Don’t Be Like the Hypocrites

ENGAGE

Opening Illustration / Image / Question: Have you ever done something good… and kind of hoped someone noticed? Maybe you gave money, helped someone out, or posted something encouraging—but there was that little part of you thinking, “I hope people see this.” Not always out loud—but in your heart, you wanted credit.

Why This Matters Now: We live in a world where everything is visible. Social media has trained us to document, post, and share even our best moments. And slowly, without realizing it, even our good deeds can become performances. What used to be about helping people can become about being seen by people.

Bottom Line Introduced: Don’t perform righteousness for people—pursue God in secret.

TENSION

The Struggle: If we’re honest, the struggle is this: Why do I do what I do? Do I serve God… or do I want people to see me serving God? It’s hard to separate genuine faith from the desire for recognition.

Why This Is a Real Issue Today: Today, image is everything. You’re rewarded for visibility, not necessarily sincerity. Even spiritually, it’s easy to measure faith by what others can see—how often you post, speak, give, or appear involved—rather than what God sees in private.

What’s at Stake: Jesus makes this serious: you can do the right things… for the wrong reasons… and lose the reward completely. You might gain attention, approval, and praise from people—but miss the approval of God. That means it’s possible to look righteous on the outside while being empty before God.

Transition to the Text: So Jesus leans in and gives a warning that cuts straight to the heart: What if the biggest threat to your faith… isn’t doing wrong—but doing right for the wrong reason?

TRUTH

(Resolve the tension through the biblical text)

Text

(Insert Scripture reference — Logos will auto-link)

Giving

Matthew 6:1–4 ESV

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.

Exegesis: Some people only do good just to be praised. Some people are only putting on a show so they can be praised. What Jesus gives us is a heart check. Why do you do good? So you can be praised? So you can get a pat on the back? Jesus calls you a hypocrite! This is the Greek word for actor. You are an actor putting on a show with no care for bringing glory to God. As Jesus is saying these words, one group of people would have come to mind: The Pharisees. These religious leaders are known for their righteousness, rather self-righteousness. They would stand in the public areas and show “kindness” to the poor and needy just so people would say “look how good they are.”

Application: We live in a world that prides itself on public image, and it is becoming increasingly performative in its demands. You need to actively and publicly be working in the right channels to show you are a good person. As Christians we don’t do good for public praise. We don’t do good so people can glorify us; we do good so people can glorify God. Maybe this is a struggle for us. Maybe it is a temptation for us to boost our ego. While we are to let our lights shine, it is possible that we are trying to shine a spotlight on our actions so we can receive praise. Jesus says don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Maybe that means not saying anything. We like to post on social media when we do something good. A friend of mine does a lot of good work with the church and every time someone says “You’re doing a good job, he redirects by saying its all thanks to God or all glory to God. The same reason I stand before you now. I don’t get up and preach so someone can tell me “Good sermon.” I want to know what changed you. I want to know how you saw God. I want to know what convicted or encouraged you. We need to be more concerned with “did we glorify God” than did “did everybody see me.” Why do we do good? To glorify God, not ourselves.

Prayer

Matthew 6:5–15 ESV

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. 7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Exegesis: Jesus moves to prayer, but this time, He ropes in the gentiles along with the hypocrites. The hypocrites stand in the public square and yell their prayers for everyone to see. Just as the parable of the pharisee and tax collector, “Lord thank you for not letting me be like this sinner.” They attract with loud voices and let everyone know they are praying to God as if to say, “See how I talk to God all the time?” Jesus also points to the gentiles by looking at their very lengthy prayers. The Greeks and Romans believed that in order for a god to hear your prayers, you needed to make it as long, extravagant, and attention getting as possible. Jesus says not to pray like this. Avoid the publicity stunt. Avoid extravagant, unnecessarily lengthy prayers. Don’t speak in a way you wouldn’t normally talk in. Speaking in a certain way doesn’t make your prayers “more holy” or “more likely to reach God’s ears.” Avoid repetitive phrases that add nothing to the prayer.

Application: How does Jesus tell us to pray? Very simple and in private. We don’t have time for a full analysis of the prayer, but how Jesus says to pray is very simple.

Begin with respect. Our prayers begin with respect for God, but also an acknowledgment of our relationship. He is holy. He is in heaven. He is also our father. We approach as the almighty creator but also as one who cares for us and loves us.

Pray for the future and the will of God carried out. While Jesus says to pray for God’s kingdom come, it is already here, so what can we learn? Pray for the future. It’s not wrong to pray for the future. But also pray that the will of God is carried out.

Pray for food. It is basic sustenance that we should pray for. It is interesting that Jesus says to ask God for daily food while Rome gave a loaf of bread to everyone in its empire every day in a program called Cura Annonae. Jesus is literally telling the people ignore Rome, praise God for this food.

Forgive us as we forgive. Jesus tells us to forgive, even informing us in verses 14-15 that if we do not forgive others, our Father withholds forgiveness from us. It’s simply a very stark warning that we must forgive each other if we expect forgiveness from God.

Pray for protection. Jesus tells us to pray for the guiding hand of God in our lives. That He would lead us down the right paths and that He would protect us. God still works today. It is ok to ask for Him to be active in our lives. Protection is just one part of it.

Big Idea: (Memorable, clear, repeatable)

Fasting

Matthew 6:16–18 ESV

16 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Exegesis: We have talked about fasting as a congregation before. It is a purposeful and intentional act that was done to strengthen one’s faith and reliance on God. It is a time in which you would abstain from food for a period of at least 3 days and up to 40 days. What the hypocrites were doing during the process of fasting was they would make themselves look as uncomfortable as possible. They wouldn’t bathe, they would make pained faces, they make it a spectacle to show the pain and discomfort felt during fasting.

Application: Notice how Jesus says to fast: secretly. Don’t disfigure your face. Take a shower. Put on some deodorant. Present yourself as if you weren’t fasting. This is a moment in which you are to be growing closer to God and strengthening your faith. Keep it in secret. Keep it to yourself. Otherwise you act like the kid who constantly sighs louder and louder to let you know that something is wrong.

CONCLUSION

Restate the Bottom Line: Don’t perform righteousness for people—pursue God in secret.

Final Illustration / Challenge: At the end of the day, there are only two audiences: people… and God. People see the outside. God sees the heart. And Jesus makes it clear—you will receive a reward from one or the other, but not both.

So here’s the challenge: This week, do something good that no one knows about. Give—but don’t post it. Pray—but don’t announce it. Serve—but don’t tell anyone.

And let that moment be just between you and your Father.

Because that’s where real faith grows—not on a stage, but in secret.

Call to Action: Maybe today you realize your heart hasn’t been about God—it’s been about recognition. That’s something to repent of. Turn back to Him, not just in action, but in motive.

And if you’ve never truly come to God—this is where it begins. Not with performance, but surrender. Believe in Christ. Turn from sin. Be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins.

God isn’t looking for actors. He’s looking for hearts that are fully His.