On Almsgiving and
Prayer
Matt 6:1-6
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1 TAKE good heed that you
do not your justice before men, to be seen of them: otherwise reward you shall
not have with your Father which is in heaven. 2 Therefore when you do an
alms-deed, sound not a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the
synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honored of men: Amen I say to
you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you do an alms deed, let
not your left hand know what your right hand does: 4 that your alms-deed
may be in secret, and your Father which sees in secret, will repay you. 5
And when you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites that love to stand and
pray in the synagogues and corners of the streets, that they may be seen of
men: Amen I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But you when
you shall pray, enter into your chamber, and having shut the door, pray to your
Father in secret: and your Father which sees in secret, will repay you.
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The Our Father
(Lord’s Prayer)
Matt 6:7-13 Luke 11:1-4
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Matthew 6
7 And when you are praying,
speak not much, as the heathen. For they think that in their much speaking they
may be heard. 8 Be not therefore like to them, for your Father knows what
is needful for you before you ask him. 9 Thus therefore shall you pray. Our
Father which is in heaven, sanctified be your name. 10 Let your kingdom
come. Your will be done, as in heaven, in earth also. 11 Give us today our
supersubstantial bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive
our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from
evil. Amen.
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Luke
11
1 AND it came to pass, when he was in a certain place
praying, as he ceased, one of his Disciples said to him, Lord teach us to pray,
as John also taught his disciples. 2 And he said to them, When you pray, say, Father, sanctified be your Name. Your
kingdom come. 3 Our daily bread give us this day. 4 And forgive us our sins,
for because ourselves also do forgive every one that is in debt to us. And lead us not into temptation.
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Lapide St.
Matthew adds this prayer to the Sermon on the Mount, whilst St. Luke places it
at a later period. Either, therefore, Christ taught His disciples this prayer
on two separate occasions, or St. Matthew added it to the Sermon on the Mount,
in order to make that sermon a complete summary of evangelical doctrine. Here
we may observe that St. Matthew makes this prayer consist of seven petitions,
but St. Luke of five. The latter evangelist unites two, because they are
contained in the others. Hence, because St. Luke omits the last petition,
“deliver us from evil…. This supersubstantial, or daily bread, is a
parallel expression to the Hebrew דבר יום davar yom, “the thing, or matter of a
day.” S. Jerome’s reason for translating ε̉πιούσιον literally, by
supersubstantial, was to indicate that in this petition we ask above all for
heavenly bread, such as we receive in the Eucharist.
Weaved
Together Matthew 6:7 And whenever ye
pray, be not babblers, as the heathen; for they think that by the abundance of
their words they shall be heard. Matthew 6:8 Then be not ye now like them: for
your Father knows your request before ye ask him. Luke 11:1b One of his
disciples said unto him, Our Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his
disciples. Luke 11:2a Jesus said unto them, Thus now pray ye now: Matthew 6:9
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be your name. Matthew 6:10 Your
kingdom come. Your will be done, as in heaven, so on earth. Matthew 6:11 Give
us the food of today. Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgave
those that trespassed against us. Matthew 6:13 And bring us not into
temptations, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom, and
the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.
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On
Forgiving
Matt 6:14-15 Mark
1:25-26
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Matthew 6
14 For if you will forgive men
their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you also your offenses. 15
But if you will not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive you your
offenses.
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Mark
11
25 And when you shall stand to pray, forgive if you have
aught against any man: that also your Father which is in heaven, may forgive
you your sins.26 If so be that you will not forgive, neither will your Father
that is in heaven, forgive you your sins.
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St.
Augustine Mark introduces some matters
which are not found in any of the other evangelists, but also some which occur
in Matthew as well, and some which we come across in like manner both in
Matthew and in Luke. Those other evangelists, however, bring in these matters
in different connections, and in another order of facts, and not at this
particular point when the statement was made to Christ about the man who did
not follow Him along with the disciples, and yet was casting out devils in His
name. My opinion, therefore, is, that the Lord did really utter sayings in this
connection, according to Mark’s attestation, of which he also delivered Himself
on other occasions, and this for the simple reason, that they were sufficiently
pertinent to this expression of His mind which he gave here, when He forbade
the placing of any interdict upon the working of miracles in His name, even
although that should be done by a man who did not follow Him along with His
disciples. (St. Augustine Harmony of the
Gospels 4.6)
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16 And when you fast, be not as
the hypocrites, sad. For they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto
men to fast. Amen I say to you, that they have received their reward. 17 But
you when you do fast, anoint your head, and wash your face: 18 that you appear
not to men to fast, but to your Father which is in secret: and your Father
which sees in secret, will repay you.
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True Riches
Matt 6:19-21 Luke 12:33-34
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Matthew 6
19 Heap not up to yourselves
treasures on the earth: where the rust and moth do corrupt, and
where thieves dig through and steal. 20 But heap up to
yourselves treasures in heaven: where neither the rust nor moth does corrupt,
and where thieves do not dig through nor steal. 21 For where your
treasure is, there is your heart also.
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Luke
12
33 Sell the things that you possess, and give alms. Make to
you purses that wear not, treasure that wastes not in heaven: where the thief
approaches not, neither does the moth corrupt. 34 For where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also.
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Weaved
Together Luke 12:32 Be
not agitated, little flock; for your Father has delighted to give you the
kingdom. 43 Luke 12:33a
Sell your possessions, and give in alms; take to yourselves purses
that wax not old. Matthew 6:19 Lay
not up treasure on earth, where moth and worm corrupt, and where thieves break
through and steal: Matthew 6:20 but
lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where moth and worm do not corrupt,
nor thieves break through nor steal: Matthew 6:21 for
where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.
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The Sound Eye
Matt 6:22-23 Luke 11:33-36
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Matthew 6
22 The candle of your
body is your eye. If your eye be simple, your whole body shall be lightsome. 23
But if your eye be naught: your whole body shall be darksome. If then the light
that is in you be darkness: the darkness itself how great shall it be?
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Luke
11
33 No man lights a candle, and puts it in secret, neither
under a bushel: but upon a candlestick, that they that go in may see the light.
34 The candle of your body, is your eye. If your eye be simple, your whole body
shall be lightsome: but if it be naught, your body also shall be darksome. 35
See therefore that the light which is in you be not darkness. 36 If then your
whole body be lightsome, having no part of darkness: it shall be lightsome
wholly, and as a bright candle it shall lighten you.
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Weaved
Together Matthew 6:22 The lamp of the body is the eye:
if then your eye now be sound, your whole body also shall be light. Matthew
6:23 But if your eye be evil, all your body shall be dark. And if the light
which is in you is darkness, how great is your darkness! Luke 11:35 Be watchful
that the light which is in you be not darkness. Luke 11:36 Because that, if
your whole body is light, and have no part dark, it shall all be light, as the
lamp gives light to you with its flame.
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On Serving Two
Masters
Matt 6:24 Luke 16:13
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Matthew 6
24 No man can serve two masters.
For either he will hate the one, and love the other: or he will sustain the
one, and have contempt for the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
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Luke
16
13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he shall
hate the one, and love the other: or cleave to one, and have contempt for the
other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
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On Anxiety
Matt 6:25-34 Luke 12:22-32
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Matthew 6
25 Therefore I say to you, be not
careful for your life what you shall eat, neither for your body what raiment
you shall put on. Is not the life more than the meat: and the body more than
the raiment? 26 Behold the fouls of the air, that they sow not, neither reap,
nor gather into barns: and your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you
much more of price than they? 27 And which of you by caring, can add to his
stature one cubit? 28 And for raiment why are you careful? Consider the lilies
of the field how they grow: they labor not, neither do they spin. 29 But I say
to you, that neither Solomon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these. 30
And if the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the
oven, God does so clothe: how much more you, O you of very small faith? 31 Be
not careful therefore, saying, what shall we eat, or what shall we drink, or
wherewith shall we be covered? 32 For all these things the heathen do seek after.
For your Father knows that you need all these things. 33 Seek therefore first
the kingdom of God, and the justice of him: and all these things shall be given
you besides. 34 Be not careful therefore for tomorrow. For tomorrow shall be
careful for itself, sufficient for the day is the evil thereof.
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Luke
12
22 And he said to his Disciples, Therefore I say to you, Be
not careful for your life, what you shall eat: nor for your body what you shall
do on. 23 The life is more than the meat, and the body is more than the
raiment. 24 Consider the ravens, for they sow not, neither do they reap, which
neither have storehouse nor barn, and God feeds them. How much more are you of
greater price than they? 25 And which of you by caring can add to his stature
one cubit? 26 If then you be not able to do so much as the least thing, for the
rest why are you careful? 27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they labor not,
neither do they spin. But I say to you, neither Solomon in all his glory was
arrayed as one of these. 28 And if the grass that today is in the field, and
tomorrow is cast into the oven, God so clothes: how much more you, 0 you of
little faith! 29 And you, do not seek what you shall eat, or what you shall
drink: and be not lifted up on high. 30 For all these things the nations of the
world do seek, but your Father knows that you have need of these things. 31 But
seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be given you besides.
32 Fear not little flock, for it has pleased your Father to give you a kingdom.
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Diatessaon Matthew 6:25 You cannot
serve God and possessions. And because of this I say unto you, Be not anxious
for yourselves, what you shall eat and what you shall drink; neither for your
bodies, what you shall put on. Is not the life better than the food, and the
body than the raiment? Matthew 6:26 Consider the birds of the heaven, which sow
not, nor reap, nor store in barns; and yet your Father which is in heaven feeds
them. Are you not better than they? Matthew 6:27 Who of you when he tries is
able to add to his stature one cubit? Luke 12:26 If then you are not able for a
small thing, why are you anxious about the rest? Matthew 6:28 Consider the wild
lily, how it grows, although it toils not, nor spins; Matthew 6:29 and I say
unto you that Solomon in the greatness of his glory was not clothed like one of
them. Matthew 6:30 And if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is,
and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more shall be unto you, O you of
little faith! Matthew 6:31 Be not anxious, so as to say, What shall we eat? Or,
What shall we drink? Or, With what shall we be clothed? Luke 12:29b Neither let
your minds be perplexed in this: Matthew 6:32 all these things the nations of
the world seek; and your Father which is in heaven knows your need of all these
things. Matthew 6:33 Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness
and all these shall come to you as something additional for you. Matthew 6:34
Be not anxious for the morrow; for the morrow shall be anxious for what belongs
to it. Sufficient unto the day is its evil.
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