Mateus 26
Marvin Vincent · Citado em PreceptAustin
Mateus 26
Vincent notes "The compound verb has the force of an emphatic, ostentatious salute.
Mateus 26
Vincent has an interesting note - Reckoning the Jerusalem shekel at seventy-two cents, the sum would be twenty-one dollars and sixty cents. This was the price which, by the Mosaic law, a man was condemned to pay if his ox should gore a servant (Exod. 21:32+). Our Lord, the sacrifice for men, was paid for out of the temple-money, destined for the purchase of sacrifices. He who “took on him the form of a servant” was sold at the legal price of a slave. Bruce comments that "Coined money was in use, but the shekels may have been weighed out in antique fashion by men careful to do an iniquitous thing in the most orthodox way."
Mateus 26
Vincent comments on the significance of Jesus' using the illustration of an awake, alert doorkeeper in this parable writing that "In the temple, during the night, the captain of the temple made his rounds, and the guards had to rise at his approach and salute him in a particular manner. Any guard (doorkeeper) found asleep on duty was beaten, or his garments were set on fire." (Greek Word Studies) Puritan John Owen explains that keeping watch means "as much as to be on our guard, to take heed, to consider all ways and means whereby an enemy may approach to us… (this watchfulness requires) a universal carefulness and diligence, exercising itself in and by all ways and means prescribed by God, over our hearts and ways, the baits and methods of Satan, the occasions and advantages of sin in the world, that we be not entangled, is that which in this word is pressed on us." Alertness is required because our enemy rarely shows himself for who he is. He almost always masks himself as a religious personality, almost always endeavoring somehow in some way to be able to approach you subtly so that you can't recognize the reality of who he is. So you need to "be on the alert"!
Mateus 26
Vincent says huperetes was used most commonly with the meaning of officer (Mt 5:25+, etc), "denoting a subordinate official, as a herald or an orderly." Huperetes - 20x in 20v - Usage: attendant(1), helper(1), minister(1), officer(1), officers(13), servants(3). - Matt. 5:25+; Matt. 26:58+; Mk. 14:54+; Mk. 14:65+; James Butler - FAR OFF Matthew 26:58+ (from Butler's Sermon Starters) Our text deals with the failure of the Apostle Peter. It shows what happens when we distances ourselves from the Lord. It is not a pretty picture but sin never paints pretty pictures. Peter had earlier boasted that he would not deny the Lord, yet within hours he denied the Lord very conspicuously. It all happened when he let too much distance come between him and the Lord. His devotion and fellowship with the Lord declined until it was said that he followed the Lord “afar off.” Many folk are like Peter today and the price of this lack of devotion and fellowship with the Lord is costly. We note four bad results of following the Lord “afar off.” FIRST—THE WRONG PLACE “The high priest’s court.” The high priest’s court was not one that honored the Lord. In this place, Peter would hear much bad talk about Christ. They would slander Him, speak blasphemously of him, mistreat Him, and unjustly condemn Him. It is not good for God’s people to be in such places, in such dens of iniquity where Christ is so terribly dishonored. It only encourages you to dishonor Christ more as Peter did. But when you follow the Lord at a distance, you will end up in the wrong place. SECOND—THE WRONG PEOPLE “Sat with the guards to see the end.” When you follow the Lord at a distance, when you do not fellowship intimately with Him, you will eventually end up in the wrong crowd. Psalm 1:1+ says, “Blessed is the man that … sitteth not in the seat of the scornful.” Peter learned the hard way that sitting with the scornful removes one from blessing. What’s a servant of the Lord doing with servants of those who hate the Lord? Elijah was asked, “What doest thou here?” (1 Kings 19:13+). We need to ask ourselves that question often, for it will tell us much about our spiritual temperature. Those who do not follow the Lord closely will end up with the wrong people. THIRD—THE WRONG POSTURE “Sat.” Peter was sitting and listening to all the bad accusations and injustices said and done to Jesus Christ when he should have been standing up in protest for all the evil that was going on. But when you follow the Lord “afar off” you lose your zeal and your convictions. You will be sitting and condoning when you ought to be standing and condemning. FOURTH—THE WRONG PERSPECTIVE “To see the end.” It was not the end, it was the beginning of the Gospel program. But when you follow the Lord “afar off,” you will have poor perspective of life. We often look at our trials and difficulties as the end, when in fact they are the beginning. They are not to destroy us as we think but to build us up and strengthen us. Matthew 26:59 Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death. kept trying to obtain false testimony: De 19:16-21+ 1Ki 21:8-13 Ps 27:12 Psalm 35:11,12 Psalm 94:20,21 Pr 25:18 Mk 14:55-56+ Ac 6:11-13+ Acts 24:1-13+ Related Passages: Mark 14:55-56+ Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, and they were not finding any. 56 For many were giving false testimony against Him, but their testimony was not consistent. SEEKING FALSE TESTIMONY Grassmick offers an interesting supposition - The material in this section probably rests on the report of one or more Sanhedrin members who were secretly sympathetic to Jesus or who were against Him originally but later came to believe in Him (cf. Acts 6:7+). (See Bible Knowledge Commentary) Now the chief priests (archiereus and the whole (holos) Council (sunedrion) kept trying to obtain (zeteo) false testimony against Jesus (Iesous), so that they might put Him to death - Note that this meeting of the Sanhedrin seems to be distinguished from the third "religious" trial at daybreak (Mt 27:1+). It is also notable that these hypocritical legalists were openly violating the ninth commandment which stated, “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor” (Ex 20:16+) The whole Council could mean all 71 (70 members plus the high priest) were present. But this not necessarily true, because "Joseph (of Arimathea), who was a member of the Council, a good and righteous man (he had not consented to their plan and action)," (Lk 23:50-51+). Joseph may have been present but did not consent to their actions. We also know that 23 members was enough to constitute a quorum of the Sanhedrin (as if "legalities" even mattered to them at this point!), so we cannot state with certainty how many were present at this time. The Jews knew they needed a charge before they could convict Jesus and so kept trying (zeteo) which in the imperfect tense indicates they were seeking incriminating evidence over and over but to no avail. And it is no surprise that this seeking for witnesses was a highly unusual court procedure. They were not just trying to obtain testimony to convict Jesus of a capital crime (warranting the death sentence). Their hands were beginning to be "stained" (so to speak) with the blood of the Lamb. Unfortunately for most their hearts would never be washed clean of their sin by the blood of the Lamb (Jn 1:29+)! THOUGHT - How do you respond when you are wrongly accused? We all have the identical natural response. We become extremely defensive; we seek to justify ourselves; we might lash back and attack our attackers; we marshal all the evidence that could possibly support our claims. But Jesus responded differently. He endured more intense injustice than we could ever imagine. But He never lost His poise. And He never lost His compassion. (Paul Apple) Council (supreme court, Sanhedrin)(4892) sunedrion from sun/syn = together + hedra = a seat or hedraios = sedentary, as one seated in a chair) means ones seated together. This noun generally describes an assembly or council. In classical Greek sunhedrion initially referred to the place of meeting; and later described the assembly itself or the “council.” In secular language sunedrion was used of a variety of official groups and councils including legislative bodies. In the intertestamental period prior to the birth of Christ sunedrion became a technical term for the "supreme court" or “high court” of the Jews who adopted the Greek into their own language (Hebrew/ Aramaic), calling the council the Sanhedrin. In the NT uses the council or Sanhedrin consisted of 71 members (70 members plus the highest official, the high priest) from the chief priests, former high priests, and the chief priests or heads of the twenty–four courses or divisions, elders, and scribes or lawyers. Apparently the council itself determined who could belong. There were also local councils throughout the Jewish Diaspora with 23 members, which were also called sunedrion. The Sanhedrin tried the most serious offenses and pronounced the severest penalties, including death by stoning (see Acts 6:12-7:60) The Sanhedrin was formed in imitation of the seventy elders appointed by Moses (Nu 11:16+ff.) The members were selected from the chief priests, former high priests, and the chief priests or heads of the twenty–four courses or divisions, elders, and scribes or lawyers. The Jewish genealogical records were kept by the Sanhedrin but they ceased to exist after the destruction of the Temple by the Romans in 70 A D. William Barclay on Sanhedrin (from his commentary on Jesus' trial in Mark 14) - There is no doubt that in the trial of Jesus the Sanhedrin broke all its own laws. The regulations for the procedure of the Sanhedrin are in one of the tractates of the Mishnah. Naturally enough some of these regulations are rather ideals than actual practices but, even allowing for that, the whole procedure of this night was a series of flagrant injustices. The Sanhedrin was the supreme court of the Jews and was composed of seventy-one members. Within its membership there were Sadducees—the priestly classes were all Sadducees—Pharisees and Scribes, who were experts in the law, and respected men who were elders. It appears that any vacancies in the court were filled by co-option. The High Priest presided over the court. The court sat in a semi-circle in such a way that any member could see any other member. Facing it sat the students of the Rabbis. They were allowed to speak on behalf of the person on trial but not against him. The official meeting place of the Sanhedrin was the Hall of Hewn Stone ((watch this computer animation)) which was within the Temple precincts, and the decisions of the Sanhedrin were not valid unless reached at a meeting held in that place. The court could not meet at night, nor could it meet at any of the great feasts. When evidence was taken, witnesses were examined separately and their evidence to be valid must agree in every detail. Each individual member of the Sanhedrin must give his verdict separately, beginning from the youngest and going on to the eldest. If the verdict was a verdict of death, a night must elapse before it was carried out, so that the court might have a chance to change its mind and its decision towards mercy. One of the functions of the Sanhedrin was to deal with any man who was suspected of being a false prophet. A synonymous term for sunedrion is bouleutḗs used in Mark 15:43+ and Luke 23:50+ to describe Joseph of Arimathea who buried Jesus in his unused tomb. Sunedrion -22x in 22v- Council(m)(17), council(2), courts(m)(2), supreme court(m)(1). Matt. 5:22+; Matt. 10:17+; Matt. 26:59+; Mk. 13:9+; Mk. 14:55+; Mk. 15:1+; Lk. 22:66+; Jn. 11:47+; Acts 4:15+; Acts 5:21+; Acts 5:27+; Acts 5:34+; Acts 5:41+; Acts 6:12+; Acts 6:15+; Acts 22:30+; Acts 23:1+; Acts 23:6+; Acts 23:15+; Acts 23:20+; Acts 23:28+; Acts 24:20+ Sunedrion - 12x in 11v in the Septuagint - Ps. 26:4; Pr 11:13; Pr 15:22+; Pr. 22:10; Pr 24:8; Pr 26:26; Pr 27:22; Pr 31:23; Jer. 15:17; BACKGROUND ON SANHEDRIN The Believer's Study Bible Jewish tradition maintains that Ezra established a synod of teachers, known as the hakeneseth hagedolah (Heb.), which functioned to adapt and develop the oral tradition (cf. 15:2) to meet contemporary needs. They constituted the channel through which the knowledge of the Torah was transmitted. On this theory, when the Great Assembly ceased sometime in the third century B.C., the Sanhedrin (sunedrion, Heb.) arose to deliberate community concerns in Judea. According to Josephus, it was known as the gerousia (Gk.), "Council," during the Seleucid period (198-167 B.C.) and Sanhedrin, "Court," during the Roman occupation. It consisted of 71 members, including the acting high priest, who presided over the other 70 members from two parties, the Sadducees and Pharisees (26:3, 57; Mark 14:53+; Mark 15:1+; Luke 22:66+). Former high priests, the acting high priest, scribes, possibly members of the more privileged families from which the high priests were selected, and the elders (i.e., tribal and family representatives of the people and the priesthood) also served. During the Roman period, many local courts existed because the Romans permitted the Jews to handle many of their own domestic and religious matters. At least three judges made up the local courts which convened on the second and third days of the week. Courts in large towns had 23 members, the number needed to decide cases of capital punishment. The Sanhedrin consTitus uted the Jewish supreme court and met in the temple area each day, except on holy days and on Sabbaths. Sanhedrins existed in several communities of Judea during the rule of the Roman procurators (A.D. 6-66). The Jerusalem Sanhedrin, however, exercised considerable authority, which varied with different monarchs. Herod the Great tried to limit its powers, but under the Roman procurators its powers extended to free regulation of religious matters and controlled regulation of civil matters. Beginning with the rule of Archelaus (4 B.C.-A.D. 6), the powers of the Sanhedrin were evidently limited to Judea, since it could not exercise authority over Jesus when He was in Galilee. After the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, the Sanhedrin was abolished. During its existence, it had direct authority over its own police force and could order arrests (Mt 26:47+; Mark 14:43+), and in capital cases had the power of life and death, provided that the Roman governor gave his consent. His judgment, however, usually complied with the Sanhedrin's demands. The Sanhedrin also heard charges of blasphemy (Mt 26:57+ff.; John 19:7+), transgression of the Law of Moses (Acts 22-24), and false doctrine (Acts 4). Members sat facing one another in a semicircle. Two clerks of the court, one at each end, stood to record votes of condemnation and of acquittal. Condemnation required a two-thirds majority; acquittal, a simple majority. In cases involving capital punishment, arguments for acquittal were presented first, then those for condemnation. Acquittal could be declared on the day of the trial, but condemnation awaited the following day. Disciples of the scribes attended the courts, sat in front, and argued in favor of acquittal, but not for condemnation. Jesus was tried before the Sanhedrin (26:59; John 11:47+), but due to His not being granted the benefit of the doubt which usually lay with the accused, the legality of His trial has been the subject of great deliberation. Matthew 26:60 They did not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. But later on two came forward, They did not find any: Da 6:4,5+ Titus 2:8+ 1Pe 3:16+ later on two came forward De 19:15+ Mk 14:57-59+ Related Passages: Mark 14:57-59+ Some stood up and began to give false testimony against Him, saying, 58 “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.’” 59 Not even in this respect was their testimony consistent. SANHEDRIN UNABLE TO FIND GENUINE WITNESSES They did not find (heurisko) any, even though many false witnesses (pseudomarturia) came forward (proserchomai) - They did not find any incriminating evidence despite many false witnesses, thus their evil efforts came to a "dead end" (no pun intended). If this had been a fair proceeding, these men would serve as Jesus' judges, but instead they proved to be His prosecutors! Indeed Jesus was “guilty until proven innocent” but He was never going to be found innocent by the religious leaders. But later on two came forward - But later on indicates the Jews persisted for some time vainly attempting to find witnesses who could make a convincing case against Jesus. Two presumably to meet the requirement for 2 witnesses in Deut 19:15+. Following their failure to find any two who could agree on anything against Jesus, these two came forward apparently having a relatively similar story. Bob
Mateus 26:41
Vincent comments on the significance of Jesus' using the illustration of an awake, alert doorkeeper in this parable writing that "In the temple, during the night, the captain of the temple made his rounds, and the guards had to rise at his approach and salute him in a particular manner. Any guard (doorkeeper) found asleep on duty was beaten, or his garments were set on fire." (Greek Word Studies) Comment: I wonder how that would effect the efficacy and frequency of our prayer life if we had such a potential punishment looming over us!? Charles Simeon writes that… Unwatchfulness, even in a victorious army, exposes it to defeat. Therefore much more must our unwatchfulness subject us to the power of our subtle enemy. Peter had experienced its baneful effects. He had been warned of Satan’s intention to assault him (Lk 22:31). He had been commanded to pray lest he should fall by the temptation (Lk 22:40); but he slept when he should have been praying (Lk 22:45, 46). He stands in this respect, like Lot’s wife (Lk 17:32, Ge 19:26), a monument to future generations; but vigilance on our part will counteract the designs of Satan. The armed Christian, watching unto prayer, must be victorious (Ep 6:18-note).. (1Peter 5:8, 9 The Means of Defeating Satan's Malice) Alertness is required because our enemy rarely shows himself for who he is. He almost always masks himself as a religious personality, almost always endeavoring somehow in some way to be able to approach you subtly so that you can't recognize the reality of who he is. So you need to "be on the alert"! Spurgeon reflects on the oft overlooked value of temptation so that we can truly live out Jas 1:2-note… There is no temptation in the world which is so bad as not being tempted at all, for to be tempted will tend to keep us awake. Whereas, being without temptation, flesh and blood are weak. Though the spirit may be willing, yet we may be found falling into slumber. Children do not run away from their father’s side when big dogs bark at them. The howlings of the devil may tend to drive us nearer to Christ, may teach us our own weakness, may keep us upon our own watch tower, and be made the means of preservation from other ills. (Spurgeon, C. H. Satan, A Defeated Foe) Mark it down that the Christian who is not alert to the enemy's attack is in for trouble. Don't misunderstand… we are not to look for a demon behind every bush. We are simply called to a continual state of spiritual alertness. J R Miller sounds a good word of caution reminding us that… We are not at all times equally strong. There are days with all of us when we throw off temptation with almost no effort. But none of us are so every day. There are hours with the strongest of us—when we are weak. These are the times of peril for us, and our adversary is watching for them. In your weak hours keep a double guard, therefore, against temptation. Keep out of its way. Throw yourself with mighty faith on Him who was tempted in all points as we are (He 4:15-note), and knows therefore how to deliver us when we are tempted (2Pe 2:9-note, cp He 2:18-note). In time of special weakness—run to Christ for shelter! Phil Newton summarizes Jesus' first command to be continually alert writing that… in watchfulness, we recognize our propensity to fall into sin given the opportunity, and thus seek to avoid such occasions or to use every means to withstand in such times. We also see that the Adversary takes advantage of us wherever he can, so we seek to "not give the devil an opportunity," as Paul exhorted (Ep 4:26, 27-note). Rather than naivety, as we with the disciples, thinking that they surely could not fall into sin, we keep our minds sensitive to anything that would draw us away from devotion to Christ or faithfulness to Him (Ed: how to run with endurance = He 12:2-note, He 12:3, 4-note). With this in mind, borrowing from Owen, let me point out four ways that we can be watchful [131ff.]. (1) Know your own heart and natural leanings toward sin. Many of Satan's devices fall along the lines of our natural areas of weaknesses and lusts. Guard those areas of your life and give no room for the devil's devices [131-132] (2) Avoid the snares of your natural leanings by staying away from the things that lure us into sin. "Seeing we have so little power over our hearts when once they meet with suitable provocations," wrote Owen, "we are to keep them asunder (apart from each other in position), as a man would do fire and the combustible parts of the house wherein he dwells" [133]. (3) "Be sure to lay in provision in store against the approaching of any temptation." The greatest treasure against temptation is found in the gospel. "Gospel provisions will do this work; that is, keep the heart full of a sense of the love of God in Christ" [133] While the provision found in the law are helpful in that they restrain us, it is a mind fixed on what God in Christ has done for you, what Christ has tasted on your behalf, that keeps you resilient against temptation. (4) Put in the following safeguards. (a) Discover the reality of temptation early so that you can engage it quickly before it gets the foot in the door. (b) Consider the aim of temptation is to utterly ruin you, so hate it and its aim. (c) Meet temptation with thoughts of faith concerning Christ crucified for you. The shield of faith focuses upon Christ crucified, His love, and suffering for sin. (d) Go to God in prayer, as the second sentinel; plead for a speedy deliverance through Christ; call upon Christ to give you aid even as He resisted temptation; look to the Lord as the One promising deliverance [135-137]. Christ gave us the example. Now, let us learn from His command to watch and pray so that we may not enter into the snare of temptation. (The Son Drinks the Cup - excellent exposition) Thomas Watson… has some pithy words of warning… "Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry!" Lk 12:19 A Christian must deny his ease. "Ease slays the simple." The flesh is prone to sloth and softness. It is loath to take pains for heaven. Weeds and vermin grow in untilled ground; and all vices grow in an idle, untilled heart. How can they expect to reap a harvest of glory—who never sowed any seed? Is Satan so busy in his diocese, 1Pe 5:8, and are Christians idle? Are they like the lilies—which neither toil, nor spin? O deny your ease! We must force our way to paradise. God puts no difference between the slothful servant and the wicked servant, "You wicked and lazy servant!" Mt 25:26. Those slothful people in Eturia, who like drones enter into the hive and consumed the honey, were expelled from others and condemned to exile. Such as idle away the day of grace and fold their hands to sleep when they should be working out salvation (Php 2:12)—God will condemn to a perpetual exile in hell. Let us shake off sloth—as Paul did the viper! Paul like a general keenly aware of the real spiritual war surrounding every saint, uses four Greek military terms to issue a staccato command (all in the imperative mood) to the church at Corinth (and the churches of every age) and all in the present tense (continuously) calling for each to be the habitual practice for the rest of our lives! (Note: "be on the alert" = gregoreuo) All saints are to be on guard at all times. They are not to give up an inch of vital territory. They are to behave with true courage. Be on the alert Stand firm in the faith Act like men Be strong (1Co 16:13) Charles Simeon reminds us of our need for constant vigilance and exertion writing that… The old principle (flesh), as has been observed, still remains within us: and, if we be not constantly on our guard, it will regain its former ascendency over us. A stronger army, if the sentinels fall asleep, may be surprised and vanquished by troops that are far inferior: and we too, notwithstanding the power given us by the indwelling Spirit, shall surely be overcome, if we be not constantly on our watch-tower. We must be prepared to meet our adversary at his first approach. Our blessed Lord says, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation:” and the sad consequences of sleeping on our post may be seen in the Disciples, when they failed to observe this important admonition (Mt. 26:41, 43, 56). Corruption will often put on the appearance of virtue, and Satan assume the garb of an angel of light (2Co 11:14): but if we be on our guard, we shall detect his devices; and “if we resist him manfully, he will flee from us (Jas 4:7-note).” (Gal 5:16 -WALKING IN THE SPIRIT, A PRESERVATIVE FROM SIN) - - - What need have we to be ever on our guard! Perhaps at this moment Satan may be desiring to sift us. And what if God should give us up into his hands? (Ed: Think of Peter in the Garden with Jesus but soon to by "sifted" by the enemy to the point that he would deny His Lord 3 times! Lk 22:31, 32) If allowed to exert his strength, he could soon dissipate whatever is good in us; nor should our past zeal in God’s service remove our apprehensions; that would rather provoke Satan to more activity against us. Let us then “not be high-minded, but fear. (Ro 11:20-note)” Let us follow the salutary advice which our Lord has given us (Mt 26:41) Let us plead with fervor those important petitions (Mt 6:13-note)— At the same time let us “put on the whole armour of God,” and prepare, as God has taught us, for the assaults of our enemy (Ep 6:13-note, Ep 6:14, 15-note, Ep 6:16, 17-note, Ep 6:18-note). (Horae Homileticae Vol. 13: Luke XVII to John XII (105). London. HE MEANS OF SECURITY FROM SATAN’S MALICE - Luke 22:31, 32.) KEEP PRAYING Praying (4336) (proseuchomai [word study] from pros = toward, facing, before [idea of definiteness and directness in prayer with the consciousness on the part of the one praying that he is talking face to face with God] + euchomai = originally to speak out, utter aloud, express a wish, then to pray or to vow. Greek technical term for invoking a deity) in the NT is always used of prayer addressed to God (to Him as the object of faith and the One who will answer one’s prayer) and means to speak consciously (with or without vocalization) to Him, with a definite aim (See study of noun proseuche). Proseuchomai encompasses all the aspects of prayer -- submission, confession, petition, supplication (may concern one's own need), intercession (concerned with the needs of others), praise, and thanksgiving. Vine says that proseuchomai carries with it a notion of worship (but see the Greek word for worship = proskuneo) which is not present in the other words for prayer (eg, aiteo, deomai, both of which involve spoken supplication) Notice the Order… The commands to watch and pray precede the warning about temptation. In other words, don't wait until the temptation comes to begin to watch and pray. Watch and pray before the temptation comes! Then you are ready to deal with the temptation and much more likely to come through the testing time victoriously. Jesus gave us one of the best "preventative" prayers to pray when He instructed His disciples to pray… lead us not into temptation (testing - peirasmos discussed below), but deliver (rhuomai [words study]) us from (Greek preposition = apo = marker of dissociation, put distance between, away from) evil (Mt 6:13-note) Comment: The idea is "Lord, don't lead me into a time of testing that I will not be able to resist." Deliver is in the form of a command, an urgent cry for God to rescue us out of evil. Beloved, this whole world lies in the power of the evil one (Satan, 1Jn 5:19) and therefore as we begin our days and our interactions with the world, this is a great prayer to start the day! Remember God's promise when we pray according to His will (1Jn 5:14, 15), which should further encourage us to pray Mt 6:13 on a regular basis. Always beware however of the "weakness of the flesh" to turn spiritual disciplines into "religious works", so that we begin to pray this prayer almost like a "good luck charm" or "mantra."