The Evidence Bible - Mattheus - Evangelisatie-materiaal.nl

171 Matthew 6
hypocrites do in the synagogues and in
the streets, that they may have glory of
men. Verily I say to you, They have their
reward.
3 But when you do alms, let not your
left hand know what your right hand
does:
4 That your alms may be in secret: and
your Father which sees in secret himself
shall reward you openly.
5 And when you pray, you shall not be
as the hypocrites are: for they love to
pray standing in the synagogues and in
the corners of the streets, that they may
be seen of men. Verily I say to you, They
have their reward.
6 But you, when you pray, enter into
your closet, and when you have shut your
door, pray to your Father which is in secret;
and your Father which sees in secret
shall reward you openly.
7 But when you pray, use not vain repetitions,
as the heathen do: for they think
that they shall be heard for their much
speaking.
8 Be not therefore like to them: for your
Father knows what things you have need
of, before you ask him.
9 After this manner therefore pray: Our
Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be
your name.
10 Your kingdom come. Your will be
done in earth, as it is in heaven.
❝ ❞
Before we can pray “Thy Kingdom
come,” we must be willing to pray
“my kingdom go.”
ALAN REDPATH
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive
our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from evil: For yours is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory, for
ever. Amen.
14 For if you forgive men their trespas-
5:48 Be perfect. Some believe Jesus didn’t really mean “perfect” here, because that would require
that we be “without defect, flawless.” Instead, they think He was telling us to be “mature.”
If that were true, then He would be saying, “Be therefore mature, even as your Father which is in
heaven is mature.” However, calling God “mature” implies that He was once immature. Such a
thought is contrary to Scripture. God never changes (Malachi 3:6); He has always been perfect and
doesn’t need to mature.
Throughout the Sermon on the Mount Jesus expounded the perfect Law of a perfect Creator.
God’s work is perfect (Deuteronomy 32:4), His way is perfect (Psalm 18:30), and His Law is perfect
(Psalm 19:7; James 1:25). Jesus then climaxes His exposition with the demand of the Law—perfection
in thought, word, and deed.
In magnifying the Law and making it honorable, He put righteousness beyond the reach of sinful
humanity. He destroyed the vain hope that we can get right with a perfect Creator by our own
imperfect efforts, i.e., by the works of the Law. (See Mark 7:5–13 footnote.)
Instead, we must seek righteousness by another means—through faith alone in the Savior
(Romans 3:21,22). In doing so, Jesus was showing us the right use of the Law—as a “schoolmaster
to bring us to Christ” (Galatians 3:24). This is what Jesus did with the rich young ruler. The young
man asked, “Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” (Matthew
19:16). Jesus corrected his misuse of the word “good,” gave him five of the Ten Commandments,
and then said, “If you will be perfect...” The young man’s hope of “doing” something to be saved
was dashed and he went away sorrowful. However, this is not a negative incident; it is positive
when a sinner’s vain hope is dashed. If he cannot find salvation “by the works of the Law,” he may
just seek it “by the hearing of faith” (Galatians 3:2). This is why we should use the Law when reasoning
with the lost and press home its requirement of absolute perfection. (See James 2:10,11.)
On hearing the demands of a perfect Law, it is not uncommon to hear a guilty sinner say, “Wow!
Nobody’s perfect.” That’s the point of the Law.
Our mission is to preach Christ and to warn sinners, “that we may present every man perfect in
Christ Jesus” (Colossians 1:28).