Grief

Sometimes the news comes quick. Sometimes the news comes slow. No matter how or when it comes, grief travels in the wake of the news. Grief is heavy, weighty, a burden, especially when it involves someone deeply loved. Grief is not meant to be carried alone. It’s too heavy and may last a while—and that’s ok. That’s what family and friends are for, to share the load. Jesus stood outside the tomb of his friend and wept but He did not weep alone. It was a deep, human moment. “ Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted ” (Matt 5:4). If anyone knows how we feel in grief, it’s Him. But His grief did not linger long, as at the mention of his name, Lazarus came forth. We are not meant to dwell in grief, but should leave room enough for it. Let it run its course. Like the song says, “ Every Storm Runs Out Of Rain .” Another song says, “ The storm We will dance as it breaks The storm It will give as it takes And all of our pain is washed away Don't cry or be afraid Some things...

Thinking about: Matthew 6:1

Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.”

This is a summative statement of Jesus, introducing the subject of righteous action through the context of what kingdom living looks like: The citizen of the kingdom of heaven is not ostentatious. Herein Jesus contrasts true against false righteousness. The entire teaching of this text is built on the principle of the 1st commandment, giving God first place in every respect.

The standard for all righteousness is God Himself, who sees what is done both in public and in secret, and is the rewarder of both right and hypocritical action (6:6). The difference is that (as C.S. Lewis pointed out) we are too easily satisfied—we want an advance on rewards.

“Beware” (prosexete): be in a state of constant alert, play close attention to, be concerned. Of all commands of scripture, this is one of few that comes equipped with a warning bell. Red Alert!


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The command is specific to “you all”: manufacture righteous acts in the sight of men and receive no wage (no recompense or reward) from the Father of “you all” in the heavens.

Together with this warning is an attitude of striving—one must make certain the goal toward which he or she works is not man-centered. Show all concern to be genuine before the Father, that He may act in accord with His own display of glory.

“Here Christ expands the thought of 5:20, showing how the Pharisees’ righteousness was deficient by exposing their hypocrisy in the matters of “charitable deeds” (vv. 1–4); “prayer” (vv. 5–15); and “fasting” (vv. 16–18). All of these acts are supposed to be worship rendered to God, never displays of self-righteousness to gain the admiration of others.”[1]

Get this in your mind: you are not the object of worship, so don’t “do” righteousnesses for the purpose of gaining attention.

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[1]MacArthur, John Jr. The MacArthur Study Bible. electronic ed., Mt 6:1. Nashville: Word Pub., 1997, c1997.

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