Matthew Chapter 6

Mathew Chapter 6

Okay, the Sermon on the Mount keeps going, for a couple more chapters.  Don’t get me wrong, there is some good advice in here, but it is hard to sum up, because it kind of jumps around. 

Jesus instructs us to give charity secretly, anonymously, without everyone knowing.  God will know and that is your reward.  So don’t boast over how good you are giving to those in need or God won’t reward you.

Along those lines don’t pray in the synagogues and on the street where you can be seen.  They’ll get theirs.  You should pray in secret, in your closet, where only god can see you.  Love this, take that  church goers, who look down on those who don’t go to church!  Jesus, at this point anyway, is not about gathering in buildings to pray.  It could be because his following was a little frowned upon and he was protecting his flock, but I like the idea that shouldn’t pray just to be seen.  

And when you pray don’t repeat yourself to making your prayers longer or ask for too much.  God knows what you need.

Oh and then it’s the Lords Prayer!

So people, pray like this: Holy father in heaven, we do our best for you as you would do in heaven, give us food and forgive our debts, and we will do the same, don’t tempt us, but lead us away from evil, you are the power, the world and everything, forever.  Amen.

 If you forgive others, then god will forgive you, but if you don’t forgive others god won’t forgive you.  When you fast, don’t be sad and disfigure your face.  Instead wash your face.  The hypocrites will get theirs.  Fast in secret and god will reward you openly.

Don’t worry about earthly treasures which can rust and get eaten by bugs and can be stolen. But think of the treasures of heaven which are rust proof and bugs don’t eat.  Treasure is in your heart.

The light in your body is seen in eye, so even if you only one eye your body is full of light. Unless you have an evil eye, in which case the light is a terrible darkness!  Spooky! 

We can’t have two Gods, because you will love one and hate the other, you can’t serve God and mammon.  And mammon is not capitalized, which is kind of a dis to Mammon the false god of wealth.

So don’t think about what you eat and drink, life is more than food and drink. God feeds the birds in the sky who don’t reap or sow or gather in barns.  Are we better than them because we think?  What about the lilies in the field, who neither toil nor spin?  Even regal Solomon wasn’t as lovely as they are.

God made the grass in the field that we burn in the oven, are we more than that, ye of little faith? So we shouldn’t think about food and drink and cloths, god knows we have need of all of these things.  But if you try to be good and do gods work, these things will be provided.

So don’t think about tomorrow, it will take care of itself, each day brings its own evils.