From the recording Matthew The Gospel An Intimate Review
Lyrics
Letter of Apostle Matthew – The Gospel
An Intimate Review
Pt 8
By Lawrence DeMetrius
Matthew 6:16-18
Fasting
Jesus Christ advises His disciples to FAST in private as they PRAY in private. It too invokes OPEN manifestations of divine BLESSINGS.
*fast Gk #3522 nesteuo (nace-tyoo-o) it means to abstain from food for religious purposes
Matthew 6:19-34; Lk 12:22-34
Heavenly Investments
Jesus Christ gave His Brethren a two-fold command.
1. Do not lay up for yourselves TREASURES on EARTH.
2. Lay up for yourselves TREASURES in HEAVEN.
Per this two-fold command, it is clear how Christ felt about storing up temporal things. Although earthly assets have value, one should not be more concerned with them, than with securing eternal TREASURES.
*treasures Gk #2344 thesauros (thay-sow-ros) it is a deposit, which is anything given as security, laid away or entrusted to another for safekeeping
*earth Gk #1093 ge (ghay) it is the soil, region and solid part of the terrene globe including its inhabitants
*heaven Gk #3772 ouranos (yoo-ran-os) it is the sky, Gospel of Christ, happiness, power, eternity and heaven as Yahweh’s abode
EARTH and HEAVEN are two different realms that are indeed divine creations. However, in Christ’s perspective, the elements of HEAVEN are much more valuable than those of EARTH. In this passage, He notes that TREASUERS laid up on EARTH can be CORRUPTED by RUST and MOTHS or STOLEN by THIEVES. However, TREASURES laid up in HEAVEN are completely secure and unaffected by destructive EARTHLY elements.
*moth Gk #4597 sec (sace) it is a moth
MOTHS, are major pests to agriculture in many parts of the EARTH. Some are known to cause severe damage to forestry and extensive damage to fruit farms in temperate climates. Some are commonly regarded as pests due to their larvae eating fabric, like clothes and blankets made from natural fibers such as wool and silk.
*rust Gk #1035 brosis (bro-sis) it is eating and food
*corrupt Gk #853 aphanizo (af-an-id-zo) it means to render unapparent, consume, disappear and destroy
*thieves Gk #2812 kleptes (klep-tace) it is a person who steals or takes the property of others without permission or right by force or in secret
*break through Gk #1358 diorusso (dee-or-oos-so) it is to penetrate burglariously, which is to enter a building as a trespasser with intent to commit theft, rape or grievous bodily harm and danger
*steal Gk #2813 klepto (klep-to) it means to take something small and of little value that belongs to someone else
Christ identifies MOTH, RUST and THIEVES as instruments of destruction and loss in the EARTH realm. At the appointed time, such elements and the TREASURES they can affect, will pass away. Thus, placing more value in storing up eternal TREASURE is a wiser investment. Those who fail to recognize the worth of HEAVENLY TREASURES, unfortunately forfeit what Christ has to come to restore to mortals.
Jesus Christ said that what one genuinely TREASURES is where their HEART will be. Apostle John reiterates that a HEART set on temporal things is void of LOVE for Yahweh. [I Jn 2:15-17]
*heart Gk #2588 kardia (kar-dee-ah) it is the heart and figurative of one’s thoughts, feelings, mind and middle
Matthew 6:22, 23
The Light Within
Jesus Christ explains that the LIGHT of the BODY is the EYE.
*light (1) Gk #5460 photeinos (fo-ti-nos) it is an adjective that describes the body as being lustrous, transparent and well-illuminated
• lustrous means luminous, shining and having luster, which is…
o the state or quality of shining by reflecting light
o glitter, sparkle, sheen or gloss
o a substance, as a coating or polish, used to impart sheen or gloss
o radiant brightness and brilliance
o radiance of beauty, excellence, merit, distinction and glory
• transparent is…
o transmitting rays of light through so bodies situated beyond or behind can be distinctly seen
o admitting the passage of light through
o being sheer enough to permit light to pass through
o being easily seen through, recognized or detected
o manifest, obvious, open and candid
• well-illuminated is being…
o illuminated or to illuminate which is to…
light up, supply or brighten with light
make clear or throw light on a subject
decorate with lights as in celebration
enlighten as with knowledge
make resplendent or illustrious
o enlightened or to enlighten which is to…
edify, instruct and give information or understanding to
free from ignorance, prejudice and superstition
shed light on and give spiritual or religious revelation to
o made clear or bright with light, which is…
something that makes things visible or affords illumination
the sensation produced by stimulation of the organs of sight
an illuminating agent or source, as the sun, a lamp or a beacon
spiritual illumination, enlightenment and awareness
mental insight and understanding
information, ideas and mental capacities possessed
literally the eyesight
*body Gk #4983 soma (so-mah) it is the body as a sound whole [I Thes 5:23]
• sound is being…
o free from injury, damage, defect and disease
o healthy, robust and in good condition
o competent, sensible and valid
o financially strong, secure and reliable
o without defect as to truth, justice, wisdom and reason
o of substantial and enduring character
o in a systematic pattern without any apparent defect in logic
o deep, uninterrupted and untroubled
o thorough, having no legal or moral defect or weakness
o upright, honest, good, honorable or loyal
• whole is…
o having all the parts and elements of a thing
o an assemblage of parts viewed together as a unit
o a thing that is complete in itself
*eye Gk #3788 ophthalmos (of-thal-mos) it is the eye literally or figuratively, the act and ability of sensing with the eye and jealousy in the negative sense
Jesus Christ explains that if one’s EYE is SINGLE, then their entire BODY will be full of LIGHT. However, in this statement, LIGHT is different from that noted in verse 22.
*single Gk #573 haplous (hap-looce) it means folded together and clear
When the conscious and sub-conscious minds are SINGLE, they are able to exercise and reflect divine perception.
*light (2) Gk #3088 luchnos (lookh-nos) it is a portable lamp or other illuminator
This LIGHT refers to any source that enables one to recognize their true disposition. Before one can inherit LUCHNOS LIGHT (2), their BODY must have PHOTEINOS LIGHT (1). The MIND must be clear of debris that hinders one’s ability to recognize divine truth. Christ then explains the EYE or MIND that is EVIL. He likens it to PHOS LIGHT (3) which fills the entire BODY with DARKNESS. He said,
But if thine EYE be EVIL, thy whole BODY shall be full of SKOTEINOS DARKNESS (1). If therefore the PHOS LIGHT (3) that is in thee be SKOTEINOS DARKNESS (1), how great is that SKOTOS DARKNESS (2).
[Mt 6:23]
*evil Gk #4190 poneros (pon-ay-ros) it means hurtful in effect and influence
*darkness (1) Gk #4652 skoteinos (skot-i-nos) it means opaque and benighted
• opaque is not…
o transparent, translucent and impenetrable to light
o allowing light to pass through
o shining or bright but dark and dull
o clear but hard to understand, stupid and unintelligent
• benighted is…
o unenlightened or intellectually and morally ignorant
o being overtaken by darkness or night
*light (3) Gk #5457 phos (foce) it is luminousness
*darkness (2) Gk #4655 skotos (sko-tos) it is shadiness and obscurity
• shadiness/shady means…
o full of, affording or casting shade
o dim, quiet and concealed
o questionable as to honesty or legality
• obscurity/obscure means…
o the condition of being unknown and indistinct
o uncertainty of meaning or expression
The EVIL EYE or MIND is the UNREGENERATE mind, mindset and spawn of Lucifer. Per Apostle Paul, it is the CARNAL MIND that is not and cannot be subject to divine rule. [Rm 8:5-9] It is not concerned with divine knowledge and is wholly self-gratifying. Therefore, those who choose to be subject thereto will inherit eternal death. [Pro 14:12; Mt 7:13, 14; Gal 6:7, 8] Apostle Paul writes,
Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servant ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
But now being made free from sin, and become servants of God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
[Rm 6:16-23]
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