Repentance, Alms, and Fasting
Ash Wednesday – 3/5/2025
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
Rev. Christopher W. Brademeyer
That portion from God’s holy Word for consideration this evening is our Gospel lesson from St. Matthew’s sixth chapter, with special emphasis on verses nineteen through twenty-one which read as follows:
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”[1]
Thus far the Scriptures.
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Tonight, we gather on Ash Wednesday, the beginning of our Lenten journey. A journey marked by repentance, reflection, and renewal as we prepare ourselves to dwell on the passion, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Listening to the words of Jesus in Matthew 6, we are confronted with a fundamental question: Where is our treasure? Where is our devotion?
Treasures on Earth vs. Treasures in Heaven
Jesus draws a clear contrast between earthly treasures and heavenly treasures.
Treasures on Earth are things that do not last. We see this truth all around us:
Material possessions rust, break down, and lose value.
Money can be stolen, investments can crash, and possessions can be destroyed.
No matter how much wealth or success we accumulate, none of it follows us past the grave.
In contrast, Treasures in Heaven are eternal:
They do not rust or decay.
They cannot be stolen or lost.
Their value surpasses all earthly riches because they are secured by God Himself.
These treasures include the gift of eternal life, the righteousness of Christ, and the inheritance of His kingdom.
How Do We Receive These Heavenly Treasures?
At first glance, the context of this passage might seem to suggest that we must earn these treasures through our works. After all, Jesus speaks about acts of righteousness—giving to the needy, prayer, and fasting. Many have mistakenly taken this to mean that storing up heavenly treasures is about accumulating good deeds to earn God’s favor.
But let us be clear—Jesus is speaking to His people, those who are already in Him. He is not giving a formula for earning salvation, rather, He is describing the life of those already redeemed. Our good works are not a means of securing salvation but are the natural fruit of faith. They are pleasing to the Father, not because they merit eternal life, but because they are done in faith, prepared in advance for us by God.[2] That is to say, they the result of our salvation, not a cause of it. Though they do not save and it is a terrible and grave mistake to present the teaching of good works as if they saved us, it is equally problematic to present good works as optional in the life of the Christian. The problem with this teaching is that some use Christian freedom and liberty as an excuse to avoid pursing good works and godliness while others use their actions and deeds as the benchmark of their standing before God. Against both of these is the teaching of the Scriptures: good works are necessary, being naturally produced from us by faith, though they are not part of the discussion of salvation and how we receive or maintain ourselves in it.
The Purpose of Lent: A Time of Discipline and Focus
Lent is a season set aside to prepare for Easter. It is a time for self-examination, a time to recognize that we often grow lax in our Christian walk. It is a time to refocus our hearts and minds on Christ. Keeping in mind what we said about good works, we should use this occasion to pursue Christian godliness, that is to say, spiritual disciplines. It is easy to let them slip and become lax. The spiritual disciplines of Lent—prayer, fasting, and almsgiving—are not meant to earn God’s love but to train us and discipline us, as Luther reminds us in the Small Catechism, we who are baptized are obligated each day to down our Old Adam in the waters of our Baptism. That is to say, we need to discipline ourselves and pursue good and godly things every day by wrestling against our sin. Spiritual disciplines can help with this discipline. Specifically, they help us:
Keep our “eye on the prize”—the kingdom of God.
Discipline our sinful flesh, reminding us of our dependence on Christ.
Reorient our priorities away from fleeting earthly things toward eternal realities.
Live in the way Christ commands us—serving God and our neighbor.
These disciplines remind us that we are not our own; we belong to Christ. Our lives are to be lived in Him and for Him.
Where is Your Treasure?
Jesus’ teaching here calls us to examine our minds, hearts, and lives. Where is our treasure? Is it in wealth, success, comfort, or human approval? Or is it in Christ, His Word, His promises, and the hope of eternal life?
This Lent, let us lay aside the distractions and false treasures of this world. Let us fix our hearts on Christ, who laid down His life for us. Let us treasure Him above all, knowing that in Him, our hearts will find their true home.
In the holy Name of + Jesus. Amen.
The peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
[1] Matthew 6:19-21 English Standard Version
[2] Ephesians 2:10
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