Daily Writing

Monday, 30 December 2024

And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Matthew 6:7

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And praying, not you shall stammerer-speak just as the ethnicities. For they think that in their verbosity they will be heard” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus spoke about the appropriate way to pray, meaning by doing it in secret. Now, He provides another example of how not to pray, beginning with, “And praying, not you shall stammerer-speak.”

It is a word found only here in Scripture, battalogeó. The word is said to be from battos, a proverbial stammerer, and logos, word or speech. As such, it signifies to stutter or prate tediously. Some identify the first half of the word as coming from the Aramaic word battah, meaning idle or vain. Thus, translations will say something like the NKJV, “vain repetitions.”

Either way, the point is made. People are not to just babble out prayers as if they become more important by the many words or repetitions that come forth. As Jesus says, this is “just as the ethnicities.”

He uses the word ethnikos, ethnicities. Of this word, Strong’s Lexicon says –

“In the first-century Greco-Roman world, the term ‘ethnikos’ was used to distinguish between Jews and non-Jews. The Jewish people were set apart by their covenant with God, marked by practices such as circumcision, dietary laws, and Sabbath observance. Gentiles, or ‘ethnikos,’ were those who did not follow these practices and were often seen as outsiders to the faith community. The early Christian church grappled with the inclusion of Gentiles, as seen in the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15), which addressed how Gentile converts should be integrated into the predominantly Jewish Christian community.”

Thus, the word refers to any of the ethnic groups of the nations separate and distinct from the Jewish nation. Hence, it is translated at times as pagans, heathen, nations, Gentiles, etc. The word ethnicities is a direct translation into modern English, the word being the etymological ancestor of our modern word. Of these people, Jesus next says, “For they think that in their verbosity they will be heard.”

Here is another word found only this one time in Scripture, polulogia. It is a singular noun derived from polus, much or many, and logos, word or speech. The word verbosity rightly translates this word. However, by using the two Greek words as a basis for a new word, someone could be inventive and say polylog or the plural polylogs.

Such a word would be a nice addition to the English language to describe many in the church today. Charismatics and Pentecostals are famous for such prayers. But this type of behavior is not exclusive to them. It is fashionable in many other churches and denominations to continuously repeat words and phrases. Watching Christian TV might lead someone to think their video was broken because the same thing is repeated ad nauseam at times.

Because Jesus says, “For they think that in their verbosity they will be heard,” He is indicating that this type of prayer is perfectly pointless. If something is prayed to God only once, it will be received by Him. Babbling repetition has no more effect than the first prayer that was uttered to Him.

Life application: Repetition can be a good thing for learning and memorizing. However, if something is continuously repeated too often or in too short of a time, it can become an annoying distraction. And yet, for some reason, when people pray, that principle is tossed out the window.

It is as if shouting out repetitive words or phrases somehow makes people think they will be perceived as more holy than others or maybe more in tune with God. However, Jesus says that just the opposite is true when He equates this conduct to the ethnicities.

As the church is now the focal point for proper worship of God, why would we bring the bad habits of the past into our worship of the Lord now? Instead, there should be an attitude of respect, honor, and glorification of God when we speak to Him. To inanely babble off repetitions to Him is actually demeaning because we make it seem as if He is too dull to get our prayers the first time.

Let us not find ourselves with this type of attitude. Instead, all things should be done in proper order and in a manner that acknowledges His ability to adequately receive and process our prayers without overloading the spiritual airwaves with our polylogs.

Lord God, may the words of our mouth be pleasing and acceptable to You at all times. May our prayers to You be respectful and honoring of You. Help us in this, O God. Amen.

Sunday, 29 December 2024

But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. Matthew 6:6

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And you, when you may pray, you enter into your chamber, and having closed your door, you pray to your Father, the ‘in the secret.’ And your Father, the ‘seeing in the secret,’ He will reward you in the revealed” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus gave directions to His disciples on how not to pray. Now, He will give instructions to them on what prayers are acceptable to God, beginning with, “And you, when you may pray.”

As with the previous verse, the verb is subjunctive. It is thus a hypothetical intended for any such situation. When someone decides to pray, Jesus says, “you enter into your chamber.”

The Greek word is tameion. Of this word, Strong’s says, “A chamber on the ground-floor or interior of an Oriental house (generally used for storage or privacy, a spot for retirement) — secret chamber, closet, storehouse.”

This room, set aside for quietness, storage, or whatever else is completely different than the open synagogue or plaza corner of the previous verse. It is not a place you would expect to see the masses thronging to. In fact, you would not expect anyone to show up there. Once in the chamber, Jesus next says, “and having closed your door.”

It may not be that someone would show up to come into another person’s chamber, but someone else may be in the house and could walk by and see someone in there. To make sure that total privacy is obtained, He says to close the door. There would then be total isolation from anyone coming by and seeing or hearing. Once so secreted away, He continues with, “you pray to your Father, the ‘in the secret.’”

Without any fanfare, any accompanying ears, or any distractions, a person in the chamber should only then make his prayer to God. In such a state, there is no chance of anyone else noting you for your supposed piety, and in such a place while praying to God, it indicates a state of faith that the Father truly does see and hear. As such, Jesus then says, “And your Father, the ‘seeing in the secret,’ He will reward you in the revealed.”

The words are the same as Matthew 6:4. The Father will respond according to His will for each person who prays in this manner. Jesus does not say how a person will be rewarded, and it would be presumptuous to expect that every prayer of petition a person makes will be favorably responded to as requested.

Further, there are various types of prayers, including praise, thanksgiving, intercession, supplication, petition, etc. Jesus does not specify what prayer is being referred to. Therefore, His words must cover each and every type. In whatever way God will openly reward such prayers, it is assured that it will come about.

Life application: In the gospels, it is seen that Jesus went to isolated places to pray, such as on a mountain, in the wilderness, or away from the disciples when in the Garden of Gethsemane. In the Garden, we are given insights into what He prayed as He poured out His heart to God.

We may pick up the phone to call a friend for advice or help. We might drive to a family member’s house to do the same thing. But are we willing to go somewhere private and speak of those things with the Lord?

God is omnipresent. Any place we go, He is already there. So why should we find it a simple thing to call or go to someone to relay our needs but not feel that way with God, who is right where we are or where we will be when we isolate ourselves from others?

Let us take Jesus’ examples along with His words of instruction to heart and be willing to meet intimately with the Lord at whatever time we may find it convenient. Jesus doesn’t tell us how long we should pray. He doesn’t tell us what time of day we should pray.

So many things are left open for us to meet with the Lord and commune with Him through prayer. So take advantage of this marvelous avenue God has set forth for us to meet with Him. As Jesus is our High Priest, it is good to include Him in our prayers to the Father, knowing that He is perfectly mediating on our behalf.

Heavenly Father, thank You that we have the assurance that when we pray, You will hear and respond according to Your wisdom. We know that our prayers will be found acceptable to You as we pray through our great Mediator, Jesus. Amen.

Saturday, 28 December 2024

“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. Matthew 6:5

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And when you may pray, not you will be just as the hypocrites, for they love to pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the plazas – having stood – that they may be seen of men. Amen! I say to you, they obtain their reward” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus continued His thought about doing charitable deeds in secret. Now, He goes from that subject to the subject of prayer, beginning with, “And when you may pray.”

The verb is subjunctive, and thus this is a hypothetical intended for any such situation, “when you may pray.” At any time someone finds himself desiring to pray to God, Jesus instructs the disciples that “not you will be just as the hypocrites.”

The meaning is that there is actually a wrong way to pray, represented by the two-faced people He will continue to speak about. As seen in verse 6:2, the hypocrites say one thing but do another. In this case, it involves praying, something that is to occur between a person and God.

If one is going to speak to another about private matters, the two will withdraw and speak privately. The same is true with speaking to God. If one is to have a private prayer, why would he feel it is acceptable to openly pray it? But this is what Jesus will next speak of, saying, “for they love to pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the plazas.”

Here are two new words, gónia, a corner, and plateia, a wide place. One can trace the word plaza back to this Greek word which corresponded to the Latin platea. That followed into later languages, such as the Spanish and English word “plaza.”

In cities with walls, there was usually a plaza inside of the gate where people could congregate. This is because the gate was normally the place where judgments were rendered and business was transacted.

By having a plaza, a wide place, in front of the gate, people could gather to see these things conducted, bring matters to attention, sell to those gathered, etc. It was also the place where the hypocrites went to pray so that everyone could witness their drummed-up attention-seeking.

Like the busybodies who hang everyone’s dirty laundry out for everyone to see, these are the types who want to be heard by everyone else. And so, they openly would pray for everyone else to watch.

Obviously, Jesus is not speaking of group prayers or settings which call for someone to pray over another person. He is referring to people who want to trumpet their supposed piety in front of everyone else, just like those described in the previous verse who trumpeted their alms-giving in front of others. In order to get this attention, He next continues with, “having stood.”

Just as teaching in rabbinic circles involved sitting, praying often involved standing. This continues to this day as Jews gather and pray in open settings. For example, those who gather at the Western Wall of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem stand in the open and pray towards the wall. This is normally accompanied by all kinds of body motions like rocking back and forth and the like.

This type of praying is so that they can be seen by others, demonstrating a supposed humility before God. But Jesus says it is really “that they may be seen of men.”

The position of standing makes one more visible. The rocking back and forth is like a magnet to others’ eyes. The prayer is audible so that those around can hear. The entire purpose of such actions is to draw attention to oneself. And that is exactly what happens. When it does, Jesus says, “Amen! I say to you, they obtain their reward.”

People who do these things are looking for the reward of being seen. They receive what they desire. As such, they should expect nothing else from God the Father. The obvious implication is that no positive response to any prayers will be provided by Him.

Life application: Praying is something that is spoken of by Paul in most of his epistles. In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, he says, “pray without ceasing.” The meaning is that one can talk to the Lord at any time and anywhere. This does not contradict what Jesus is going to say about praying in the coming verse.

Rather, Jesus is explaining the attitude of people in Jewish society who thought that their open, showy prayers somehow merited God’s attention because they brought about the attention of those around them.

Paul’s words mean that we can simply walk along the road and talk to God. We can thank Him for the beautiful scenery. If someone comes to mind who is having trouble, we can say a prayer under our breath for their situation.

God knows our thoughts, and He hears our silent prayers. As this is so, we don’t need to trumpet our words out loud –

“And it happened, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli watched her mouth. ¹³ Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. ¹⁴ So Eli said to her, ‘How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!’
¹⁵ But Hannah answered and said, ‘No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord. ¹⁶ Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.’
¹⁷ Then Eli answered and said, ‘Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.’” 1 Samuel 1:12-17

Glorious God, we know You hear our prayers, even when silently uttered to You in moments of grief and despair. Thank You for hearing and being attentive to our words. Amen.

Friday, 27 December 2024

that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. Matthew 6:4

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“that your compassionateness – it may be in secret. And your Father, the ‘seeing in the secret,’ He will reward you in the revealed” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus told His disciples that when they were doing charitable deeds that they were not to let their left know what the right was doing. He now explains why, beginning with, “that your compassionateness – it may be in secret.”

When one’s left doesn’t know what his right is doing, for sure nobody else will know. It will be a complete secret. This is a new adjective to Scripture, kruptos, signifying hidden, concealed, secret, etc. It is derived from the verb kruptó, to conceal, hide, etc. One can see the etymological root of the word crypto.

When one’s good deeds are so hidden away, Jesus says, “And your Father, the ‘seeing in the secret,’ He will reward you in the revealed.”

He describes God as seeing all things. If something is secreted away, and yet God is the ‘seeing in the secret,’ it shows that He is omnipresent. There is nothing God is not completely aware of. This would also touch upon His omniscience. Elsewhere of God, it says that God “tests the hearts and minds” (Psalm 7:9). Likewise, it says of the Lord –

“I, the Lord, search the heart,
I test the mind,
Even to give every man according to his ways,
According to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:10

And more, in Revelation 2:23, confirming Jesus’ deity, it says –

“…I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.”

If God the Father sees in the secret and rewards in the revealed, and God tests the hearts and minds, and the Lord (Yehovah) searches the heart and mind and gives every man according to his ways, and Jesus searches the minds and hearts and gives according to one’s works, the Bible is clearly and unambiguously telling us that Jesus is God. Were it not so, such statements would be the highest form of blasphemy.

And more, in Romans 8:26, 27, it says –

“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. ²⁷ Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

Not only is Jesus God, but the Spirit is God as well, thus confirming the doctrine of the Trinity. In sound theology, 1 + 1 will always equal 2.

For this verse, however, the direct point being made is that God will reward those who perform charitable deeds with a pure heart and intent. However, if the intent is to receive accolades from man, then why would God further reward such an act? None should be expected and none will be given.

Life application: Although many people take the omnipresence and omniscience of God as a frightful thing, which it rightly should be for humanity in general, believers should take this as a note of reassurance and comfort.

If God has covenanted with us through the blood of His Son, saving us by grace through faith, and if He knows every single aspect of who we are, what we have done, and what we will do – even into the future – then we should be confident that the all-seeing and all-knowing God has eternally saved us despite ourselves.

There should not be a state of constant fear of messing up and losing one’s salvation. There should be great comfort and confidence because God was willing to save us in the first place. As His decrees are eternal, we can know with all certainty that we are eternally saved.

Be humble before God, but also be confident that when you have messed up, He already knew you would. God is no longer in a state of enmity with you when you are in Christ. He is in complete and eternal fellowship with you because He is in complete and eternal fellowship with Jesus, in whom you also are included –

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; ²¹ that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. ²² And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: ²³ I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” John 17:20-23

Glorious God, because of Jesus our walk with You should be one of confidence. Give us the ability to understand our place in Christ and to be reassured concerning our salvation. With that understanding, we can proceed ahead without fear, knowing that we have eternal security through the precious shed blood of Christ. Thank You for this surety we possess. Amen.

Thursday, 26 December 2024

But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, Matthew 6:3

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And you doing compassionateness, not it know your left what it does your right” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus told His disciples to not trumpet their charitable deeds before others like the hypocrites do. In doing so, there will be no reward from the Father. Now, He continues that thought, saying, “And you doing compassionateness.”

Jesus acknowledges that doing such deeds is something expected of people. Otherwise, He would have said, “If you do…” It is assumed that people will, in fact, do such things. This is especially so because those under the law were told to do certain charitable things. To not do them would then be sin. However, Jesus says that in their doing them, “not it know your left what it does your right.”

Both words are introduced into the New Testament. The first, aristeros, left, comes from the same root as the word ariston, meaning a breakfast or midday meal. The word ariston properly signifies “undetermined.” Thus, it is a meal eaten at any point before the main meal.

As such, the aristeros, left, gives the sense of second best. That then is contrasted to dexios, right. That is from dechomai, to take, receive, accept, welcome, etc. The right throughout the world is considered the predominant hand. It is the one that is generally used for grabbing things, hailing others, receiving gifts, and so forth.

Thus, in the Bible, it signifies the position of power (such as “sit at My right hand” in Psalm 110:1) and blessing, both in receiving and in bestowing (such as Psalm 16:11, receiving, and when the hand is placed on another to bless him, as in Genesis 48:13, bestowing).

The left is considered the weaker and less predominant side, but it is generally not so in a negative sense. Rather, it speaks of a different or lesser position.

Jesus is letting the disciples know that in the giving of alms or doing other charitable deeds, one should be so secretive that the hands – metaphorically speaking of positions of authority – shouldn’t know what one another has done. It may not be a great way to run a government or a business, but it is the appropriate way to do one’s acts of charity.

Life application: It is not always easy to live up to these words. As social beings, we desire recognition. We also want things credited to our accounts with others. In doing something nice for another, we can then hope for something in return if a need were to arise.

These thoughts will often permeate our thinking. However, if we trust that the Lord has everything figured out, then future needs will be met according to His wisdom. Having account balances with others shouldn’t be a consideration.

And for those who could not help in the future, such as the poor, why should helping them be something we want others to see? But we do. It is again something that we find desirable. As it is so, we should make a conscious effort to try to quell those feelings and simply be pleased that the Lord is seeing and approving of our actions.

Jesus is speaking to His disciples while still under the law, but the premise of His words holds true at any time. God’s standards of approval will not change in such matters. The only difference is that those under the law had mandates on them that we don’t.

We do not have sin imputed for not doing the things required under the law. As Paul says, “sin is not imputed where there is no law” (Romans 5:13). Therefore, we can be grateful for the grace, receive that as a blessing, and be content with this knowledge and not seek further approval from others. The knowledge of what Jesus has done should be sufficient to motivate us to acts of goodness without extra recognition from others.

Heavenly Father, Jesus came and lived out the law, fulfilling it and then setting it aside. Now, You offer grace through faith in what He has done. What more could we ask for? It is sufficient to impel us forward, all the days of our lives. Help us to rest in this knowledge and be satisfied in the grace that comes through His work! Amen.