"Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.
Our society has made a career out of hiding our flaws, it's become as easy as writing a check. It is deeply disturbing to me, that many Christians have adopted a similar standard for living out their faith in Christ. We wear a mask, hiding who we and what we are and what we struggle with. Essentially living a life of hypocrisy.
In Matthew 5, in His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus has been clarifying for us how to live for God, and what that means for those who want to truly follow God. Here in chapter 6, He turns His attention to the inward manifestation of living for God. In the first half of Matthew 6, He speaks to us about giving, praying, and fasting. He is addressing what should be happening in our hearts and minds when we are doing these holy acts. He wants to make sure that we understand not only how to give but how not to give. Jesus is warning us not to do righteous acts for the purpose of being seen by people, not tarnished by this desire for recognition and applause, but for God alone, then it would be rewarded by God. This chapter is filled with tremendous truths from our Lord Jesus Christ. He opens this chapter, with one simple tremendous statement, an incredible truth, "Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven."
Let us pray
Heavenly Father,
In the first eighteen verses, Jesus wants us to understand what God thinks of those who put on a show of hypocrisy. By the way, the Greek word hypocrite which appears in verse 2, again in verse 5, and again in verse 16 is "hupokritēs." A hypocrite is a two-faced person whose profession does not match their practice. In other words, someone who says one thing but does another. In classical Greek, it is used to refer to a stage actor who plays a part, who masks his real identity.
The Pharisees were perhaps were the all-time greatest hypocrites in Jesus' day. In fact, they'd become so good at the hypocrisy of sorrow that when they would tear their garments, they would tear them on a seam, so they could be easily sewn together for the next mourning.
So, He picks out three elements of their religion, three activities, to drive them to the realization that they’re inadequate, their giving, their praying, and their fasting. Jesus is really unmasks their hypocrisy. He tells them what’s the problem and then He offers them the solution. Job 27 says, "For what is the hope of the hypocrite when God takes away his soul."
Between email, direct mail, radio, television and media, I don't know if there has ever been a time in the history of the church when there’s been such a fusillade of well meaning Christian causes all literally asking for our money. It's really becoming very difficult to even know how to give. We do know what the Bible teaches. The first type of giving, is regular, structured giving to the church, as you purpose in your heart. I Corinthians 16 says "On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper."
Then, there's another type of giving that the Bible teaches. The unstructured, spontaneous giving when someone in need crosses your path and you are to reach out your heart to offer help to them. I John 3 says "But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?"
Unfortunately, giving has become an unpopular subject in the modern church. I believe that's partially because there's a wrong understanding of what it’s all about. And, because many so called preachers have abused it, perverting the gospel for the advancement of personal wealth and gain. God doesn't work that way and He will deal with those who pervert His Word. God is not as your mercy and He doesn’t need your money. From the very beginning, the universe functioned quite well before God created you and I and our money. So, the first thing you need to understand is that God says you need to give it. Giving is all about being blessed. It all depends upon your faithfulness to sow the seed.
Proverbs 11 says "There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, and there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want. The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered." As you give God blesses, and out of that blessing, you give again. That's the way the cycle of blessing works.
In Luke 6 Jesus says "Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return." You don’t ever get cheated when you give to God, but sadly, many Christians give God the left overs.
2 "So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you."
We need to realize that Jesus’ expectation for His followers is that they will give, what He is confronting is the way you give. In fact, in verse 3, "But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing," Notice He's saying when you give, not if you give. Giving generously is fundamental in the life of a believer.
Also, it should be noted there is no narrative story here, it is all teaching. I believe that we can surmise that Jesus wants us to isolate the point He's making, which is painfully obvious. We are not to do acts of righteousness to be seen of men, trying to secure praise for ourselves but to please God, that should be the innermost desire of your heart and your giving. The Pharisees received exactly what they wanted; the praises of men. Therefore, they have no reward from our Father in heaven, now or in the future. Jesus is teaching us how important a proper attitude, the standard of giving and sharing. Jesus’ teaching offers important guidance for all of us as believers.
We grow our trust in God to provide for our own needs by giving from the resources on loan to us from God, we are to increase our generous sharing with the needy. I believe that God often uses a precarious situation, such as financial or health, as a reminder to increase our trust in Him, Who richly provides us with everything. The Apostle Paul reminds us in II Corinthians 12, His grace is sufficient. By the way, at our death, we will give an account to God for our use of His resources. Jesus later illustrates this in two parables in Matthew 25.
That's why Jesus begins this passage with the verb "proséxō," or "Beware," meaning to give full attention to, to be cautious. This is very serious, and there are very serious consequences. There is a place for giving, praying and fasting, therefore, it needs to be exercised properly. It is not only a question of what you know and what you believe but also how you act. We are commanded to do good and do it with the right attitude. As Christians, we are not called to escape the world but to be obedient to God within it, trusting Him.
The subject of money often misunderstood, misquoted and raises various questions, especially Paul's teaching "the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil," which is frequently interpreted to mean that money itself is the root of all evil. Paul is cautioning against the "love" of money, which is simply an economic tool, a resource given to us by God and can be used for good or ill. Money can have negative consequences, if it is not used with the biblical perspective, which is to glorify God. Jesus' teaching exceeds every system that has ever existed by human invention. Giving is to be sacrificial. In II Samuel 24, David said, "I will not give God that which costs me nothing."
Many Americans, who were already struggling to make ends meet before the coronavirus outbreak, now with even lower incomes, are helping to care for elderly parents and other family members. As Christians, our giving is not related to how much we have. I often hear people say, "If I just had more money, I'd give more." Let me just say that having more doesn't change your character. In fact, in Luke 16, Jesus said "He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much." Growing up, my family didn’t have much in those days, so that's a lesson I learned as a young child. I always wanted to help my mother, and take care of her, even when I was a little kid. A lesson I have tried to teach my own sons, caring for others.
In verse 3, Jesus is saying in our giving, we are to avoid not only the praise of others, but
self praise as well. "Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing," is an expression, that as much as possible a person must keep his voluntary contribution a secret not only to others but even to himself. Despite what some claimed, Jesus is not condemning public giving, He is condemning the spirit which seeks publicity for giving. Authentic Christians care not about how much men hear of their public giving, just that it pleases God. Attitude is everything! If you want the blessing of God, don't keep a record of your giving.
Throughout the New Testament, giving took place through local churches as churches ministered to the areas where they lived and to other areas outside. These ministries were a result of the faithful and sacrificial giving of God’s people. Whatever you purpose in your heart to give, that’s between you and God. Giving is personally determined, it is a spontaneous act of the heart in response to a need. In other words, we are to be sensitive to the needs of others. We are called to share the resources that God has blessed us with, out of love with those who have a need. That’s why giving is to be cheerful, it's an act of sacrificial love. When someone has a need, make sure all of the necessities of his life are cared for. That was the heart of Jesus, so if someone has a need, meet his needs.
Proverbs 21 says "He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be answered." And, in Psalm 41, "How blessed is he who considers the helpless; The Lord will deliver him in a day of trouble. The Lord will protect him and keep him alive, and he shall be called blessed upon the earth." Because God is great in mercy, we who name the name of God should be merciful to others. By the way, you can support the poor by giving them work to do. However, there are those who are so destitute, they can't work.
Then, in verse 4, Jesus goes on to say "so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you." The point here is pretty simple, give and forget. Because God will remember it, there is a reward for those who give out of a right heart. How you do this area of giving is going to result in how you are rewarded. Not only what you do, but what you do not. Jesus in contrasting between the reward from men and the reward from God. Men see your deeds, God sees your heart. When you give, give out of a pure heart. And, as you give to those in need, give without remembrance. Do your works that God may be glorified, not yourself. That's the point.
In Closing..
On the one hand the Bible warns people not to do these things for the praise and honor you would get from other people; on the other hand, the Bible instructs us to do our works before men, so that God would be glorified.
I have had a number of people ask, "Isn't that contradictory? Doing your works to be seen by men, so that He may be glorified?" No, because the motive is different. You don’t do your works that men may glorify you. You do your works so that people know you belong to God, that He may be glorified. We are to do what we do that men may glorify God. We are to avoid being esteemed of men rather than to give God the glory. That's the issue.
Don't give so that people will think you're spiritual, so that people will think you’re humble. Give to glorify God! That's what our Lord is saying. That was the mark of the Pharisees, when they gave, they blew a horn and when they prayed they stood in a public place and prayed out loud so everybody knew how spiritual they were. And when they fasted, they wanted to look half dead, so that people would notice how spiritual they were. That’s hypocritical.
We are to let our works be seen by men, because we need to be an influence in the world. But we are to do them in such a way that God may be glorified, not so that we may be glorified. Two people can do the same religious deeds, and you and I would never know the difference between one or the other, because the difference is in the heart. The issue is not displaying our Christianity. We were created in the image of Christ to do good works. We just have to be sure the motive behind our good works is pure.
Jesus lived His life in public view, in front of the gazing eyes, so that everyone could see. He didn’t keep the glory, His motives were flawless and pure, to bring glory to God. So should ours be.
May it be so..
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen