Humanity, for centuries, has suffered from the effects of sin. I have suffered personally; as well, my family has suffered. I was taught growing up that all the Bible had to offer any of us was a simple list of rules to follow, which, if we failed, would bring down “fire and brimstone” to us in an instant. I always wondered, though, “If that is all there is, then why is there more than 2000 pages of rules?” In seeking the answer, I found this: the law was not meant to hinder us from living or to bring harm to us for failing that law. The rules were put in place to keep us safe and living close to God, as His companion (much like a child and parent). He longs to be close to us, and so He gave us the law, and He also gave us prayer. Therefore, in keeping with the theme of right living, God gave a few rules for prayer too.
Jesus explains each of these in a sermon recorded in Matthew1. After giving us what have been called the Beatitudes, Jesus starts right in talking about the law, expressing that He did not come to wipe out the rules, but to fulfill them, and even to expand on them. He talks about Murder, anger, and hatred for enemies2. He says that if we are at the altar (or in church), and we remember that we are angry with another then we should leave and go find that person, and put the quarrel to rest. You see, our offerings are nothing if we have not first loved our enemies3. I love to imagine the world in a time where all of society heeds these words of Christ. I see prisons turned into churches and I hear words of encouragement from the news media instead of speculative judgments.
Just as important as defeating anger is learning to keep promises. Jesus talks about adultery, marriage, and oaths back to back4, saying that our simple lust is adultery to Him, and no one should divorce but for sexual immorality. %(bv)Psalm 15% tells us that the man who will dwell with God will “keep his oath, even when it hurts.” It seems divorce is precisely when it hurts. When I am strong enough to follow these rules, God blesses my life in a way that makes me long to do more for Him. When I fail, I am left to the natural consequences of my sin. Each time, it makes me wonder why I do it, and why anyone else would.
Prayer has the same effect. It brings me close to my Father in Heaven and I wonder why I do not do it more often. Jesus makes a point all through his journey to teach us to do everything for God and not for men. He does miracles and tells His audience not to tell anyone. When He prays, He goes off to be alone with His Father. Here in the Sermon He tells us to do the same. He tells us not to make lengthy prayers in public, thinking of others who will hear and see us5. He says not to use “vain repetition” as heathens and hypocrites do. To help us even more, He actually gives us a model for prayer6. Everything we do is to be done secretly and for God alone. My life until Christ centered on this thing called Society. What would Society think, say, do? Even Society herself seemed to focus on her own ways and so we all were left to make it known that we were good people with good clothes, good money, and good hearts.
Man has made a law that must be followed. The consequences of disobeying man’s law are written and must be followed as well. So it is with the Lord. His law is written and must be followed. And if we don’t, we are left to ourselves, without God’s blessing. It seems it is in our best interest to follow the law of man and the law of God. However, following the law alone will not do. We ought to spend time with God, thanking Him often for all that He gives to us, perhaps for each time He let us go with a slap on the wrist. Think of it this way: prayer is our avenue of communication to God and following the law is what keeps that road open.
