Matthew 6:22-23

Our Scripture reading for today is Matthew 6:22-23

[22] The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. [23] But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 

Today’s verses might seem hard to understand, but to understand the verse, or any verse in the Bible, one must read the context.

We read verses 22 and 23. But let’s read verse 21, the verse immediately before today’s reading. Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

After today’s verses in verse 24, Jesus immediately goes back to the Christian view of wealth. He says, “No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. “

Understanding today’s reading, we see that Jesus is teaching that life is more than about getting and having things. The Christian life is about keeping one’s eye set on spiritual things. The “good eye” is the one that looks toward righteousness. The eye that is bad is the one that focuses on this world’s goods.

We live in the richest time for ordinary people, we live in the richest time for most people, We are blessed. God never said that wealth was a curse. But in these verses, Jesus said that wealth must not be the main focus of the Christian life.

Are you blessed? Wonderful! Do you have this world’s goods? Great! So did David, Solomon, Job, and Abraham. All of these had wealth but kept their eyes on God. 

The real question is, where is your heart? Make a good living, but don’t let this earth’s goods become your master.

Lonnie Davis

Matthew 6:19-21

In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

What does this mean, and how can we apply it to our lives?

First, we need to understand what Jesus meant by treasure. Treasure is not just money, but anything that we value, pursue, and enjoy the most. It could be our career, our reputation, our hobbies, or our passions. Treasure is what we love the most.

Jesus teaches us that we have a choice to make: we can store up our treasure on earth, or we can store up our treasure in heaven. He warned us that storing up our treasure on earth is foolish, risky, and harmful. It is foolish, because earthly treasures are temporary and uncertain. They can be destroyed by natural causes or stolen by other people. They can also distract us from God and his kingdom. 

Earthly treasures reveal our hearts. Where we store our treasure shows where our heart is, and where our heart is influences how we think, feel, and act. 

If our treasure is on earth, our hearts will be earthly. Our life will be worldly. If we love earthly treasures, we will seek them above all else, and neglect God.

Jesus is teaching us that storing up our treasure in heaven is wise. 

When we give selflessly to others or support those in need, when we build a relationship with God through prayer and study, and when we cultivate love and forgiveness toward others, we are storing up treasures in heaven.

They who do so are wise.

Jesus is not teaching us that we cannot have a hobby or a career. He is warning us about misplacing our priorities. The spiritual person is the one who prioritizes spiritual things.

Lonnie Davis

Next in our reading is the Sermon on the Mount: Matthew 6:16-18

[16] When you fast, do not be somber like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward. [17] But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, [18] so that your fasting will not be obvious to men, but only to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 

Considering this teaching of Jesus on fasting, we should first ask whether fasting is a command or a practice for Christians today?

Of course, fasting is a practice for Christians today. Many do exercise this practice. The question is whether it is a requirement.

It is important to note that Jesus does not teach that we must fast, but rather describes what fasting should be like when it is practiced. Of course, it is clear from the teaching that fasting is not sinful and is even beneficial. 

The question is whether fasting is a commandment for Christians today. Nowhere in the Christian text is there a command for fasting.

Three Notes on Fasting

1. Practice your fasting in secret.

   When you are fasting, it should not be obvious to others. The value of spiritual disciplines lies not in public recognition but in the personal and private strengthening of our relationship with God. 

2. Seek God’s approval, not human praise. 

   The lesson is to prioritize God’s commendation over human applause. In a world where much is done for likes, shares, and public approval, this teaching calls us to examine our motives and ensure our actions are for God’s eyes first and foremost.

3. Spiritual disciplines are about the heart.  

   Jesus’ instruction to not disfigure our faces during fasting points to a broader principle that true spirituality is a matter of the heart and should not be performed as a spectacle. This contrasts with societal norms that often value appearance.

Each of these lessons invites us to reflect on our spiritual practices and motivations, encouraging us to seek a genuine, heart-centered relationship with God that towers over societal expectations and personal inclinations.

Lonnie Davis

The Model Prayer

Matthew 6:9-15

Today’s Scripture reading is Matthew 6:9-13.

[9] So then, this is how you should pray: 

‘Our Father in heaven, 

 hallowed be Your name. 

[10] Your kingdom come, 

 Your will be done, 

 on earth as it is in heaven. 

[11] Give us this day our daily bread. 

[12] And forgive us our debts, 

 as we also have forgiven our debtors. 

[13] And lead us not into temptation, 

 but deliver us from the evil one.’ 

As I was growing up many American public schools would start off the school day by reciting this prayer. 

In 1962, several Supreme Court rulings made it illegal for public schools to say the Lord’s Prayer.

We call this “The Lord’s Prayer,” but a better name would be the “Model Prayer.” Jesus gives it as a model for prayer. To simply say, “Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name” is not a sin, but misses the purpose of the teaching by Jesus. Prayer is not a rote recitation of words, but rather a conversation with the Father.

The core of this prayer has two parts: 

(1) Honor God, and 
(2) Pray for yourself.

Part 1: Honor God.

1. Relationship. Notice that Jesus started with “Our Father.” When we pray we acknowledge and build our relationship with him. 

2. Honor “Hallowed be your name.” Jesus lifts up in honor the very name of God.

3. God’s will. “Your kingdom come, Your will be done.” A proper attitude for prayer is to say, as did Jesus in the garden before the crucifixion, “Not my will, but thine be done.”

Part 2: Prayer for Us – Needs, Deeds, and Heeds.

1. Needs. We pray for our daily needs. “Give us this day, our daily bread.”

2. Deeds. Forgiveness for the wrong we did. In this prayer, our forgiveness is based on our willingness to forgive others.

3. Heeds. God’s Leadership. “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us.”

The right use of this prayer is to use it to guide your own prayers, in quiet time with your Father.

Lonnie Davis

Our Scripture reading for today is Matthew 6:5-8.

[5] And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward. [6] But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 

[7] And when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard. [8] Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. 

From reading our text today, here are five great truths. 

1. Prayer should be genuine and not a performance.
[verse 6] But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father.

2. God values the intent behind prayer more than its eloquence
[verse 7] And when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard.

3. God does not reward public pretentious prayer.
(Verse 5) Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.

4. Faithful prayer reflects trust in God.
This is the truth behind every praying person and it is absent in every person who does not pray as they should.

5. God knows our needs before we ask.
Jesus plainly says this in verse 8, “Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” 

For our devotional thought, I urge you to consider this last point. If that is true (and it is), that God knows our needs before we ask, then why should we even pray? Since God already knows, then what is the point?

The answer to that question goes to the question of why we pray. Here is the short answer: While God indeed knows our needs before we ask them, prayer is not merely about asking for things. It is about developing a deeper, more intimate relationship with the Creator, and aligning our hearts with His. It’s a spiritual discipline that shapes us, comforts us, and connects us more profoundly to the heart of God.

In short, prayer is a relationship. At its core, prayer is about cultivating a personal relationship with God. It’s a means of communication that helps us grow closer to Him, understand His heart, and align our will with His. In any relationship, communication is key to intimacy; through prayer, we enter into an act of communication with our Father. 

Lonnie Davis

Our Bible reading for today is Matthew 6:1-4

[1] “Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 

[2] So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward. [3] But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, [4] so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 

From these verses, Jesus teaches us two great lessons on giving.

The Secret of Generosity

Lesson #1: Give without seeking recognition.

As we follow the instructions of Jesus on selfless charity, we learn an essential lesson: the importance of pure motivation. Our hearts tend to crave recognition for our good deeds. But Christ calls us to a higher purpose when serving others – to give freely out of authentic care and compassion. Rather than trumpeting our generosity from street corners and on social media platforms fishing for likes, we must conduct acts of quiet kindness without expectation of reward or credit. In secrecy, we build treasures in heaven. This humility pleases God, the only audience that ultimately matters.

Lesson #2: The Father Sees what we do in secret.

As we give, pray, or do good deeds, it can feel at times as though our personal acts go unnoticed. Yet we must remember that our Heavenly Father sees and knows everything. He even knows our hearts and what we think. Though human eyes may overlook these private moments where we honor God, we can find assurance that He bears witness to the offerings of our heart. This thought anchors us in an intimate bond with the One who knows our true nature better than any person ever could.

Lonnie Davis

Day 52

Sermon: Law of Love

Matthew 5:43-48

Our Scripture for today is, Matthew 5:43-48

[43] You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘Hate your enemy.’ [44] But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, [45] that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. [46] If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same? [47] And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even Gentiles do the same? 

[48] Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

From these verses, I call your attention to two amazing teachings. I call this article:

God’s Radical Call for Love

Teaching #1: Love your enemies.

Loving those who oppose you challenges you to reflect God’s unconditional love. It’s easy to love those who love us back, but true spiritual maturity is shown when we love those who stand against us. Jesus adds to this thought when he says, “Pray for your enemies.” Prayer for our persecutors not only seeks their well-being but also purifies our hearts, helping us release anger and embrace forgiveness. This act changes us, aligning our hearts closer to God’s nature. It causes us to examine the depth of our love.

Teaching #2: Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

At the end of this call to love and pray for our enemies is the little verse, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” This teaching is not out of place here. It’s not about moral flawlessness but about striving for wholeness and integrity in our love for others. The call to perfection here is a call to complete and mature love, reflecting God’s character in our actions and attitudes. 

Lonnie Davis

Sermon on Mount: Retaliation

[38] You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’ [39] But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also; [40] if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well; [41] and if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. [42] Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

These few word contain many great lessons for our heart. Among the many are three, that I would call to your attention. Jesus teaches:

1. Turn the Other Cheek

In the heart of Matthew 5:38-42 lies a profound lesson on the strength of gentleness: to turn the other cheek. This directive, far from advocating weakness, reveals the depth of our courage when we choose not to retaliate against aggression. It’s a moment of divine wisdom, inviting us to reflect Christ’s peace and patience in our lives. By embracing this call, we transform moments of potential conflict into opportunities for grace, teaching us that true strength lies in the choice of peace over vengeance.

2. Go the extra mile.

This principle urges us to go beyond our limitations and serve others with a generosity that mirrors the heart of God. This teaching isn’t just about fulfilling duties; it’s an invitation to pour out our love and kindness in abundant measures, to willingly give more than is expected of us. It’s a testament to the life-changing power of love that seeks to uplift and heal, showing that in the kingdom of God, the path of true discipleship is paved with acts of selfless giving. This call challenges us to embody God’s lavish grace in every interaction, turning ordinary moments into extraordinary expressions of divine love.

Lonnie Davis

Text: Matthew 5:33–37

[33] Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ [34] But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; [35] or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. [36] Nor should you swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. [37] Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything more comes from the evil one. 

From today’s reading, there are three important lessons for our lives.

1. Be trustworthy in what you say.

In a world where people often resort to elaborate promises or oaths to prove their sincerity, Jesus calls us back to the simplicity and power of truthful speech. When we say ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ it should carry the full weight of our commitment. People should not feel the need to say, “You swear,” because we are known to always tell the truth.

2. Be known for your truthfulness. 

No oath at any level is necessary for a man or woman who is known for their truthfulness. We don’t swear by heaven, or earth, or even God. It may seem unnecessary to say this, but we have been trained to feel the need to enhance our truthfulness. As children, we heard, “I pinkie swear, or cross my heart and hope to die.” That is childish, but Jesus said that we are not to live this way. Our word is always good.

3. Be honest! 

Keeping your word is about honesty. As God’s children, we must be honest and be known as someone who tells the truth. There are people in my life who, if they told me something that turned out to be false, my impulse would be to say they did not know at the time. I would not go to “They lied to me.” No, live your life so that others feel that way about you.

Lonnie Davis

Matthew 5:27-32; cf. 19:9; Mark 10:11; Luke 16:18

A Summary of Our Text:

Jesus teaches about relationships in these verses. He says even lustful thoughts are like cheating, committing adultery in the heart, and urges us to guard our hearts. Marriage vows are vital, not just legally but spiritually, so don’t say “I do” without meaning it. He goes beyond just rules, calling us to transform our inner selves and build relationships with love and commitment. When you’re tempted by a fleeting glance or an easy promise, remember: being spiritual is about cultivating purity, compassion, and love in all you do. That’s where true happiness lies!

Our devotion for today is called:

 Promises & Glances

Our world, steeped in fashion, urges us to desire and covet. We can see this in movies, TV, or along certain streets. Jesus, through his Sermon on the Mount, equates lust with adultery, a challenging notion from Matthew 5:27–32 that underscores purity as a matter of heart and mind, not just actions.

Just as a mere look can spark desire, a thoughtless word might lead one astray. In Matthew 19:9, Jesus highlights the sanctity of marriage, stressing the profound significance of our words and commitments. The casual “I do” bears a promise of lifelong fidelity. We promise one another, till death do us part.

Jesus exhorts us to strive for a heart that is filled with love and understanding rather than merely adhering to the minimum requirements or rules.

We’re invited to foster purity, not just in action but in thought and speech, cultivating relationships built on love, respect, and unwavering commitment.

So, when you’re tempted by a glance or a hasty promise, remember these teachings. Let them steer you towards a heart filled with purity, compassion, and love, where true fulfillment lies.

Lonnie Davis