Ash Wednesday (2)

Context

The sermon on the mount. We left of previously at the beatitudes. Jesus announced blessing upon the faithful, even though it seemed that they are not blessed.

He encouraged them to press on in faith and good deeds, to be like salt and light, so that people will give glory to God in heaven.

Now, keeping in this theme, Jesus teaches his disciples to practice their religion — with its pillars of almsgiving, prayer, and fasting — with a pure motive.

Text

Matthew 6:1–6 ““Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. “So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

Matthew 6:16–21 ““And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Introduction

Lent is a season of preparation for Easter.

Up in northern climes, preparation when the weather changes — opening the windows, tending the flower beds, cleaning the interior and exterior of the house after a hibernation.

Here in FL, a little less of that. But still some, especially after the unusual colds of late.

Symbolic level, a season of preparation for spiritual new life. The life that Christ will bring. We prepare ourselves by inward renewal. Opening, tending, cleaning the soul.

Jesus is inviting us to that real genuine spiritual process. He has come to give us new life.

Exegesis

Jesus on the Mount. Beatitudes. Let your light shine.

Then he focuses on the main practice of religious piety.

Giving - tithes and alms (offerings). Law of Moses: remember the poor, the orphan, and the widow.

Praying - speaking to God. The Law directed the people to pray privately and publicly, daily, on sabbath day.

Fasting - Abstaining from food. individually and communally, times of repentance, to cultivate hunger for righteousness. Law: Man does not live by bread alone.

Jesus expects his disciples will do these things. “WHEN” you do these things, not IF.

Yet, Jesus’ real concern is HOW they practice their piety.

Piety = reverence for God, typically “religion”

So he warns them: be careful that you do not practice your piety…. TO BE ADMIRED BY OTHER PEOPLE.

If you are doing it to be admired by people, then you are being a hypocrite.

The Greek word translated “hypocrite” means actor. Someone who is on stage pretending to be something he is not.

Ancient world: actors wore masks to symbolize the role they were playing. (Hence the smiling and frowning masks of today)

What is hypocritical about practicing one’s piety before others in order to be seen by them and admired by them?

You are portraying that you are reverencing God, seeking God’s favor…that is just a mask…really you are just trying to impress other people.

You are pretending to be something that you are not. Putting on an act.

Jesus holds up (probably) the clergy of his day as a negative example. Consider them, the hypocrites:

Giving - and making sure everyone sees how much goes in the plate…to be praised by others.

Praying elaborate, showy prayers. Be seen by others.

Disfiguring their faces and appearance when fasting. To show others.

Just a mask. It seems like it is for God, but really for other people.

So, People admire them. It looks good. That is the end result.

They get no reward from the Heavenly Father. They offered nothing to God for God to reward.

People liked the show. That is all that happened.

Implied question: Is not reverence for God more than a show?

Implied answer: Of course it is. Jesus knows his disciples want more. They want to connect with God. That’s why they are listening to him.

So, Jesus warns his disciples: Do not be like that.

You don’t have to be like that. You don’t have to put on a show…not for other people, certainly not for God.

Instead: You can act genuinely from the heart. Practice you righteousness for God.

He uses the strategy of secrecy.

When you give.

Don’t let your right hand know what your left hand is doing.

slight of hand. No one else sees it. The secret actions ensures that you do not want people’s approval.

When you pray. Go to the inner room and pray. ancient houses, no window panes. all rooms opened to the outside, excepr the inner room. Inner room, the inner heart of the house. couple would sleep. No one can see you there.

The secret place ensures that you are not praying for others to hear you.

When you fast. Wash your face. Comb your hair.

The hidden hunger ensures that you do not want others to be impressed.

You can do this because God, and God alone, knows what is done in secret. He is with you in that secret.

He sees the gift given, he alone.

He hears the prayer said, he alone.

He recognizes fast, he alone.

Because these were actions of reverence toward him…without contamination…he reward them.

Rewards the action with the corresponding result

Gift…it is received. Credited to heavenly treasury. Multiplied for use in this world.

Prayer…it is heard.

Fast…it results in deepened spirit.

In short, Jesus teaches his disciples…get the focus on God, engage with God.

Interpretation

The ancient crowd was just getting to know Jesus.. Just hearing his word that the Kingdom of God was at hand.

We know more about Jesus than they did.

We see a fuller vision of Jesus.

Jesus was the Son of God in the flesh.

He not only taught true reverence, secret reverence for God.

He lived it.

Jesus role modeled for us the power of secret, sure reverence for God.

Jesus owned little, he lived in poverty, owning only the one cloak that was taken from him when he was crucified. His whole life was a secret almsgiving to poor humanity. Only God could appreciate how much Jesus gave, when the Son of God gave himself up for us.

Jesus taught his disciples to pray, but only the Father in secret heard the prayer Jesus uttered so many night alone, only the Father heard the agonized prayer in inner room of Gethsemane and understood the depth of the prayer on the cross, when the Son of God said, My God why have you forsaken me?

Jesus fasted regularly, but only the Father who saw in secret could appreciate how Jesus not only went without food and water, but fasted from the glory and the wealth and the honor and plenty of heaven.

Jesus was reverent. His strategy was secrecy. He did all things, trusting that heavenly father who sees what is in secret and rewards.

His father rewarded him in public.

For his secret giving up of himself…gave new life…to him and to share it with us.

For his secret prayers…answered…for his church has been established.

For his secret fasting…given him all heaven and earth.

Like the crowds we are taught by Jesus — reverence God, God only, trust in him and he will reward you.

By Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, we are given a certainty the ancients had to wait for.

We know that we can genuinely engage with God, because he had genuinely engaged with us through his Son, Jesus, and gives us all blessings in him.

Application

Forty day from now we will celebrate Easter. Jesus will die and rise again.

Now we are offered the call, to orient ourselves to God through Christ.

We spend so much of our time trying to please others, worrying about displeasing them.

Jesus invites us to set that aside. Now we go into the secret place. Like Jesus showed us. It is about us and God.

We spend so much time trying to please ourselves, worrying about displeasing/discomforting ourselves.

Jesus invites us to set ourselves aside. Now, like Jesus we are to be willing to give of ourselves, to pray, to fast, to not please ourselves to not fear working ourselves, for God will reward us.

Lenten practices

giving. In the basket. Online percentage. To a local charity. Giving to God.

praying. Where no one can see you hear you. God hears. He will take action.

fasting.

worship

Education

Fellowship

Service

Crosses of Intention

Jesus was fully engaged with me

I will be engage with him.

Can be worn in secret. Can be held. In pocket. We can wear them openly here at church. Strength in community.

Conclusion

Lent is a season of preparation for the life that Christ will bring. We prepare ourselves by inward renewal. Opening, tending, cleaning the soul.

Jesus is inviting us to that real genuine spiritual process. He has come to give us new life.