Continuation of the Sermon on the Mount

This is the continuation of Sermon on the Mount.  This has three parts:

1)      Verses 1-4 deal with external shows offs and charities.

2)      Verses 5-15 talks about prayer and

3)      Verses 16-18 about fasting. 

God’s reward for prayer, giving, and fasting is referred in verse 4, 6, and 18 respectively. 

We have to see this as responsibilities to man, God and oneself.  All the three are counted by God and will be rewarded.

 Our Lord talks about those who are rewarded by God: 

a)      One who is persecuted (Matthew 5:12)

b)      One who considers the poor (Matthew 10:42)

c)      One who does dedicated service (Matthew  25:14-10- the parable of talents)

d)      What we do for others (Matthew 25:31-36)

e)       Those who are rewarded in David’s eyes are in Psalm   37:25,91

[Also read Mark 10:29-30]

Don’t think that we can get reward materialistically or the reward may not be immediate either.  We should not even work for the reward.  A true Christian will get the reward.   From the parable of gifts (talents), we can see that the one who works well will be rewarded with more responsible positions. Remember, the servant became the ruler for 10 forts in the parable of the ten talents (Matthew 25:14-10).

We will look at each of the above in a little more detail.

1)      One who is considerate to poor:

God will protect him from any troubles and he will be blessed in earth. God will protect him from enemies and strengthen him in his sick bed (Psalm 41:1-3; Luke 14:14).

2)      Prayer: 

Will be answered (Matthew 18:19) and will liberate you from fear (Psalm 34:4, Psalm 40:1)  

3)      Fasting:

We should fast:

a)      During dangerous times for a country (2 Samuel 1:12)

b)      During difficult time for the church (Luke 5: 33-35)

c)      When others have difficult times (2 Samuel 12:16)

d)       For an impending danger (Esther 4: 16)