Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Thursday after the Second Sunday after Epiphany

Posted on January 22, 2015 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
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Scripture: St. Matthew 6:1-23 (NKJV)

1 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. 14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

16 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”

Devotion

The hypocrites Jesus describes several times in today’s reading have their directions mixed up. They assume that acts of charity are multidirectional, that these acts can be for the benefit of others and the one giving the charity. They view their piety towards God the same way. It is for God, but it can also be self-promotion as well. But charity that is done for self-promotion and piety that is performed for public recognition are not really charity and piety. These acts of Christian faith and love are not multidirectional. Charity is for our neighbor, not us. Piety is for God, not us. So we are not to help our neighbor in need with the hopes that that act will make us feel better about ourselves. Nor are we to pray and fast openly to make ourselves look good in front of others.

The acts of faith are to be done toward God, while acts of love are to be done for the benefit of neighbor, with no thought of repayment or reward from God or man. The Christian does these things because that is what Christians do. God commands us to pray and promises to hear us. He even gives us the words to pray since we do not, by nature, know how to pray. He commands us to love one another because He has loved us and has demonstrated that in His Gospel. When we do our acts of charity and piety for the right reasons, faith and love, then the Lord promises to reward us openly with heavenly treasure which does not rust, fail, or fade.

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