Reading:
Thus
saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that
prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and
not out of the mouth of the LORD. They
say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace;
and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own
heart, No evil shall come upon you. For
who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his
word? who hath marked his word, and heard it? Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth
in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of
the wicked. The anger of the LORD shall
not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of
his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly. I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran:
I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in my counsel, and had
caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their
evil way, and from the evil of their doings. Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD,
and not a God afar off? Can any hide
himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I
fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD. I
have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I
have dreamed, I have dreamed. How long
shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they
are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; Which think to cause my people to forget my
name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their
fathers have forgotten my name for Baal. The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a
dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is
the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD. Is not my word like as a fire? saith
the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?
Commentary:
These
words, God's Words, are excellent for our day.
Our nation is filled with preachers who say the Lord called them and
spoke to them in dreams. Yet these false
prophets fail to condemn the wickedness of every man. To the despisers of God's Word, they preach
peace, and though the hearers walk in every wicked way, such prophets say
"No evil shall come upon you."
If they were preaching rightly, people would be turning (repenting) from
their evil way and living. Thus God's
anger is kindled as a fire against all such false preachers who fail to preach
God's wrath against sinners, and He himself will come like a whirlwind,
bringing vengeance upon those who do wickedly.
When He comes, no one will be able to hide from Him. Thus God's final warning is that we do not
listen to those who claim to have dreams and visions from God (for they cannot
be trusted). Rather we are to diligently
listen to His Word, and obey. "The
prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let
him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat?"
Monday, July 30, 2012
Sunday, July 29, 2012
SERMON: Acts 8:14-25
Reading:
Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me. And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
While God could very well put us in our place by parting the heavens before us, God instead reveals His power to us in a more powerful way: God comes to this earth as a little Child of flesh and blood. For our sake and for our salvation, He cloaks, His divinity from the sinful eyes of man, only so sinful men may abuse their power, and nail God's hands and God's feet to a cross. If there is then one lesson for us today, which I hope all will take to heart, the lesson is this: BY GRACE ALONE, JESUS USED ALL HIS GREAT POWER TO SAVE YOU FROM THE DEVIL'S POWER, BY MAKING ALL YOUR SINS HIS OWN. This blessed truth so humbles us, it breaks our powerful will to oppose Him, and our will now conforms to His Will, the good will of Jesus who said, "The Son of Man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save men's lives."
I. Simon's lust for power. In our lesson today, though Simon was once a sorcerer under the devil's charms and powers, the powerful Word of the Holy Spirit converted Simon to faith. Along with Simon, many Samaritans heard the Word and were baptized into Christ. The Bible says, "Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done." By God's power and mercy, devils were cast out, the sick were healed, and by the laying on of hands the Holy Ghost fell upon some. Some Samaritans were given the gift of tongues by the Holy Ghost, others the gift of healing, still others prophesied. These genuine miracles performed by God's power, confirmed the truth of the Word preached by the apostles: namely Jesus of Nazareth was the only-begotten Son of God, full of grace and truth. Thus if in our modern day we hear of faith-healers, or miracle workers, or those preachers who say they have had dreams and visions, before we believe them we must examine the word and content of their preaching. Do all their teachings agree with the inerrant and infallible Word of God? Does their doctrine agree with the Biblical doctrine contained in our catechism or Lutheran Confessions? So we are not led astray, God warns us about these false prophets saying, "I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbor….he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD." If then their doctrine is contrary to God's Word, we know their miracles, dreams, visions, etc., are not from God but the devil. "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."
False prophets often deceive by their impressive power. Though Simon at first believed, it was the lust for power which overthrew his faith. Being so impressed by this "laying on of hands", he wanted that spiritual power. "When Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power." POWER, plain and simple….POWER, is what Simon wanted and craved. POWER was his treasure above all others, though Jesus said, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven." "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
This lust for power is in no wise foreign to us. It is a part of our own sinful nature. Lust for power was one of the devil's first temptations. "Ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." As Christians then we must discern between power used rightly to God's glory, and power abused for man's glory. Peter and John, for example, were given a great power or gift by the Holy Ghost, and they used it rightly only to God's glory. Simon coveted and wanted otherwise.
Simon fell from grace, because he wanted something so badly, he was willing to sell his soul to get it. Loving the things of this world, he turned away from the love of Christ. He was like Esau who sold his birthright for a bowl of soup. He was like Demas who forsook Paul, "having loved this present world." Thus we must learn here, when we crave something God alone can give, we must not sell our soul to the devil in order to get it. While we can and should pray for the desires of our heart knowing God is "far more ready to give than we to ask or think", whatever God gives or doesn't give, whatever God allows or doesn't allow, this is only for our good. For "My ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts". And "I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not evil." His peace dear believer, given you, is the forgiveness of all your sins. Do you need anything more than that? Isn't that enough? This peace of God which surpasses all understanding gives peace to our heart, calm after the storm. Knowing Him who loved us first, we learn to be content in whatever state we are in, knowing our Good Shepherd will not fail us. Therefore "let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid". "The Lord is my shepherd."
II. Simon's failure to repent. Had Simon trusted and thought this way in time of temptation, he would not have fallen. But now since he was in need of restoration, Peter had to awaken the knowledge of sin. Hence "Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money." Can the Holy Spirit be bought with silver? Can the blood of Christ be bought with gold? His heart was not right with God. "Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee." If Simon was to be saved, an entire change of heart was necessary. Sadly this did not take place. Instead he asked the apostles to pray for him, that these bad things would not happen to him. Regarding penitence, impenitence, and faith, First John one says, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."
III. Christ used His power for our salvation. Repentance then is a matter of confessing our sin, and taking our sins in faith to Jesus. But what causes us to turn to Christ Himself? It is His Gospel promise to forgive all our sins, for "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." It is His power to forgive, which has been revealed unto us. Consider then the great wonder that even though Jesus is the True God, equal with the Father and Spirit, for our sake and for our salvation He shrouded and cloaked His power, only so evil men could abuse their power and nail Him to a cross. Our sins in Him were literally nailed to the cross, for it is written, "Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree." As for the power of Pilate to crucify, wasn't this power God's power? Didn't Christ say to Pilate, "Thou couldest have no power at all against Me, except it be given thee from above." Faith alone, and again I say faith alone, is able to see through the outward spectacle of the cross, into the very heart of God Himself. Faith literally sees God's heart, in that faith sees the willing heart of Christ, the willing sacrifice for our sins. Of His own life and power Jesus said, "No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again." Faith sees that though Jesus is Almighty God, Jesus "humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." How different then Christ uses His power, as opposed to men and how we use our power. One is sacrificial, and the other selfish. Doesn't this humble us, even break our heart so that we repent of our abuse of power, and happily submit to God's power by faith?
It is thus by the forgiveness of all our sins, the devil's power over us is now broken. How can the devil successfully accuse us, when we know all sins through Christ are forgiven? There is through Christ indeed, the free and full and unlimited forgiveness of sins. This cup of grace overflows daily, and can never be exhausted, for "where sin abounds grace does much more abound." Wherever this Gospel is preached, the Holy Spirit really is doing two things: FIRST He is proclaiming and giving to this fallen world the forgiveness of all sins through Christ, and SECOND He is inviting all men to believe and accept this forgiveness. That is why we call the Gospel and invitation, for God in the Gospel is saying to all fallen sinners, "Here dear world, is the highest and greatest gift I can give you. I give you My greatest treasure, my own dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ your Savior, who died for your sins and rose again for your justification. If you want to be saved from sin, believe only in Him, and heaven is your home."
Receiving these words by faith, what happens to our heart? Isn't it changed? Isn't it humbled? How could it be otherwise? When God through the Gospel reveals His grace by revealing His Son, our stony heart melt like wax, and we by faith in Him rise again, becoming "new creatures". "Old things are passed away, all things become new."
Finally beloved, knowing Jesus used all His power as God to humbly redeem us, there is a good a necessary change in our own heart, a change of will. Our will now conforms to God's good will saying, "Lord Thy will be done." Knowing this good will, we know also He will use all His divine power, in only a good way which will benefit us. Because He is gracious, merciful and kind, God will use His power ONLY for our salvation, and "if God be for us, who can be against us?" Whatever God thus allows in your life dear child of God, it can only be for your good, even your eternal happiness. Therefore trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not on thine own understanding. "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation." Amen.
Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me. And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
The Lust for Power
Beloved of the Lord……All of us by way of our sinful nature, naturally
lust and crave power. Not only do we want to be in control of every
aspect of our life, but we want power over God and man. We want God to
give us perfect weather, perfect government, perfect house and home,
perfect wife and children, and perfect health. If we had our way,
wouldn't we tell God all He must do for us? This way of thinking
naturally is blasphemous, nevertheless this is who we are by nature. We
want power over every aspect of our lives, even power over God, and
when things don't go our way, we blame God. While God could very well put us in our place by parting the heavens before us, God instead reveals His power to us in a more powerful way: God comes to this earth as a little Child of flesh and blood. For our sake and for our salvation, He cloaks, His divinity from the sinful eyes of man, only so sinful men may abuse their power, and nail God's hands and God's feet to a cross. If there is then one lesson for us today, which I hope all will take to heart, the lesson is this: BY GRACE ALONE, JESUS USED ALL HIS GREAT POWER TO SAVE YOU FROM THE DEVIL'S POWER, BY MAKING ALL YOUR SINS HIS OWN. This blessed truth so humbles us, it breaks our powerful will to oppose Him, and our will now conforms to His Will, the good will of Jesus who said, "The Son of Man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save men's lives."
I. Simon's lust for power. In our lesson today, though Simon was once a sorcerer under the devil's charms and powers, the powerful Word of the Holy Spirit converted Simon to faith. Along with Simon, many Samaritans heard the Word and were baptized into Christ. The Bible says, "Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done." By God's power and mercy, devils were cast out, the sick were healed, and by the laying on of hands the Holy Ghost fell upon some. Some Samaritans were given the gift of tongues by the Holy Ghost, others the gift of healing, still others prophesied. These genuine miracles performed by God's power, confirmed the truth of the Word preached by the apostles: namely Jesus of Nazareth was the only-begotten Son of God, full of grace and truth. Thus if in our modern day we hear of faith-healers, or miracle workers, or those preachers who say they have had dreams and visions, before we believe them we must examine the word and content of their preaching. Do all their teachings agree with the inerrant and infallible Word of God? Does their doctrine agree with the Biblical doctrine contained in our catechism or Lutheran Confessions? So we are not led astray, God warns us about these false prophets saying, "I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbor….he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD." If then their doctrine is contrary to God's Word, we know their miracles, dreams, visions, etc., are not from God but the devil. "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."
False prophets often deceive by their impressive power. Though Simon at first believed, it was the lust for power which overthrew his faith. Being so impressed by this "laying on of hands", he wanted that spiritual power. "When Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power." POWER, plain and simple….POWER, is what Simon wanted and craved. POWER was his treasure above all others, though Jesus said, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven." "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
This lust for power is in no wise foreign to us. It is a part of our own sinful nature. Lust for power was one of the devil's first temptations. "Ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." As Christians then we must discern between power used rightly to God's glory, and power abused for man's glory. Peter and John, for example, were given a great power or gift by the Holy Ghost, and they used it rightly only to God's glory. Simon coveted and wanted otherwise.
Simon fell from grace, because he wanted something so badly, he was willing to sell his soul to get it. Loving the things of this world, he turned away from the love of Christ. He was like Esau who sold his birthright for a bowl of soup. He was like Demas who forsook Paul, "having loved this present world." Thus we must learn here, when we crave something God alone can give, we must not sell our soul to the devil in order to get it. While we can and should pray for the desires of our heart knowing God is "far more ready to give than we to ask or think", whatever God gives or doesn't give, whatever God allows or doesn't allow, this is only for our good. For "My ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts". And "I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not evil." His peace dear believer, given you, is the forgiveness of all your sins. Do you need anything more than that? Isn't that enough? This peace of God which surpasses all understanding gives peace to our heart, calm after the storm. Knowing Him who loved us first, we learn to be content in whatever state we are in, knowing our Good Shepherd will not fail us. Therefore "let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid". "The Lord is my shepherd."
II. Simon's failure to repent. Had Simon trusted and thought this way in time of temptation, he would not have fallen. But now since he was in need of restoration, Peter had to awaken the knowledge of sin. Hence "Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money." Can the Holy Spirit be bought with silver? Can the blood of Christ be bought with gold? His heart was not right with God. "Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee." If Simon was to be saved, an entire change of heart was necessary. Sadly this did not take place. Instead he asked the apostles to pray for him, that these bad things would not happen to him. Regarding penitence, impenitence, and faith, First John one says, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."
III. Christ used His power for our salvation. Repentance then is a matter of confessing our sin, and taking our sins in faith to Jesus. But what causes us to turn to Christ Himself? It is His Gospel promise to forgive all our sins, for "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." It is His power to forgive, which has been revealed unto us. Consider then the great wonder that even though Jesus is the True God, equal with the Father and Spirit, for our sake and for our salvation He shrouded and cloaked His power, only so evil men could abuse their power and nail Him to a cross. Our sins in Him were literally nailed to the cross, for it is written, "Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree." As for the power of Pilate to crucify, wasn't this power God's power? Didn't Christ say to Pilate, "Thou couldest have no power at all against Me, except it be given thee from above." Faith alone, and again I say faith alone, is able to see through the outward spectacle of the cross, into the very heart of God Himself. Faith literally sees God's heart, in that faith sees the willing heart of Christ, the willing sacrifice for our sins. Of His own life and power Jesus said, "No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again." Faith sees that though Jesus is Almighty God, Jesus "humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." How different then Christ uses His power, as opposed to men and how we use our power. One is sacrificial, and the other selfish. Doesn't this humble us, even break our heart so that we repent of our abuse of power, and happily submit to God's power by faith?
It is thus by the forgiveness of all our sins, the devil's power over us is now broken. How can the devil successfully accuse us, when we know all sins through Christ are forgiven? There is through Christ indeed, the free and full and unlimited forgiveness of sins. This cup of grace overflows daily, and can never be exhausted, for "where sin abounds grace does much more abound." Wherever this Gospel is preached, the Holy Spirit really is doing two things: FIRST He is proclaiming and giving to this fallen world the forgiveness of all sins through Christ, and SECOND He is inviting all men to believe and accept this forgiveness. That is why we call the Gospel and invitation, for God in the Gospel is saying to all fallen sinners, "Here dear world, is the highest and greatest gift I can give you. I give you My greatest treasure, my own dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ your Savior, who died for your sins and rose again for your justification. If you want to be saved from sin, believe only in Him, and heaven is your home."
Receiving these words by faith, what happens to our heart? Isn't it changed? Isn't it humbled? How could it be otherwise? When God through the Gospel reveals His grace by revealing His Son, our stony heart melt like wax, and we by faith in Him rise again, becoming "new creatures". "Old things are passed away, all things become new."
Finally beloved, knowing Jesus used all His power as God to humbly redeem us, there is a good a necessary change in our own heart, a change of will. Our will now conforms to God's good will saying, "Lord Thy will be done." Knowing this good will, we know also He will use all His divine power, in only a good way which will benefit us. Because He is gracious, merciful and kind, God will use His power ONLY for our salvation, and "if God be for us, who can be against us?" Whatever God thus allows in your life dear child of God, it can only be for your good, even your eternal happiness. Therefore trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not on thine own understanding. "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation." Amen.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
GOSPEL: Matthew 6:1-8
Reading:
Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. And when thou prayest, thou shalt 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 unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
Commentary:
The Pharisees did "their alms" before men, in that they gave to the Temple treasury in an open way for all to see how much they gave. They did not seek God's glory, but their own glory. The same was true in prayer. They would stand on a street corner and make a big show of penitence and prayer for all to see. God however saw their heart and He knew what they were thinking. "Without faith it is impossible to please Him." Jesus thus instructs His true disciples, that when we give our alms, namely make donations to church, help those in need, etc., "let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth." We are quietly giving back to God what He first gave to us, with a cheerful heart. We want no attention in the matter, for we seek God's glory alone. Also regarding prayer "in our closet", such teaches us prayer is a private moment, a conversation with God where we can thank Him for all blessings, and cast our burdens upon Him, "for He careth for you." Never doubt dear believer that God hears your prayer. As a gracious Father, for Christ's sake, not only does He hear, but He is eager to answer and give all that we truly need.
Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. And when thou prayest, thou shalt 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 unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
Commentary:
The Pharisees did "their alms" before men, in that they gave to the Temple treasury in an open way for all to see how much they gave. They did not seek God's glory, but their own glory. The same was true in prayer. They would stand on a street corner and make a big show of penitence and prayer for all to see. God however saw their heart and He knew what they were thinking. "Without faith it is impossible to please Him." Jesus thus instructs His true disciples, that when we give our alms, namely make donations to church, help those in need, etc., "let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth." We are quietly giving back to God what He first gave to us, with a cheerful heart. We want no attention in the matter, for we seek God's glory alone. Also regarding prayer "in our closet", such teaches us prayer is a private moment, a conversation with God where we can thank Him for all blessings, and cast our burdens upon Him, "for He careth for you." Never doubt dear believer that God hears your prayer. As a gracious Father, for Christ's sake, not only does He hear, but He is eager to answer and give all that we truly need.
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