Matthew 6:1-6

Introduction

English Standard Version Chapter 6

Giving to the Needy

6 “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.

The Lord’s Prayer

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.

This week we’re transitioning away from Jesus’ teachings of reformation concerning the OT law, to his warnings against public piety, so he begins in verse 1 with the word ‘beware’. He says,

English Standard Version Chapter 6

6 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people

And after this he goes on to give his disciples three areas in which they ought to beware of practicing their righteousness before others. The first is found in verse 2, “when you give to the needy”, the second is found in verse 5, “when you pray”, and the third is found in verse 16, “when you fast.” Now you’ll notice it’s quite a jump from verse 5 to verse 16, and that’s because when Jesus begins discussing the matter concerning prayer he seems to digress and take the opportunity to teach more extensively on the subject of prayer, particularly concerning how we ought to pray.

So this week we’re going to look at the first two areas of righteousness, or personal piety, that Jesus deals with in verses 1-6, that is, giving to the poor (or almsgiving) and prayer. And during our next time together we’ll begin looking at Jesus’ words concerning how we ought to pray. And finally we’ll look at Jesus’ last teaching on personal piety, which is fasting.

Religious Piety

You may have noticed already that I’ve interpreted Jesus’ use of the word righteousness here in verse 1 as religious piety. I’ve done this first because I believe it is correct and two because I think that it helps us distinguish between what it is Jesus means here and what it is Jesus means elsewhere when he uses similar language.

Let your light shine before men

For instance, turn with me back to verse 14 of chapter 5,

English Standard Version Chapter 5

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Notice in verse 16 that Jesus uses the phrase “good works” which is the other text book definition of the word righteousness used back in verse 1 of chapter 6. However, the good works spoken of here in chapter 5 are works that Jesus intends for us to let shine before others. Whereas his prescription, which we will see later, for the righteousness practiced in chapter 6 is intended to be done in secret.

In chapter 5 Jesus says that our good works ought to be put on display, that they ought not to be hidden. The question then is what kind of good works should we let shine before others? I think some of that question can be answered simply by the verses that precede it. Look at verse 3,

English Standard Version Chapter 5

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Humility is not something that’s practiced merely in secret, it isn’t that we should only be humble when no one is looking, but we should always practice humility, whether in secret or in public. Look at verse 5,

English Standard Version Chapter 5

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Meekness is also a righteous quality that should be practiced both privately and publicly. Look at verse 7,

English Standard Version Chapter 5

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

We ought to show mercy both publicly and in private, both within the confines of our homes and in the public square of our daily lives. I’m also reminded of Paul’s list of the fruit of the Spirit in his letter to the Galatians. reads,

English Standard Version Chapter 5

the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control;

None of the good works in this list are to be kept hidden. They are to be practiced both privately and publicly.

Religious piety practiced in secret

So it should be obvious that what Jesus means by the word righteousness in verse 1 of chapter 6 must be distinguished from the the good works described in chapter 5. It’s why I’ve chosen to use the phrase religious piety. And I’ve intentionally used the word ‘distinguish’ because the three categories of pious actions addressed by Jesus in chapter 6 are certainly to be considered good works, in that they ought to be pleasing to God, but they are distinct in that they are generally intended to be practiced in secret.

Piety and its purpose

Now we don’t use the word piety very often in our regular conversations but I suspect most of us have at least some basic understanding of its meaning. The word simply means reverent, it’s used to describe religious devotion, and for us as Christians piety should always have the glory of God as its ultimate aim.

And it’s this very issue that’s at the heart of what Jesus intends to communicate to his disciples. Look back with me again at verse 1,

English Standard Version Chapter 6

6 “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.

The desire to be seen by others

He then goes on to outline 3 particular areas of righteousness that we’re in danger of practicing before others with the intent of being seen by others. That little phrase ‘in order’ is crucial to understanding what Jesus means here. He’s pointing out that if our pious actions, whether that’s giving to the needy, or praying, or fasting are done with the intention of being seen by others then we will have no reward from our heavenly Father.

Piety that’s not pleasing to God

In other words, if your piety demonstrated in giving, praying and fasting are not done with the intention to love and glorify God then your pious actions are not pleasing to God. Those actions may very well have some kind of short-term and horizontal benefit to the people around you but if we do them with the intent to be seen by others, then our righteousness is not righteousness at all in the sense that it no longer pleases God.

Piety motivated by faith

That’s why there’s a danger in practicing such righteousness in public, and that danger lies in the purpose and motivation behind performing our good works. It isn't merely the external performances that God sees, but he looks at the heart, he looks at our intentions, our motivations and our purposes for carrying out our actions. One example of this is found in Genesis chapter 4 when Cain and Abel offer their sacrifices to God. We’ll read starting in verse 1 of chapter 4,

English Standard Version Chapter 4

Cain and Abel

4 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the LORD.” 2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. 3 In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 6 The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”

The difference between Cain and Abel

Many over the centuries have speculated as to why Abel’s sacrifice was pleasing to God and Cain’s was not. One of the popular views is that because Abel’s sacrifice was a blood sacrifice and Cain’s was not, that God had regard for Abel’s sacrifice more than for Cain’s, but I don’t think that’s the case, for two reasons. The first, is because in the OT there are a multitude of non-blood sacrifices approved by God, and two, is because the writer of Hebrews gives us a clearer understanding of why Cain’s offering was rejected and Abel’s was accepted, and that explanation has nothing to do with the type of sacrifice offered. Let’s look at Hebrews chapter 11, verse 4,

English Standard Version Chapter 11

4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts.

I think verse 4 at the very least implies that the sacrifice, or the gift, offered by Abel was more acceptable because his sacrifice was done in faith. And because his offering was by faith God commended him as righteous, God accepted his gifts.

Do you remember what Jesus said back in about righteousness? He said,

English Standard Version Chapter 6

6 “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.

Faith is the difference

So it’s because Cain did not offer his sacrifice by faith that he was rejected. In other words, Cain, in some way, was practicing his righteousness in such a fashion that he was not seeking to please God, therefore God had no regard for his righteousness. What appeared to be righteousness from the outside was found to be lacking, lacking specifically faith in God, or a heart that’s seeking to please God, which is absolutely necessary for God to have regard for our actions.

Look back at Hebrews chapter 11, and look at verse 6,

English Standard Version Chapter 11

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Again, listen to Jesus back in ,

English Standard Version Chapter 6

6 “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.

Do you see the connection? Matthew uses the same language as the writer of Hebrews, he says that if you practice your righteousness before others in order to be seen by them then you will have no reward. Hebrews says that God only rewards those who seek him. Those who seek him by what? By faith! Faith is essential in our efforts to please God. And if that’s not evidence enough listen to Paul in ,

Do you see the connection? Matthew uses the same language as the writer of Hebrews, he says that if you practice your righteousness before others in order to be seen by them then you will have no reward. Hebrews says that God only rewards those who seek him. Those who seek him by what? By faith! Faith is essential in our efforts to please God. And if that’s not evidence enough listen to Paul in ,

English Standard Version Chapter 14

For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

Good works that do not please God

This is why even the good works of unbelievers is counted as sin, because none of those works proceed from faith in God. They’re able to have an outward conformity to God’s law and perform good and beneficial actions but unless those actions proceed from faith, or unless those actions ultimately seek to please God, then they’re simply just polluted garments.

And in Jesus is talking about those who put on a good show but do not seek to please God, instead they endeavor to elicit praise for themselves. Their righteousness is a means for them, used to garner praise from other men, so Jesus warns his disciples of this dangerous temptation to seek the praise of men instead of God himself, who rewards those who diligently seek him. And he tells them that if they practice their righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them that they will have no reward from their heavenly Father.

Jesus goes on in verse 2 and says,

English Standard Version Chapter 6

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.

Hypocrisy

Jesus emphasizes the hypocritical nature of those who sound a trumpet when they give to the poor. The word hypocrite in the world of ancient theater was descriptive of a play actor, someone who would wear a mask and take on a role to pretend to be someone whom they were not. And over time the word became a pejorative term, or a term that communicated disapproval or contempt, just as Jesus uses it here of the religious leaders in Israel.

Piety practiced in private as a general rule

So Jesus goes on to advise them that when they give to the poor, or pray, or commit to fasting that they ought to, as a general rule, do so in secret. We read in verse 3-4,

English Standard Version Chapter 6

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.

So, in other words when you give, do not draw attention to yourself.

Seeking God’s approval

Calvin puts it this way, "we ought to be satisfied with having God for our only witness" and to "reckon it enough that [our] duties are approved by God alone."

Jesus continues in verse 5-6,

English Standard Version Chapter 6

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.

What Jesus is saying is that, “whether a man prays alone, or in the presence of others, he ought to have the same feelings, as if he were shut up in his closet, and had no other witness but God [himself].” (Calvin, Commentary on Matthew) So, when you pray do not be like the hypocrites who pray only to be seen by others.

Religious piety that is only ever expressed in public is likely indicative that there is a significant deficiency in your spiritual life. What Jesus is saying is that, “whether a man prays alone, or in the presence of others, he ought to have the same feelings, as if he were shut up in his closet, and had no other witness but God [himself].” (Calvin, Commentary on Matthew)

The danger of hypocritical prayer

What Jesus is saying is that, “whether a man prays alone, or in the presence of others, he ought to have the same feelings, as if he were shut up in his closet, and had no other witness but God [himself].” (Calvin, Commentary on Matthew)

Now, throughout the Scriptures we see a multitude of examples of prayer, public prayer, corporate prayer, private prayer, which means that our involvement in prayer will not always be private and in secret, but I will say that if prayer for you only ever takes place publically and corporately then you’re probably in real spiritual danger. Religious piety that is only ever expressed in public is likely indicative that there is a significant deficiency in your spiritual life.

So, when you pray do not be like the hypocrites who pray only to be seen by others. Now, throughout the Scriptures we see a multitude of examples of prayer, public prayer, corporate prayer, private prayer, which means that our involvement in prayer will not always be private and in secret, but I will say that if prayer for you only ever takes place publically and corporately then you’re probably in real spiritual danger. Religious piety that is only ever expressed in public is likely indicative that there is a significant deficiency in your spiritual life.

Conclusion

All of this boils down to the condition of our hearts. Jesus is warning is disciples (and by extension us) that as they practice their righteousness to not seek the praise and approval of man, but to instead seek the glory that comes from God only. He’s telling them that their religious piety should always have the glory of God as its ultimate aim, as our ultimate desire. That we should only ever seek the reward and approval of our Father who is in heaven, so let us not “[love] the glory that comes from man more than the glory that come from God.” ()

What Jesus is saying is that, “whether a man prays alone, or in the presence of others, he ought to have the same feelings, as if he were shut up in his closet, and had no other witness but God.” (Calvin, Commentary on Matthew)

You see this hypocrisy can look differently for all of us. Some of us may pray for long drawn out periods of time, out loud, every time we have the opportunity in a group setting so as to give others indication that we’re more proficient in prayer than we really are, or others of us may simply bow our heads in prayer without a peep just to ensure the false impression that they do, in fact, pray at all is maintained. Some of us may pray theologically deep sounding prayers only to give others the impression that we’re more spiritual than we really are.

But all of this boils down to the condition of our hearts. Jesus is warning is disciples (and by extension us) that as they practice their righteousness to not seek the praise and approval of man. Instead he’s telling them that their religious piety should always have the glory of God as its ultimate aim. That they should seek God

Prayer