Practicing Righteousness – Matthew 6:1-4
There is a distorted vision of righteousness that puts performative action over sincere motivation. In Matthew 6:1-4, Jesus addresses our righteousness prompting us to ask the question, “what’s is my motivation?”
Three Reminders about the sermon on the Mount
The Sermon on the Mount is not an isolated speech.
“[Jesus’] life is but a commentary on the sermon and the sermon is the exemplification of his life.” –Stanley Hauerwas
The whole sermon is Christ describing what life in the kingdom and allegiance to him looks like it is a vision for Kingdom life.
Obedience to the Sermon on the Mount is a practice in imagination
Old Testament on Almsgiving
Almsgiving is an expression of compassion in the presence of God, it had twofold development as we see in the Old Testament Scriptures:
In the law of Moses - what we call the first 5 books of the Bible - here we see compassion is a feeling cherished and frequently associated with acts of giving to the needy or foreigner (Deut. 15:11).
In the latter part of the Old Testament, prophets considered Almsgiving a right which the needy might justly claim from us (Isaiah 10:2).
“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.” - Matthew 6:1 (ESV)
How can you balance practicing righteousness not “in order to be seen,” but to be a light so that others, “see your good works and give glory to God”?
A few things I want to address in this seeming contradiction:
First, your fruit is going to be visibile - in fact Matthew goes on to say later in Matthew 7:16 that we will be known by our fruit.
Second, I pose to you that Visibility should be hidden from yourself, not others.
“The Genuine work of love is always hidden” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Finally, we recognize that if we know our righteousness, then we create our own reward instead of receiving God’s. But if we live hidden, God will make visible what is needed for His glory.
Did you know Father is used 17 times in the Sermon on the Mount to emphasize relationship?
God as Father is an idea foreign to the Pharisees’ legalistic, performance-based righteousness.
Matthew is emphasizing that if we are living for the adoration of others, we are missing the heart of the Father.
“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 6:2 (ESV)
Note that Jesus didn’t say “If you give” but “WHEN you give”. It is an instruction of generosity beyond your tithe to care for the foreigner, the widow, the poor and oppressed.
Beyond this assumption of giving to the needy, Jesus is more so emphasizing the manner in which they give - without trumpets as the hypocrites do.
“Truthfulness breathes freedom into the spirit. Hypocrisy is a malignancy of the soul.” - Stuart K. Weber
Hypocrisy can’t be present in our lives if we are gonna walk in the freedom that Jesus is offering us and asking us to share with others.
“But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” - Matthew 6:3 (ESV)
“Obedience, love & following Jesus are spontaneous & not premeditated” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer
At Midtown we believe our habits shape our heart.
Prepare ahead so in the spontaneous moment that Jesus stirs you to act you can be generous.
“So that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” - Matthew 6:4 (ESV)
How can visible & invisible aspects of discipleship be combined?
First, we recognize that it is only by Christ’s death & resurrection and the salvation found in it that we are able to reconcile the visible & invisible.
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” - Galatians 2:20 (ESV)
Second, we consistently check our motives.
Third, remember Freedom is found in obedience to God
Let’s prepare our hearts so in the spontaneous moment that Jesus stirs you to act you can be generous to those in need.
I challenge you to build the habit of praying Psalm 139:23-24 daily, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”