RJ Hamster
Bible Study
Hello All,
Please join us, our Zoom Link is below for this Saturday’ssession at 8:00 AM PDT 03/14/2026. I am blessed by the presence of each one of you in my life. We show gratitude to God by “giving thanks in all circumstances …” [1Thess. 5:18a]
We will continue our study of Matthew. [Matt. 5, 6, 7] These chapters are the very basics of Jesus’ teachings. He articulated them in a single teaching, a single lecture if you will. He then spent the next three years repeatedly explaining what He said. Today we examine in depth two topics that Jesus covered a number of times: fasting and storing treasures on heaven or earth. We will find important messages in these teachings.
It is my prayer that you are able to join us.
Love, hank
Zoom Link:
For Study, Prayer and Fellowship – 8:00 AM PDT 03/14/2026:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82968961343?pwd=LzcwVjJKcWVESDRURlhDcXlNV0JUdz09
Meeting ID: 829 6896 1343
Passcode: 77299ere:
Study Notes:
03/14/2026 – [Matt. 6:16-34] – Life Under the Father’s Care – We are studying the entire body of Jesus’ teaching in [Matt. 5, 6, 7]. In [Matt. 6:1] Jesus warns His disciples to avoid lives of piety (‘righteousness’) lived out in a manner that we hope others will notice and be impressed by one’s acts of charity, prayer or fasting. Jesus reminds us that we may receive blessings from only one source: other people or our heavenly Father. If we direct our deeds of piety in a direction to receive the notice and praise of others, that will be the limit of the blessings we will receive. The sinfulness of seeking to be glorified by men is all the more strongly emphasized when we recall the original purpose for our lives as disciples – to live lives of service, as salt of the earth and light of the world. [Matt. 5:13-16] Our calling is that we live in a way that our good works cause other people to “glorify your Father who is in heaven”. [Matt.5:16] We must ask who will be glorified by good deeds – ourselves or God the Father? These are stern questions; Jesus is warning us to avoid the motives of personal recognition or accomplishment.
[Matt.6:1-18] – On Piety – We conclude this very carefully crafted, organized teaching, with a brief instruction about the practice of fasting. As with Jesus’ teaching on prayer and charity He seeks to turn His disciples away from seeking honor and blessing from those who may see them fasting and thus turning them toward the Father who sees all things, even in secret. During the Second Temple period Judaism had a major focus on fasting. (Second Temple period 516 BCE – 70 CE; aka the Post Exilic period) During this period Judaism had a major focus on fasting. Jesus will assume that among His disciples, fasting will be part of their lives. However, in the cultural context of the 1/C Jesus calls His followers to a different motive, a different fasting: to Fast in the direction of the heavenly Father alone. Allowing their outward appearance to remain normal.
In 21/C North American Christians fasting may be the most difficult aspect of Jesus’ teachings. One major exception may be the various Orthodox traditions. Generally speaking, we no longer fast and prepare our bodies to receive the Lord’s Supper. It is as if there was a teaching that said, “fasting and bodily preparation are a worthless, external discipline.” Luther, would disagree. He would first inform us not to enter a period of fasting to impress our neighbor. [Matt. 6:16-18] Nor should we fast with the goal of being more pleasing to God. Fasting is a form of external discipline and such disciplines are not without value in Christian life. [1 Cor. 9:24-27] Paul is very clear. True fasting begins with discipling one’s body. This pertains to eating, drinking, sleeping AND our leisure, pleasure or anything else that might delight our body. With His grace we must provide for our bodies and take care of it. Mistakenly, for many, that may be a larger responsibility than they want to assume.
[Matt. 6:19-24] – Treasures in Heaven – What Jesus is doing in these verses is gently appealing to His disciples to turn away from worrying about earthly matters and our physical needs, should they be necessary or extravagant. Jesus wants us to turn our physical needs toward The Father in heaven and His loving provision. It is a warning against the idolatrous, seduction of things. But think for a moment about those listening to Jesus – we may surmise that the vast majority of His disciples did not come from wealthy circumstances. They were farmers, peasants and merchants. However poor they may have been, (Note: Poverty was nearly universal in those days) the desire for things is embedded in human nature. Thus, Jesus found it necessary to warn His listeners not to give ‘stuff’ too high a value or priority in our lives. He begins with a negative exhortation in [v. 19] (“Do not store up …”) followed by one that is positive [v. 20] (“But store up treasures in heaven …”) These are signals of a new section in Sermon, as well as the urgency of what He is teaching. He warns of the dangers of accumulating the treasures of/on the earth. For on earth, we find decay, rust, corruption, destruction, thievery and it is a place where, His will is not yet being done. Again, we are reminded, by Jesus, that the earth needs salting. Jesus wants us not to focus on ‘wealth’, but deliberately, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” [Col.3:1] Which candidly means the saving righteousness of God which has already come to earth, in Jesus. [v. 6:33]
Scripture is very clear: no excuses, no delusions, no pretenses, no attempted justifications – that paying too much attention to things will not really hurt me. Jesus warns, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” [Matt.6:21] We can not insist that our heart is in the right place when we are pursuing earthly treasure that will rot and fail. Should we not remember that a tree is known by its fruit? [Matt. 7:15-19] Here are several measurements which we may use to determine how we are doing as a disciple? 1) Every disciple must deal with the danger of the worship of mammon – not one, rich or poor; 2) The law of diminishing returns applies to Christians. What we purchased as a luxury, becomes a necessity, and our greed grows. It is a vital characteristic of our fallen state, a forever hunger for our sinful state which persists throughout our earthly life, even after professing to be followers of Jesus. [Rom. 7; Struggling with Sin] 3) When we hear Jesus preach against our not amassing treasures on earth, He is reminding us we are all sinners, sin is present in our lives and we need repentance and change. Luther might direct us: place your right hand over your left chest, if your heart is beating you are flesh and blood – in need of repentance. 4) When our heart focuses on Christ – His promises/His word, then our priorities change and our freedom to choose really matters, rather than mere earthly possessions, it is evidence of faith in Jesus. Thus, certain of our relationship with the Father, through the Son, we can spend our lives on things that matter and store up treasures in heaven.
On what does your eye focus? There is your inner life! [Matt. 6:22-23] Jesus’ teachings switch to another metaphor, but the subject remains the same – His authoritative revelation concerning the disciples’ proper relationship with possessions. The lamp of the body is the eye. The eye shines, as a source of light that shines from the body. As it says in [Dan. 10:6] “like flaming torches.” Jesus teaches – a generous eye is full of health – full of light – spiritually sound; but if the eye is greedy – the body is diseased – full of darkness – spiritually unsound. (Trees and Fruit) The greedy stingy actions each of us must confess reveal a great spiritual darkness within ourselves. Thus [v. 6:22-23] reinforces the teaching in [v. 6:19-21] Jesus becomes sterner in [v.6:22-23] as He concludes: “ If the light in you is darkness – how great the darkness!”
Who is your master? [v. 6:24] In the ancient world slavery was common, including in the Roman Empire. The NT shows many of those listening to Jesus, and Christian, were slaves. Jesus’ audiences would be familiar with His claim; no one can be a slave to two masters. The last two versus of this powerful passage produce a crescendo; the words strike like a hammer on our conscience – of every believer. Read [v. 24] “No one can serve two masters. … You can not serve God and money.” (NIV) However, the verse that sends shivers down my spine is [v. 23 b] “If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness?!” AMEN
Hank Hohenstein, OFS
Land Steward
161 Osprey Vista
Shady Cove, OR 97539
Cell: 541-973-5442
