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The Family
Rewards - by Rev
Gilbert Wong In this Matthew’ reading, we realised that we have missed out the Lord’s Prayer. But the focus of the reading focuses on one just an important issue: that of rewards. “Matthew presents Jesus as an accountant advising his clients to invest in long-term securities rather than in those that mature sooner, and to do without interest payments in the meantime” (J.F. Common Worship Lectionary, A Scripture Commentary Year C, 2003, p. 75). For all of our love for money, we find it uncomfortable to associate money with serving God. Apparently, Matthew is less bothered with that than we are. Matthew has emphasised rewards ten times whereas Mark once, and Luke three times. So what does Matthew getting it? Is he saying that we should expect rewards and looks for self-benefits when we serve God. The answer perhaps lies in another aspect of Matthew’s teaching. In verses 4, 6, and 18, Matthew refers to God as ‘your Father’ (see also 7:7-11). God’s rewards are presents: there is no need to think of them as payments for work done. In Matthew, the language of commerce gives way to that of family. We are not employees in a faceless business, but sons and daughters of a father. No New Testament writer calls God ‘father’ more than Matthew, normally with a possessive ‘my’, ‘your’ or ‘our’. For Matthew believes that to love God is the greatest commandment of all (see Matthew 22:23-40). If our duties to God are done in order to acquire good reputation in the sight of others, no matter how pious the acts may be, they lose their reality as deeds of love for God. Matthew has not transferred the language of payments and earnings to the relationship between God and his family without transforming it. It is a happy fact that God’s love for his creatures expresses itself in gifts. Let us pray… [Top] |
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Church of the Ascension, 13
Francis Thomas Drive, Singapore 359339 |