Mat 6:16-18; The Joy of a Real Relationship with God by Being Like Him.

Class Outline:

Wednesday September 11, 2024

 

Intro: It is very, very difficult for a person to rid himself of the idea of self-preservation. It is a basic human instinct, or so we are told, and without it, the race would die out. 

 

I noticed the self-preservation phenomenon when I was reading about the responses of the crowd to the cross. 

 

MAT 27:13-14; Pilate is amazed that Jesus is not pleading to save Himself. 

 

MAT 27:39-44; The crowd mocks Him by using His own words that He taught beforehand to prod Him into trying to save Himself. 

 

MAT 27:49

But the rest of them said, "Let us see whether Elijah will come to save Him

 

They only have on their minds as they look upon Him, self-preservation.

 

Our subject in the Sermon on the Mount now turns to fasting, MAT 6:16-18. 

 

Fasting - part of the religion of Israel. 

 

How did fasting become a major part of the religious life of Israel? 

 

OT history of fasting: required on the Day of Atonement (LEV 16:29), other fasts we find in the OT were personal or national, but based on a particular situation of repentance, lamentation, appeal to God and almost always accompanied by prayer. 

 

Still, fasting was used by some of them to force God to do stuff for them, ISA 58:1-4. 

 

After the captivity, several fasts commemorating the destruction of Jerusalem were instituted and these became ritual or mainstream.

 

The increased practice of fasting led eventually to the Pharisees fasting twice a week, and for most of them, making sure that everyone knew it.

 

Jesus uses a wonderful irony.

 

Matt 6:16

 for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting.

 

“neglect their appearance” is a Greek word that means to make disappear, therefore to hide true intent. “noticed” is the very same root word in Greek but in the positive “appear” or “reveal.” He says, “These hide so that they can be seen.” They hide their true intent like a magician (hypocritical) so as to appear as something else. (satire is always used against tyranny, which is always foolish) 

 

Jesus is telling us that the spiritual life is genuine. It is a real relationship with the Father and to give in to the flesh so as to act like you worship God, is to miss out on it.

 

Jesus knows that His listeners will fast and that the early church will continue to (Didache 8, ACT 13:2; 14:23). It was not commanded in the OT or the NT. 

 

Purpose of fasting: Voluntary absence of food for spiritual reasons and to achieve a spiritual goal. 

 

I think fasting can apply to us in terms of all spiritual disciplines, since they all demand self-control.  

 

Paul writes about buffeting his body to instruct the Corinthians who had become foolish, but he states that he would have rather said nothing (2CO 11:17-18; 1CO 9:24-27.)

 

What is the purpose of self-control, or spiritual discipline which demand control of the body? 1) Momentum from consistency that develops a personal, intimate relationship with God. 2) Increase trust in him for all things = no stress or worry over life’s needs. 

 

Wash and anoint. Your sacrificial life must be your normal, happy, everyday life (Jesus did not cry out, ISA 42:2).

 

Sacrificial - thinking of others before yourself, seeing to their needs and acting by God’s will (not against His will if that’s what they want).

 

Washing and anointing was part of the everyday bodily care which were sometimes forgone as part of the self-affliction involved in fasting. 

 

Anointing (with oil), like the washing of the face, represents normal cosmetics, and not an artificial show of gaiety; everything is to be outwardly normal.