Sermon on the Mount/Matthew Chapters 6:16-24/Commentary

The Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 6:16-24/Lesson Eight 6:16 "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” “Whenever you fast”: Jesus assumed that His followers would fast (Matthew 9:15), yet the Bible does not give us any specifics as to set times and durations for fasting. “Do not put on a gloomy face”: When the Pharisees and Scribes fasted their practice was to look dismal. “They may have neglected personal hygiene, or covered their heads with sackcloth, or perhaps smeared their faces with ashes in order to look pale, wan, melancholy and so outstandingly holy” (Stott p. 139). “To be seen fasting by men”: We can do all the right things but with the wrong motivation (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). We need to nip selfishness in the bud because it can corrupt everything we do, even our worship. The Pharisees were without excuse, for God had condemned hypocritical fasting in the Old Testament (Isaiah 58; Joel 2:13; Zechariah 7:1-7). “They have their reward in full”: That is, the human praise they received for appearing so holy was all the praise they would get. Keep this verse in mind when religious people corrupt the word of God and find great success in the religious world. Do not get discouraged by groups that grow at the expense of truth, or speakers who speak to huge crowds with a watered down gospel. What you are seeing is all the reward that they are going to get.

Some notes on Fasting The only commanded fast in the Old Testament was upon the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:29-34; 23:26-32; Numbers 29:7). In addition to this, the Pharisees had invented specific days for private fasting on every Thursday (when they said Moses ascended Mount Sinai) and on every

Monday (when they said he came down; see Luke 18:12). Jesus pointed out that the Pharisees did this to secure a reputation for great holiness among the people. In the Old Testament fasting was termed “to afflict your soul”. Hence fasting, among other things, was to humble one’s spirit and obtain the victory over selfishness, pride, and evil desires. Paul said that he buffeted his body and made it his slave (1 Corinthians 9:27). He also noted that like the athlete, Christians must learn to exercise selfcontrol in all things. “This is neither masochism (finding pleasure in selfinflicted pain), nor false asceticism, nor an attempt to win merit. We have no cause to punish our bodies (for they are God’s creation), but must discipline them to make them obey us. And fasting is one way of increasing our self-control” (Stott p. 138).

Fasting is something that cannot be regulated because it depends upon what each individual is experiencing in their own lives.

6:17-18 "But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face 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” That is, brush your hair and wash your face. God does not want anyone to know that we are fasting. “For the purpose of fasting is not to advertise ourselves but to discipline ourselves, not to gain a reputation for ourselves, but to express our humility before God. If these purposes are fulfilled, it will be reward enough” (Stott p. 139). “Take any measure necessary to appear as you normally do daily, so that your fasting might never be noticed by men. Anointing one’s head is an allusion to the use of various oils as a refreshing skin protection against the dry hot air of Palestine” (Fowler p. 361).

We should note that fasting, in and of itself has no moral or spiritual value (Colossians 2:23). The same is true for prayer and all other religious activities. The Pharisees fasted regularly and were never improved.

Fasting is only of value when combined with a humble attitude and a real desire to please only God. 6:19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal” “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth”: “Hypocrisy deceives others, yet it deceives the person guilty of it most of all. From the deception of others Jesus now turns to the deception of self” (Lenski p.

274). In the immediate context, one “treasure” that too many people seek is human fame and praise. “Treasure” does not have to be

something material or physical, such as money or possessions, it can also take the form of status, the praise of men, a hobby or being viewed as really spiritual. “No matter what it is, or how small it is, if it is everything to you, that is your treasure, that is the thing for which you are living. Not only love of money, but love of honor, the love of position, the love of status, the love of one’s work in an illegitimate sense, whatever it may be, anything that stops with this life and this world. These are the things of which we must be wary, lest they become our treasure” (Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, Jones p. 81).

“Do not lay up for yourselves”: What makes man desire to hoard up the treasures of earth? Notice the statement, “for yourselves”. People may put all the emphasis on material wealth for a variety of personal and selfish reasons, such as worry, insecurity, status, keeping up with the Jones’.

God is just as much interested in our public life as our private life.

Everything we do, even things like shopping, making investments, and so on, is to be done in a Christian manner. Once again in this sermon we see a great contrast between Christianity and the value systems of the world.

We have seen the truth opposed to religious hypocrisy (6:1-18), and now the truth opposed to the materialism of the irreligious (6:19-34). “But how shall we make our choice? Worldly ambition has a strong fascination for us. The spell of materialism is hard to break. So in this section Jesus helps us to choose well. He points out the folly of the wrong way and the wisdom of the right. As in the previous sections, so here regarding ambition, He sets the false and the true over against each other in such a way as to invite us to compare them and see for ourselves” (Stott p. 154).

“Where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal”: We might call this first argument from the lips of Jesus as being one of common sense, yet one that people often refuse to believe even though it is obvious. Of course one cannot take anything with them, every material thing is temporary, and no material object or goal can bring final and lasting happiness. This is not a ban on possessions or owning private property (Acts 5:4). Neither does Jesus condemn “saving for a rainy day”.

On the contrary, the Bible praises the ant for storing in the summer the food it will need in the winter, and declares that the believer who makes no provision for his family is worse than an unbeliever (Proverbs 6:6; 1 Timothy 5:8). In addition, we are not to despise, but rather to enjoy the good things which our Creator has given us richly to enjoy (1 Timothy 4:3).

What Jesus is condemning is the selfish accumulation of goods, or placing the gathering of material wealth ahead of serving God (6:33). “In those days moths would get into people’s clothes, rats and mice eat the stored

grain, worms take whatever they put underground, and thieves break into their home and steal what they kept there. Nothing was safe in the ancient world. And for us moderns, who try to protect our treasure by insecticides, rat poison, mouse-traps, rust-proof paints and burglar alarms, it disintegrates instead through inflation or devaluation or an economic slump” (Stott p. 155). In addition, even the best “rust-proofing”, oil-based paint or treated wood will eventually rust and rot. Anyone who lives at the beach has learned this lesson. Even if something does last a lifetime, we still cannot take it with us (Job 1:21). By the way, Jesus also remains man, that in one’s greed to lay up earthly treasures, do not forget about the greed of others, who, despite all one’s precautions, is able to relieve one of one’s possessions.

6:20 "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal” “Just as the negative present imperative may mean, ‘stop treasuring’, so the positive may mean, ‘start treasuring’” (Lenski p. 276). These treasures are described in 6:33, that is, anything that is part of God’s kingdom and His righteousness. Thus, laying up treasure in heaven would include practicing everything that Jesus has taught thus far (Matthew 5-6). Laying up treasure in heaven is the same as being “rich toward God” (Luke 12:21), and nothing can corrupt this treasure (except our own unfaithfulness). Compare with Mark 10:29-30; 2 Corinthians 4:16ff; 1 Peter 1:4). Hence, the only sure and safe investment in life is eternal life.

Treasures in heaven equally include investment in our family, our marriage, teaching our children about God, talking to a neighbor about the gospel and so on.

Revelation 14:13 “And I heard the voice from heaven saying, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; for their works follow with them.”

There is no risk in serving God. If it's a safe investment you're after, nothing could be safer than this.

Luke 12:33 “Sell that which ye have, and give alms; make for yourselves purses which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief draweth near, neither moth destroyeth” Hebrews 10:34 “For ye both had compassion on them that were in bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of you possessions,

knowing that ye have for yourselves a better possession and an abiding one” 1Peter 1:4 “unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you” In addition, we will gain for more than we ever have invested (Romans 8:18). Some claim that serving God is not practical, yet in reality, what isn’t practical is not serving Him. Is it practical to invest your whole lifetime in things that will only decay and end up lost in time? Is it practical to sacrifice all only to lose it all?

6:21 “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”: What a powerful verse! Guard your heart (goals, dreams, desires, and thoughts) carefully, for what is in your heart will determine what you treasure. Therefore, our present priorities do reveal the condition of our heart. What we currently place before other things, what we make room for in our schedule, what we will not miss, what we will sacrifice for—is our current treasure. “Choose your treasure well, because, for good or ill, it will take your heart with it!” (Fowler p. 373).

The heart is with the treasure, and the mouth speaks what is in the heart (Matthew 12:34). The heart is with the treasure and the mouth will soon reveal where the heart is, and if our conversations didn't tell on us, our schedules will.

Carefully observe that the progression in corruption in this section. First the heart is affected (6:21), and then the mind and perspective (6:22), and then finally the will (6:24).

Some Self Examination What does a man consider to be his true wealth?

How much does he think it is worth?

Whose does he think it is?

Can he live without it?

Am I strongly resolved to become comfortably wealthy?

Am I in a hurry to be that way?

Do I regard my neighbor’s thriving prosperity with envy and discontent?

Do I trust my money to get me whatever I want?

Are my time, conversation and dreams spent chiefly upon earthly projects?

Do I grow angry, out of sorts or discontented when for any reason I fail to realize my financial goals, suffer losses or poverty sets in?

Am I willing to sacrifice my conscience or neglect my duty to better my financial picture or to hold my present condition?

When in trouble, to what do I turn for relief?

6:22 "The lamp of the body is the eye; if therefore your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light” The eye (which here includes the mind, perspective and heart) is the means by everything is evaluated. Compare with Psalm 119:10,19. In this context, “eye” and “heart” seem to be used interchangeably. Jesus tells us to have our “heart” in the right place (21), to the importance of having our “eye” sound and healthy. “The argument seems to go like this: just as our eye affects our whole body, so our ambition (where we fix our eyes and heart) affects our whole life. Just as a seeing eye gives light to the body, so a noble and single-minded ambition to serve God and man adds meaning to life and throws light on everything we do. Again, just as blindness leads to darkness, so an ignoble and selfish ambition plunges us into moral darkness. It makes us intolerant, inhuman, ruthless and deprives life of all ultimate significance” (Stott p. 157).

“The eye is probably to be identified with man’s intellect, his conscience, his moral vision, his viewpoint, his way of looking at things, his philosophy.

The ‘body’ becomes that major part of man, which is affected by his outlook. The ‘light’ and ‘darkness’ then stands for the degree to which the man comprehends realty as it actually is” (Fowler p. 376). “Clear”: That is, sound or healthy.

6:23 "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!”

“Bad”: The term here generally means, “wicked, evil, worthless”. In the context, a “bad” outlook on life is one that places material possessions ahead of God. “How great is the darkness”: Notice that this whole section is about choices. If we are born depraved, then how could our eye ever be good? If we are born depraved, then we are already in darkness and cannot do anything about it. There is a stern warning here. If we do not put God first, then our entire life will be affected that such a decision. Our entire perspective about everything, from money, to marriage, to the purpose of life will be perverted. One cannot dabble in sin and remain unchanged. “If our vision becomes clouded by the false gods of materialism, and we lose our sense of values, then our whole life is in darkness and we cannot see where we are going” (Stott p. 158). Here is another benefit to laying up treasure in heaven, that is, such a choice greatly affects our present life. I often wonder, how can people in the world be so shortsighted when it comes to marriage or raising their children. This verse answers that question. When things are placed first, darkness enters into every aspect of our life, including, all your relationships. Therefore, we should not be shocked that the man who admires worldly accomplishments, is the man who does not know how to treat his wife or raise his children.

Mark 7:21-22 “For from within, out of the heart of men, evil thoughts proceed, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, covetings, wickednesses, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, railing, pride, foolishness” Colossians 3:1-2 “If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth” Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to be wellpleasing unto Him; for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that seek after Him” 6:24 "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” “No man can serve two masters”: First, it is simply assumed that man was created to serve and that everyone will serve something or someone.

Even the person who claims, “I am my own man”, is still serving something (Romans 6:13-16). It is also assumed that people will try to serve two masters! Note how much of the Sermon on the Mount is a contrast between two choices, two ways or two paths in life. There are two basic treasures (earthly and heavenly), two basic mindsets, two ways (7:13-14), and two basic masters. “Some people disagree with this saying of Jesus.

They refuse to be confronted with such a stark and outright choice, and see no necessity for it. They blandly assure us that it is perfectly possible to serve two masters simultaneously, for they manage it very nicely themselves. Either they serve God on Sundays and mammon on weekdays, or God with their lips and mammon with their hearts, or God in appearance and mammon in reality, or God with half their being and mammon with the other half. It is the popular compromise solution which Jesus declares to be impossible” (Stott p. 158).

“For either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other”: The reason for this is because the orders given by God and the orders given by the world are diametrically opposed to each other. “One commands you to walk by faith, the other to walk by sight; the one to be humble, the other to be proud; the one to set your affections on things above, the other to set them on the things that are on the earth; the one to look at the things unseen and eternal, the other to look at the seen and temporal…the one to be careful for nothing, the other to be all anxiety; the one to be content with such as you have, the other to enlarge your desires as the grave; the one to be ready to distribute, the other to withhold; the one to look at the things of others, the other to look at one’s own things; the one to see happiness in the Creator, the other to seek it in the creature” (Fowler p. 379). Carefully look at this verse, here is the end result for the person who tries to hold out on God. The man or woman who does not fully commit to God, but rather starts buying into the arguments of the world will end up resenting Christianity.

Someone might be tempted to say, “There is no danger in me laying up treasure on earth, because what I am able to lay up is so little compared to others”. Yet such misses the point, those with meager resource can be just as greedy as a person who has many material goods.

“Mammon”: “Mammon” is an Aramaic word for “wealth, property and riches”. In addition, instead of picking some pagan deity, Jesus picked a “god” that man has served from the beginning to time and that people will serve until the end of time (1 Timothy 6:9ff; 2 Timothy 3:2ff). In fact, God simply calls “greed” by the name “idolatry” (Colossians 3:5).