Anderson Hills

Jesus does not mean that we should never make judgments. Obviously, we make judgments every day. We judge between right and wrong, dangerous choices from safe ones, etc. Jesus is cautioning us not to judge others in a self-righteous, hypocritical way. We shouldn’t be habitually critical of someone when our own sin needs correcting as well. By judging others in an unbiblical and hypocritical way, we pay an enormous price. Ridiculing others exposes us to the righteous judgment of God, and most of us are not really aware that we bring more suffering on ourselves by our complaints against one another. Judging and accusing is what Satan does.

Jesus does not mean that we should never make judgments. Obviously, we make judgments every day. We judge between right and wrong, dangerous choices from safe ones, etc. Jesus is cautioning us not to judge others in a self-righteous, hypocritical way. We shouldn’t be habitually critical of someone when our own sin needs correcting as well. By judging others in an unbiblical and hypocritical way, we pay an enormous price. Ridiculing others exposes us to the righteous judgment of God, and most of us are not really aware that we bring more suffering on ourselves by our complaints against one another. Judging and accusing is what Satan does.

We all struggle with worry and anxiety—some with more depth of despair than others. The simple truth is the more we worry, the more we worry. Jesus starts addressing this issue by telling us to not let anxiety about food and clothing distract us from more important things in life. We cannot affect anything by worrying, and it does us no good. Jesus recognizes the very real struggle most of us have with anxiety and worry. He not only encourages us not to be anxious, but He gives us an antidote to the worry, stress, and anxiety that we all face: seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

We all struggle with worry and anxiety—some with more depth of despair than others. The simple truth is the more we worry, the more we worry. Jesus starts addressing this issue by telling us to not let anxiety about food and clothing distract us from more important things in life. We cannot affect anything by worrying, and it does us no good. Jesus recognizes the very real struggle most of us have with anxiety and worry. He not only encourages us not to be anxious, but He gives us an antidote to the worry, stress, and anxiety that we all face: seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

In this part of Jesus’ sermon we learn that we must have our priorities concerning material things properly aligned if our relationship with God is going to be what it should. If your focus or “your eye” is on treasures on earth, your heart will experience great disappointment because the things in which you find your joy will not last. The enemy wants us to be consumed with earthly things, whether it be material possessions or internal issues like praise of men. He wants to steal our joy and peace. But, if you are storing up treasure in heaven, meaning you are living for God’s glory and the good of others, whatever happens on earth will not devastate you

In this part of Jesus’ sermon we learn that we must have our priorities concerning material things properly aligned if our relationship with God is going to be what it should. If your focus or “your eye” is on treasures on earth, your heart will experience great disappointment because the things in which you find your joy will not last. The enemy wants us to be consumed with earthly things, whether it be material possessions or internal issues like praise of men. He wants to steal our joy and peace. But, if you are storing up treasure in heaven, meaning you are living for God’s glory and the good of others, whatever happens on earth will not devastate you

We know that prayer is a powerful and necessary spiritual discipline. Jesus, Who modeled that prayer is of the utmost importance, teaches that the manner in which we pray can be more important than what we say when we pray. Jesus gives us elements of proper prayer that include: praying in secret, avoiding vain repetition, patterning after His example, and offering prayer with a merciful and forgiving spirit. Fasting is another discipline that Jesus addresses. Jesus Himself practiced this discipline and talks about it as something we are to do. We are to approach fasting in the same manner as prayer.

We know that prayer is a powerful and necessary spiritual discipline. Jesus, Who modeled that prayer is of the utmost importance, teaches that the manner in which we pray can be more important than what we say when we pray. Jesus gives us elements of proper prayer that include: praying in secret, avoiding vain repetition, patterning after His example, and offering prayer with a merciful and forgiving spirit. Fasting is another discipline that Jesus addresses. Jesus Himself practiced this discipline and talks about it as something we are to do. We are to approach fasting in the same manner as prayer

We heard Jesus say earlier in His sermon, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Now Jesus is saying that our giving should be done in secret. Jesus is not contradicting Himself, but is addressing a different matter—the matter of the heart. He is addressing hypocrisy and phoniness in regard to righteousness. It is proper to do good works before men when we are trying to secure praise for God, but not when we are trying to secure praise for ourselves. If, in the innermost being of your heart, you do not mean to please and glorify God, your reward will be limited to the praise of men, not of God.

We heard Jesus say earlier in His sermon, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Now Jesus is saying that our giving should be done in secret. Jesus is not contradicting Himself, but is addressing a different matter—the matter of the heart. He is addressing hypocrisy and phoniness in regard to righteousness. It is proper to do good works before men when we are trying to secure praise for God, but not when we are trying to secure praise for ourselves. If, in the innermost being of your heart, you do not mean to please and glorify God, your reward will be limited to the praise of men, not of God.