Be Careful with your Acts of Righteousness

From Words to Deeds

is a list that teachers of the law had failed to teach regarding inward righteousness (anger, Lust, Desiring revenge, etc.)

Jesus moves on from their teachings into their actions. Israelite were clearly taught to give, pray, and fast. The Pharisees did these things religiously.

While their actions seemed good Jesus is going to look at he motives of the actions.

Acts of Righteousness are a given

Matthew 6:2 ESV

“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.

Matthew 6:5 ESV

“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.

Matthew 6:16 ESV

“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.

While much of this passage serves as a contrast between truly righteous living and the displays of the Pharisees. Jesus does assume up front that followers of God will do these three things.

A question of motive, Not Motion

Matthew 6:1 ESV

“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.

“be careful” —> “Beware” Jesus is giving a warning

“to be seen” —> The word is “theathenai” is where we get the our word theater. Jesus warns us not to do our righteous deeds to put on a show.

“Reward”—> God has no problem with rewarding His Children Vs. 19, 24. But Jesus raises the question: Who do you want to reward you?

Giving

Matthew 6:2 ESV

“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.

“hypocrites”—> the word can mean pretender or stage actor. This reemphasizes the issue that Jesus does not want us to turn righteous deeds into some kind of performance for others to see.

Motive: If your goal is for others to notice your performance your reward is from humans and humans only.

Matthew 6:3–4 ESV

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Note: a gift to the needy is a gift to God and God will reward you.

Matthew 25:40 ESV

And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

What does this passage mean?

Just as in the previous section true righteousness is when your inner self is accurately portrayed by your outer self. The Pharisee had outward righteousness but inwardly selfish and proud

If you give in order to look good to others God has no reward for you. On the other hand if the purpose of your giving is to please God you MAY go unnoticed on earth but you will be rewarded by God

Moral: the one you seek to please is the one who will reward you.

What does this passage NOT means?

Dos not man that it is sin for others to see your good deeds

Jesus did good deeds in front of others all the time

We were literally told to have others see our good deeds earlier in this same sermon:

Matthew 5:16 ESV

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.

Matthew 5:16 ESV

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.

3. We are instructed to teach our children and disciples to obey everything Jesus commands which would include these rightouss deeds.

Prayer

Matthew 6:5 ESV

“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.

There is that hypocrite word again!

Everything that applied to giving applies to prayer: don’t do it for show the one you seek to please will reward you and this doesn’t mean people can’t see you pray either corporately or in teaching

How do we know?—> Jesus will teach us the model prayer in a couple of verses The issue again is motive.

Matthew 6:6 ESV

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.

Who is your teacher?

You shouldn’t het your theology from atheists and you should not learn to pray from peagans

Matthew 6:7–8 ESV

“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. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

So, who do you want to be your teacher?

Model Prayer

Each Verse is seperate below What one word woul you use to describe that portaion of the prayer?

Matthew 6:9 ESV

Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

Matthew 6:10 ESV

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Matthew 6:11 ESV

Give us this day our daily bread,

Matthew 6:12 ESV

and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Matthew 6:13 ESV

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Matthew 6:

Jesus’ teaching on Verse 12

Matthew 6:14–15 ESV

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

The Golden Rule

Matthew 7:19 ESV

Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Matthew

So based on would say: Do to others as you would have God to to you.

Fasting

While many examples of fasting are found in the scripture the OT only had one day where the people were required to fast.

Leviticus 23:26–27 ESV

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Now on the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be for you a time of holy convocation, and you shall afflict yourselves and present a food offering to the Lord.

“deny Yourselves”—> Fast: the word literally means to humble or afflict. That would explain why the Pharisees behaved as they did during fasting.

Matthew 6:16 ESV

“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.

Looking somber and disfigured their faces would prove to others that they were “afflicting” themselves. Clearly this was for “theater” and they recieved their reward from whom they sought it.

Matthew 6:17–18 ESV

But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 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.

Remember: Don’t do it for the show, the one who you seek to please will reward you, And this doesn’t mean people can not know you are fasting. However, not everyone needs to know you are fasting.

The point

What you do and what you avoid are primarily about your relationship with God

If God is the center of your life then you will want to avoid what displeases him and do what pleases Him

Your righteous acts don’t save you but Jesus’ righteousness in you will change your actions

Its not about being super-secret its about doing things for God instead of doing things for men

Remember

Your desire to do righteous acts is the natural response to Christ’s righteousness in you.

Ezekiel 36:26–27 ESV

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

Don’t think you have to hide your good deeds. Let your light shine so that people will praise your Heavenly Father.