The Spirit Of The Law, Part 3

As Jesus continued describing the Spirit of the law, He discussed spiritual show-offs, prayer and worry about material things. Let’s look at Matthew 6.

Religious Show Offs

What are our motives in doing good? Jesus taught that our motive should be to glorify God (Matthew 5:16) not to show off.

Take care not to practice your righteousness in the sight of people, to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 6:1 NASB)

What are some examples? Should we give to charity to show off or to glorify God?

So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:2-4 NIV)

What about exhibitionism in prayer?

And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. (Matthew 6:5-7 NKJV)

Is every public prayer forbidden? Did Jesus pray in public while resurrecting Lazarus? What was His motive?

Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” (John 11:41b-42 NLT)

What about vain repetitions?

In praying, don’t use vain repetitions as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking. Therefore don’t be like them, for your Father knows what things you need before you ask him. (Matthew 6:7-8 WEB)

What’s the difference between a vain repetition and a sincere repetition? The Greek for vain repetitions is one word, battologéo (ßatt??????) and means “to repeat the same things over and over, to use many and idle words, to babble.” [1]

[1] THAYER'S GREEK LEXICON, Electronic Database. Copyright © 2002, 2003, 2006, 2011 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission. BibleSoft.com

How did Jesus teach us to pray?

In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13 NKJV)

The original Greek word translated debts also means transgressions or sins. The last sentence is omitted by some, though similar words are found in the earliest church manual, the Didache.

Why is forgiveness so important?

If you forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you don’t forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your sins. (Matthew 6:14-15 CEB)

Do some people show off about fasting too? Notice that Jesus said when not if we fast.

When you go without eating, don't try to look gloomy as those show-offs do when they go without eating. I can assure you that they already have their reward. Instead, comb your hair and wash your face. Then others won't know you are going without eating. But your Father sees what is done in private, and he will reward you. (Matthew 6:16-18 CEV)

What about the pursuit of wealth?

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21 ESV)

Materialism & Material Worries

What about continually looking and lusting for more material things?

The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light within you is darkness—how deep is that darkness! No one can be a slave of two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot be slaves of God and of money. (Matthew 6:22-24 HCSB)