As I wrote in the previous post, Matthew's Gospel originally targeted the Jews, though the Gospels certainly minister to every believer.
I have provided once again the two slightly differing accounts for the Sermon on the Mount:
"24No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
25Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. " (Matthew 6: 24-34)
Here is Luke's account:
22And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. 23The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. 24Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? 25And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? 26If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? 27Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? 29And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. 30For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. 31But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. 32Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Luke 12: 22-32)
Another unique difference refers to the "fowls":
26Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? (Matthew 6: 26)
Luke's Gospel provides greater detail:
"Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?" (Luke 12: 24)
"Ravens" Luke indicates, and these birds are unclean creatures (see Leviticus 11:13, 15; Deuteronomy 14:12, 14). God does not just care for birds, but he cares for the most unclean of creatures. Matthew did not mention this detail most likely because the image would have offended them too greatly, yet Luke shared this detail with Gentile believers, who did not have a law-conscience. Yet for us believers, whether Jew or Gentile, we can receive the great revelation that God our Father wants to care for us in every way, to meet every need that we have. In fact, His Son became not just an unclean thing, but sin itself, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5: 21)
Luke's Gospel contains another unique element:
29And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
What creates a doubtful mind? Wondering whether God the Father will come through for us, certainly. But a man will find himself in a divided mind if he is trying to be obedience to God while at the same trusting that He wants to give him all things. Trust that in Christ, all your sins are taken care of, and then you will never suffer under a divided mind.
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