After two weeks of focusing on inward righteousness of the heart, we followed up this past week with Jesus’ teaching on secret acts of righteousness. He continues the emphasis on the importance of what is inside over what is displayed on the outside. We learn that motive trumps action, but pure motives result in pure actions.

This week, we will focus on the areas of giving, praying, and fasting. I appreciate Jen’s point that these three acts of righteousness are intended to turn our attention heavenward, but as selfish beings, we have the tendency to turn these acts of humility into an ugly source of pride. Instead of using these as opportunities to give glory to God, these can be times of puffing up one’s sense of self-righteousness and arrogance.

Giving

The smug Pharisees were known to make a big production of their giving. They gave alms generously, but it was for the sake of making themselves look pious and benevolent. They weren’t as interested in helping others as they were in being admired. Jesus said not to blow trumpets to announce our giving, and that the attention we receive would be our only reward.

How many of you have seen church services where people pop up to announce they are giving $1,000 in the offering? Or, have you ever seen anyone give a closet full of clothes to charity and then tell everyone about it? Have you ever hoped for a pat on the back after doing something sacrificial for someone? What do we hope to gain by flashing our charitable gifts for the world to see? We don’t know the hearts of others and cannot speak for their intentions, but we can examine our own hearts carefully and make sure our generosity is genuine.

If we do anything for God for the sake of impressing others or making ourselves look great, we have defeated the entire purpose. That recognition we were seeking is all the reward we will get. When it comes time to receive our eternal rewards in heaven, we will come up empty-handed.

Rather, Christ taught us to give generously to those in need, but to also give quietly and uneventfully. As a matter of fact, our giving should be so private that our left hand doesn’t know what our right hand is doing! We are to give with no thought to what we will get out of it or what others will think. The purpose is to give of ourselves to meet a need, not to give in order to receive.

We all long to be appreciated, and even admired, but God’s ways are not like ours. God sees what is done in secret. He knows the deepest intents of our hearts. Yet, he rewards us openly!

Prayer

Immediately following His instructions on giving alms in secret, Jesus uses the same concept concerning prayer. Just like making a big production of our giving defeats the purpose, it is the same with prayer. If our purpose is to use a bunch of spiritual sounding words for the benefit of those who hear us rather than for God’s glory, then we have lost communication with the only One who matters!

I have heard of people who have been described as “mighty prayer warriors who could pray the power of God down!” You know the type, and some of them can too! I admire that! However, I have to question why they are described this way. Is it because these prayer warriors have the faith to move mountains, and they do, or is it because they know how to use all the right spiritual catch phrases with just the right vocal inflections? They know when to raise their voices and to shout with authority. They can interject just the right amount of emotion in their voices and know how to contort their faces just enough to spark excitement in everyone around them.

There is a distinct difference! One type is a genuine, faith-filled prayer warrior who is just having a passionate and intimate conversation with her God. That is the kind of prayer warrior I want to be! The other is an empty shell of hype and emotion, and they are merely putting on a show to bring out a desired response from others. We must be careful not to be deceived. We also must be careful not to measure our own prayers against these mockers.

Jesus called them hypocrites and warned us not to be like them. These Pharisees and religious leaders stood on the street corners to be seen by others. They thought they were impressive with their repetitive religious phrases. They wanted to look so devout and holy, but it was all superficial.

Jesus’ teaching is just as relevant in today’s churches too. What impresses God is prayer that stems from a genuine and devoted heart that seeks to give Him glory instead of seeking attention and admiration for ourselves.

Listen, the show-offs don’t have the corner market on God! Just because they know how to work it in public does not mean that God is impressed. God loves you, just the way you are. He wants you to come to Him without any pretense or show. If you want to truly communicate with God, it comes from the heart. Just talk to Him, and listen to Him. Go into a private place and spend time alone with God. Put no thought into what anyone else would think of your prayers. It’s none of their business.

Fasting

Jesus proceeds in verses 16-18 to include the heart of fasting. It’s the same idea as before with giving alms and praying, that when we fast we are to honor God secretly in our hearts instead of doing it for show.

The religious leaders really knew how to disfigure their faces, mess up their hair, put on ratty clothing, and look emaciated so that everyone would be impressed with their magnificent sacrifice before God. The people thought these men were so high and holy. On the contrary, Jesus taught us that we are not to look miserable and unkempt to make everyone feel sorry for us when we fast, but we are to clean up and keep it to ourselves. Then, God will reward us openly for what is done in secret.

I am amazed at how much we have learned and grown so far through this study, and we are only half-way there! Let’s keep going strong and glean all we can from these powerful words of Christ!

Week 6 Assignments

1. Read Matthew 5-7
2. Study Week 7: “Where Your Treasure Is,” pp. 90-105; Matthew 6:19-34
3. Attend a small group.
4. Watch my video for this week.
5. Memorize this week’s Bible verse, Matthew 6:21 ESV

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Week 6 Discussion Questions

Here is a sneak peek of the questions we will be discussing this week in our small groups.

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

QUESTION 1: What do you think Jesus meant when He said, “When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what you right hand is doing” (6:3)? What are some ways we can practice our giving without being hypocrites?

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. Matthew 6:6 ESV

QUESTION 2: What are some ways we may be tempted toward hypocrisy in our prayers? What are some situations or circumstances that make genuine prayer hardest for you?

Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked. 1 Chronicles 4:10 ESV

QUESTION 3: The six key elements of the Lord’s Prayer are Worship, Allegiance, Submission, Petition, Confession, and Deliverance. How many of these can be found in this prayer by Jabez in 1 Chronicles 4:10? Do you think it is wrong to pray this prayer? What do you think the enormous popularity of this prayer reflects about Christian culture today?

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. 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. Matthew 6:16-18 ESV

QUESTION 4: What are some ways modern Christians can fast? What are some purposes for and benefits of fasting?

QUESTION 5: Of the three areas we studied this week, giving, prayer, and fasting, which area do you feel needs more emphasis in your life? How are these words of Jesus speaking to you personally?

QUESTION 6: What impacted you most in this week’s passage from the Sermon on the Mount?

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Let us continue being faithful and diligent in the Word. May we seek to know God and His ways. I hope to see you in a small group this week!

God bless!