Matthew 6:1-6 Giving Malawi
Notes
Transcript
Recalculating Religious
INTRODUCTION
Who should you look up to as religious? Who should you want to be like?
Jesus changes gears and stops going after the wrong application of the Law and goes after the actions of those who taught them the wrong application to the Law.
This was not a new conflict with religious leaders.
ILL-- Jesus' confrontations with Pharisees
Jesus had just cast out a demon. The people of the crowd began to believe. The Pharisees cried out that Jesus' power came from Satan. At the end of Jesus' rebuke he says,
Jesus was always at odds with the religious leaders. They did not lead from a heart right with God. They were all show. Make people believe you are something more than you are.
Jesus made it clear that God was interested more with the heart than with righteous activity.
In the Kingdom- our deeds are motivated by the heart.
1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Jesus is teaching them that the motives of the heart are what God sees, not religious activity.
3 Motivates of Obedience
3 Motivates of Obedience
To Be Seen
To Be Seen
1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
"in order to be seen"= Greek word that we get word theatrical. Or modern word-- Drama.
Beware of giving a spectacular performance/ drama.
24 for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls,
9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation,
10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away.
11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
"hypocrites"= Word originally referred to Greek actors who wore different masks to play various roles..
This is the harshest word that Jesus uses to characterize any individual.
Jesus uses the word to refer to the Pharisees. They did the right things for the wrong reasons.
Masks
Used to be someone you are not.
Criminals- to hide identity
"Secret" and "Closet"
Giving and Prayer are between you and God.
Should we never pray in public?
Jesus prayed in public.
Many examples of public prayer.
But if you are not praying in private you obviously are only looking for public praise.
When we are seen, God is not seen. We give for God's glory not our own. We must be a reflection of his glory.
The test is, who receives the praise? You or God?
Should we never give if other people will know?
The early church knew Barnabas gave his land.
Acts 4:34-3734 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Because Barnabas' heart was right, his giving was used as an example others should follow.
Ananias and Sapphira tried to mimic Barnabas in order to receive the praise of man.
Acts 5:1-11 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. 7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.
To Be Rewarded
To Be Rewarded
2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
”They have received their reward"= lit. "They have their receipt in full"
They have received their only reward.
You want to receive the praise of man? That is the only reward you will receive. You cannot try to receive the praise of man and the reward of God.
You cannot have a divided heart.
Matthew 6:24 24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
You cannot serve God and _________ - whatever you put int he blank.
Pharisees used giving as a way to gain God's favor.
They saw it as a way to earn rewards in heaven.
Our rewards in heaven are based on the heart, not just the action.
Yes, we are rewarded by what we have done but only what we have done with the correct motive.
Are you trying to manipulate God?
If I do this, then you have to do this.
This works in all obedience.
Is the motive of your tithing to receive an earthly reward or to be obedient to God?
Is your church attendance a magic spell to get a wish granted?
Are you trying to earn salvation?
Salvation is free
Ephesians 2:8-9 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Isaiah 64:6 6 We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
We can never earn salvation.
To Be Known
To Be Known
4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
"Your Father who sees in secret." (4, 6)
Known= intimacy.
To be known by the only one who matters.
1 John 4:7-8 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
Charity and Prayer are both ways to have intimacy with God.
When we help a person in need it is the same as helping God.
Prayer is communion with God.
The more we know God the more we will be like him.
Do you have compassion for others or only care about self?
Jesus when he fed the 5,000- "he had compassion"
Matthew 9:35-36 35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
The more we know God the more we will want him.
Jesus and prayer.
40 Days of Prayer
Often left them to pray
First up in morning to pray.
Garden of Gethsemane- normal place to pray while in Jerusalem.
Sin is what keeps us from knowing God.
Sin separates man from God
Isaiah 59:1-2 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
Romans 6:23 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
CONCLUSION
What is your motivation for being here today?
Are you trying to please others?
Are you trying to manipulate God to give you something you want?
Are you here to continue in a love relationship with Jesus Christ?
