Sermon on the Mount: Matt 6:1- - DOING GOOD FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS

INTRODUCTION:

Good morning:

Let’s stand and read God’s Word to us today!

Matthew 6:1 NASB95

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.

Today we continue in our series of the Sermon on the Mount, found in Matt 5-7 -

The sermon has three parts -

Introduction / body /conclusion

Introduction -

Blessed are those who the Kingdom has come to.

You who are Kingdom people, you are to be salt and light.

Therefore let the world see your good works - justice and righteousness - so, they may give praise to your Father in Heaven.

The Main Body -

Again is made up of three parts.

First part: Living the law to the fullest to our neighbors and towards our enemies.

Jesus gave us 6 case studies to show how we are to live as Kingdom people.

Case study 1 - Murder

Case study 2 - Adultery

Case Study 3 - Murder

Case study 4 - Living truthfully in a world of lies and deception.

Responding to personal attacks on our dignity, not with force but in purposeful generosity.

Loving our enemy - Living towards our enemies the way God lives towards us.

TODAY WE MOVE INTO CHAPTER 6 AND INTO THE SECOND PART OF THE MAIN TEACHING OF JESUS.

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WE MOVE FROM JESUS TEACHING US HOW TO FULFILL THE LAW AND PROPHETS IN RIGHTEOUSNESS TO:

A WARNING ABOUT HYPOCRISY IN OUR RELIGIOUS PRACTICES.

WHEN I THE BIBLE SPEAKS OF RELIGIOUS PRACTICE IT IS SPEAKING OF THOSE REPETITIVE PRACTICES THAT HELP US ALIGN OURSELVES TO THE WAY OF GOD.

PRACTICES THAT TRANSFORM US AND SHAPE US TO BE MORE LIKE GOD.

Go to church / Give to the needy / prayer / fasting / singing / Reading the Word daily / etc.

TODAY JESUS SPEAKS TO US AND GIVES US A WARNING: BE CAREFUL YOUR MOTIVES ARE PURE OR YOUR RELIGION WILL BE AN ACT OF HYPOCRISY.

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JESUS 3 CASE STUDIES

Giving to the needy

Prayer

Fasting

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LET’S LOOK AT JESUS THESIS AND HIS FIRST CASE STUDY.

Matthew 6:1 NASB95

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.

OK, WAIT, I THOUGHT JESUS SAID TO PRACTICE GOOD WORKS IN FRONT OF PEOPLE SO THEY COULD PRAISE GOD?

Matthew 5:16 NASB95

“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 6:1 NET

“Be careful not to display your righteousness merely to be seen by people. Otherwise you have no reward with your Father in heaven.

WHY ARE YOU DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING?

Is it to be seen by people to aquire their honor, respect?

Or are you trying to give honor to God?

HONOR SHAME WORLD -

This was the game of the time:

If you were honored by those in the right places it could move you up in the world, set you up financially, politically, religiously, socially.

Yet, no matter how high your status is, if you experience shame on your family name, you will be demoted in all the above areas.

TODAY WE SEE THIS PRACTICE AS WELL.

Social capital through social media - Say the right thing - even if you do not believe it - Instant fame.

Say the wrong thing and social media will cancel you in an instant.

Impress the right people at church to get into the inner circle.

Shame and honor shows up in every circle of human interaction.

JESUS WARNING HERE IS NOT TO USE YOUR RELIGIOUS PRACTICES, THAT ARE MEANT TO SHAPE YOU INTO HIS IMAGE AS A TOOL TO CLIMB THE SOCIAL LADDER.

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CASE STUDY 1 - GIVING TO THE POOR.

Matthew 6:2–4 NASB95

“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. “But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

ARE YOU CHASING GOD’S HONOR OR ARE YOU CHASING A PLAQUE?

OT Call To Generosity:

Leviticus 25:35–37 NASB95

‘Now in case a countryman of yours becomes poor and his means with regard to you falter, then you are to sustain him, like a stranger or a sojourner, that he may live with you. ‘Do not take usurious interest from him, but revere your God, that your countryman may live with you. ‘You shall not give him your silver at interest, nor your food for gain.

Proverbs 19:17 NASB95

One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord, And He will repay him for his good deed.

HERE IS THE POINT: THE JEWISH CULTURE WAS A GENEROUS CULTURE AND GENEROUSITY WAS A PART OF THEIR FAITH PRACTICE.

HYPOCRIT -

While this practice of generosity is soul shaping and life giving

It had begun to be used as a way of seeking honor from those in power.

People who would make sure the religious leaders and social leaders see them giving to the poor.

Now, Jesus is saying, if that is the reason you give to the poor - then you have your reward - the powerful people saw you.

Modern example: Give to a university for the purpose of getting your name on a Plaque and to be recognized by the board of regents.

Good deed but your motive ensures your reward!

I WANT PEOPLE TO SEE ME AS CARING BUT WHAT I TRULY WANT IS NOT TO BE CARING BUT TO BE NOTICED AND HONORED!

This is a hypocrite

A person who plays a character for others to see.

Your motive is who you are

Your actions either are aligned to your motives

Or your actions are used like a mask to hide your true motive.

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ARE YOU SEEKING A PLAQUE

Are you seeking the honor of others?

Like a plaque on a college building?

If so, Jesus says, that will be all you are rewarded.

If that is all you want you got it!

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ARE YOU SEEKING THE ETERNAL REWARD OF GOD?

What is the eternal reward?

THE NT SPEEKS OF 5 CROWNS OR 5 ETERNAL REWARDS:

THE CROWN OF VICTORY

1 Corinthians 9:25–27 NET

Each competitor must exercise self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. So I do not run uncertainly or box like one who hits only air. Instead I subdue my body and make it my slave, so that after preaching to others I myself will not be disqualified.

A CROWN OF REJOICING

1 Thessalonians 2:19 NET

For who is our hope or joy or crown to boast of before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not of course you?

The people who were led to Christ by your life shaped into the image of Jesus by your faithfulness to Jesus.

THE CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

2 Timothy 4:8 NASB95

in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

THE CROWN OF LIFE

James 1:12 NASB95

Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Revelation 2:10 NASB95

‘Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

THE CROWN OF GLORY

1 Peter 5:4 NASB95

And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

THIS FINAL CROWN SPEAKS OF GOD HONORING US!

JESUS IS WARNING US, THAT IF OUR RELIGION IS FOR THE REWARD OF HUMAN HONOR, WHILE MASKING OUR MOTIVE WITH RELIGIOUS WORDS - WE WILL RECIEVE ONLY THE HUMAN HONOR.

BUT THE BIBLE IS CLEAR - IF OUR MOTIVE IS TOWARDS GOD AND NOT OUR SELVES - OUR REWARD IS IN GOD AND HE WILL HONOR US.

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It is not wrong to be honored by others

To be seen as generous and good by others.

It is not wrong if in being generous others see it and give you praise.

It is not wrong if in recognition of your Christ-like generosity you receive a plaque.

WHAT JESUS IS WARNING US ABOUT IS DOING OUR GENEROUSITY FOR THE SAKE OF THE PLAQUE.

If we are generous as a practice that transforms us into looking more like Jesus -

Then our motives will look like His.

A desire to see God honored above all else.

A desire to honor and care for others.

LITMUS TEST FOR PURE MOTIVES:

When we practice Good works - religion

Do our motives fit firmly within this command of Jesus?

“LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, MIND, SOUL, AND STRENGTH AND LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”

This is the motive litmus test -

Do my motives fit with in the frame work of this one great command?