Matthew 6: Sermon on the Mount (Part 2)

Matthew 6: Sermon on the Mount (Part 2)

Collin Leong. March 2, 2025

This is the continuation of the sermon from Chapter 5.  Here Jesus thought us about giving, prayer, fasting. treasures in heaven, and not to worry. 

v1-4: Giving to the Needy

Jesus warns against performing righteous acts (like giving to the needy) just to be noticed by others. The motivation should be genuine, not for public recognition. If you do it for the purpose to boast or to get people to think your are righteous, then you have received your reward, and God will not reward you in heaven. (v1-2)

Jesus teach us to give to the needy in secret. The phrase "do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing" is a metaphor for being discreet and humble about one's charitable acts. Then when God sees you doing this in the right intentions, He will reward you in heaven. (v3-4)

The people would have known God will reward them for giving to the poor from Proverbs 19:17 - "Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done."

The apostles also picked up from the Lords teaching, and told the church to do the same. Examples are: 

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 - "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

Acts 20:35 - "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

v5-15: How to Pray

Jesus told the crowd not to be a hypocrites, who prays standing the synagogues and street corners to be seen by others. Instead, you should go into your room and pray to your Father, who is (also) unseen. God will reward you when you do this in secret. (v5-6)

You should not babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard by God with many words. The Father knows what you need before you ask him. (v7-8)

When Jesus talks about "babbling," He is cautioning against the use of empty, repetitious words in prayer, similar to what non-believers praying to idols might do. The Greek word used here is "battalogeo," which means to speak without thinking, to use many words without meaning, or to babble aimlessly.

Jesus thought them the framework of a general prayer, which is now called the "Lord's Prayer": 

“ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ "   (v9-13)

The breakdown of the framework are:

1. Addressing God: Acknowledging and honoring God's holiness and position. I usually thank Him first for the blessings for today, and recall how he had helped me accomplish the task today. 

2. God's Will and Kingdom: Committing to God's will and His coming kingdom. I would add on the purpose He has given to me, or ask Him to clarify or help me in His calling. 

3. Daily Needs and Provision: Asking for ours and others' needs, including financial, health and salvation.

4. Forgiveness: Confess our sins and ask for forgiveness, and to also think of others that we should forgive. 

 

5. Protection from temptation and from evil one. I usually end with my plans for tomorrow, and ask God to take away barriers and give me success. 

Luke 11:2-4 also presented a shorter version of the Lord's prayer, when a disciple asked Jesus how to pray. 

Jesus added that they need to forgive those who sin against them, so that the Father will forgive you. If we don't forgive, then the Father will not forgive our sins. (v14-15)

The difference in Jesus' prayer from the Old Testament prayers are:

1. OT refers to God as "Lord" or "God Almighty.".  Jesus refers to God as "Our Father", a more personal reference.    

2. OT prayer focus on specific needs, such as deliverance from enemies; Jesus emphasize on God's coming kingdom and His purpose to be realized for the world. 

3. OT prayers for forgiveness of their own sin are common, but Jesus' focus on forgiving others who hurt us. 

v16-17: Fasting

Jesus told them not to look somber (gloomy, mournful) like hypocrites do, to show others they are fasting. But they should put oil on their head and wash their faces, so that they look normal and joyful to others. (v16-17) In those times, anointing with oil and washing one's face were common practices for personal grooming and hygiene.

When the Father what you did in secret, will reward you. (v18)

Fasting is also important for the Christians in the New Testament books. Such as Acts 13:2-3, where they prayed and fast as they sought the Holy Spirit guidance. They also fast when they prayed when they appoint and commit church leaders. (Acts 14:23).  Paul himself fasted when he underwent distress, tribulations, and imprisonment. (2 Corinthians 6:4-5).

As Christians, we are encouraged to fast when seeking God's guidance, mourning for our sin or major disasters, interceding for others, and special seasons such as Lent. which commemorates the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness.

v19-24: Treasures in Heaven

Jesus told them not to store up treasures on earth, for it is temporary and can be destroyed or stolen. It is better to store your treasures in heaven, where it is permanent. He said "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (v19-20). A similar message can be found in Luke 12:33-34. 

Proverbs 23:4-5 says ""Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle."

1 Timothy 6:7 said the same: "For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it."

"The eye is the lamp of the body," Jesus said to them. If the eye is healthy, then the body will be full of light. But if the eye is unhealthy, then the body will be full of darkness.

The "eye" here can be seen as a metaphor for one's focus or perspective. Having a "healthy eye" implies having a clear, generous, and spiritually-focused perspective, which illuminates what are the right things to do. In contrast, an "unhealthy eye" implies a self-centered, materialistic, or spiritually blind perspective, bringing wrong decisions for your life.

The last sentence in 23b says: "if the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!"   The "light" represents one's inner spiritual and moral compass, while "darkness" signifies spiritual blindness, corruption, or moral failure.

If someone believes they are enlightened or spiritually guided but are actually living in darkness (i.e., their perspectives and actions are corrupt or misguided), then their condition is even more dire. This is because they are not only in darkness but are also deceived into thinking they are in the light. Such self-deception leads to a deeper and more pervasive kind of darkness.

The passage above emphasizes the importance of maintaining a spiritually sound perspective in order to prioritize heavenly treasures over earthly ones. That's why Jesus conclude that we cannot serve two masters - we have to choose who we will devoted to, and despise the other. We cannot serve both God and money.  (v24)

Money itself is not evil. It is the love of money that can lead to various wrongdoing and steering them from their faith and ethical principles. Timothy 6:10 states, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."

The writer of Hebrew said: "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'" (Hebrews 13:5)

v25-34  Do Not Worry

When Jesus told them not to focus on worldly treasure, it may have cause people to worry about how to meet their family daily needs.  Jesus followed by asking them not to be concerned about their life, or basic needs such as food, drink, or clothes. (v25)

If God feeds the birds, which did not sow or reap or store away food, then God will definitely provide for them as they are more valuable to God. Worries will not add a single hour to your life. (v25-27)

If God provides beautiful petals to the flowers (ESV: "lilies") of the field that are more beautiful that what Solomon wears in his splendor, though they did not toil nor spin, then they should not worry about their clothes. If God clothes the grass, which has a short life time, then He will surely provides clothing and shelters to them. (v28-30)

The pagans run after all these things, but God knows what we need. Rather, Jesus told them to "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (v31-33)

Jesus is emphasizing that when we prioritize our relationship with God and align our lives with His will, He will take care of the rest. As we grow spiritually, our perspective on material things and reliance of God changes. This alignment brings about a sense of peace and assurance that God will take care of our material needs.

In conclusion, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (v34). 

Jesus acknowledges that life has its difficulties, but He wants us to avoid the anxiety that comes with trying to control the future. By focusing on today and trusting in God, we can experience peace and reduce our worries.

In essence, Jesus is encouraging us to trust in God's provision and to focus on seeking His kingdom rather than being consumed by worry about our daily needs.

The apostles had also written about anxieties, and how to reduce it: 

Philippians 4:6-7: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

1 Peter 5:7: "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

For us, the peace of God through prayer, and knowing that He cares for us, will overcome our worries and anxiety.