Inside Information

 

 

The references to money which appear in the sermon on the mount as reported by Matthew offer inside information on the subject.

 

Jesus came to fulfil the law, not to destroy it, not to lower religion. Our religion must have expression in our life for only life at its best can satisfy us. Prof. Stalker tells us that “The task of religious teachers is to get people to see things as they are,” and we may add, as they ought to be.

 

Jesus requires more than external compliance¹ with the law or formal righteousness and hence his followers² must be better than Pharisees. They must act from right motives³ when they pray and give alms and 7 be confidential⁴ with the Father who seeth in secret. The Pharisee’s reward, to be seen of men, seems utterly⁵ insignificant⁶ as compared with that of the Christian⁷, “Thy Father who seeth in secret shall reward thee.” “Thy Father” and not “our Father,” as elsewhere: for here the transaction is confidential and personal; “Reward thee” as an individual who merits his consideration.

 

The approval of our Father in heaven is worth while as well as good standing⁸ in our community. Both are possible and Dr. Deems emphasizes the value of both when he says: “One good man given to a town is better than the gift of a park or a library and is worth more to a town than a hundred of the most learned men who are not good.”

 

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth,” says Jesus to His disciples⁹ and his precept¹⁰ is illustrated¹¹ by His example. Your life must not be limited by money. Earthly treasures may be stolen or destroyed. Money-making may hinder laying up treasures in heaven, “For where thy treasure is, there will thy heart be also.”

 

Christians¹² are essentially¹³ heavenly in character and life and so Paul says, “Our citizenship¹⁴ is in heaven.” They are industrious¹⁵, economical, thrifty¹⁶ and enterprising but their life 8 centers in the spiritual and the wealth they possess is owned and used, not for themselves alone, but for their families and neighbors, their friends and even their enemies, the Church and nation.

 

Jesus declares that men must have the light of God and singleness of eye in order to see. Men must learn to see as God sees. No man can serve two masters, God and Mammon, only two being mentioned for there are no more. God sees men as they are and is never in doubt while men get things mixed up and try to do opposites. They think of food and raiment when they ought to think of God’s kingdom and His righteousness. They ought to put first things first in order to get other things in their proper place.

 

Of course there are people who dislike those who see as God sees and do as Christ directs but good people are not on this account to give away holy things and cast aside the pearls they possess. Good people have a right to be good even if “the dogs” and “the swine” have no appreciation¹⁷ of the higher things of life. The continued possession of “pearls” and “that which is holy” has the approval of Jesus.

 

He even commands his followers to ask of God who knows what is best for them and who is described as 9 “your Father” when it comes to giving to them. He wishes to be asked for what they want and gives “good things” in answer to their requests. This is information every child of God should have because it comes from the lips of Jesus and is inside information as regards God’s will as set forth¹⁸ in his word and also with reference to our own personal experience.

1 compliance   

n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从

参考例句：

• I was surprised by his compliance with these terms.我对他竟然依从了这些条件而感到吃惊。
• She gave up the idea in compliance with his desire.她顺从他的愿望而放弃自己的主意。

2 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

3 motives   

n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• to impeach sb's motives 怀疑某人的动机
• His motives are unclear. 他的用意不明。

4 confidential   

adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的

参考例句：

• He refused to allow his secretary to handle confidential letters.他不让秘书处理机密文件。
• We have a confidential exchange of views.我们推心置腹地交换意见。

5 utterly   

adv.完全地，绝对地

参考例句：

• Utterly devoted to the people,he gave his life in saving his patients.他忠于人民，把毕生精力用于挽救患者的生命。
• I was utterly ravished by the way she smiled.她的微笑使我完全陶醉了。

6 insignificant   

adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的

参考例句：

• In winter the effect was found to be insignificant.在冬季，这种作用是不明显的。
• This problem was insignificant compared to others she faced.这一问题与她面临的其他问题比较起来算不得什么。

7 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

8 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

9 disciples   

n.信徒( disciple的名词复数 )；门徒；耶稣的信徒；（尤指）耶稣十二门徒之一

参考例句：

• Judas was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. 犹大是耶稣十二门徒之一。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• "The names of the first two disciples were --" “最初的两个门徒的名字是——” 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险

10 precept   

n.戒律；格言

参考例句：

• It occurs to me that example is always more efficacious than precept.我想到身教重于言教。
• The son had well profited by the precept and example of the father.老太爷的言传身教早已使他儿子获益无穷。

11 illustrated   

adj. 有插图的，列举的 动词illustrate的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• His lecture was illustrated with slides taken during the expedition. 他在讲演中使用了探险时拍摄到的幻灯片。
• The manufacturing Methods: Will be illustrated in the next chapter. 制作方法将在下一章说明。

12 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

13 essentially   

adv.本质上，实质上，基本上

参考例句：

• Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
• She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。

14 citizenship   

n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份)

参考例句：

• He was born in Sweden,but he doesn't have Swedish citizenship.他在瑞典出生，但没有瑞典公民身分。
• Ten years later,she chose to take Australian citizenship.十年后，她选择了澳大利亚国籍。

15 industrious   

adj.勤劳的，刻苦的，奋发的

参考例句：

• If the tiller is industrious,the farmland is productive.人勤地不懒。
• She was an industrious and willing worker.她是个勤劳肯干的员工。

16 thrifty   

adj.节俭的；兴旺的；健壮的

参考例句：

• Except for smoking and drinking,he is a thrifty man.除了抽烟、喝酒，他是个生活节俭的人。
• She was a thrifty woman and managed to put aside some money every month.她是个很会持家的妇女，每月都设法存些钱。

17 appreciation   

n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨

参考例句：

• I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
• I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。

18 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。