Jump Start # 3962
Matthew 6:1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in Heaven.”
Matthew six is the middle chapter of our Lord’s famous sermon on the mount. The chapter begins with a “beware,” and ends with a “do not.” Fourteen times in this chapter “do not” is found. Jesus makes several contrasts, showing what doesn’t work and what does work with God. Don’t give alms like the hypocrites (2). Don’t pray as the hypocrites do (5). Don’t fast like the hypocrites (16).
Jesus wanted His people to not follow the crowd. He wanted them to have genuine faith, even if it looked different from what everyone else was doing. Layered in this was the Lord’s way of dealing with the culture. Don’t be shaped by culture. Don’t let culture define you, mold you or control you. The way to break free wa to have an inner righteousness that was built upon faith in God. The sermon on the mount does not deal with the nation of Israel. It does not address Roman occupation. It does not lead a reforming movement against the abuses within the Jewish system. Jesus was talking to the crowd as if there was just one person there. This is what you need to do. This is what pleases God. It begins with me. It begins with my insides. It begins with my faith.
Three immediate conclusions surface.
First, not every religious activity pleases God. Cain found that out. Nadab and Abihu learned that the hard way. Here, prayers were not heard by God. Fasting and alms became a waste of time. The motive behind these things was to gain the praise and approval of others. These things were driven by pride not faith. They were done to make the person look better before others.
What a blunt reality for our culture today. Not every religious activity pleases God. We may jump up and down, scream with joy, walk on top of pews, and get very excited and pleased with what we are doing, but it may not raise an eyebrow on our Lord. Because we like it does not mean the Lord likes it.
Praying on street corners can be impressive. Praying in restaurants may have others noticing you. It can be driven by guilt. It can be one of those “have to do” things. Or, it can spring from a thankful heart that loves the Lord and is grateful for what He has done.
Second, worship void of faith is useless. Empty words from empty hearts will not please the Lord. Going through the routine or the motions doesn’t do much for us or the Lord. It’s not a checklist and once you’ve completed it you are free to go about doing what you want. Some are in such a hurry these days. They’d have a drive thru worship if they could get away with it.
The faith driven worshipper doesn’t mind the time. There is nothing better than worshipping God. The faith driven worshipper understands that he gains so much in time spent with the Lord. His perspective, observations, and priorities all seem to get in a better place when he has spent time with the Lord.
Third, for these three examples that Jesus opens Matthew six with, alms, prayers and fasting, there is nothing further that they will receive other than the praise of men. But that’s all they were after. They got what they wanted. They wanted people to notice. They wanted people to praise them. They wanted to be well thought of. They got that. They didn’t receive anything from the Lord.
Three times Jesus reminds the disciples that God sees in secret (4, 6, 18). God knows. Giving that no one else notices. Prayers that no one else hears. Fasting that is not known by others. Quietly. Reverently. Faithfully. Seeking the Lord. That’s what Jesus was driving at. No one has to approve, but God. No one has to notice, but God. No one has to say anything, but God.
Just you and God. That’s the driving thought in Matthew six. It’s not about the song leader, the preacher, the ones leading prayers. You and God. You and God before worship. You and God during worship. You and God after worship.
Don’t let others dictate nor define your worship. When we focus on how the songs were off key, the sermon was long, the prayers repeated, we are allowing others to determine how we worship. You and God. You and God through slow singing. You and God through long sermons. You and God through prayers that say very little.
You and God—that’s what Jesus wants.
Roger