THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. Matt. 5, 6, 7 (38)

January 5, 2019

16-10-18

Key: SCHAFF: “When the Lord open his mouth, we should open our ears and hearts” 

ADMONITION AGAINST CARE ABOUT THE NECESSITIES OF LIFE, Matt. 6:25-34.

Matt. 6:2, enforces, that single-hearted devotion to God is proper and needful, and we should not be consumed with anxiety about the necessities of life, but should trust God who has promised never to fail nor run away from us Heb. 13:5-6. Life Application Bible says, “The ill effect of worry may (1) reduce your ability to trust God, (2) damage your health, (3) cause the object of worry to consume your thoughts, (4) disrupt your productivity, and (5) negatively affect the way you treat others. Here is the difference between worry and genuine concern- worry immobilizes, but concern moves you to action.”

  1. Matt. 6:25 “Therefore, I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink; nor yet your body, what ye shall put on. Is life not more than food, and the body than clothing?”
    1. ‘Take no thought’ means ‘be not careful’. A similar text is Lk. 12:22-26 and other passages with the same word are, Matt. 10:19, Lk. 10:41, 1Cor. 7:32, Phil. 2:20; 4:6. We can also look at Matt. 10:32, 2Cor. 11:28 in R.V “anxiety for all the churches” and 1Pet. 5:7.
    2. Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary put anxiety in this way, painful or apprehensive uneasiness of mind over an impending or anticipated ill, fearful concern or interest. An abnormal and overwhelming sense of apprehension and fear often marked by psychological sign (as sweating, tension, and increased pulse), by doubt concerning the reality and nature of the threat, and by self-doubt about one’s capacity to cope with it care.
    3. ‘Be anxious for nothing’ Phil. 4:6, Lk. 10:41 not even the basic essential of life as food and clothing 1Tim. 6:8.
    4. The greater than food is ‘LIFE’ and the greater than clothing is ‘BODY’ which only God gives and has given us. Gen. 2:7, Ez. 37:4-14, 1Cor. 15:44-48. Christ resurrection has given us the greatest LIFE and we shall have an immortal body. If He cares for life and body, He will care for your food and clothing.
  2. Matt. 6:26 “Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not…yet your heavenly father feeds them. Are you not much better than they?” Fowls signifies birds. Gen. 1:26, Matt. 8:20; 13:32
    1. “They sow not, neither do they reap, not gather into barns.’ The three leading processes of agriculture. God does not feed them in idleness in that the exert themselves but perform no elaborate work like men, and yet they feed.
    2. ‘Are you not much better’ or ‘of much value’? See 1Cor. 9:9-10, 2Pet. 2:12a. ‘Brute beasts and birds were created naturally as man’s food. If he feeds the birds, He will feed you.

It continues.