Matthew 6:1-15 and Luke 11:1-4
Two years ago I did a small contrast between Matthew’s and Luke’s “Our Father” prayer (see the second link below). One item that I didn’t mention – maybe that I didn’t notice – was that Matthew includes an additional “request” sentence that Luke completely leaves out: …Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Mt. 6:10b) And it’s a prayer that we pray so often – “Lord, your will be done.” And it was Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, …not My will but Yours be done. (Mt. 26:39, Mark 14:36, Luke 22:42). Thinking further about that “request” prayer. We tend to pray that prayer for both “yes” and “no” outcomes to our own prayers. That is, both Democratic and Republican Christians were praying that prayer in the last presidential election: “Lord we pray that Biden will win, but Your will be done”, “Lord we pray that Trump holds on, but Your will be done.” And we mean it, no matter the outcome. After the 2016 election result Democrats were praying, “Ah well, God is in control.” Then in 2020 Republicans were praying the same prayer. Maybe we should just forget our own wishes and begin our “need” prayers with “Your will be done…”.
Reward. That word is mentioned five times in Matthew’s first six verses today. Three of those passages refer to rewards from the Father: “…no reward…” in verse 1 and “…your Father Who sees in secret will reward you.” in verses 4 and 6. The other two references are to earthly rewards, reflected as praise and recognition by others. The NASB translation adds a strong emphasis that the ESV lacks: …they will be praised by people … < and > they have their reward in full. (vv. 2b, 5b) My Study Bible notes, “The honor they receive from people is all the reward they get.” That’s a strong statement – that’s all we get…!!
See also: March 11 / Matt. 6:1-15; March 14 / Luke 11:1-4
Hey Tom! Today’s reading, Matthew 6:12 and today’s AWFTL…!! I love it when our Sunday sermons or Archbishop Beach’s message or whatever lines up with our daily reading. David calls it “God’s echo”. GLORY!
You gotta love it when that happens! It’s sorta like when you underline a certain passage for its significance. At the same time, I am reading a book with conversations by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama, called “The Book of Joy”. It’s amazing how their conversation also parallels the Scriptures that we are reading. Last night’s chapter was about Fear, Frustration, and Anger. The fact that Desmond Tutu survived Apartheid and suggests that Nelson Mandela’s forgiveness of his persecutors was the ultimate display of forgiveness; and the Dalai Lama was exiled from Tibet by the Chinese Government, and does not dwell on hatred, loss, or anger, further underscores our readings. Blessings!
I really like the “God’s echo” idea! It happens from time to time.
Jesus, who knows our hearts, is not impressed with hypocrites, who do good things for outward appearances and ulterior motives. Not limited to Pharisees, or “religious”, but all kinds of fakeness. I need to continually bring my motives to God to show me my heart, because I often find I have mixed or layers of motives, not pure as I would like.
God forgives us as we forgive others. When we have hard hearts, we have denied the truth that we are on common ground with others, all of us as sinners. Maybe different sins, but there is no such thing as my “good” sins v. your “bad” sins. Seeing and knowing how stiff-necked I am sucks!
Regarding forgiveness, some of the times I’ve had to forgive ME before I could forgive anyone else, much less receive forgiveness. I suppose I didn’t feel I was worthy to be forgiven or didn’t deserve forgiveness. What a lie, huh? Maybe I was secretly trying to keep something hidden that only I knew about – yeah, right! It might get back to that control thing again. “If I just control who knows what’s in my heart, then I won’t feel the need for forgiveness. I’ll be OK.” Anyone else been there? I ended up closing up to everyone, God included.
What a testimony, Bruce! But more than that, I think you’re speaking for all of us!!