Part Two
Take heed that you do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise you have no reward of your Father which is in heaven (Matthew 6:1).
Copyright 2020 by H.D. Shively
Mountain
The Sermon on the Mount: A Training Manuel for Disciples
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth come by Jesus Christ. – John 1:17
Matthew Chapter Six
Take heed that you do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise you have no reward of your Father which is in heaven (Matthew 6:1).
Here God is warning us not to become a “spiritual show-off.” The root of this tendency to want to let others see how generous we are is pride and self-exaltation. As we shall see, these are the elements that hinder us from achieving the perfection, or maturity of character that the Lord has exhorted us to be in the previous chapter.
God is telling us here that He will reward selfless giving, with nothing attached to it but a desire to advance God’s kingdom and help others.
Therefore when you do your alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Truly I say unto you, they have their reward (Matthew 6:2).
I believe that Jesus is referring to practices of the religious leadership who were continually parading their supposed spiritual superiority before the people. Jesus is warning us not to be like those whose egos demand the praise of men. God will never reward any work that is done for the purpose of self-exaltation. The only reward these ones will receive is the temporary fleeting high of man’s praise that won’t even be remembered when standing at the judgment before God’s throne. God is showing us that our motives in our service to Him are extremely important.
But when you do alms, let not your left hand know what your right hand does: (Matthew 6:3).
The “left hand” can be a reference to the self that would like a little notoriety. The right hand is symbolic of that which operates with the correct motive of selfless giving that seeks no recognition or exaltation for something that is merely ones duty to do (Luke 17:10).
That your alms may be in secret: and your Father who sees in secret Himself shall reward you openly (Matthew 6:4).
When we give with the right motive, we can be rewarded two ways; at the Lord’s judgment and also in this life. When we give, God promises to provide for us as well. When we give to God with the right motives, never expecting anything in return, then He will take care of our needs and we can never lose.
And when you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward (Matthew 6:5).
Again, Jesus is using the practices of the religious leadership as an example of what not to do. Any act of religious piety that is done to try and impress others with your “spirituality” will not impress God, who is the only one we should be humbly seeking to please.
Do you really believe that God will hear any prayer that is being made to show off a pseudo spirituality?
But you, when you pray, enter into your closet, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father which is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly (Matthew 6:6).
Here Jesus is giving us an illustration of a true believer’s intimate relationship with God. The “closet” is symbolic of a quiet place, alone with the Lord, where petitions are to be made. It is in this relationship that prayers are heard and answered - “rewarded openly.”
Jesus has been contrasting those who are “religious,” people who have no genuine relationship with God, with the behavior He is seeking in those who are truly His.
But when you pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking (Matthew 6:7).
God does not want His people emulating the practices of the heathen; those who have no relationship with Him and are using a prayer technique that is used to communicate with devils.
The God who desires a relationship with His people, wants conversation, not religious chanting.
Do not be like them: for your Father knows what things you have need of, before you ask Him (Matthew 6:8).
When we ask God for something, He hears us the first time, because as Jesus reminds us, our Father knows every thought that comes into our minds before we even have the chance to speak them. It’s a wonderful thing to comprehend that God It’s a wonderful thing to comprehend that God knows us so intimately; that He hears every thought that comes into our minds, good and bad, and that He weighs the matters of our hearts.
When we ask Him for the things we need, He will answer those prayers according to His will, in our best interests and in His perfect timing. Sometimes it takes a while for the perfect answer to our prayers are orchestrated. We also need to discern when we are asking for something that will consume a lust. God will wait until the lust aspect has been purged from our desires and we can ask, not to consume a lust, but to genuinely be supplied with what we really need instead.
When we ask with faith and confidence, believing He will answer, we will have those things that we require according to His will. In the meantime, Jesus gives us an outline for prayer that is designed to cover our basic needs spiritually as well as physically.
After this manner therefore you pray: Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name (Matthew 6:9).
Our primary need above all other things is God Himself. The first two verses of “The Lord’s Prayer” are focused on putting God first before we ask Him for anything for ourselves or anyone else.
“Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name.” Our prayer which begins by acknowledging our relationship with God and a recognition of His holiness, leads us to praise Him. “Hallowed,” praise be Your name. We have a holy, wonderful Father who is worthy to be praised.
This prayer is based on a relationship between God and the petitioner. The relationship is defined by the word, “Father.” God wants us to approach Him as a child to a loving parent.
For some who have had abusive parents, this may be hard for them to do initially. We must learn not to transpose our experiences with faulty parenting onto the only perfect, loving Parent anyone can have. His character and nature is revealed in His Son, who came to give us a close, intimate relationship with this One who wants us to address Him as “Father.”
Jesus uses the word, “Father,” “Ab” in Hebrew, fifteen times in this sermon. Those He was addressing at that time were not used to hearing that word in relation to God very often. Their concept of Him was framed by the behavior and the attitudes of the religious leadership. Here Jesus is establishing and implanting a different picture of God in their minds; one of fatherly comfort apart from the Pharisee’s religious domination. Thus this prayer is inserted by design in the middle of Jesus’ instructions to the people on how not to model themselves after the hypocritical religious leaders.
“Our Father,” He is ours and the acknowledgement of His fatherhood brings us as little children into the throne of His lap, even though He resides in heaven.
His Person is so holy, He must remain in heaven and He cannot intermingle with humanity, except through His Holy Spirit, otherwise in our imperfect state we would be fried by His perfection. He operates through His Spirit which acts like an electrical cord. We can touch the cord, but not the power it is insulating. Therefore humans are able to interact and communicate with a holy God. Faith in Jesus enables the Holy Spirit to enter a believer, and that in turn enables God to indwell us, thus God is closer to us than our breath. He resides in us through His Spirit and we are His temple.
When we acknowledge that God’s position is so far above us, this humbles us and yet draws us upward to seek that which is so far beyond our humanity.
Your kingdom come. Your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).
“Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Again, before we ask anything for ourselves, we pray for what God wants first, His kingdom to come. That is a prayer for the salvation of mankind. God’s kingdom is made up of people who are walking in righteousness. When we pray for the souls of men to be saved and that prayer is answered, God’s kingdom is expanded.
We pray for His will to be accomplished on earth. His will is that mankind will be saved, and “as it is in heaven” people on earth should be obedient to Him as are those who are in heaven are obedient to Him. We must submit to God’s will in all things and trust Him that what we request will be fulfilled according to His will.
Praying that His will must come before our own will, has to be the prelude before any of our own requests are made. We must submit to God’s will in all things and trust Him that what we request will be fulfilled according to His perfect will and timing.
So often we pray for things that our Father knows are not in our best interests or not according to the plan He has for our lives. We need to understand this principle and recognize that sometimes when we pray it is with limited understanding. Submitting all our requests to His will, gives us the security that everything we ask will be sifted through His divine will and we will only receive what he knows is for our good and His purposes.
We can summarize these first two verses that center on putting God and His work first by skipping ahead to verse 33 which serves as the divine formula for success in this life and the provision for our needs. – “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things will be added
to you.”
Therefore, as the prayer continues, we pray with confidence, because if we are putting God first, we will have what we need. We have been assured that He knows what we need before we even make our requests. That thought alone should give us the assurance we need to approach our Father in heaven with humble assurance that He hears us and will answer or prayers according to His will.
Give us this day our daily bread (Matthew 6:11).
We acknowledge that God is the source of all our provisions. God will supply what we need for our survival on a daily basis. We don’t need to look that far ahead. We are to take one day at a time. We ask in faith, trusting that God will provide.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors (Matthew 6:12).
Included in this prayer is the request for God to forgive our sins, or debts; those things that we have done to offend God. God’s forgiveness of our sins is contingent on us forgiving others. Jesus reiterates this fact in verses 14 and 15 and provides a parable on this very important subject in Matthew 18:21-35.
Without demonstrating forgiveness on our part, Jesus tells us that God will not forgive us. When we cannot forgive, we are putting ourselves on a level above another. God sees all of us needing forgiveness equally. As He is willing to forgive us, He requires us to bestow the same mercy on those who have sinned against us. He wants us to be reflections of His mercy and forgiveness, which is all part of being conformed into the image of Jesus.
The parable in Matthew 18 is intended to illustrate this vital principle. –
Then came Peter to Him, and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?”
Jesus said to him, “I say not to you, until seven times: but, until seventy times seven.
Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought to him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’
Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe.’
And his fellow servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’
And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
Then his lord, after that he had called him, said to him, ‘O you wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt, because you asked me:
Should not you also have had compassion on your fellow servant, even as I had pity on you?’
And his lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due to him.
So likewise shall My heavenly Father do also to you, if you from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses (Matthew 18:21-35).
We can see from this illustration that God will not tolerate an unwillingness to share His grace and this is one requirement that is vital to our salvation. We cannot expect God’s mercy if we are not willing to give it.
From the cross Jesus’ prayed for God to forgive those who were causing His agonizing death. We are also among those who caused His death through our sins for “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
We are to emulate Jesus’ ability to forgive, knowing also that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13).
It is extremely difficult to forgive when we are the victims of some horrendous crime, yet this is what God requires. When we can do this with His help, we are raised above the torment of unforgiveness that poisons our souls. For when we cannot forgive, we are allowing ourselves to live in a bondage that God will not remove unless we are willing to let go and obey what He requires for our own welfare.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen (Matthew 6:13).
“And lead us not into temptation.” God does not tempt anyone, as we are assured by the Apostle James (James 1:13,14). We are tempted when we allow ourselves to be led by lust and not the Holy Spirit.
So in this prayer we are giving the Lord permission to remove those things that could cause us to sin. “Deliver us from evil.” Please, Lord, deliver us from operating in ways that would offend You.
Only God has the power to enter the human soul through His Spirit and change us into the people He wants us to be. In this prayer, which is so important, we are asking Him to make those changes in recognition that “Yours is the kingdom the power and the glory.” This prayer ends with praise, our focus on God Himself, just as the prayer has begun. Everything begins and ends with God.
After Jesus has shown us the model for prayer, He returns us to the subject of forgiveness, showing us again its importance to our relationship with God.
God’s kingdom is comprised of people who have received His plan of redemption through faith in the death (atonement) and resurrection of the Messiah Jesus. God’s kingdom is an inner kingdom; that is He dwells in the hearts of those who are in Christ, through His Holy Spirit. Those who are chosen through their faith to inhabit the place where God dwells, and are in indwelt by Him, have recognized their need for His forgiveness. In the following verse fourteen, Jesus reiterates and provides further enlightenment to verse twelve of the Lord’s Prayer.
For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: (Matthew 6:14).
The ability to be able to forgive others is related to our access to our Father’s forgiveness and our salvation. This is extremely important and is often overlooked when people are being instructed in the gospel.
But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses (Matthew 6:15).
Again we are reminded of Jesus’ parable in Matthew eighteen regarding the need to forgive. If we are to expect forgiveness from God for our sins, then we must also exhibit the same forgiveness to those who have sinned against us. No one is above another in this matter.
If you are harboring any perpetual unforgiveness and bitterness against anyone, eliminate this blockage to your relationship with God immediately. I know it is hard, especially when we have been hurt so deeply by another, but as Jesus said, without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5): even forgive. Mentally we can confess any sins, give them to Him and trust Him to give us the ability to forgive from the heart.
We are being conformed to His image, and that is the image of love. Love forgives, even when the heart has been sorely wounded. Jesus is the perfect example of this. He died for us while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8), while we were yet hurting Him and others. God wants us to be whole, and live in freedom from emotional bondages. When we forgive, we are cut free from those bondages and we can continue to grow in the Lord.
We can eventually forgive someone, but still experience the hurt from their actions. Give those wounds to God as well, and let Him heal them.
I reiterate; Jesus gives us the ability to do all these things, but He works with our wills. We have to want to let Him work in our lives. And it is vitally important for our spiritual health and welfare that we submit and cast our self-will at His feet. Too many profess Christ and refuse to do this vitally important step in our walk with the Lord. Instead, they operate in religious, bitter spirits that will not serve them well when they appear before the Lord at His judgment seat to give account of their actions and motives in this life. All of us must attend this event when our lives in this realm reach their conclusion.
In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus has revealed the intimacy, relationship and obedience that God requires. Jesus then returns us to His comparison of the religious hypocrites of His day, with the characteristics of a true disciple in regards to the practice of fasting or self-denial.
Moreover when you fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear to men to fast. Verily I say to you, they have their reward (Matthew 6:16).
The Pharisees never ceased to remind the laity of their supposed spiritual superiority. To them fasting was a status symbol and they made everyone know when they were depriving themselves for the Lord’s sake and His attention. The reverence they gained from the people from their religious show was the only reward they could receive, for God was not impressed, as He read the motives of their hearts which disqualified them from His approval.
But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face; (Matthew 6:17).
When you fast, let your demeanor be a stark contrast to those who deliberately adjust their outward appearance to gain the attention of men.
That you appear not to men to fast, but to your Father which is in secret: and your Father, which sees in secret, shall reward you openly (Matthew 6:18).
Your Father who sees in secret; who sees the hidden motives of the heart, discerns between those whose motives are sincere and those who are merely operating in religious pretensions. God will reward the spiritually sincere.
From verse one through eighteen of this chapter, God has been showing these three acts of worship; tithing, prayer and fasting and the proper motivations behind these actions that will be acceptable to Him.
In the midst of these instructions, God has inserted a prayer that begins with establishing the relationship between a believer and the object of his worship. God is our Father, and it is through this relationship that the very act of worship and service should arise.
Jesus has been revealing to us the contrast of those who worship in sincerity through a genuine relationship with God, and those who have no relationship and are merely putting on a religious show for the benefit of their own egos. What a spiritually horrible place to be in! Let’s take this moment to examine our hearts and pray for God to remove anything in us that even faintly resembles pharisaical religiosity. Let everything be done for God from a child’s heart, sincerely seeking to please a loving Father. Let our motives be pure before our God who sees into the deepest recesses of our beings. Let us be willing to knock down those walls of pride and religiosity. And - Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory (Philippians 2:3).
At the conclusion of this lesson, Jesus is about to change the focus of His discourse to the subject of faith and trust in God as they relate to our physical needs in this life. It is an important subject and it is the primary focus of the remainder of chapter six.
For a disciple to be effective in ministry, it is vitally important that he functions in a state of spiritual detachment from the things of this life.
I am reminded at this point of Jesus’ parable of the sower (Matthew 13:3-8). The seeds of God’s word that land among soil that is prone to producing thorns is the heart condition of one who is preoccupied about the cares and pleasures of this life. This person’s primary focus is not God and advancing His kingdom by bringing souls to Jesus.
The following verses are designed to help create in us the proper balance regarding the “cares of this life” that a disciple must have in order to be successful in ministry.
Jesus shows us that in order to acquire the things we need for ministry, we must begin by letting go.
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust does corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal (Matthew 6:19).
In other words, don’t put all your eggs in this life’s basket, children, because it’s all temporary and subject to dissipation at a moment’s notice. The Lord isn’t saying here not to have a savings account. He is telling us that our focus or life’s purpose should not be on gaining wealth, but on those things that advance the kingdom of God. A disciple should not be preoccupied with storing up material goods, especially if the acquisition of wealth is being motivated by a sense of insecurity or greed.
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust does corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: (Matthew 6:20).
When we put God’s work first, those things we do for Him are rewarded. We are accumulating a spiritual bank account with God that is permanent and secure, unlike the vulnerable treasures of this life that we could lose in an instant.
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Matthew 6:21).
If what you value the most are the things of God, then your treasure is in heaven, and your focus in ministry will not be divided or hindered. This is a very important principle to master. To be effective for the Lord’s service, our hearts cannot be divided between a love for God and a love for the things of this life.
I am again reminded of Jesus’ foundational parable of the sower. The seeds of His word that fell upon productive ground, but only produced the thorns and briers of the cares of this life, choked the word and it became unfruitful. The Lord is showing us the importance of keeping our spiritual gardens free of the weeds that can hinder our growth, distract us and make us not as effective in ministry as we could be.
I think many of us can start off a little choked by the things of this life. But as we mature and grow in the word we can see more clearly and be willing to let the Lord prune and weed our gardens of the heart.
The Lord goes on to show us the consequences of a divided heart.
The light of the body is the eye: if therefore your eye is single, your whole body shall be full of light (Matthew 6:22).
If what you really value is God’s kingdom above anything you see in this life, and if your treasure truly is in heaven, then your whole body is “full of light.” You are not allowing your ministry to be polluted by compromise. You are filled and fulfilled with the things of God.
But if your eye is evil, your whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! (Matthew 6:23).
“Evil” as the Lord sees it here is in reference to a divided heart. Remember when Jesus was being tempted, or tested in the wilderness? (Matthew 4:1-11). The devil offered Him the kingdoms of this world if Jesus would worship him in the place of God. People who have divided hearts harbor the darkness that enables the devil to motivate them in times of testing. It is vital that we examine our own hearts and make sure that the light that God has placed in our beings is not overcome by this darkness that we are being warned about in these verses.
As Jesus said in essence; it all goes back to where our gaze is focused. Do we prefer the things of men above the things of God? If we do, then that means the devil has a handle on us he can use against us in moments of weakness.
We are warned of a time that may very well be in the near future, when the prophesied one world government and its antichrist will force everyone to take his mark (Revelation 13, 14:9-11). The word says that those who refuse the mark of the beast, will not be able to buy and sell, or function in this life in the same manner in which they were accustomed. With the Lord’s help, the faithful will have to find other means of survival.
Those whose hearts are divided and not fully committed to the the Lord, are more susceptible to compromise and risk succumbing to a spiritually disastrous end, because: -
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (money) (Matthew 6:24).
Our God who knows the human heart better than any earthly psychologist, is showing us that in order to serve Him properly, we have to choose between Him and gaining wealth. This does not mean that it is wrong to be successful in business, but it does mean that if you are being faced with choosing God or hanging onto your material gains, you will abandon the temporary acquisitions of this life, rather than abandon your faith in order to hold onto them.
Those who are faithfully devoted to the Lord, God can prosper, for these ones use their wealth to help further the kingdom of God.
When the eye is focused on heaven, “single,” with one purpose, the soul is encased with a true security that the devil cannot penetrate and overcome.
To be spiritually successful is far more important than to be materially successful in this life.
To truly have a single eye and heart, it is vital that our trust in the Lord is implicit; for this is where the root of our singleness of mind begins. The remaining verses of this chapter are focused on the issue of trust. We can detach ourselves from being emotionally dependent on our material security, when we are emotionally, mentally and spiritually truly dependent on God, trusting Him to supply “our daily bread.”
Therefore I say to you, Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor yet for your body, what you shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? (Matthew 6:25).
You are of more value to God than the things you need, therefore you can trust that God will provide for those He loves and values so much.
Jesus continues to illustrate the principle of letting go and trusting God for your provision with a couple of examples from nature.
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they? (Matthew 6:26).
God provides for the birds and other animals by placing the things they need for their survival within their ability to locate them. No matter what our occupation is, God is telling us that the things we need are already in place for us. We just need to stop worrying and trust that they are there, because He values us and He will provide for His children.
Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? (Matthew 6:27).
No matter how hard we think, we have no power to make our bodies grow by our own efforts. Our physical height is not determined by us and we have no control over how tall we prefer to be. Likewise, sometimes we cannot control the circumstances that effect our livelihoods. These are the times when we have to remember the sparrows (Luke 12:6,7), and trust that as God naturally provides for them, He will also provide for us. He values us more than the animals which He gave to us for our provisions. It is trust that can activate His supply. God will feed us and He will clothe us. –
And why do you take thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: (Matthew 6:28).
The beautiful flowers of the field have done nothing on their own to be as beautiful as they are naturally. They are created and beautified by God alone.
And yet I say to you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these (Matthew 6:29).
Try and picture in your mind all of Solomon’s glory, the magnificent structures, cities and wealth, yet in God’s eyes none of it can compare with a single natural bloom of His design. Jesus is trying to adjust our perspectives. He wants you to see yourself as that simple, beautiful flower of His creation and know that the grandeur He sees in the flower of His creation is far more glorious than any of the material trappings that man deems as valuable. You are that flower God provides for that makes all of Solomon’s glory pale in comparison.
I picture Jesus smiling as He says this as if He is addressing the little children that we are. He also knows that most of what He is teaching us we are going to have to grow into. Get a grasp on this: the flowers are glorious and we are more glorious to God than they are: trust that He will provide for His garden.
Wherefore, if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? (Matthew 6:30).
The grass of the field withers and fades away, but He clothes us with the eternal covering of salvation which causes us to bloom forever. He has clothed us abundantly, with an eternal covering of His love. - For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (Matthew 6:31).
I know from my own experiences that many times I have been engineered into circumstances of great need, only to be bailed out at the last minute by unexpected provisions, sometimes even through complete strangers. God allows these things to help build our faith and trust as He grows the flower. So don’t be focused on where your provisions are going to come from, just trust that they are coming.
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things (Matthew 6:32).
You are a believer. Your attitude toward these things should be different than that of a non-believer, symbolized here by the reference to Gentiles. For your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things. We have to know that He knows, and trust that as a loving father provides for his children, God will also provide for us, sometimes in ways we do not expect because; “All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
When a non-believer is experiencing anxiety in adverse circumstances that may affect his material provisions, the trusting disciple can offer the contrast of a calm and steady heart and be an example of faith in times of duress. That’s what this whole exercise is for, children.
But you seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you (Matthew 6:33).
This is the only formula for success in this life a disciple is going to need.
The goal and purpose of the “single eye” and undivided heart, is to seek God’s things above our own and in pursuing and serving God we can trust that he will provide everything we need along the way.
We have to be aware of the fact that in order to be successful in this endeavor, we must be willing to crucify the lusts of the flesh and be willing to allow ourselves to be led by the Lord’s Holy Spirit. This will enable us to walk through the snares of the enemy of our souls without becoming entangled and trapped by his devices.
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient to the day is the evil thereof (Matthew 6:34).
In other words, don’t worry about tomorrow, and live one day at a time, accepting the challenges that each day brings with faith and trust in your God who has promised that He will never fail you not forsake you: Casting all your care upon Him; for He cares for you (I Peter 5:7).
PART THREE - MATTHEW CHAPTER SEVEN | Return to Chapter Five