Sermon on the Mount Part Deux
- No rest for the weary!
- Jesus's preaching marathon continues with almsgivings, prayer, and fasting. The next target is the hypocrite. Jesus is not a fan.
- Jesus says, when giving alms, "do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing" (6:3). That means being super discreet so no one can tell what you're doing. Like a magician.
- About prayer, he says a similar thing. Jesus preaches against making a show of prayer for everyone to see and then teaches the Prayer of all Prayers; we know it now as The Lord's Prayer (You know the one: "Our Father…").
- Things are no different for fasting. Basically, Jesus is not a fan of making a big spectacle about religious practice.
- He goes on to speak against hoarding and says that the only treasures worth storing are the ones in heaven.
- Then Jesus starts getting riddle-y by talking about eyes and lamps and light and darkness.
- Basically, he's telling people to stay surrounded by good stuff because it'll influence you. But watch out, because bad stuff will do the same. Just in the wrong direction.
- Jesus also preaches that a man cannot serve two masters. So make your choice: God or wealth?
- Finally Jesus teaches his followers to just take a chill pill when it comes to worrying about the trivial things of life.
- And the chapter concludes with one of the soundest pieces of advice: "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today" (6:34). That Jesus was ahead of his time.