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Chris tomlin clean hands pure heart4/8/2024 And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do-blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. – Barnes’ Notes on the Bible Warnings against doing it for show How often are theologians, when assembled together, so heated by debate, and so anxious for party victory, that they are in no suitable state of mind to pray! How often do even good people, holding different views on the disputed points of religious doctrine, suffer their minds to become so excited, and their temper so ruffled, that they are conscious they are in an unfit state of mind to approach the throne of grace together! That theological debate has gone too far that strife for victory has become too warm, when the disputants are in such a state of mind that they cannot unite in prayer when they could not cease their contentions, and with a calm and proper spirit, bow together before the throne of grace. Prayer was to be offered in a calm, serious, sober state of mind, and they who engaged in polemical strife, or in warm contention of any kind, are little fitted to unite in the solemn act of addressing God. They were not to come when the mind was heated with debate, and irritated by strife for victory. They were not to approach God in prayer in the midst of clamorous disputings and angry contentions. This is the sense evidently in this place. The word used (διαλογισμός dialogismos) means, properly, computation, adjustment of accounts then reflection, thought then reasoning, opinion then debate, contention, strife Luke 9:46 Mark 9:33-34 Philippians 2:14. – Matthew Poole’s CommentaryĪnd doubting – This word, as used here, does not mean, as our translation would seem to imply, that we are to come before God without any doubts of our own piety, or in the exercise of perfect faith. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. And doubting and let them also take heed of doubting in prayer of the goodness, truth, or power of God to fulfil his wishes but, Jam 1:6 ,7, let them ask in faith, nothing wavering. Without wrath and let them take heed of carrying malice, or inveterate anger, in their hearts when they go to God in prayer, for they must pray, Father: forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us and, Matthew 6:15: If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive your trespasses. – Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary This (or at least the contrite desire to be so) is a needful qualification for effectual prayer (Ps 24:3, 4). The Greek for “holy” means hands which have committed no impiety, and observed every sacred duty. Paul figuratively (compare Job 17:9 Jas 4:8) uses language alluding to this custom here: so Isa 1:15, 16. The Jews washed their hands before prayer (Ps 26:6). Lifting up holy hands-The early Christians turned up their palms towards heaven, as those craving help do. I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. And I have heard pastors publicly disdain raising hands unless you are certain they are holy hands. I have heard pastors publicly rebuke people for raising their hands. I have heard worship leaders publicly rebuke people for not raising their hands. AlI joking aside, this subject can be very divisive.
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