ALMS, PRAYER, AND FASTING
Matthew 6:1-18
The Lord Jesus Christ constantly
warned his disciples to be aware of and studiously avoid hypocrisy in all acts
of worship and service in the name of God. Hypocrisy, the leaven of the
Pharisees, is the leaven of outward religion. If it reins in us, it will ruin
us. So we are warned to “beware of the
leaven of the Pharisees” (Matt. 16:6). Hypocrisy is religion that is only
skin deep, a religion of works, words, and show, a religion that is void of
grace, heart, and spirit. Hypocrisy is a form of godliness, an outward show of
religion and religious activity, without the life and power of God in the soul.
In Matthew 6:1-18, our Lord
specifically identifies three areas of religious activity which are easily
perverted into mere acts of religious showmanship, three areas where hypocrisy
is commonly seen: the giving of alms, the matter of prayer, and the practice of
fasting. These were prominent religious activities among the Jews of our Lord’s
day. In fact, wherever people practice religion of any kind, it is most natural
to make these three things prominent. All religions encourage them to one
degree or another, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity. Man naturally
associates these things with religion. It is assumed that in the practice of
them we serve God with our whole being: in alms giving with our estates, in
prayer with our souls, and in fasting with our bodies. While encouraging the
practice of outward piety, in this chapter, our Lord gives us a much needed and
commonly ignored warning - In all our acts of worship, service, and devotion to
God, we must avoid seeking to be seen of men, and seek only to be seen of and
to glorify the Lord our God.
THE
GIVING OF ALMS (vv. 1-4)
All that is said in these verses may
be applied to all Christian giving; but the specific subject is alms giving,
charity giving, giving to the poor. Without question, this kind of giving is
prescribed by the law of God written upon the hearts of all men by nature, the
law given by the pen of Moses, and by the grace of God experienced in the soul.
Wherever grace and righteousness is established in the heart, charity flows
generously from the hand (psa. 112:5,9). That which is given to the poor is
said by God to be their due (Prov. 3:27-28). Almsgiving is the essence of what
James describes as the practice of pure, undefiled religion (James 1:27). Those
who profess to be the followers of Christ should, above all other people, be
charitable, generous, giving people. Give to the poor. Give to the cause of
Christ. Give to the church of God. And give to the servants of God. In all our
giving, let us give as unto the Lord. A giving God is worthy of a giving people
(II Cor. 8:7-9). I make this promise to you, as you exercise generosity for the
glory of Christ and the good of your fellowmen - You will never impoverish yourself by generosity! Do not give by
the force of legal constraint. And do not give from a spirit of covetousness,
to get more. But God will never allow a generous soul to lack the means to be
generous (Prov. 3:9-10, 11:24-25; 19:17; 28:27; Mal. 3:10-12; Lk. 6:38; Phil.
4:19). Let each give according to his own means, “as God hath prospered him” (I Cor. 16:2). Two words of warning: (1.) Do not be stingy (II Cor. 9:6-8). (2.)
Do not do anything in a public show (Matt. 6:1-4). Be as quiet and unobservable
as possible in giving.
INSTRUCTIONS
ABOUT PRAYER (vv. 5-15)
Our Savior here assumes that all
Christians pray. As soon as Saul of Tarsus was converted, we read, “Behold, he prayeth.” All that are
godly, all who are born of God pray (Psa. 32:6). I do not say, “They say their
prayers.” Saul of Tarsus did that all his life. But the Word of God does
declare that every regenerate soul prays. “You may as soon find a living man
that does not breathe,” wrote Mathew Henry, “as a living Christian that does
not pray.” In these verses, our Lord does not teach his people to pray. There
is no need for that. He teaches us how to pray. In verses 5 and 6, he says, Do not pray to be seen of men. Do not
use a posture in prayer that causes people to look at you or calls attention to
yourself. In public places, other than places of public worship, we are not to
engage in public prayer. Prayer is between you and God. As much as possible,
let your prayers be unobserved and unheard by men. Do not use vain repetitions (v. 7). That prohibition extends to
all memorized prayers, pious sounds
and voice tones, religious jargon, and “Hail Marys.” This is a prohibition
against much speaking in prayer, too. God does not need to be informed or
argued with, but acknowledged, sought, and honored. The prophets of Baal put on
a show when they cried aloud to their deaf God. The servant of God simply
uttered the desire of his heart (I Kgs. 18:36-37). That is what prayer is!
True
prayer is an act of faith. Place, position, and posture are meaningless.
Words are really insignificant. Prayer is the acknowledgment of God as my
Father with the confidence that the knows and will supply all my needs. In
prayer, the believer simply and confidently seeks the glory of God (v. 9), the
increase of God’s kingdom (v. 10), the will of God (v. 10), daily provision (v.
11), daily mercy (v. 12), daily preservation (v. 13), and the praise of God (v.
13). Let men talk all they will about prayer, unless our prayers arise from
sincere hearts of faith and love, they amount to nothing but meaningless noise
(vv. 14-15).
INSTRUCTIONS
ABOUT FASTING (vv. 16-18)
Fasting is an occasional abstinence from food and carnal
pleasures. It is subjecting the needs and desires of the body to the burden of
the heart and longings of the spirit in prayer. We read of many in the Word of
God who fasted in prayer when greatly concerned about a specific matter (David,
when his child was dying; Daniel, when he sought the mind of the Lord; Esther,
before going in to Ahasueras; the Lord Jesus, before he was tempted; and the
church at Antioch, when they ordained Paul and Barnabas to preach the gospel).
Yet, there is no direct command given in the Word of God requiring anyone to
fast or teaching us that we should fast. It is left to each believer to decide
whether he will fast, when, and for how long. This is a matter about which no
man should sit in judgment over another. There are some poor people in this
world who never have enough to eat. It would be utter cruelty to require them
to fast. Sickly people, whose frame must be sustained by a very strict diet,
would be acting foolishly if they fasted. In
a word - If you choose to fast, you may do so freely. And, if you choose
not to fast, you may do so freely. The only thing our Lord requires is that no
one is to know, but you and the Lord, whether you fast or do not fast. If you fast, “do not appear unto men to fast.” That is the only rule given in
the Word of God about fasting.
Do nothing in the worship and
service of God to be seen of and applauded by men. Yes, we are to let our light
shine before men, that they may see our good works and glorify our Father which
is in heaven. But we are never to do anything that others my see and applaud
us! The hypocrite is one who lets his light so shine before men that they
cannot see what is going on backstage! The Lord God cares nothing about how
much money you give, how long you pray or how often, and whether you fast. He
is interested in only one thing - Why? “The
Lord looketh on the heart!”
Grace
Baptist Church of Danville
2734 Old
Stanford Road - Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438
Donald S. Fortner, Pastor Telephnoe (606) 236-8235