Birds, Lilies, & Starving to Death, Part 4: Thoughts on Matthew 6:25-34

Jesus was not wrong in his promise.  He was describing a radical vision for community in the Sermon on the Mount and describing the high ethical standard expected of this community.  Imagining a world without hunger can only be described as radical when compared to what Jesus saw around him and what we see around us.  The Father knew that Jesus was making a radical promise.  The Father has an intended tool to fulfill his promise.   I propose that the tool is the community Jesus described, namely The Church.

Birds, Lilies, & Starving to Death, Part 3: Thoughts on Matthew 6:25-34

I want to note two things about my approach to Matthew 6:25-34 and then highlight four themes identified by commentaries, books, and articles. 

 

The first note I want to make is obvious but needed.  Matthew 6:25-34 is part of the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5-7.  Understand how I see this larger passage: The Sermon on the Mount is a call to a radical discipleship that is shaped by absolute submission to the will of God. 

Birds, Lilies, & Starving to Death, Part 2: Thoughts on Matthew 6:25-34

I want to bring the problem of evil to the discussion about Matthew 6:25-34.  The problem, How could an all-good and all-powerful God allow suffering, evil, and pain in the world? certainly applies.  Not only does an all-good and all-powerful God seem to allow hunger, he seems to do so after saying he wouldn’t.  I turned to three books – The Problem of Pain by C. S. Lewis; God, Medicine, and Suffering by Stanley Hauerwas; and, Evil and the Justice of God by N. T. Wright – with my question – Was Jesus wrong to promise that the Father will feed and clothe us?  – and looked for help to answer it.  I will limit myself to two helps from each book. 

Birds, Lilies, & Starving to Death, Part 1: Thoughts on Matthew 6:25-34

Scripture and I do not always seem to exist in the same reality.  The height of this uneasy co-existence is Matthew 6:25-34.  Jesus tells listeners not worry about what they will eat or wear.  Instead, seek the Kingdom.  I get stuck at verses 32 and 33.  Jesus says that such worry is not characteristic for his followers.  The Father knows what we need and will provide it.  Is the Father watching?  People starved to death as I tried to craft a readable opening paragraph.  Even for those who do not die, basic needs being met seems to be an unreasonable dream for many.