Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others.” (Matt 23:1-5)
Centuries later, there’s much we can learn from Jesus’ scathing rebuke of the scribes and Pharisees throughout Matthew 23, but it’s that statement at the beginning of verse 5 that I’m wrestling with today. “They do all their deeds to be seen by others.” As I wrestle, a fundamental question comes to mind. “Is it enough?” Thinking back to the heart of Jesus’ sermon on the mount when he warned his disciples…
“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.” (6:1)
…is it enough?
When I give to the needy and no one beyond the person helped has any idea. No photos. No viral videos. No trumpets sounded, no applause, not a single pat on the back. The sacrifice was and remains a secret. In fact, it’s as if my left hand isn’t even aware of what my right hand has done. Was it enough?
When I pray in private and no one outside the closed door is even aware that I’m lifting my heart towards heaven. Not a decibel of sound was added to the noisy world around me. The time spent won’t register as productivity on any to-do list. No one saw. No one heard. No one has anything to remember or share from those moments. Was it enough?
When I fast and no one knows or ever finds out. I didn’t talk about it, didn’t make a social media status update about it, and from all outward appearances, it’s just another ordinary day. I spent deliberate, intentional time going without in order to focus more sharply within, but my efforts didn’t register as a blip on another person’s radar. Was it enough?
What happens to the sacrifices that no one ever sees or hears about? Is righteousness unrecognized even worth it? Is there any point to discipline without a public announcement? Any real value to self-denial in a vacuum of applause? Plenty of people in Jesus’ day didn’t think so. “They do all their deeds to be seen by others.” The technological megaphones we carry in our pockets provide the potential for more attention and carefully-curated exposure than ever before, all at the click of just a few buttons. But what did Jesus teach? “Beware.” Be careful, not just about what you do, but the reason behind the doing. If no one sees or knows or applauds me, is it enough? According to the Son of God, it is, beyond the shadow of a doubt.
“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.” (6:3-4)
“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.” (6:6)
“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.” (6:17-18)
If the Father who sees in secret knows, it is most certainly enough. So let’s live for and humbly serve in the name of the only One whose attention and applause really matters. His reward is and forever will be enough.