Father's Reward
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last week: beware // acts of righteousness // hypocrisy.
hypo. in giving; in prayer; in fasting.
Acting as though the focus is God, but their true motivation is being seen by others, and being thought well of by others. Beware of self-centeredness.
6
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.
This week: Begin with a Focus on the second half of this verse
Point: “they have received their reward”
about the “Reward” // father who is in heaven.
Just like you have heard it said… now it is like “you have seen it done.”
Point: looking for gain. The gain will not be from God.
But Jesus says that there is a reward from God:
In each contrast Jesus makes...
Point: “will reward you”
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.
4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
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.
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.
Jesus says [when you do] these things:
God sees it. Don’t let “self” get a hold of it.
He will reward it. Don’t look for any other reward.
Question we are getting to is this: Reward How?
By faith.
First, clarify that these [acts of righteousness] we do, we do by faith because God has declared us Righteous by the blood of his Son. So we act on that status, in faith:
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.
The righteous live by faith…
The righteous live by faith…
17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
Romans 1
[Be Holy, for I am Holy, God says.] Set apart from the world. Live God’s Morality...
What we do, we do in faith. We believe God and we Trust God. We trust what we says.
And GOD Rewards this.
First:
vs. 2, 5, 16: "they have their reward in full"
Then:
The author give the positive instruction:
But when you give (v.3)
But when you pray (v.6)
But when you fast (v.17)
...Your father who see in secret will reward you.
Jesus contrasts the short view with the long view, temporal/earthly rewards with eternal rewards, and self-centered religion with God-centered religion.
And In the Kingdom of Heaven, a Christian’s concern is God first.
Not different:
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
Exodus
In the pharisaical judaism that existed among those to who Jesus was right then speaking, what god had taken God’s place; had been put before God?
Themselves...
As soon as that happens all the rest of the commandments are open to alternative [man-made] interpretation and classification and redefinition.
The Pharisees wanted their reward now. Many in the world today who look to God, are looking for their reward now. It’s the short-view. Faithless view. Self-centered view.
Scripture makes clear that a right relationship with God is #1. Without that, everything becomes skewed by sin that festers within us.
Enter the Good news of Jesus Christ, and his righteousness.
And a life lived by faith.
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.
A life drawn near to God.
A life drawn near to God.
Which is a life pleasing to God.
A kingdom life. A holy life.
1 After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”
God is our reward.
[What was Abraham’s great desire? Isaac or God?]
23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
Kingdom life is this:
17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Righteousness in Reality… Peace [as Ed mentioned] in reality… and joy in reality.
Parable of the talents:
23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
Enter into the joy of your master.
That was the servant’s reward.
That’s our reward, by faith.
By faith we sing:
This World is not my Home.
treasures laid up beyond the blue...
