it that is not of great importance. Entire doctrines revolve around letters, and in Hebrew (the OT language), and all languages for that matter, the slightest mark on a letter is significant for interpreting meaning. All of this has not passed away but is waiting for its complete fulfillment when Jesus returns for his children, those that call on his name for salvation.
Food for thought…
How seriously do you believe in the Holy Scriptures? Are they God’s words or are they men’s ideas about God? Though there was no New Testament written at the time of Jesus, he was clear in his view of the importance of knowing God’s word, namely the OT scriptures. All of it was important to him, and part of his fulfillment of that OT Law was his own perfect observance of the Law. No man ever kept the entire Law, but Jesus did.
Those who even bother to read the Bible today too often have little regard for the OT. Just remember that it is impossible to fully understand the NT without a working knowledge of the OT. Make it your quest today to memorize the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17). Make it your goal to obey every one of those commandments. You’ll find that task to be impossible, and that will remind you of your need for Jesus who is the fulfillment of that Law. Remember, the purpose of the Law is to lead you to Jesus Christ. No man can please God with good works, through obeying the Law. We all have fallen short of God’s glory. Praise God today for providing salvation through His Son Jesus Christ.
Matthew 5:19… “Anyone who annuls one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever keeps and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
Commentary…
The word for “annul” is translated as “break” in the NIV. If the curse of breaking the commandments made us least on God’s kingdom then we’d all be least. The word literally means “to dissolve, annul.” The Jews in Jesus’ day believed the greatest commandment was honoring one’s father and mother (5th commandment), and the least one was to respect a mother bird (Deut. 22:6-7). What this says is that anyone who decides that one of God’s commands, even the least of those commands, is unimportant or irrelevant – and teaches others this heresy, they will be called least in God’s kingdom. Notice they are “in” God’s kingdom which appears to mean that though their teaching is wrong their souls are still saved. There are many today who teach a total disregard for God’s Law (called antinomianism) by teaching nothing but the grace of God. God’s grace is of utmost importance of course but not at the expense of negating the teaching of His Law which shows us our need for grace.
Now the converse is true as well. Those who observe and teach God’s commands, even the “least” of these commands are called “great” in God’s kingdom. Being called great in God’s kingdom is the reward all Christians ought to pursue. The pursuit of this is simple: observe God’s commands, which means you have to know them, and teach them to others. If God took the time to give His perfect plan for man and preserved it through time then He must have a reason for doing so. How flattering it would be if we were to pass on our teaching to others and have them teach it. It gives the same flattering glory to God when we teach what He has taught us by passing it on to others. It also gives us a name in the kingdom of heaven: GREAT.
Food for thought…
We all want to be called great, don’t we? The way to greatness is to teach greatness. To teach greatness is to teach what God has passed down through His Commandments. Teaching math, science, and philosophy is a great thing. But teaching God, who He is and what He requires of us, is true greatness. Try teaching someone today about God through your words and/or actions. Those who teach these commandments of God are called “great” in the kingdom of heaven. It brings glory to God and blessings to you.
Matthew 5:20… “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Commentary…
After teaching the importance of God’s Law, how it would certainly not pass away, and the necessity of keeping that Law, now Jesus tells his disciples that they must have greater integrity than those who were believed to have the highest integrity, namely, the scribes and the Pharisees. These two groups of men were the scholars of that day. They were primarily wealthy, and they had great followings of people. They were viewed by most as very righteous – people in whom God was manifested. Now Jesus tells his followers to be greater than they or they will not enter into God’s kingdom.
The
righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees was a phony righteousness. They had
rewritten much of the Law and had made it very burdensome on the people who
followed them. They had the appearance of righteousness in how they acted,
dressed, and what they said, but they were “white-washed tombs” as Jesus called
them (Matthew 23 describes them). They didn’t commit murder, but they were full
of hate; they didn’t commit adultery, but they were filled with lust. Jesus
equates their feelings with the very
act of murder and adultery (
What Jesus was telling his disciples was that their own righteousness needed to be more than just outward acts of righteousness like that of the scribes and Pharisees. Once again it was about the heart, not the ritualistic religion the scribes and Pharisees adhered to.
Food for thought…
Evaluate your “righteousness” today. Evaluate why you go to church on Sunday (or whenever you go). Is it to worship God or to “be righteous.” You can talk to many people today who will tell you about their righteous acts, but not many of them can tell you their righteous acts come from a heart overflowing with joy over what Christ did for them at the cross, namely, save them from their sins. The teaching to the disciples is pertinent to us: if your righteousness doesn’t exceed the righteousness of the “religious” then you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. True righteousness comes from a yearning for God. It’s about the heart of man, not the actions. Of course when the heart is turned to God the actions follow quite naturally.
Matthew 5:21-22… “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.”
Commentary…
The people
listening to Jesus knew that murder was wrong (Exodus
Jesus goes further in verse 22 when he uses the word “Raca.” This is an Aramaic word that has no English equivalent – thus it is just transliterated in the text. It basically means “empty-headed” or “good for nothing.” To call someone this term was to insult their Maker, namely, God, and this is answerable to the Sanhedrin which was the Jewish supreme court. However, the supreme court being referred to here goes beyond the Jew’s court of law – it refers to God’s Supreme Court, and anytime we insult one of His creations we insult Him. The penalty is severe. Once again, it isn’t the act, it is the thought.
The final phrase is just the climax, possibly just a synonymous parallelism, to what Jesus has already said. To call another person a “fool” was to show one’s great intense anger – the anger that lies at the root of murder. All three sins convict of one’s guilt and put them in danger of the fires of hell. Just the thought!
Food for thought…
We all get angry with people. Does this mean we are murderers? Yes and no. No, in the sense that it’s okay to be angry with our loved ones – who is not guilty of that from time to time? The anger spoken of by Jesus here is the hateful anger we have towards those we don’t like. In that sense, yes, we are all murderers. Face it, you can’t get angry with those types of people and not call them names like the one’s listed above. That in itself is the root of murder. If we have the root then we are capable of the act. That makes us sinners, and all sin is an abomination to God requiring His forgiveness. Without it we are in danger of the fires of hell.
In this passage God has convicted us all of murder. We are all guilty of it – like it or not. The so-called “righteous anger” we have against evil in the world and the anger we feel towards our loved ones from time to time shouldn’t be confused with the anger we are guilty of that makes us murderers, namely, being angry with our fellow man – especially those we call Christian brothers and sisters. Today watch what you say AND think about another person that you really just don’t like. What that should do is be a reminder of your continual need for Jesus Christ as your Savior. You might even endeavor to make friends with those you dislike – you’ll destroy the enemy in the process.
Matthew 5:23-24… “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”
Commentary…
In the context of the preceding verses that dealt with the root of murder, namely, anger at one’s brother, this passage deals with the worship of God. Worshipping God is impossible when we hold a grudge against another or have hate in our hearts over one created in God’s image.
In the Jew’s day they offered sacrifices at an alter of sacrifice. The brought their offering, and the priest would do the sacrificing of that lamb, bull, goat, or bird. If the person bringing the offering had a problem with a fellow Jew he was instructed to leave his offering at the alter, make amends with his brother, then come back and have the priest offer the sacrifice. He simply couldn’t worship with a grudge – God wouldn’t accept his gift.
An interesting thing about this passage is that the person who offers the sacrifice, if they know of someone who has something against them, they are to take the initiative and confront the situation. In other words that particular person didn’t have to be holding a grudge, but if he knew that someone held a grudge against him he was supposed to go make amends. Once the situation was solved, or he had done all he could, only then would God accept his gift of worship.
Food for thought…
It’s hard not to hold a grudge against someone. You are guilty of it however, at least from time to time. If now is one of those times, and you are a regular church attender who claims to worship God weekly, you better make the situation right today. God is not glorified nor is He worshipped when we are not living in peace with those around us. Jesus says so. Matthew 5:25-26 is a commentary on the previous verses: “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”
Matthew 5:27-28… “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; but I say to you, that everyone who looks on a woman to lust for her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.”
Commentary…
The teaching of Jesus about adultery was nothing new to his audience. They knew the Commandment found in Exodus 20:14 & Deuteronomy 5:18 that forbade it. Just as Jesus told the crowd that murder begins in the heart, he says the same thing here with regard to unlawful sexual relations, namely, adultery. Today adultery is called an “affair,” and it is glorified on TV and in the movies to a large degree. Adultery occurs when two people, with one or both of them married to another, get together and have sexual intercourse. It’s a despicable act that God forbids and has always hated. In the OT it was punishable by death. Today it is the norm among married folks, but God has not changed His hatred for it.
Jesus reiterates the teaching of adultery, but he adds an element that makes everyone guilty of this sin. Jesus said that though the act of adultery may be avoided, the lust of the eyes makes us just as guilty. Again Jesus shows that sin does not begin in the actions of man, it begins in the mind. When a man looks at a woman with lust in his eyes for her he is guilty of adultery. If the previous teaching about murder beginning with hatred for another fellow human didn’t convict everyone in Jesus’ audience then this one did. Now all of us, whether we’ve kept ourselves from these sins or not, have had the “book thrown at us” as it were because of our own guilt.
Food for thought…
Society today just loves sex outside of God’s perfect plan. It’s everywhere you look – everywhere. Women and men both are exploited in the media – newspapers & magazines. The way young girls dress is downright decadent because it causes every red-blooded man to look their way and stare. The same is true with men. Go to any gym to workout, and all you normally find is a place where people show off their bodies in order to bring attention to themselves. That attention is nothing more than lust 99.9% of the time.
Our society has come a long way indeed. Adultery is laughed at, hatred for those created in God’s image is encouraged, and morality is just relative in the minds of most. The bottom line is that the practice of staring at scantily dressed pretty girls and gawking at shirtless men with washboard stomachs is adultery – plain and simple. Though many of us are innocent of the act, we are guilty of the thought.
The punishment for adultery in the Old Testament? Death (Leviticus
Matthew 5:29-30… “And if your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out, and throw it from you; for it is better for you that one of the parts of your body perish, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off, and throw it from you; for it is better for you that one of the parts of your body perish, than for your whole body to go into hell.”
Commentary…
The “and” here picks up the thought of the previous passage that dealt with adultery as it begins in the mind. If a man looks at a woman in a bikini and lusts after her – and continues to struggle with this sin – it appears that Jesus instructs him to pluck out his eye that made him lust so he won’t do it again. Further, he tells the crowd that if you have a problem with stealing because want things you can’t have then you should cut off your hand. This makes sense given the fact that Jesus says it is better for one member of your body to die than for that one member to carry you into hell because it couldn’t stop lusting and/or stealing. The argument makes sense, but Jesus’ sarcasm is evident.
If Jesus were speaking literally then even
plucking one’s eye out would not cure the problem that exists in the heart. All
through these passages Jesus is attempting to move people from the realm of
thinking that just the act of sinning
is wrong and into the real problem of sin as it exists in a man’s heart and
mind. This is where sin begins. But Jesus is not advocating that we all start chopping our limbs off and
plucking our eyes out. Why? Because blind people lust too.
People with no hands are still capable of stealing. Consider Charles Manson. He
never killed anyone! But his mind conjured up the brutal deaths of his victims
whom he killed through other people.
Jesus’ teaching is somewhat condescending to the Scribes
and Pharisees who believed they were completely innocent of any wrongdoing.
After all, they hadn’t committed adultery, and they hadn’t murdered anyone.
What Jesus is saying is essentially this: “If
you really believe your anatomy is the root of sin then you need to start
hacking off your appendages!” We would all go into heaven maimed and mutilated
if we were to take Jesus’ hyperbole literally. But it’s not the appendage that
is at fault. It’s the mind where sin takes root.
Food for thought…
How are we to take these passages? First, be honest with yourself and evaluate what it is that makes you stumble in your walk with God. Is it materialism? Pornography? Too much television at the expense of spending time with friends, family, and/or God? How about too much time on the computer or internet? Whatever causes you to sin get rid of it. Jesus gives us a not-so-subtle warning about hell in this passage. It’s better to get rid of that which hinders our relationship with God on this earth than to allow it to keep us from a relationship with Him in heaven. Our relationship with God in heaven is directly related to our relationship with Him while we dwell on the earth.
Matthew 5:31-32… “And it was said, ‘Whoever sends his wife away, let him give her a certificate of divorce’; but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the cause of unfaithfulness, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”
Commentary…
Quoting from Deuteronomy 24:1-3 Jesus brings up another
controversial and important issue. This time it’s divorce. When God
created marriage He gave no provision for divorce. God hates divorce, He hated
it then, and He hates it now (Malachi
What Jesus is doing is correcting the mistake of many in that day. They thought they could divorce their wives for any old reason and be innocent of any wrongdoing. But Jesus makes only one provision for divorce: marital unfaithfulness. And he doesn’t even command it if this takes place. The word in the Greek text for “unfaithfulness” is porneia. Obviously it’s where we get “pornography,” and it encompasses all sexual sin, mainly that of breaking the covenant of marriage by sleeping with another. If a man divorces his wife, sends her away with a certificate – and she marries another – she is an adulteress, and the man she marries becomes an adulterer. All because she burned his food. The man, however, was not as innocent as he thought.
Food for thought…
There are a lot of divorces today. Some are legitimate and others are not. God hates divorce because this falls short of His perfect plan. The point of the passage is not to make those who are divorced angry or to make them feel bad. The teaching here does clear up the issue of when and under what circumstances divorce is permitted, but the main thrust might very well be the flawed teaching of the day. The teachers taught divorce for any reason was justified on the basis of a Bible passage they rewrote. Jesus teaches only one reason on the basis of God’s holiness and perfection.
People will listen to just about anything that makes them happy or that which makes them feel good. Much of the Bible today has been twisted and made to say things it doesn’t say. People buy into it and suffer the consequences. They want to feel good about the way they live. Jesus came to set the record straight. His teaching is the one and only teaching. Murder, adultery, and divorce are all sins, but they are all sins that begin in one’s mind and heart. This passage is no different in that it was man’s mind that made divorce alright.
Today decide whether or not what you believe is what the Scripture teaches. The words of Jesus are quite often at odds with what we hear taught in our modern day society. Test these words with the words of Jesus and see what you get. What you’ll discover is that Jesus’ teaching requires Jesus to aid us in our obedience of Jesus. He is our Savior, and that salvation keeps us from a divorce with God.
Matt 5:33-37… “Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ 34 “But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 “Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 “But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; and anything beyond these is of evil.”
Commentary…
The fourth contrast Jesus makes to the popular interpretations of the Law in those days has to do with taking oaths. The OT did forbid taking oaths in the name of God and breaking them (Lev. 19:12; Num. 30:2; Deut. 23:21), but there was no prohibition in just taking an oath in the name of God – as long as the oath-taker followed through on his promise.
In Jesus’
day people took oaths as often as they do today. Much of their oath-taking was not
done in the name of God however. They might swear heaven or by earth or by
Jesus tells
them that their oaths are nothing more than lies, and their attempts to keep
themselves free from God’s wrath by swearing by the earth or the like are still
lies. The earth is God’s creation,
The answer for the issue of taking oaths and swearing in the name of God’s creation? Just say “Yes” or say “No.” Stick to your word without swearing by God’s creation – whether people or inanimate objects. Say what you mean and do what you say – even if it hurts.
Food for thought…
Many folks wonder about the issue of going to a court of law and having to swear by the Bible to tell the truth. After all perjury is a punishable offense in court, and it is supposed to bind us to the truth. Can we quote this verse and get out of the process of being under oath? The answer is simply to tell the truth at all costs. When asked if we will tell “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth – so help me God” we simply say “yes.” It’s not the oath-taking that’s evil, it’s the abuse of it and the lack of any integrity on the part of those who take an oath.
What about you? Is your word one that requires lots of swearing on your mother’s grave, as it were, in order to get people to believe you? Or is your word gold in the eyes of those who know you? Can you just say “yes” and be counted on to deliver? The bottom line issue is the truth, and truth is severely lacking in our modern-day society. Say “yes” to someone and mean it. Say “no” to someone and mean it (that’s normally the children). Everything is the Lord’s, and to swear by anything and not keep your word is not only a lie to the one you gave your word to, it’s a broken promise to God – a taking of His name in vain. Taking God’s name in vain, according to the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:7, comes with a threat: “For the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name.
Matthew 5:38-41… “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 “But I say to you, do not resist him who is evil; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 “And if anyone wants to sue you, and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. 41 “And whoever shall force you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 “Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.”
Commentary…
An “eye for
an eye, tooth for a tooth” teachings were found in Ex.
Jesus told those seeking righteousness not to seek revenge on the one who deserved such. He gives three examples. First, if someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other one too. Now a slap in the face was the most humiliating insult in Jesus’ day (one might argue in our own too). Most people by nature are prone to strike back and “defend their rights.” Jesus says to turn the other cheek – a distinguishing characteristic of God’s children as opposed to the secular world. The second admonition was to give to the one who wanted to take from you. In those days people had an inner garment and an outer one. The outer one was used to cover up with at night in the cooler temperatures. When someone sued a poor man who couldn’t pay his debt, he was told to give up his shirt. Jesus says to give up the coat as well! Third, when someone forces you to go a mile, go two. This refers to the common practice of the Roman soldiers in that day who would get tired of carrying their equipment from point A to point B, so they would force a Jew to carry it for them for a particular distance. The Jews hated the Romans for this abused practice, but Jesus tells them to go the extra mile – not just the one requested of them.
Food for thought…
The passage at hand, namely, to “turn the other cheek” has been greatly abused through the centuries in that it is been used to promote pacifism, lawlessness, and even anarchy. In our day people are continually fighting for their “rights.” Jesus tells us to lay aside those “rights” which are nothing more than selfish ambitions to fight back and save face. He teaches that you don’t have to “get even” in taking an eye for an eye, and you don’t have to just do what’s required of you. Go the extra mile and endure the insults of those who insult you. As Christians the insults we receive ought to reflect who we follow, namely, Jesus Christ. It’s easy to retaliate, but God’s children are to behave in a different way. Does this mean we don’t go to war and we don’t defend our families when attacked? Of course not. It’s not about defense, it’s about our selfish motivation to look good, tough, and one “not to be messed with.” These are not virtues, and there is no reflection of being “poor in spirit” as Matthew 5:3 admonishes us.
One commentator says this, “The person who is non-defensive, non-vengeful, never bears a grudge, and has no spite in his heart is the person who has died to self. To fight for one’s rights is to prove that self is still on the throne of the heart.” How about you? Who or what reigns as lord in your life? Is it self – always fighting for your rights, or is it Christ, always seeking to obey and glorify him?
Matthew 5:42… “Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.”
Commentary…
The literal reading of the verse
from the Greek text says, “To the one who
(continually) asks of you, give. And the one who wishes (continually) to borrow
from you, do not turn away.” The imperative verb “give” is a tough one. If we
did that we’d be broke, and this is not what Jesus is promoting. As in the
preceding verses this one speaks of self-denial. Those who believe that what
they possess is theirs by their own accord and who hold onto their possessions
so as to never be in want are those who must die to themselves. “I can’t listen
to those beggars because I might suffer for giving up what’s mine” is the
attitude our Lord addresses here. Jesus rebukes the people who think only of
themselves and refuse to help those who would boldly ask for financial aid.
From the coat being given when only the shirt is asked for to the going of the
second mile when only one mile is requested – Jesus tells us to give to those
who ask.
Food for thought…
Some folks are better off not getting a handout. We can
distinguish between those who beg for money so as to satisfy their drug or
alcohol habit and those who truly have a need. Frankly, not giving money to them is better for them than giving to them.
What Jesus reminds of is that we are selfish, and our natural self-centered
spirit hinders God’s blessings in our lives. To not give to someone who is
truly in need doesn’t thwart the plans of God, but it most certainly thwarts
the would-be blessings in your life.
Consider giving to those in need when you can. Most often people are not able to help others because they spend all they have on themselves. Have a plan to save some money just for giving to others when the time presents itself. If they ask and you can help, give to them, and put off building that back patio for a time. Put your own desires, usually self-centered ones, in the back and move the needs of others to the front. Give to those who ask and do not refuse the one who desires to borrow from you.
Matthew 5:43-45… “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
Commentary…
Leviticus
Now “love” is a powerful word to use for the way anyone should treat their enemies. But remember love is much more than a feeling we have – it’s a verb. To love someone is to do something for them. How do we love our enemies? Jesus tells us to pray for them. In the previous passage, and in keeping with the whole context, Jesus taught his audience to endure the insults of those insult us, go two miles with those who want us to go one, and give to those who continually ask of us. This is the type of love Jesus speaks of.
Who could possibly be expected to have that “warm fuzzy” feeling of love for our enemies? Frankly, no one. But true love is an action – it’s many actions, and many times it expresses our feelings AND it shows obedience to our God who commands us to love our enemies. As the passage states, “that you may be called sons of your Father who is in heaven.” This kind of love for enemies, the way we endure the insults of those who hate us without standing up for our “rights” is the evidence that we are God’s children. We don’t love our enemies so that God will call us His children (and the English rendering implies), we love our enemies and pray for them because we are God’s children.
In the last verse Jesus makes it clear that those who hate God receive the same blessings at times as those who love God (they receive rain and shine). In saying this Jesus illustrates how God loves His enemies and does good to them – He shows no favoritism. God’s children are far more blessed, but God still does good to His enemies. He expects the same from His children.
Food for thought…
It’s easy to hate. There are some people who just seem to beg for it. Some hate us just because we call ourselves Christians while others hate us because of the way we talk. God tells us to love those people too. Enemies are meant to be destroyed – that’s what we want to do to them. Today destroy your enemy by doing good to them. Oftentimes, you can’t avoid not liking someone you work with or live next to, but you can love them – and love expressing itself through actions usually brings an enduring friendship, thus doing away with the enemy. Find an action that shows that love for them and do it. You’ll destroy the enemy!
Matthew 5:46-48… “For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax-gatherers do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Commentary…
The context
of the entire passage here is to love your enemies and do good
to them. Jesus’ explanation is simple in that there is no reward for just
loving those who love you. Anyone can do that. Jesus went further in speaking
of the “anyone” when he brings up “tax-collectors.” Those that collected taxes
in those days were hated above all others. They were usually Jewish people who
had broken from the faith and gone over to the Romans. They were collecting
taxes from their fellow Jews to put money in the pockets of their sworn
enemies, the Romans. Furthermore, these tax-collectors extorted money by
collecting more than they were supposed to, and consequently they were usually
very rich. So, they cheated their fellow Jews out of money to give to
Once again,
Jesus is explaining to those who would follow him what it means to have a
righteousness that surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees (
Food for thought…
In summary
of Matthew 5 Jesus tells his audience to “be perfect… as your heavenly Father
is perfect.” This is the application of Jesus’ words.
The word for “perfect” is the word for “complete.” God’s standard is the
standard we are to shoot for, not that of being a millionaire, a model, or even
president of the
How do you measure up to these goals? Do you hate the sins Jesus speaks out against? Or do you just tolerate them in a society that is calloused to that which God hates? Remember that your standard for perfection is God. We are called to be perfect as God is perfect. We won’t reach that goal here on earth, but to strive for it daily with Jesus as your Savior is as close to God as you can possibly imagine and ever hope to get.
Matthew 6:1-4… "Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. "When therefore you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 3 "But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing 4 that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
Commentary…
Practicing one’s righteousness was often expressed in the giving of “alms.” This word signifies the doing of good deeds, but here it is specifically related to financial giving. Financial giving was a way to show mercy to those who were poor and/or needy. The giver simply displayed God’s mercy by his sacrificial giving. The teachers of Jesus’ day had perverted this practice and turned it into a display of their own piety. Even the beggars picked up on this as they placed themselves outside of the Jewish gatherings because that’s where the money was!
Just as “passing the plate” in church services today is how the church sustains itself, the Jewish synagogues also had a time of almsgiving. During this time of the worship service the hypocrites would attempt to buy the praise of men by calling attention to themselves. They weren’t giving, they were buying. As a result of this hypocrisy, that is seeking the praise of men above the praise of God, they received what they bought “in full.” The “blowing of the trumpet” and the “left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing” are hyperbole explaining a dichotomy in how one should and should not give.
This passage is a warning about how we do our good deeds. Doing good deeds and giving money to the ministry of the church is an act that is to be done in secret, not for the whole world to know. When it’s done properly, without the expectation of receiving praise from men, our reward comes from God – and it’s always more than we expect. That’s the beauty of giving with a pure motive, it produces a reward far greater than what the praise of men can give us.
Food for thought…
I know of a man who is a millionaire who loves to give to churches. The only problem with him is that he wants everyone to know that he gives. He wants praise and respect from men because he wants them to think as highly of him as he thinks of himself. I don’t know him personally, but he illustrates exactly what Jesus teaches here. If you give to charitable organizations don’t tell anyone. Do it in secret so that you don’t receive praise from others. Let God do the praising!
We are supposed to give of ourselves – both of our time and our money. This giving, if not done with the sole motive of bring glory to God, ought not be done at all. As difficult as it is to keep our good deeds to ourselves, practice it today. There are few things more attractive about people than humility – when it can be found. Try a good deed today, and don’t tell a soul. In doing so you have a Father who will repay you in ways you can’t even fathom.
Matthew 6:5-8… "And when you pray, you are not to be as the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners, in order to 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, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will repay 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 "Therefore do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need, before you ask Him.
Commentary…
Hypocrisy in prayer was as prevalent in Jesus’ day as it is in our day. What Jesus speaks out against here concerns the same selfish motive with regard to prayer as it did with the giving of alms. There were pious Jews in those days who loved to pray out loud in the synagogues and the street corners so that others would see them and think highly of them. It’s not that praying out loud is wrong, but it is clear that their motive was not to have a time of fellowship with God while leading their fellow worshippers in prayer, rather they were doing it for one selfish reason: to receive praise from men. Jesus says that those who do this have already received their reward in full.
The better place to pray for those who truly want to fellowship with God is in a private room with no one around as verse 6 teaches. Instead of seeking the public approval of man Jesus teaches us to seek the private approval of the Father. This motive for prayer, one that cares nothing for what others think, brings about a real reward from the Father.
Verse 7 doesn’t teach us what to pray but what not to pray. We’re not to use some ridiculous formula that repeats itself over and over like some tribal chant calling up the “gods.” Those who do this are called “Gentiles” – another name for pagans who used many words hoping that their god would hear them. Verse 8 tells the reason why: God already knows your needs, and He doesn’t need to hear the vain repetitions in order to answer the need.
Food for thought…
Who of us who prays in public doesn’t struggle with focusing completely on God? Who of us doesn’t want to show how spiritual we are when called upon to pray to those around us? We must be careful of this. But the real point of the message here is genuineness. People tell me all the time that they don’t go to church because of the hypocrites – those who say one thing and do another – those who love to appear “Christian” on Sunday and act pagan during the week. What Christianity needs is a dose of conviction to all of us who love to make ourselves look better than we really are.
Evaluate your motive today for worshiping God, for attending church, for giving your time and money. Do you do it to be seen and noticed, or do you do it to serve God for the wonderful gift He has given us through Jesus Christ our Lord? If it’s not the latter then you have already received your reward in full. What is the reward for genuine faith in Jesus Christ: eternal life with Christ.
Matthew 6:9-13… "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. 10'Thy kingdom come. Thy 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.
Commentary…
How to pray… Jesus models it here. Notice the first word “our” which signifies a corporate gathering. Notice that the address goes to “Father” – not Jesus, not the Holy Spirit; it goes to the Father. All three members of the Trinity are God, but each are distinct, having separate functions. “Hallowed be Thy name” is actually an imperative statement that should be rendered: “Let your name be held high.” It’s almost like a command from us to God telling Him to keep His name exalted in a world that continually takes His name in vain. Verse 10 is also a command in the Greek tense of the verb telling God to let His will be done here on earth as it is in heaven. These are bold statement indeed from sinners to the Almighty.
Verses 11-13 continues with the imperatives in respectfully “commanding” that God supply the food we need on a daily basis, to forgive our debts (debts not referring to money owed to God or man but sin) just as we have forgiven those to whom we hold a grudge. Notice the tense of the verb in this clause. Only after we have forgiven (past tense) those who owe us an apology do we dare command God to forgive us. Finally, in verse 13, we are to respectfully command God to keep us from temptation (something God is never guilty of) and from the evil one. We simply can’t be kept from evil – it is all around us. However, the Greek form here has the definite article “the” in front of “evil.” This means it is speaking of an entity, a person. This person is Satan who is the “evil one,” and our prayers can go so far as to command God to keep us from Satan.
Food for thought…
A paraphrased version of this prayer might go like this… Our Father who lives high above us, do not allow your holy and awesome name to be slandered or blasphemed. Rather, let your name be held high and exalted by all. Send your Holy deliverance, the Messiah, to us to take us from this world soon, and make your will done here on this sinful earth the same way it is done in your perfect kingdom where you dwell. Today, give us all we need to survive, nothing more and nothing less, and since we have forgiven all those we have anything against, we now respectfully bid you to forgive us of everything we do that falls short of your perfect will for our lives. Finally Lord, keep us from the situations where we are so weak and prone to let you and ourselves down, and keep us from the devil, our adversary, who prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. Amen.
Many people struggle with prayer, with what to say and how to say it. The prayer above, though dubbed “the Lord’s Prayer” is really the “model prayer.” This prayer is the outline of how and what to pray for – and Who to pray to. It simply praises God, asks for His will, makes requests for our own needs, and asks for protection. You can and must fill in the blanks with the uniqueness of your own life. Don’t recite the prayer over and over believing it to have some mysterious power in and of itself, for Jesus has already instructed us to avoid the vain repetitions (6:7). Speak from your heart today as you cry out to God who already knows exactly what’s on your heart. But be sure to do it. The power of prayer is the most powerful thing in the universe because it taps the most powerful Being in the universe.
Matthew 6:14-15… "For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 "But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.
Commentary…
The model prayer of Matthew 6:9-13 speaks of forgiving others. Verse 12 is a polite command from man to God to forgive our sins, but we dare only to make this request after we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. Verses 14-15 above provide a commentary from Jesus about the importance of forgiveness. It is a simple explanation needing little comment, but it speaks volumes and should convict us all. The simple truth of the matter is that we all hold grudges against people, even little ones that we seem all too often to remember when we need some leverage against them. Our forgiveness of them brings forth an incomprehensible miracle: God also forgives us! It’s difficult to believe that we ourselves can be forgiven, but it is true. What’s even more difficult to believe is that we often forfeit God’s forgiveness by failing to forgive others. What a pity. My own experience is that it’s so much more difficult to hold on to grudges than to let go of them. Maybe it feels better because it is then that we not only loose ourselves of the grudge but are also loosed of our own sin towards God.
Food for thought…
As all of do I had a very close friend I grew up with. We played baseball together, golf, football – even made up a few ridiculous games that gave us a good laugh. We did everything together, and we even went to college together for a year. We had this stupid quarrel over something one night when tempers flared, and I can’t even remember what. But I remember this… I decided to not forgive him for some of the things he said and did that day. I held onto it for a good three months or so and found that, as a result, my spiritual life was in shambles, not to mention to fact that my good friend was not around anymore. I also found myself asking why I was even mad at this guy. When I finally came to my senses (actually it was after he made the first move to apologize) I found that the grudge was bringing me down, and keeping me from a very close friend – both him and my God. Well, I read his apology, and soon thereafter we were friends again. I’ll never forget the burden of that – the burden that God put on me for holding that silly grudge. It was only after the ordeal that I felt free again – free to be friends and free to have my relationship with God back. Both relationships were strengthened as a result, but I’ll never forget how miserable I was for holding that grudge. From the passage above I really feel like I had forfeited God’s forgiveness of me by failing to forgive him.
If you feel that misery today, let it go and restore the friendship both with God and your friend or family member. You won’t regret it for one moment, and you will bring glory to God in the process.
Matthew 6:16-18… "And whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance in order to be seen fasting by men. 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 you may not be seen fasting by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
Commentary…
The first thing I notice about this verse is the word “whenever”; whenever you fast as opposed to “if” you fast. The act of fasting can be applied to anything, but it most often refers to depriving oneself of food as the context calls for. The pious teachers of Jesus’ day liked to deprive themselves of food and attempt to make themselves look pathetic so as to show their “righteousness.” They went around without grooming themselves and put on a gloomy face. I’m sure that if anyone offered them food they gave a response that indicated they were fasting. Jesus calls them hypocrites. Whatever praise they might have received from men was all the reward they were going to get because God was not honored. Again, they were not fasting in order to be righteous, they fasted to receive praise from men.
Jesus said that “when” we fast we ought not make a big production about it. We should not look hungry, and we shouldn’t go around telling everyone what we’re doing. Fasting has a purpose, and it should be done in order to bring the flesh under the same discipline as the spirit. It should be done to honor God not to bring praise from men.
Food for thought…
As I reflect on my own experience with fasting I find great spiritual benefits in the discipline. As one who never misses a meal fasting for me is very difficult. When I spend the day going hungry I find that I pray almost constantly. The hunger reminds me to do so. I find that my flesh is very weak, and fasting helps to bring it under my submission. Instead of letting my belly dictate how I feel I allow God to bring me under His control. Instead of always being filled and satisfied I find that fasting reminds me what it is to go without for a time. Fasting, in some mysterious way, intensifies prayer and even makes it more effective. It doesn’t make it more effective by making God do what I want Him to do, rather it is more effective in that it causes God to make me more of what He wants me to be.
Today consider a fast. Skip a meal or two or three. Do it for a day or two or three. If you are having trouble praying and carrying on a relationship with God through prayer – fast for a day. Each time a hunger pain hits you it will remind you to pray. By days end you will have overhauled your prayer life and have a brand new perspective. But remember, keep it between you and God, and your reward will be great indeed.
Matthew 6:19-21… "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 "But lay 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 will your heart be also.
Commentary…
The verb “lay up” and the direct object “treasures” both come from the same Greek term (thesauros) which is where we get our term “thesaurus” – a “treasury of words.” Literally the passage says, “Do not treasure up treasures for yourselves.” This term has to do with stacking things up, things that are not used but only collected. To stockpile our wealth here on the earth is a futile labor in view of the fact that all things come to an end either before or after we come to our end. The word for “rust” in the original Greek literally means “an eating,” and it likely refers to worms and insects that eat through all materialism. The point Jesus is making is this: don’t spend the life God has given you trying to get rich. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being rich, and it’s not the wealth that’s the problem – it’s the attitude toward the wealth.
The alternative for stockpiling wealth is to “treasure up treasures” for our heavenly home that awaits us. The life here on earth is temporary, and it is a training ground for our lives in heaven in a sense. Our life in heaven is eternal, and we are to diligently pursue wealth there. How do we do this? Reflect back on the blessings of the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-10. Those virtues, humility, meekness, a hunger and a thirst for God – these are what stores up our treasures in heaven. The flipside of this is that when our priorities are in order through this endeavor God does provide the material wealth we all want. Abraham and Job are great examples of men who treasured heavenly treasures and received earthly ones as a bonus. This is not always true of course, but it sure makes a petition to God for something we want more reasonable when we’ve been faithful to be wealthy towards Him and not so much ourselves.
The final verse says it all. Where our treasure is shows where our heart is. What we want and pursue tells who we are and what we are dedicated to. If those wants are desires are spent pursuing God then it’s a no-brainer that God is really your God.
Food for thought…
We obviously live in a world today that is enamored with materialism. Vacations, new cars, huge homes, and a continual quest to retire in order to live the easy life. None of these pursuits are wrong in and of themselves, but if they go before our willingness to be rich toward the things of God then they are mirrors to our soul. What I mean is this: If getting rich and having everything you want takes precedence over the needs of your local church and the many missionary projects it is there to support then you are part of the problem our society is wallowing in. First take what God has given you and use it to store up wealth in His kingdom, then take your vacation, buy your car, and add on to your home.
Take a look at your checkbook today, and just scan where you spend your money. That checkbook is the barometer of how “Christian” you are, for it reveals where your heart is. Take a look also at how you spend your time and where it goes today. Is it spent on the things only you want to do? The things that make you happy? Or is it spent making treasures in heaven? God will call us all to give an account of our money and our time one day. It’s a good idea to be ready for that day by evaluating it TODAY.
Matthew 6:22-24… "The lamp of the body is the eye; if therefore 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 therefore 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 hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
Commentary…
In speaking of the heart of the believer in God in the previous ones these verses expand on them. The lamp of the body is the eye. The eye lets all the light in, and we are filled with it, thus it is the lamp of the body. Equally, the heart is the eye of the soul. Now this is not our literal blood-pumping heart, it is who we are that describes our heart. It is through our heart that we experience love, peace, joy, and every other spiritual blessing that God gives to us. In the same way that if our eyes are clear our body receives light – if our hearts are pure then our soul is filled with God’s blessings. Verse 23 says that if our “light” is actually darkness then our darkness is the blackest of darknesses. A blind man can see nothing, not even the brightness of the sun shining right in his face. It’s the same way with those who are clouded over with the futility of materialism. Those who are bent on making money without having as their goal their own spiritual treasures being laid up in heaven are as spiritually blind as the literal blind man who faces the sun and sees no light. They are blind and insensitive to God’s blessings.
Verse 24 sums up the matter. You can’t serve God and money. You simply can’t have two masters. The word for “master” in the Greek comes from a word that is used for slave owners. Those who owned slaves had workers around the clock. They didn’t get to “punch out” and go home like we do today when we serve our time at work and go home. They couldn’t just proceed to their next job – having two jobs that sustained them. To have another master would impose upon their allegiance to their original master. This describes us. We either serve God or we serve money. There is no such thing as a Christian who pursues wealth and materialism and shows up to Sunday worship services. Of course many do this, but they aren’t Christian simply because they can’t have two masters. Some, however, serve God by making lots of money, but they serve God nonetheless and use their wealth to glorify Him not serve their own purposes.
Food for thought…
So many of us make our attempts during the course of life to serve God when it’s convenient. We want what we want, and we make time and money for those things. Let a pastor or missionary ask for money for a project that leads people to Christ and brings treasure into our heavenly storehouses and all of a sudden people are broke or have no time. What we really mean is that we don’t want to give to God. We want our new cars and our annual vacation because we’re selfish and have been duped into thinking we owe it to ourselves. What we owe is really Who we owe: God. We owe God our lives, our salaries, our homes, our time. If we’re not willing to give it we’ve pretty much told God where to go.
Make your choice today about where your heart belongs. Does it belong to your material gains, your retirement, your new home, your debt? Or does your heart belong to God? If your lifelong pursuits don’t belong to God why don’t you pray about them and make the change today – while it’s still called today?
Matthew 6:25-27… "For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing? 26 "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 "And which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life's span?
Commentary…
“For this reason” refers to the immediate teaching about the impossibility of serving both God and money. Because God is your Master you are not to worry. You are not to worry about food, drink, or clothing – the basic necessities of life God will provide. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. To constantly think about what we want requires a focus that is on ourselves and our own satisfaction to the detriment of our minds needing to be fed with spiritual food. All the worry we put into the materialistic side of life is a waste of our time given the fact that our Master is watching over us.
Jesus tells his audience to look up and see the birds and their beauty and splendor. These creations of God don’t worry about food, clothing, and retirement. And yet they are continually fed by God. They wake up each morning chirping and singing. If that were not illustrative enough as to how God loves His creation and cares for it, Jesus then emphatically tells them that they are worth far more than birds. If God cares for the lowest of His creation by continually feeding them and clothing them then how ridiculous is it for those created in His image to worry about such trivial matters.
The last verse shows the futility of worry and anxiety. It does nothing. Nothing is gained by worrying; nothing is added to one’s life. Now the context of the passage here is more about one’s misguided quest for wealth than the worry that we’ll do without the things we desire, but the teaching for both remains the same. The continual striving for more and more and the worry about not having enough shows a lack of faith in our Maker in the one and a warped set of priorities in the other.
Food for thought…
We are more enmeshed in the materialistic problems we have made for our selves today than ever before. People live on credit cards, deferred payments, and two or more jobs to make it all work. No wonder society is so stressed out and worried – they’ve based their happiness on materialism and have sacrificed their lives and their families to “be happy.” The fact that people have to work so many hours just to maintain what they have shows where their allegiance is, and it’s not on God. The anxiety Jesus tells us is so ridiculous, due to the fact that it adds nothing to our lives, is here because man’s master is money. It controls him. You cannot serve it and God. To serve the all-powerful dollar is to despise God.
How do you fare? Is God your Master and money your slave? Or are you the slave to money with God no where in sight? Today make it your goal to put aside all the worries of life: your vacation, your bonus, and the new car you “have” to have before the interest rate goes back up. Put God first, and serve Him only. As the upcoming verse says, “Seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Matthew 6:28-30… "And why are you anxious 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 even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these. 30 "But if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more do so for you, O men of little faith?
Commentary…
The logic
in Jesus’ teaching here runs along the same path as the previous instruction
about not worrying about food and shelter. Here the admonition is to put away
worry about clothing. It’s quite possible that many in Jesus’ audience had
little clothing, possibly only an outer garment in which to keep warm. He looks
around at the beauty of the fields and uses the illustration of the flowers
that surrounded them in order to assure them of God’s concern for their lives.
These “lilies” were probably a generic term for the many beautiful flowers that
grew on the hillsides in
Just as the flowers are beautiful in and of themselves, so are those who have God as their Master. The flowers are beautiful, and yet they are thrown into the fire to burn along with the rest of the grass. This is a figure of speech speaking of their coming and going with the seasons. Now if God clothes the grass and flowers this beautifully that is just temporary won’t He that much more care for those created in His image – the highest of His creations – who will live forever? The reason Jesus addresses this is due to the fact that his audience were those of “little faith.” Little faith is still saving faith, but it describes sinful people who don’t have enough faith in God that He will finish what He began.
Food for thought…
We live in a society that spends a great deal of time worrying about needless things like clothing and other materialistic items that are supposed to make us look good. If Jesus told those who had little clothing not to worry, what would he say to us who are enamored with it?
Worry is a sin, plain and simple. It tells God that you don’t think He is able to take care of you. If you are worried about clothing today then you are self-centered and full of sinful pride. Of course that describes us all. Worry is not a trivial sin because it conveys to God that He is untrustworthy, and it shows that we are controlled by the circumstances in life as opposed to the promises of God.
If you are viewing life today through your own finite perspective and are worried about anything, then confess that sin to the Father. Worrying is directly proportional to time not spent with God in prayer and Bible study. To not know God’s plan is to worry about God’s plan. But He has revealed Himself in the scriptures, and it’s clear that each of our individual lives are in His hands. The fact that God knows your name, the future, and sustains the entire world is reason enough to stop worrying and start rejoicing.
Matthew 6:31-34… "Do not be anxious then, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'With what shall we clothe ourselves?' 32 "For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. 34 "Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Commentary…
In summary of all that Christ has spoken about worrying he tells his audience not to worry about anything – if God is their Master. Going further, he explains that those who worry are those who don’t know God. In this context he calls them “Gentiles.” Now a literal rendering of Gentile is anyone who is not a Jew. Jews referred to the rest of the world as Gentile, but the clear meaning is “pagan”, for it is the definition of a pagan to reject the One True God. Those outside of the Jewish faith believed in a multiplicity of “gods” and rejected the God of Israel – who just happens to be the Christian God as well.
In comparing those who worry with “Gentiles” Jesus makes a clear distinction between mature believers and immature ones. Those who are immature worry about food, clothing, and social status. Those who are pagan also worry about these things, so their ought not be any link to them from those who call themselves Christians (or in this sense Jews). They have nothing in common given that one has God as their Master while the other has mammon (money) as their master. Then Jesus tells them that God already knows they have need for these items, namely, food, clothing, and shelter. That’s right! God knows of our needs.
Verse 33 is the summary of the entire teaching on this matter: Seek first after God and His righteousness, and everything else will be added to you. Everything that we worry about needing is added once we seek God first. So now we actually get everything we need, things that we were once worried about, by not striving for them at all. It all comes from striving after God, and Jesus concludes by telling them to forget about anything else but God in verse 34. Tomorrow has enough worry of its own, so we are to let it worry about itself since we have no power over it. Why worry about clothing on a day that could be our last? Just don’t worry about it at all is the answer.
Food for thought…
Make a list today of all that you are striving after – everything you work to maintain. It might be an education, a new car, a new home, a vacation – whatever. Decide whether or not you are worrying about this or just planning it flexibly. Take your list and present it to God. Ask Him to rearrange your priorities if you need Him to do that. It may mean that you don’t get to take your vacation, add onto your home, or get a new car. It may mean sitting out a semester of school or canceling your golf membership at the local country club. It may mean taking that money and/or time and using it for something more fruitful. The point you want to reach is the point at which you can say “I am seeking God and His righteousness FIRST.” If doing this means you miss out on what you wanted to do then it means God didn’t want you to do it after all, and that you didn’t really need it anyway. Put God first by putting what you want last, and “all these things will be added to you.” This is not a request from me, it’s a command from God.
Matthew 7:1-6… Do not judge lest you be judged. 2 For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. And why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. 6 Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
Commentary…
Here we are
taught not to judge others. The kind of judgment that is prohibited must not be
confused with the type that is commanded of us (cf. Matt
The present passage warns against judging another’s motive. If we judge someone because they drink alcohol when there is no biblical mandate against it we too will be judged by this unrighteous standard (v.2). When we take on the burden of finding fault with others we must make sure that the “speck of dust” we’re trying to eliminate from our brother’s eye isn’t compromised by the “log in our own eye.” In other words, we are not to judge one who goes 90 MPH on the highway for speeding when we go 75. First obey the speed limit, then you can tell the lead foot to slow down.
Verse 6 clearly shows that the teaching not to judge others has further implications than what meets the eye. “Dogs” in Jesus’ day were not a domesticated animal like they are today, but like pigs were a scavenging menace that wandered around looking for scraps of food. It was unthinkable to toss any kind of food to them that had been consecrated to God. The point Jesus is making is that there are certain truths & blessings of the Christian faith that are not to be shared with people who are hostile to our faith. These people are spiritual dogs & swine who take what God has given and blaspheme it by making jokes about it. They take the holiness of God’s Word, and like a pig would do to a filet mignon, show no appreciation for it but instead tear it and the giver to pieces. These “dogs & swine” are people who have no regard for holiness and the precious things of God because of their perversity – and we must have the ability to judge between these people and those who aren’t “dogs and swine.” In this sense we have to judge, and in so doing we are to keep the precious doctrines of God away from those who degrade it.
Food for thought…
An ignorant rendering of this passage would cause one to conclude that cops can’t give tickets or school teachers X’s. Why? Because this is clearly judging others! We are, however, to distinguish between right & wrong, to make judgments based on God’s Word. He’s the judge!
Make sure your judgments are biblically based. This means you have to know your Bible to make the right judgments. And by all means DON’T judge anyone according to your standards of righteousness. Biblical judgment should be in love and according to God’s Word.
Spiritual reformation is achieved through confrontation. All of God’s prophets exhibit this.
Matthew 7:7-12… "Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. 8 "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened. 9 "Or what man is there among you, when his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone? 10 "Or if he shall ask 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 shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! 12 "Therefore, however you want people to treat you, so treat them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Commentary…
This passage deals with the positive side of a right relationship to humans as it relates to a right relationship with God. The key is found in verse 12 where we are admonished to treat others as want to be treated. In the previous passage (1-6) was negative teaching about a critical and judgmental spirit. Following our spiritual cleansing from the “log in our own eye” we need divine wisdom in order to help our brothers with the “speck in their eye.” Furthermore, without God’s help we can’t determine who are “dogs” or “swine” – the God-haters and false prophets.
Jesus teaches us to ask, seek, and knock. In so doing we show that we are God’s children. When we do these things we “receive,” “find,” and “have the door opened to us.” It goes hand in hand with James’ teaching that says: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously without reproach, and it will be given to him” (1:5). God gives because He loves us, and His gifts are given when we ask Him, seek Him, and knock on His door. The only way we can know what to ask for, what to seek, and where to knock is to be in His Word – to read the Bible. It’s the ONLY way we can truly know how to pray and what to pray for.
When we seek God according to His truth – seeking Him through His Word – He answers us, gives to us, and opens the door. Those of us with children love our children enough to give them those things that make them happy – when it’s in their best interest. We don’t give rocks to our kids for dinner when they ask for a PB&J with the crusts cut off! However, we don’t give them candy for dinner b/c it isn’t in their best interest. The parallel Jesus makes here is that we as parents know how to give good gifts and we are evil (v. 11)! But God is holy, and He knows all the more how to give good gifts to those who ask. That’s wonderful!
The implication of verses 7-11 is made very explicit in verse 12. The perfect love of God the Father is reflected in His children when they treat others as they wish to be treated. Think of the world peace that would result if this one passage of scripture was obeyed by all.
Food for thought…
Are you seeking for something that only God can give? Do you need wisdom, money to pay your bills, money for clothing, for food? Do you have a problem with family members, your preacher, your friends? All you need to do is ask God, seek God, knock on God’s door. If you are a child of God he will hear your request and give good things to you. God never rejects a heartfelt prayer for wisdom, but he does often reject prayers that contain a selfish motive. God never hides Himself when His children seek Him. He’s found in His creation, His Word, His people. God never ignores a knock on His door. On the contrary He’s right there to open it up with a smile and an invitation inside. ‘
Seek the Lord today while He may be found. Pray for wisdom in discerning between right and wrong, good and evil. These kinds of prayers distinguish His children from those legalistic ones Jesus puts down in verses 1-6 who judge according to their own standards of right and wrong. Ask God to help you treat all the way you would want to be treated.
Matthew 7:13-14… “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. 14 For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it.”
Commentary…
After the teaching Jesus has given over the previous three chapters it all boils down to this call for action. It’s like an “alter call” or a time of “invitation” that many Protestant churches use after sharing the gospel message. The call is to receive eternal life with Jesus or to remain a part of this sinful world – a world that awaits a future destruction unlike anything we have ever imagined (cf. Rev. 6-19).
Notice here that though there are two gates there is ONE gate in which we must enter that leads to life. This gate is the THE gateway to heaven, and this signifies that there is only one way to get there. The one way is not found in the various denominations in the world today but through the one Savior, Jesus Christ. The tense of the verb “enter” is an aorist imperative. This kind of verb signifies a once only decision that, once made, is made forever. Once you go in you don’t ever come out – and why would a person want to? If it were a present imperative verb then it would be translated in English as “enter continually by the narrow gate.” This is important because it shows that once we enter the gate leading to eternal life with Jesus Christ we don’t have to continually do so – we’re already there! To turn back would be like being healed of cancer and then saying, “No, I think I like cancer better than perfect health.”
Notice also the second gate. It is wide, it’s way is broad, and it leads to destruction. The width of this way shows that there is a lot of traffic going through this gate. It’s a six lane highway, as it were, with many cars going through it, while the other gate is narrow with only a few. So it is with those who will gain eternal life with the Father, there will only be few in comparison with those whose life is leading down the highway of “destruction.” This Greek word behind “destruction” is also used as “ruin.” “Ruin” would aptly describe a person made in God’s image who takes the broad path that leads there. It signifies a complete waste.
Food for thought…
It’s not
difficult to see that the path leading to destruction is a much wider path than
the path that leads to life. So many are on the path to ruin
and destruction that its highway has
to be wide. Our society in its decadence and sin is on that highway, and
many don’t even know it. Those who do know typically don’t care. Of course
there are a handful who think they have taken the
narrow path, but the way they conduct their lives tells a different story. It’s
almost as if they think they’re heading from
What is the population of heaven? This passage doesn’t tell us, but it makes very clear the fact that only a minority choose it as the Bible presents it. Whatever the population is it’s far smaller than the population that takes the broad path which leads to destruction. Take the teachings of Jesus Christ and do something with them. Choose life by taking the road less traveled – the narrow gate, and use the Bible to get you there. It’s your roadmap. To not choose is to choose, and that choice is the life that leads to destruction and ruin. It ought to scare us all into evaluating exactly what road we’re on and making sure we are headed in the right direction.
Matthew 7:15-20… "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 "So then, you will know them by their fruits.
Commentary…
A prophet is one who speaks God’s words. In the Old Testament prophets proclaimed God’s word from God’s mouth and told of the future at times due to their incomplete canon of scripture. We have what God has said in our Bibles, so future predicting prophets do not need to exist today. Prophets today are those who preach and teach what God has said in His Word. With all the prophets among us today, Jesus says to beware of false prophets. A false prophet would obviously be one who didn’t proclaim God’s truth and/or twisted God’s words. Here is a clear example of our need to “judge” between true and false prophets, giving further credence to the fact that we are called to distinguish between right and wrong – to “judge” as it were.
When Jesus says that false prophets come in sheep’s clothing he means that they don’t always appear to be evil. They’re nice, well-dressed, and usually say just the right things. Inwardly these people are really wolves – an animal that tears its prey to pieces. How do we know who they are? “By their fruits you will know them.” This fruit usually consists of the lure of material wealth as a token of God’s blessing on their lives, and a continual call of attention to themselves through media and the use of promotion through celebrities. They are always more concerned with the promotion of themselves rather than God’s Word, and when they do speak God’s Word it always has a “twist” to it – a twist that orthodox prophets don’t put on it. These types of qualities are not found in true prophets any more so than apples are found growing on a peach tree.
The warning here is this: judge for yourselves who is the true prophet – the man who speaks God’s words. If he/she doesn’t speak from the Bible he/she speaks from their own twisted mind, and it’s always a promotion of self. They're wolves in sheep's clothing.
Food for thought…
I think the false prophets in Jesus’ day looked a bit different than they do today, but not much. The common thread in them is that all false prophets do not preach the Truth from God’s Word – the Bible. They may quote it to some extent, but that's generally all. Some are well-meaning while others intentionally twist the truth to suit their own fancies. The only way to determine who is true and who is false is to know the truth of God’s Word by studying it yourself and measuring it with what your preacher or priest proclaims as truth. If we just sit by and let others tell us what to believe without checking it for ourselves we might all end up the way the Branch Davidians did – the way the followers of Jim Jones ended up – dead! They all followed their misguided leader, wolves in sheep’s clothing, to physical and spiritual death. Why? Because they didn’t know the Truth enough to distinguish it from falsehood. Beware of false prophets, for they are on the radio, in the newspaper (usually Saturday’s religion section), and on the television. They are all around us causing us to heed the command of Jesus: Beware!
Matthew 7:21-23… "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. 22 "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.'
Commentary…
Continuing on with warning of false prophets Jesus warns that there are some who, after being led by a false prophet, claim to be actual followers of Jesus Christ. Jesus makes it clear that just because one thinks he is a follower of Christ this doesn’t make one a true Christian. Not everyone who says “Lord, Lord” (the double use signifying a heartfelt calling on God) will enter into God’s kingdom. Who does enter? Clearly it is those who do the will of the Father who is in heaven. Many make the claim to be followers of God, yet they do as they will and not as God wills. Jesus says there will be “many” on that day (the last day) who cry out to him in this way.
Those who cry out to Jesus appear to have great credentials to vouch for their supposed Christian beliefs. Verse 22 says that they preached in Jesus’ name, cast out demons, and worked miracles! – all in the name of Jesus. Since Jesus doesn’t correct them it appears that what they did was legitimate, but these are all works that any false prophet can perform. In the end times a powerful ruler will rise up who will work miracles – his power is given to him from Satan himself, and he will deceive many. He is called the "little horn" (Dan 7); "man of fierce countenance" (Dan 8); "the coming prince" (Dan 9); "the "beast" (Rev 13); and the "man of sin" (2 Thes. 2). His great power brings a great following, but his power is not “Christian.” This attests to the fact that false prophets are powerful. No wonder Jesus tells us to beware of them.
Jesus will tell these self-proclaimed “Christians” that he never even knew them. Then he commands that they leave his presence because they are people who practice lawlessness. These people contrast those of verse 21 who “do the will of the Father who is in heaven.” It seems this is the test of a true and false prophet, a true and false Christian. How sobering.
Food for thought…
It’s clear from Jesus’ words that not all people go into God’s eternal kingdom. God has given His words of instruction, and those who obey are truly His children. Jesus concludes his message in verses 24-27: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock. And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act upon them, will be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and it fell, and great was its fall.”
Make sure that your house is built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ. Make sure this is who you follow and that your claims to be a believer go deeper than mere words – follow them up with actions that are becoming of God’s children. Though works have no part in our salvation, they do provide the evidence of it. What will Jesus say to you on the last day? Will you be invited in, or will you be shunned? You can know for sure by following the one true God. His name is Jesus Christ.