Check Your Motive
Notes
Transcript
The overarching message from this section of Jesus’ sermon is:
1. Our motive is God’s glory not man’s praise
1 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. Otherwise, you have no reward with your Father in heaven. 2 So whenever you give to the poor, don’t sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward. 3 But when you give to the poor, don’t 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.
- Take note: It is assumed we will do charitable deeds (no “if”)
A. Don’t blow your own horn
- You cannot give with your right and not know what your left hand is doing unless you have a lobotomy…much like Jesus’ comment about plucking out the eye or cutting off the hand His comment speaks more to the heart of the issue
- God sees all and will reward (delayed gratification - my birthday presents)
5 “Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7 When you pray, don’t babble like the Gentiles, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words. 8 Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask him. 9 “Therefore, you should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, your name be honored as holy. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. 14 “For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. 15 But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your offenses.
- Jesus is not telling us we cannot pray in public, but we are not to make a spectacle of ourselves
- Ironically Jesus warns us against “vain repetitions” yet many just repeat this prayer
- Jesus does not say to quote this prayer only to pray in this manner or pray like this
B. Prayer focuses on God first
The Prayer
Begin with worship
Submit to His will
Present your needs (daily) [not wants]
Confess sin and ask forgiveness
Forgive others and petition for their needs
Pray for protection from sin
16 “Whenever you fast, don’t be gloomy like the hypocrites. For they make their faces unattractive so that their fasting is obvious to people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that your fasting isn’t obvious to others but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
- Again, Jesus does not use the word “if” there is an expectation of fasting
C. Keep it real
