23rd October 2024

23rd October 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (Matthew 6:1-4 focus v2-4)


Message (Alan Burke)


There are people I come across often who are in need, of course there are some who are spending their money foolishly and that is why they are in need but there are others who because of ill health, age, because of circumstances that are in need. Often you look at them and they might be doing alright from the external point of view but things are a struggle for them and I am thankful for the Presbyterian Children’s Society and the Presbyterian Relief Fund which I can call upon when needed to help in those situations. Things are very different than they were in Jesus day we have so many means available for those in need but then if you found yourself in need you were reliant on the good will of those around you, family, neighbours and friends. Here Jesus tells us if we give to the needy, “do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites”.


Its not that there were people walking around with a trumpet under their arm so that they could blow their own trumpet when they gave to the needy, no, instead announcing it with trumpets if figurative just like blowing your own trumpet today is the idea of letting people know how great you are. Part of what Jesus is getting at comes from the Herodian temple and it’s courts were unlike anything like we have here, you have the outer court for the Gentiles, that massive area which was heaving with activity and then the next courtyard often referred to as the court of women for it as far as they could go had in it the treasury. 


Around this court there were chests, thirteen of them known as shofar chests a shofar is like a rams horn, or trumpet chests. The reason why they were called trumpet chests is that they were shaped like trumpets on the top, that flared out, from the bottom. These were known as alms boxes, their money unlike ours had no paper, so think throw a five pence piece in and it’s not going to make a racket, throw in a handful of two pound coins and there is going to be a bit of a racket. 


They became synonymous for calling attention to one's giving. A person who made blew their own trumpet, throwing a handful of coins in a shofar chest was doing it to be applauded by people. what was meant to be a selfless act had become an act of selfishness, for you were giving to be seen to give. By giving to the poor he is using it to help himself. They were giving to be honoured by men. Their acts weren’t winning them any brownie points with the Lord, for actions like these have already had their reward in full. 


The followers of Jesus to live differently, they are not looking acclaim, they live with kingdom principles. When we give to the needy ‘do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing’. Of course if we take this literally when do something with the left hand and the right hand will know, rather this is to be understood figuratively. When we give to others we are not doing it to be seen, we are not doing it and then accidentally to let it slip so we can get the acclaim of others, rather we are doing it for the commendation of our heavenly Father, we are doing it to please him. Giving in this way helps us evaluate our spiritual condition, how we are before the Lord. And we in doing it this way will be rewarded by our Father in heaven, not in this life but eternally. We will think more about a heavenly reward in a couple of weeks time, but for now I’ll point you to later in the chapter, v19-24 for Jesus tells us to store up not our treasure on earth but in heaven. We will be rewarded in heaven for what we do here and now. What we do in the here and now is not a means to earn salvation but it is how we live in response to what the Lord has done for us. 


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC
Q16. Did all mankind fall in Adam’s first transgression?
A. The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his posterity; all mankind, descending from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him in his first transgression.
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