Lesson Six (Chapter 6)
Righteous Deeds and Righteousness
“Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Yeshua Messiah; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.”
1Peter 1:13-15
“For I am HaShem your G-d. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy.”
Leviticus 11:44a
“Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
Matthew 5:48
Introduction
- Previously we saw how Yeshua sat down on the mountain and taught His disciples. We saw that Yeshua was not introducing a “new law” – but explaining G-d’s Eternal standard, the Torah, and showing how it should be lived out.
- We saw that Yeshua's teaching on the mountain was not about “Kingdom entrance” – but about Kingdom living, and describing what Kingdom servants act like.
- The “Sermon on the Mount” continues – we looked specifically at “righteous deeds” in this lesson’s homework: alms, prayer, fasting, and where righteousness comes from.
Perfect Does Not Equal Sinless
- The end of chapter 5 sets the stage for chapter 6. Yeshua says, “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
- teleios: complete, mature, arriving at a destination
- 1Peter 1:13-17: the goal, the destination, maturity is to be holy. To be holy is to be set apart completely for Him (this quotes Lev 11:44).
- Matt 19:21: one declared by faith as righteous, acting out righteous deeds – Yeshua calls “perfect.”
- It does not set a “new standard” – it explains G-d’s existing, eternal standard = His Word (John 5:46-47).
Alms
- Matt 6:1-4; 19-32: giving and being generous – all should come from a heart that knows that it is G-d Who has provided for you. It is a reflection of His grace and mercy.
- In Hebrew, “alms” was assigned to 2 words: chanan and chesed – grace and mercy/grace.
- 6:32: G-d’s mercy “motivates” Him – our need is answered by His grace. Thus should we be when we observe need in others.
- Deut 15:6-11 Is 58:6-8; James 2:15-16: How should we give alms (i.e. “mercy/grace giving”)? Answer: How did Yeshua personally meet the physical needs of others?
- Alms is about seeing a need, and personally acting upon it.
- We should not “toot our horn” (6:2) – G-d even gives to the ungodly. Anonymous is best.
- Matt 6:22-23: Want a “good eye”? Be generous – and all your body will be full of light.
Prayer
- Matt 6:5-13: Yeshua is not speaking against public prayer – He is speaking against fake prayer. Xref 5:20: The externals of religion are not wrong – unless they are the only thing present.
- “Our Father” – Avinu: this is a personal prayer, a liturgical prayer, and a prayer formula. It follows a similar pattern found in the Aleinu, Kaddish, Shemoneh Esreh, and Didache. The Didache (Apostles’ teaching) references “3 times daily” in the pattern of the ancient Shemoneh Esreh.
- Mark 14:22: “Blessed” – this is a Hebraism for a liturgical prayer of thanks: “Blessed art Thou HaShem our G-d, King of the Universe, Who brings forth bread from the earth.”
Fasting
- Matt 6:16-18: Yeshua assumes His talmidim will fast. He commands them, in those voluntary fasts, to not appear to be fasting – guard against the trappings of religion. Let the “outside” reflect the “inside” – do not merely change the “outside”.
Example of Righteous Living
- Acts 10:2, 4, 31: Cornelius models righteous deeds for us.
- “Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of G-d.”
Righteousness Granted, Righteousness Exercised
- Matt 6:33: Seek His reign in your life – seek His standard of “right standing” – keep the order straight: declared righteous by G-d alone – righteousness exercised by a joint work with G-d (Eph 2:8-10).
- Deut 6:24-25; Deut 9:6: Righteousness is imputed and to be exercised, but not earned.
- Is 56:1: The apparent conflict between righteousness granted, and righteousness exercised. Does this sound like “Repent, for the Kingdom of G-d is here”?
- Rom 1:16-17: The Kingdom message = “Repent…” = the righteousness of G-d revealed from faith to faith.
- 2Cor 5:21: Righteousness, imputed, factual, and supernaturally lived out.
Summary
- If we have been “accepted in the Beloved” (Eph 1:6), then we can know with absolute certainly that we have been granted righteousness.
- As Yeshua's talmidim, He has called us now to look like Him, act like Him, and to speak like Him. He has called us to hear His words, and do them. He has called us to act out the very righteousness He has imputed to us – from the inside out – to righteous deeds.