We’ve wrapped up the first part of Jesus’s sermon where he focused on the outward expressions, of faithfully following him, cultivated from heart transformation. Jesus calls us to step out of the crowd, to be his disciples, and to become citizens in his kingdom. This kingdom is to then be salt and light to the nations wherever it goes. When Christ followers invest too much in the power struggles of the nations, we risk losing out grip on what it means to be citizens of the Kingdom of God (what Jesus proclaims as the good news in Matthew’s gospel). Engaging in culture wars in order to win the power to enforce how people should live means we have focused more on creating a world where we will be comfortable rather than engaging in the discomfort of salt and light relationships that transforms the world around us. In this struggle of power, the gospel is lost. In this first part of Jesus’s sermon, he shares hard teachings for heart transformation which enriches his community of followers to be salt and light in the world.
Much of this first section focuses on how his followers are to look and act in the world. The major focus of this week can be summed up in the repeated phrase, “in secret.” Jesus says that our giving, prayer, and fasting should all be done “in secret.” I want to get to the heart of this teaching, but first I want to offer two cautions. First, avoid making this teaching legalistic. Second, do not weaponize this teaching to then judge others.
Legalistically following these teachings distracts the Christ follower from the heart transformation to which Jesus calls us. Legalistic avoidance of others knowing what you do in your practices of spiritual formation refrains from a positive form of “peer pressure” where others are encouraged to strengthen their practices. As Paul says in 1 Cor. 11:1, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” How could they follow his example if he’s practicing his disciplines in secret? This legalistic following of Jesus’s teachings creates a kind of self-centered focus on piety (with the best of intentions) where the concern is still on the perception of others.
Weaponizing this text places us in a position of evaluating and judging others with any expression of piety. In many Christian traditions in our culture, outward expressions of worship are met with criticism of being “showy” or “look at me” in their worship. This kind of judgmentalism has discouraged others from expressing themselves in their worship through raising their hands, kneeling, swaying, dancing, clapping, etc. All these things are mentioned and even expected in scripture (some would argue they are commanded). Jesus is not giving us ammunition for tearing down Sisters and Brothers in their worship and spiritual disciplines.
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them,” says Jesus in this transition of his sermon. This is the framework in which to examine the heart of what Jesus says in our section this week. What is your motivation for what you are doing? Only you can determine that. The community of Jesus followers should develop and support an ecosystem in the regularly gathered community so that spiritual disciplines can develop and bring transformation. When judgmentalism is evident within the community, spiritual formation is squelched. It is as though the church community becomes the vine in which each branch should be connected rather than being the trellis that aids the branch to be connected to the True Vine (Jesus…to be clear).
Giving to the needy – “Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing…” Jesus calls us to a level of secrecy in our giving that we do not even realize we are doing it. Be so un-self-focused that being a giving person becomes who you are. This is reminiscent of the parable Jesus shares in Matthew 25 where those who are righteous will respond to him saying, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you…” and Jesus will respond, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these…you did for me” (25:37-40). There is a certain forgetfulness that comes with the righteousness Jesus calls his followers to. Those who know they are righteous are in danger of losing their grip.
The same goes for prayer and fasting. Prayer takes on different forms and we should be careful in our evaluation of how others pray. These passages are best served for one’s own internal evaluation. What’s your motivation for how you pray out loud? When you fast, is it for deeper connection with God or for others to see your holiness? Jesus assumes here that we are giving, praying, and fasting. These are essential for spiritual formation but our motivations for these practices must continually be evaluated to make sure we have the right end in sight. The more these practices become second nature to us, the less we will think about them because they become part of the natural rhythms of our lives.
Practice: The Lord’s prayer becomes a model for how we should pray and is a useful guide to lead us into deeper prayer:
‘Our Father in heaven,
Holy is your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Begin with recognizing God’s holiness and his agenda for bringing his kingdom to this world. This keeps us in check as people who continually long to be gods over our dominion and have our will done.
Give us today our daily bread.
We ask God to give us our daily bread as a recognition that we are incapable of providing for ourselves. This keeps us in check when we move beyond our basic needs and seek to control what is due us because of how hard we have worked. This proves to be a good lens through which we will examine 6:19-34 where Jesus challenges the focus and longings of our hearts.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Forgiveness is something that is much easier to receive than it is to give. Being honest in prayer about the level of forgiveness we have received from God opens us to the forgiveness we need to offer others. Allowing this guide to take you deeper, the Spirit will develop a heart of compassion within you where you evaluate the alleged wrongdoings of others with the heart of God and have compassion for them which spurs forgiveness.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’
The prayer ends with a recognition that life is filled with temptation. I prefer the translation, “let us not fall into temptation,” because I am uncomfortable with the notion that God is tempting us, which is sometimes assumed from this verse. Asking God to deliver us from the evil one is recognition of our inability to do this on our own. True deliverance comes with submission to God’s work in your life. When you try to deliver yourself from evil, you are still trying to be god of your own life.
The Lord’s Prayer is a good guide for listening to the Spirit nudge you into areas of your life where you still need to submit to God. Pray the prayer slowly and allow time for meditation on each section. Allow the Spirit to examine your life and lead you into transformation.