the king’s manifesto for life “the secret and the manifest” study 6

The King’s Manifesto for Life

““The secret The secret and the and the

manifest”manifest”

Study 6


The Bridge between The Bridge between Matthew 5 & 6Matthew 5 & 6 What is the link between “The law of love”

and the challenges of worship which follow in Chapter 6Chapter 6?

“…the line of thought has been brought to a climax in which it is shown that all (these principles) have their motive in love, and love has its source in God. By an orderly progression in thought the next section …deals with the disciple’s communion with the God from whom alone he can learn the love which he is to show.”

Bro. L.G. Sargent - The Teaching of the Master, pg.178


The secret and the manifestThe secret and the manifestMatt. 6Matt. 6

Vv.1-4Vv.1-4 Worship in relation to men

Vv.5-15Vv.5-15 Worship in relation to God

Vv.9-15Vv.9-15 – The Lord’s Prayer

Vv.16-18Vv.16-18 Worship in relation to self

Personal issues covered:1. Acts of giving – service offered2. Acts of worship – devotions given3. Acts of self denial – sacrifices made


Seeing Him who is InvisibleSeeing Him who is Invisible“It is this knowledge of God and of the response due to Him from man which permeates the words of Jesus: and while we may trace parallels in Jewish thought, no one else so clearly saw Him who is invisible, or so penetratingly judged every act and thought by the light of that vision.”

Bro. L.G. Sargent - Teaching of the Master, pg.148


Life oriented towards GodLife oriented towards God

“For those who have this vision worship will be not an occasional act but a constant attitude; life will be orientated towards God. Christ alone is the perfect example of that orientation....”

Bro. L.G. Sargent - Teaching of the Master, pg.148


Which Reward?Which Reward? The secret of righteousness exceeding that of

the scribes and Pharisees - Matt. 5:20Matt. 5:20. V.1 V.1 – “alms” - eleemosune - mercy, pity,

particularly in giving alms. Other texts have the Greek word dikaiosune - righteousness (see R.V. margin).

“reward” – misthos - pay for service. Used 6 times in the discourse (5:12,46; 6:1,2,5,165:12,46; 6:1,2,5,16). See its final use - Rev.22:12Rev.22:12. The word relates to hire, wages or pay and is said to have been used in receipts, “I have received”.


The reward of men!The reward of men! The singular motive of the Pharisees

was self glorification. All their religious activity was on display solely for public consumption – Matt. 23:5Matt. 23:5.

“seen” - theaomai - to gaze upon, look at with a purpose; to see with desire; regard with admiration. Derived from the verb theoros - a spectator.


Sounding the TrumpetSounding the Trumpet Trumpets blown to draw God's attention to the

offering of sacrifices - Num. 10:10Num. 10:10. Vivid metaphor for self-advertisement - based

on a contemporary custom during public fasts. At the end of six benedictions concluding prayers for rain to break autumn droughts, the shophar was blown in public places, and then almsgiving was expected from the people.

There were also 13 shopharoth in the Temple - these trumpet shaped openings for depositing money in the treasury were designed to draw maximum attention to the offerer.


““As the hypocrites do”As the hypocrites do”Matt. 6:2,5,16Matt. 6:2,5,16

“The man who begins by deceiving his fellows goes on to try to deceive God, and ends by deceiving himself.”

“Hypocrisy is the most corrupting of vices because it sears the very conscience.”

Bro. L.G. Sargent - The Teaching of the Master, pg.185-6

“hypocrites” – hupokrites – an actor under an assumed character.


Getting the motive rightGetting the motive right How do we reconcile Matt. 5:16Matt. 5:16 with 6:26:2? V.3V.3 – “…let not thy left hand know

what thy right hand doeth.” May allude to the practice of placing the

Corban, the poor man’s box, or the chest for free-will offerings, on the right hand of the passage into the temple; so that they put their gifts into it with the right-hand (power, authority).

Left hand = mortal weakness!


Secret alms - Open rewardSecret alms - Open reward V.4V.4 - “secret” - kruptos - in the secret or

hidden place. Occs. 6 times in discourse, all here.

“seeth” – blepo - metaphorically to see with the mind’s eye, to have (the power of) understanding, to discern mentally, observe, perceive, discover, understand.

“reward” – apodidomi - to deliver, to give back, restore, recompense.


The Secret of the HeartThe Secret of the Heart Luke 8:17Luke 8:17 – “For nothing is secret,

that shall not be made manifest” (See also Matt. 10:26; Mk. 4:22; Luke Matt. 10:26; Mk. 4:22; Luke 12:212:2).

Rom. 2:16Rom. 2:16 – “...God shall judge the secrets of men...”

Rom. 2:29Rom. 2:29 – “...he is a Jew, which is one inwardly...”.

1 Cor. 4:51 Cor. 4:5 – “...bring to light the hidden things of darkness”.

1 Cor. 14:251 Cor. 14:25 – “…thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest”.


The Father’s RewardThe Father’s Reward“When He bestows the gift which He has prepared, the Father who knows your secret relation to Him will openly show His love for you. The reward is reward indeed; but it is above all else the expression of a relationship, the seal of fellowship, the evidence that He has adopted men and women as sons and daughters. Reward is the mark of God's delight in those who are redeemed and reconciled and embraced in His purpose: ‘Fear not, little flock; it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom’ (Luke 12:32Luke 12:32).”

The Teaching of the Master, pg.188-9


The Pharisee’s wages!The Pharisee’s wages!Self-worship motivated the Pharisee - all their acts of piety were a theatrical performance, a spectacle to gain the applause of men. That recognition and applause was their only and final reward.

“The Pharisees expect a wage for their works: the disciple is promised a bounty for his living faith.”

The Teaching of the Master, pg.188-9


Public and private prayerPublic and private prayer V.5V.5 – “love” – phileo – to have an

affection for.

“standing” – In order to be seen of men – Matt. 23:5Matt. 23:5.

“corners of the streets” – Deliberately late for the “hour of prayer” – Acts 3:1Acts 3:1.

“their reward” – misthos – pay for service. Diag. – “they have in full the reward of them”. Reward from self! – Not from God.


Seeing Him who is invisibleSeeing Him who is invisible“The clue to the mind and practice of the saint is to be found in the repeated phrase, ‘the Father which is in secret’. He is ‘the King eternal, incorruptible, invisible, the only God’, and those who love Him will live ‘as seeing Him who is invisible’.Withdrawing from distraction, they will come from time to time into a realm where the measure and standards of men no longer exist.”

The Teaching of the Master, pg. 184


Public and private fastingPublic and private fasting V.16V.16 – “sad countenance” - skuthropos -

of a sad, mournful and gloomy appearance.

“disfigure” – aphanizo - to deprive of lustre, render unsightly.

“have” – apecho – to receive in full. V.17V.17 – “anoint thine head” – aleipho – to

oil, anoint. Symbol for the Word in mind. “wash thy face” – Represents power of

Word to cleanse identity.


Private Self-denialPrivate Self-denial

“It may be required of us that we shall do more than others, but not that we shall be seen to do more.”

Bro. L.G. Sargent - The Teaching of the Master, pg. 182-3


The Secret of True DisciplesThe Secret of True Disciples“The unbeliever walks wholly in the visible world. For him there is neither secret place nor invisible Being.”

“The disciple has a secret for which he goes into an inner room: and his secret is God.”

The Teaching of the Master, pg.184


Next Next StudyStudy

(God (God willing)willing)Study 7 – “Seeking first

the Kingdom of God”


…… …

the king’s manifesto for life “the secret and the manifest” study 6

Documents

vision worship

sargent teaching

challenges of worship

knowledge of god

secret of righteousness

law of love

jewish thought

line of thought