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Trumpeting For Alms. After His warning, Jesus gave them three illustrations to help them understand His message. His first illustration was the giving of alms.
So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. (NASB) Matt. 6:2 The Jews in Jesus’ time believed that giving alms gained one favor with God. For example, the Jewish apocryphal book, the Wisdom of Sirach, records these words,
. . . alms make an atonement for sins. (Wisdom of Sirach 3:30 The passage indicates that the Jews believed giving alms helped one
to have his or her sins forgiven. This gives us insight as to why the
disciples were surprised when Jesus said that it is hard for the rich
to enter the kingdom of heaven (Mark 10:23-26). Jesus had said that it
was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich
man to enter heaven. Jesus wanted the disciples to know that the things
and wealth of this world would make the rich content. As a result, many
would reject God and not see a need for spiritual things. As a result,
most rich people will not make it to heaven. The disciples were surprised
because they believed that alms giving gained favor with God. If you
were rich, you could give a lot of alms or money and gain a lot of favor
with God. As a result, they believed that the rich had greater favor
with God.
The religious leaders gave money also. When they gave, they
had someone blow a trumpet. Some have questioned if a trumpet was actually
used, since no historical evidence has been found. Some have suggested
that Jesus was referring to an offering box that looked like a trumpet.
Some conjecture that the funnel-like offering box was constructed that
way to prevent someone’s hands from reaching inside and taking
the money. Others believe the trumpet was only symbolic. Why should we
doubt that Jesus was referring to real trumpets? Regardless of one’s
view, it is clear that these religious leaders were doing something to
motivate people to watch them give money to the poor in the synagogues
and streets. They wanted favor with God and man. They gave to gain favor
with God and to gain favor with the people. |
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| Life & Heart of Jesus | |||||
