Metaphysical Interpretation of Matthew Chapter 6
Matt. 6:1-13
6:1 - 'Take heed that ye do not your righteousness before men, to be seen of them: else ye have no reward with your Father who is in heaven."
6:2 - "When therefore thou doest alms, sound not a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward. 6:3But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 6:4that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee."
Metaphysically Interpreting Matthew 6:5-15
6:5 - "And when ye pray, ye shall not be as the hypocrites: for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward. 6:6But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thine inner chamber, and having shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee."
6:7 - "And in praying use not vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 6:8Be not therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him."
6:9-13 - "After this manner therefore pray ye.
Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And bring us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
6:14For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 6:15But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
True Prayer- The Inner Mysteries
Why is it important for us to do good anonymously? Doing good anonymously keeps the mind single and the intent pure. Where acknowledgment occurs pride and self-complacency may easily rob us of the benefit we should otherwise gain from giving thought to others before ourselves. We are to live “unto God/Source,” and not try to impress those about us with our piety and sanctity.
If we are not to let others know of the good that we do, how can we let our light shine before men? Our light shines in the spirit that animates us and that inspires us to action independently of our consciousness of others and of the impression that we make upon them.
If we wish to help others in order to make a name for ourselves as good neighbors or good people, we are living in personal consciousness, and are missing the rich blessings of spiritual compensation.
In what state of mind should we pray? We should think only of God as our Father, praying with reverence and love. We should never be fearful when we pray, for fear puts a barrier between us and God and defeats the purpose of prayer, which is communion with Divine Mind.
How do we pray in the “inner chamber”? Metaphysically understood, the “inner chamber” is the spiritual consciousness within the mind and the soul of man. It is also called “the secret place of the Most High.”
What is the meaning of “having shut thy door”? Shutting the door of the mind is closing out the thoughts of the outer world from one's consciousness.
How do we pray to the “Father who is in secret”? The spiritual center within every one of us is hidden and secret from the outer consciousness. When we, in the silence, center our attention upon Spirit within us, we make contact with the universal Spirit in which we live, move, and have our being.
By practice, we acquire the ability to make union with Spirit in the inner recesses of the soul. Then Spirit is real to us, and we can hold communion with it and know for ourselves that there is an omnipresent, animating Principle behind and within man and the entire universe as Oneness.
What is the language of the kingdom? Prayer, praise, meditation, and centered-prayer on Truth. In prayer we acknowledge the kingdom as a realm of "mind," and ourselves as "mental and spiritual beings." No merely the physical martial bodies we use as vehicles here.
Is the realm of mind admittedly higher in consciousness than the physical realm? It is, and it is so acknowledged in the words “Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come.”
Must the will have a vehicle of expression always, or is it purely a mental faculty? Will and power are closely related faculties, but faculties only. “Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth” is an acknowledgment that the will of the Infinite prevails in the realm of "Divine Mind," and that it can be made to prevail in the physical and material realm also.
What does the prayer for our daily bread include? It includes all our necessities, the satisfaction of all our hungers, whether physical, mental, or spiritual. These are all elements of our total health.
Are we forgiven our debts merely by our asking to be forgiven them? By asking forgiveness and by extending it to others we qualify ourselves to receive forgiveness of our shortcomings. Without a forgiving spirit we cannot receive or accept forgiveness of our sins. We are being released of carry the load,
And finally, how can Divine Mind “bring us ... to temptation”? It does not, but ... the sense mind (ego) can and does. This prayer is a plea that Divine Mind may dominate our consciousness ego-mind and and wholly fill us.
To Be Held in the Silence.
Just a thought ...
~Justin Taylor, ORDM., OCP., DM.
