How do you define the word ‘hypocrite’? Some use this word to describe people who will tell you not to do something but then they go and do it themselves. That’s one definition but how do you think Jesus is using ‘hypocrite’ in these passages? Jesus is talking about doing the right things for the wrong reasons. Have you ever seen someone in need and your prime motivation in helping them was some reason other than out of your compassionate heart? Have you ever helped someone in order to impress someone else? Have you ever helped people so that your ‘list of good deeds’ would be long enough to qualify you for winning some ‘service’ award?
If we ever help anyone for anything other than simply showing the love of Christ, Jesus is calling us hypocrites. If we are hypocrites, our ‘good motives’ yield hollow results. The results of giving, helping, etc. for any other reason than from the heart are empty and meaningless in the eyes of God. By contrast, those whose motives are pure will reap the rewards from God. Jesus said that we should not let the left hand know what the right hand does. In other words, give for purity’s sake and with no other motive.
The second act that will bring us closer to God is fasting (abstaining). Abstaining in these passages refers to the act of fasting. Fasting is going without food for some period of time. The primary goals are helping us spend more time in prayer, practice doing with less, increasing our self-discipline, and helping us appreciate God’s gifts to us more. When Jesus was teaching on this topic, the Pharisees were fasting a couple of times a week. But, they were fasting to show their ‘holiness’. Jesus was clearly teaching that when we fast we should go about our normal routine and not ‘advertise’ to those around us what we were doing. Why do you think Jesus would teach this? I believe it is because He wants us to approach fasting from the proper perspective – from our hearts. Whenever we adopt a spiritual practice such as giving, abstaining, etc. – it should always be for the right reason and not for the desire of selfish praise.
What is prayer? Prayer is our communication with the Father. Ever been in church and someone is asked to pray publicly and they person goes on and on and on and on – they babble? Jesus addresses prayer as something that is to be clear and concise! Why do you think that is? As stated prayer is communicating with God the Father! Public prayer is a great thing. However, if the person praying publically does so for the attention it brings, then that person’s audience is certainly not God. Jesus says we should not babble. We need to understand that Jesus is not speaking against repetition. In fact, Jesus teaches persistent prayer but what He is teaching against here is a shallow repetition of words that are not coming from the heart. Jesus does not want us praying like we are speaking some magic incantation! Prayer comes from the heart. Prayer is our communication line with God. We can never pray too much if our prayers are sincere!
Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray in these passages. We typically refer to these passages as the “Lord’s Prayer” but it is really the disciple’s prayer because Jesus is giving the disciples a ‘pattern’ to use in their prayer life. The ‘pattern’ consists of four (4) parts. (1) Praise God (2) Pray for God’s work in the world (3) Pray for our daily needs (4) Pray for help in daily struggles. When we use this pattern, we will always be on target!
I am not going into what the passages of the disciple’s prayer means. However there is one section that it is so important to our world today. Jesus gives us a stern warning concerning forgiveness. In fact, Jesus clearly says that if we do not forgive others, we will not be forgiven! Why do you think this is? Forgiving others shows that we understand what forgiveness is. I realize that sounds extremely simple however when you think about it, it is a very profound idea. God’s forgiveness of our sin is not a direct result of our forgiving others but His forgiveness is based on the fact that we understand what forgiveness truly is. When you forgive another, you are showing God that you know that you are on the level with all other sinners. Whenever we ask God for forgiveness, we must always ask ourselves if we have forgiven others!
Giving, Abstaining and Praying are central to the Believer’s spiritual growth. However, just doing them without proper meaning and there is no meaning. How are you doing in these areas?
Jesus prayed for those who betrayed Him. What do we do? Do we seek revenge against those who betray us? The entire 17th chapter of the book of John is Jesus’ prayer. He prayed for all who would follow Him. He prayed for you, me, and others that we know. He prayed that we would be protected against the evil one. Have you accepted that protection? Have you tried to take things into your own hands when betrayed by others? Have you let bitterness rule your life because you were betrayed? “By the time the rooster crows you will have denied 3 times that you even know Me.” Is Jesus speaking those words to you? Have you felt the heart tugs from God but denied Him? Have you denied His existence? Have you denied the living Christ in favor of some dead ‘prophet’? Jesus prayed for you. I encourage you to read and meditate on John 17 and let the Holy Spirit minister to you. “By the time” you finished that chapter, your life could be changed forever!
Papa Joe Mac's Commentary:
How do you define the word ‘hypocrite’? Some use this word to describe people who will tell you not to do something but then they go and do it themselves. That’s one definition but how do you think Jesus is using ‘hypocrite’ in these passages? Jesus is talking about doing the right things for the wrong reasons. Have you ever seen someone in need and your prime motivation in helping them was some reason other than out of your compassionate heart? Have you ever helped someone in order to impress someone else? Have you ever helped people so that your ‘list of good deeds’ would be long enough to qualify you for winning some ‘service’ award?
If we ever help anyone for anything other than simply showing the love of Christ, Jesus is calling us hypocrites. If we are hypocrites, our ‘good motives’ yield hollow results. The results of giving, helping, etc. for any other reason than from the heart are empty and meaningless in the eyes of God. By contrast, those whose motives are pure will reap the rewards from God. Jesus said that we should not let the left hand know what the right hand does. In other words, give for purity’s sake and with no other motive.
The second act that will bring us closer to God is fasting (abstaining). Abstaining in these passages refers to the act of fasting. Fasting is going without food for some period of time. The primary goals are helping us spend more time in prayer, practice doing with less, increasing our self-discipline, and helping us appreciate God’s gifts to us more. When Jesus was teaching on this topic, the Pharisees were fasting a couple of times a week. But, they were fasting to show their ‘holiness’. Jesus was clearly teaching that when we fast we should go about our normal routine and not ‘advertise’ to those around us what we were doing. Why do you think Jesus would teach this? I believe it is because He wants us to approach fasting from the proper perspective – from our hearts. Whenever we adopt a spiritual practice such as giving, abstaining, etc. – it should always be for the right reason and not for the desire of selfish praise.
What is prayer? Prayer is our communication with the Father. Ever been in church and someone is asked to pray publicly and they person goes on and on and on and on – they babble? Jesus addresses prayer as something that is to be clear and concise! Why do you think that is? As stated prayer is communicating with God the Father! Public prayer is a great thing. However, if the person praying publically does so for the attention it brings, then that person’s audience is certainly not God. Jesus says we should not babble. We need to understand that Jesus is not speaking against repetition. In fact, Jesus teaches persistent prayer but what He is teaching against here is a shallow repetition of words that are not coming from the heart. Jesus does not want us praying like we are speaking some magic incantation! Prayer comes from the heart. Prayer is our communication line with God. We can never pray too much if our prayers are sincere!
Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray in these passages. We typically refer to these passages as the “Lord’s Prayer” but it is really the disciple’s prayer because Jesus is giving the disciples a ‘pattern’ to use in their prayer life. The ‘pattern’ consists of four (4) parts. (1) Praise God (2) Pray for God’s work in the world (3) Pray for our daily needs (4) Pray for help in daily struggles. When we use this pattern, we will always be on target!
I am not going into what the passages of the disciple’s prayer means. However there is one section that it is so important to our world today. Jesus gives us a stern warning concerning forgiveness. In fact, Jesus clearly says that if we do not forgive others, we will not be forgiven! Why do you think this is? Forgiving others shows that we understand what forgiveness is. I realize that sounds extremely simple however when you think about it, it is a very profound idea. God’s forgiveness of our sin is not a direct result of our forgiving others but His forgiveness is based on the fact that we understand what forgiveness truly is. When you forgive another, you are showing God that you know that you are on the level with all other sinners. Whenever we ask God for forgiveness, we must always ask ourselves if we have forgiven others!
Giving, Abstaining and Praying are central to the Believer’s spiritual growth. However, just doing them without proper meaning and there is no meaning. How are you doing in these areas?
Jesus prayed for those who betrayed Him. What do we do? Do we seek revenge against those who betray us? The entire 17th chapter of the book of John is Jesus’ prayer. He prayed for all who would follow Him. He prayed for you, me, and others that we know. He prayed that we would be protected against the evil one. Have you accepted that protection? Have you tried to take things into your own hands when betrayed by others? Have you let bitterness rule your life because you were betrayed? “By the time the rooster crows you will have denied 3 times that you even know Me.” Is Jesus speaking those words to you? Have you felt the heart tugs from God but denied Him? Have you denied His existence? Have you denied the living Christ in favor of some dead ‘prophet’? Jesus prayed for you. I encourage you to read and meditate on John 17 and let the Holy Spirit minister to you. “By the time” you finished that chapter, your life could be changed forever!