#Prayer against enemies in the bible how to#

#Prayer against enemies in the bible how to#

They did it indeed, but not from any principle of obedience to God, or love to man, but in pride and vain-glory not in compassion to the poor, but purely for ostentation, that they might be extolled as good men, and so might gain an interest in the esteem of the people, with which they knew how to serve their own turn, and to get a great deal more than they gave. What was the practice of the hypocrites about this duty. The riches you impart form the only wealth youġ. Quas dederis, solas semper habebis, opes. However, it shall be recompensed in the resurrection of the just ( Lu. 41:1, 2) honour and a good name, which follow those most that least covet them, Ps. It is sometimes rewarded in temporal things with plenty ( Prov. That it is such a duty as has a great reward attending it, which is lost if it be done in hypocrisy. 1:27), and will be the test at the great day Christ here takes it for granted that his disciples give alms, nor will he own those that do not.

It is true, our alms-deeds do not deserve heaven but it is as true that we cannot go to heaven without them. If superstitious papists have placed a merit in works of charity, that will not be an excuse for covetous protestants that are barren in such good works. The duty is not the less necessary and excellent for its being abused by hypocrites to serve their pride. That which is given to the poor is said to be their due, Prov. The Jews called the poor's box the box of righteousness. Divers ancient copies here for teµn eleeµmosyneµn- your alms, read teµn dikaiosyneµn- your righteousness, for alms are righteousness, Ps. It is prescribed by the law of nature and of Moses, and great stress is laid upon it by the prophets. The giving of alms is a great duty, and a duty which all the disciples of Christ, according to their ability, must abound in. It is the dead fly that spoils the whole box of precious ointment. Take heed of hypocrisy, for if it reign in you, it will ruin you. The disciples would be tempted to it by the power they had to do many wondrous works, and their living with some that admired them and others that despised them, both which are temptations to covet to make a fair show in the flesh.Ģ. We are in great danger of it is a subtle sin vain-glory insinuates itself into what we do ere we are aware. Our being bid to take heed of it intimates that it is sin.ġ. Now in these verses we area cautioned against hypocrisy in giving alms. Thus we must not only depart from evil, but do good, and do it well, and so dwell for evermore. Almsgiving, prayer, and fasting, are three great Christian duties-the three foundations of the law, say the Arabians: by them we do homage and service to God with our three principal interests by prayer with our souls, by fasting with our bodies, by alms-giving with our estates. 25-34).Īs we must do better than the scribes and Pharisees in avoiding heart-sins, heart-adultery, and heart-murder, so likewise in maintaining and keeping up heart-religion, doing what we do from an inward, vital principle, that we may be approved of God, not that we may be applauded of men that is, we must watch against hypocrisy, which was the leaven of the Pharisees, as well as against their doctrine, Lu. In our cares, which is the disquieting sin of many good Christians ( v. In our choice, which is the destroying sin of hypocrites ( v. We are here taught what to pray for, and how to pray ( v. Against hypocrisy we must not be as the hypocrites are, nor do as the hypocrites do.Ģ. 16:12), comes in this chapter to warn them against their corrupt practices, against the two sins which, though in their doctrine they did not justify, yet in their conversation they were notoriously guilty of, and so as even to recommend them to their admirers: these were hypocrisy and worldly-mindedness, sins which, of all others, the professors of religion need most to guard against, as sins that most easily beset those who have escaped the grosser pollutions that are in the world through lust, and which are therefore highly dangerous. Christ having, in the former chapter, armed his disciples against the corrupt doctrines and opinions of the scribes and Pharisees, especially in their expositions of the law (that was called their leaven, ch.