The man of St Matthew

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT

Almsgiving, Prayer, Fasting: Mt 6,1-18

A good approach to these verses is to read the Gospel for Ash Wednesday (Mt 6,1-6.16-18). In that reading the central feature of these verses, the insertion of the Lord's Prayer, has been omitted. The result is that Matthew's organisation of his presentation on almsgiving, prayer and fasting stands out very clearly.

It will help our reading therefore if we look first at the three short presentations together with their similar pattern. We can then read the Lord's Prayer separately. We do need to keep in mind though how the evangelist has inserted this special prayer into Jesus' teaching on prayer.

The evangelist gives the premise for this triple presentation in the first verse. There is a key word there though it is not rendered in all translations.
Count the number of times "Father" appears in these 18 verses.

Almsgiving: 6,2-4, Prayer: 6,5-6, Fasting: 6,16-18

We can take these three, almsgiving, prayer and fasting, as being the foundations of Jewish piety, (just as they continue to be foundations of Christian piety). Almsgiving is well illustrated in the book of Tobit (Tob 1,3.16 for example). See also Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 3,30.7,10. For fasting, see Lev 23,26-32 or the story of Jonah. Prayer is everywhere of course, notably the psalms.

Look at the three presentations and see how they are made up of the same four elements. What link word appears which was also important in the second half of chapter 5? What contrast is being made. Again, it helps to compare translations.

Time for a first look at my response.

The Lord's Prayer: 6,7-15

Traditionally Catholics call this the Our Father, I find it easier to use The Lord's Prayer. We all know the prayer by heart, for many of us learning the prayer would have been our earliest religious instruction. It is always good and important to take an opportunity to stop and reflect on something we know so well.

What are the boundaries of the insertion? Why is this important?
What is the place of the prayer within the presentation of 6,1-18?

Verses 7 and 8 set the scene. Unlike 6,5, the contrast is now with pagans or gentiles - see Isaiah 65,24 or for example the story in 1 Kings 18. Note also 1 Thessalonians 5,17.
The evangelist returns to the point of verse 8 a little later, in 6,32. Also important is Isaiah 65,24. These last words of verse 8 are important for the way we are to pray this prayer.

Compare what Matthew says in verse 9 with Luke, Lk 11,1-2.

The opening words of the prayer use an address which we have seen to be important in this presentation. Take note of the communal aspect to the prayer.

For the prayer itself, look at how tightly it is composed: an address followed by petitions. How many petitions are there and how do they divide into two halves? Note as well how the last two petitions are introduced. Also note how the last line opens.

At this stage too it is good to reflect on the prayer. See how it "flows", with whom does it begin - and end? How is the connection made between the two halves?

To conclude our introduction, look at 1 Chronicles 29,10-13.

Compare Matthew's address in verse 9 with that of Luke (11,2). Contrast with 26,39.

What does "hallowed" mean? The traditional English "our Father" is so deeply embedded that even the new translation of the Missal has not changed it. An old fashioned word may though hide its importance: see for example Lev 22,32, Psalms 8,1 and 30,4 and also Ezekiel 36,22-23. Isaiah 8,13.29,23.

Verse 10 and the coming of the kingdom: a key theme of the Gospel from Jesus' first proclamation, 4,17. See also 25,34.

The will of God: see 7,21; 12,50. Above all, for Jesus himself, look at 26,42.

We now continue to the second half of the prayer where the emphasis shifts from God to disciple as they ask for their needs.

Verse 11 includes a Greek adjective for "bread" which is unique. For our purposes, the traditional "give us this day our daily bread" is good enough. The theme of bread runs through the Bible in many different ways and taking this in an inclusive way can help us with the background to this prayer. In this Gospel, look at 14,13-21 and 15,32-39. More widely, consider Exodus 12,15; 16,4; Proverbs 30,8; Isaiah 25,6.

Verse 12 will be picked up and developed in verses 14-15. See Sirach 28,2.

Verse 13 begins as we have seen with an emphatic "But". For the test see 4,1 and also Ps 11,5; 26,2.

Matthew likes to stress the importance of forgiveness - see also 18,21-22. This is an important balance in a Gospel which often seems judgemental.

Now take a look at my response.

The Sunday Gospel

It may be surprising that this important passage (6,1-18) is not read on a Sunday in Ordinary Time.
The passage without the Lord's Prayer is the Gospel for Ash Wednesday as we have seen. The Lord's Prayer itself is read only on Tuesday of the 1st week of Lent. What is important in that reading (6,7-15) is that the immediate context for the Lord's Prayer is also provided (verses 7-8 and 14-15). It is good to be reminded of this because we usually pray the prayer on its own.

We now continue with the sayings of the third part of the body of the Sermon, 6,18-7,12.