Bible Study 7/11

Examples of External “Righteousness”

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.

Practicing Righteousness or acts of righteousness, right living with others and with God.

Giving, prayer, and fasting were the 3 pillars of piety in the Jewish faith. The more holy you were the more you did these and the more you did these, the more holy you were, in theirs and the peoples eyes.

Be careful not to practice your “righteousness” before people in order to be seen by them.

In front of other people because you want them to see

Why do we need to be warned to not do this?

Giving

Matthew 6:1-

Matthew 6:1–4 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. “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. 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.

Matthew 6:2–4 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. 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.

Thus, when you give, what is Jesus insinuating here? That we will be giving people, not a matter of if, but of when.

Be careful not to practice your “righteousness” before people in order to be seen by them.

In front of other people because you want them to see

Giving to the poor, good thing or bad thing? Good, if done for the right reason.

So what is the hypocrites reason for giving? Pride and praise. So what is their reward? Praise from people

James 4:6 ESV

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

So what is the hypocrites reason for giving? Pride and praise. So what is their reward?

So what’s Jesus’ answer to this in regard to giving? Give inconspicuously, not for praise from people, be so secretive that one hand doesn’t know what the other is doing.

Then what happens? God who sees in secret will reward you. So what is the reward? Doing the right thing for the right reason, giving because you’ve been blessed to have enough to give. Give because God in Christ gave His life for us so we could have life. The reward is being pleasing to God and being like Him.

Generosity comes from gratitude and compassion, two qualities not found in a proud person.

Prayer

Matthew 6:5–8 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. 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. “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.

Matthew 6:5-

When you pray, not if but when, do not be like the hypocrites.

What is their deal? They love to be seen by others, praised by them as so holy

The Pharisees were known to be intentionally in public places at the known hours of prayer, just so they could pray in public to be seen by people.

So what’s Jesus’ answer to this problem, solitude and secrecy again, alone with God who sees in secret, with your heavenly Father.

What’s the reward? Time with God, a conversation with our creator in His presence.

Is God concerned with what words are coming out of our mouths? Do our prayers need to have big words, bible verses, go on for a really long time? Of course not, God cares about us and our heart.

Does it matter what we pray for?

Matthew 6:9-

Matthew 6:9–13 ESV

Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

To who? Our Father, Abba, daddy, who loves us and cares about our lives.

Where is He? in heaven, His dwelling place, spiritual place

Hallowed or Holy be your name, what does this mean? His name should be revered, His name is