In the Garden of Gethsemane, Satan tried to kill Jesus before He could go to the cross. His soul was "exceeding sorrowful, EVEN UNTO DEATH" (Matt. 26:38). Only by praying through did Jesus escape death in the Garden that night as you will see from Hebrews 5:7. Death in the Garden, missing the cross, was the cup that Jesus begged might pass from Him, and His prayer was answered. An angel came and ministered to Jesus and strengthened Him (Luke 22:43) that He might go to the cross. Satan hates the cross above all things. God grant that every Christian may glory continually in that which is our victory (Gal. 6:14). Our victory is in a crucified Saviour and our testimony to the cross (Rev. 12:11). - John R. Rice [Matthew, pg. 72]
Compare the testing of Jesus in the wilderness and in Gethsemane in Matthew 4:11 with Luke 22:43, Jesus received strength for His poor, frail, fainting body in both cases when He resisted temptation. So every one of us may have all we need if we faithfully resist Satan. What a glorious Example for us poor sinners. Hallelujah! - John R. Rice [Matthew, pg. 72]
Matthew 5:40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.
41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
Do not lose sight of the idea of restitution here. Verse 42 does not mean that to the first man who asks me for my car I ought to give it. It does mean that if I owe a man something and cannot pay it without giving up my car, I ought to do it quickly and gladly; or if he thinks I owe him, I ought to satisfy his claim. There are sometimes people to whom we ought not to give, since it would do them harm, and there are people to whom we ought not to loan money since it would lead them to sin, extravagance, and folly. But a Christian should go to any legitimate length to pay what he owes and to make restitution for his sin. - John R. Rice [Matthew, pg. 99-100]
Important phrases in understanding these verses are "to be seen of them" (vs. 1) and "as hypocrites do" (vs. 2). The important thing about giving is its motive. God looks on the heart. Any religious act, if it is to please God, must not be done with the thought of pleasing men or having their praise. Praying, giving, preaching, singing or living with the purpose of securing the favor and praise of men instead of pleasing God is hypocritical and wrong. This was the special sin of the Pharisees (Matt. 23:5, 14, 23, 25-28). - John R. Rice [Matthew, pg. 101]
Prayer is so important that Satan makes it one of his principal grounds of attacking and misleading the Christian. Since prayerfulness is such a great virtue, all of us would like to be known as faithful men and women of prayer. So almost unconsciously Christians are tempted to increase the eloquence and length of their public prayers while they decrease in sincerity. So public prayer may become a snare. - John R. Rice [Matthew, pg. 103]
Many people use "vain repetitions," repetitions that are vain because they no longer represent the sincere desire of the heart. It is a sin to fall into forms of prayer while we lose the substance. It is a sin to pray as the hypocrites do, to be heard of and seen of men (Mt. 6:5). Those who pray that way already "have their reward," that is, the only reward they will get - the applause of men. - John R. Rice [Matthew, pg. 103]
VAIN repetition is wrong in prayer, but sincere repetition itself is not. Jesus prayed three times saying the same words (Matt. 26:39, 42, 44). The poor widow of Luke 18:1-5 was commended by the Saviour for her persistence, and Christians are urged to do likewise in prayer (Luke 18:7). We are told in Luke 11:8 that the friend got the three loaves or more, "because of his importunity." Jacob got victory by his persistence in prayer (Gen. 32:26-29). Words one does not mean are "vain repetitions." As long as the heart calls out to God sincerely, it is proper to repeat a prayer until the answer comes. - John R. Rice [Matthew, pg. 104]
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