The classic example of something that is larger below the surface than above it – is an iceberg. That is because 90% of the body of an iceberg is, in fact, below the water line. That means that someone on the water can only see the top 10% of what the iceberg truly is. Because of that, an iceberg is such an accurate depiction of humanity because we only allow people to see what we want, which is just a fraction of who we really are.
Like the cartoon alligator that looks like a log until Bugs Bunny steps on it, who we are “below the surface” is so much more important. That is why when Jesus preached during his ministry, he addressed what is truly in our hearts.
We are in week 7 of our series called “Thy Kingdom Come” where we are walking through one of Jesus’s sermons that was a big part of his ministry: the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7.
In chapter 5, we dealt with the internal part of our Christian life: such as our poverty in spirit, our hunger and thirst for righteousness, and purity in our hearts.
Now in chapter 6, we get into some of the outward expressions or actions of our faith, but (as we will see) the things we do as a Christian are only as important as WHY we do them. In fact, our heart and motivation is so important that all of these things are further illustrating how Jesus said that our righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees or we cannot enter the kingdom of Heaven. And the good news is that it WILL, if we have been born again and the Holy Spirit is inside of us. Or let me say it like this:
The righteousness we possess will produce righteousness in practice.
We will come back to this idea later.
For now, let’s go to Matthew 6 and take a brief look at three righteous acts: giving, praying, and fasting. These are not the only spiritual disciplines that we do, but they are at least three pillars of our Christian life. While each of these topics deserve their own time in the sermon spotlight, for today we will just focus on a simple theme that seems to bind them together. Let’s jump in:
Matthew 6 [1] “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.
So here Jesus is giving an introductory statement to tell his followers to “be careful” or “watch out” to not act out our righteousness just so others will see us. Meaning if we do the right thing for the wrong reason, we will lose our reward.
This first, summarizing verse lays out the pattern that Jesus is using to deal with each of the instructions. It goes like this:
1. when you do this righteous act
2. make sure you do it from a right heart
3. and then you will be rewarded
Let’s work through these three “righteous practices.”
[ON GIVING]
Matthew 6 [2] “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. [3] But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, [4] so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
There are a few important details that I want to mention here that will also overlap with the other two illustrations.
First, notice how Jesus said, “when you give…” instead of “if you give.”
I discovered in my study that a “In total, a devout Jew would give away at least one sixth of his income,” (Nicky Gumbel, The Jesus Lifestyle). Some of their giving was charitable donations to their temple treasury, and other gifts (their “alms” as some translations say) went to help people in need.
Jesus is not in any way criticizing any of that, nor is he specifically instructing his followers to give here. Instead, he is assuming that they WILL be giving. That is still true for today. It is clear from Scripture that we are to be giving people. In fact, I have heard many times that “we are never more like Christ than when we are giving.” He who gave so much to us wants us to give, and we can never out-give God. Of course about much more than money and stuff (it includes time and talent), but it is not LESS than money (as Jesus will teach on more later).
Because (as I discovered when I became an adult) that 100% of our money will go SOMEWHERE! Either WE will spend it or someone else will EVENTUALLY spend it for us. So with that perspective, the question is not SHOULD we give our money away, it is will we CHOOSE where it will go (or more specifically will we invest it in worthwhile, Gospel-advancing endeavors). The old reformer Martin Luther taught that when we are saved, there are three conversions that take place: “the conversion of the mind… of the heart, and… of the wallet.”
But Jesus is dealing more here with WHY we give (which is always connected to the HOW). Look at how he qualifies it: he said to not “sound [a] trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others.
When the Pharisees wanted to give something, they would often blow a trumpet to call the poor and needy together in order to let them know that handouts were available, but also to make sure everyone knew what they were doing. Their hearts were prideful instead of humble, and they got what they were looking for: fleeting, empty appreciation from people.
To learn from them, Jesus is saying that our giving should be done SECRETLY or at least in a way that we are not trying to get points from people around us.
But also, Jesus says in verse 3 to “…not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, [4] so that your giving may be in secret.” While there might be a little bit of sarcasm here, I think what Jesus is saying is that we ought to give so often and to so many people that need it – that it becomes a habit that we do not even think about anymore. This is not an instruction to live unwisely, but to live open-handedly and not tight-fistedly.
Even for us, when we have our “tithes and offering” time in worship services, it reminds us that everything we have has been given to us from God for us to steward well. And on one hand, when we give to Village Church (or any local church we part of), we are maintaining the ministries by paying rent, supporting staff, buying kids ministry materials, and everything else that we do. But on the other hand, we are banding together to support so many mission works locally, nationally, and globally in a way that none of us could do separately. We give because we are a FAMILY.
And what happens if we give (as the New Testament expounds on much more later) regularly, generously, and cheerfully (1 Corinthians 16:2, 2 Corinthians 8;12, 2 Corinthians 9:6)? Jesus says that in doing this… “your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Scripture is full of examples of how God rewards, blesses, and provides for those that give with a right heart and motivation. It is a “virtuous cycle” in the context of grace.
So whether anyone else knows what we give away or not, we can either do it in humility and open-handedness which will bring rewards from God, or we can give hoping that someone will acknowledges and applaud us and two things will happen:
(1) you will lose your reward in heaven for your giving and
(2) like the “thirsty desert” that Solomon talks about in Proverbs 30, you will be left unsatisfied and unfulfilled and always more “thirsty” for appreciation.
And again – this is not just about money. Giving our time or talents “away” is the same. No matter what we give, we must orient our hearts to living as Paul said:
Colossians 3:17: “Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
So as we said earlier: the righteousness we possess will produce righteousness in practice.
[ON PRAYER]
Now Jesus goes on to point #2 in this section to talk about prayer. And with the same pattern as before, he says:
Matthew 6 [5] “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. [6] But when you pray, [again – Jesus expects his followers to pray] go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret….
Jesus is teaching that if you want your prayers to go above the ceiling in your room, then do not pray in order to be praised by people. This does not mean that there is no place for corporate prayer (like we do here) – because Jesus himself regularly did that. When someone prays up front in a worship service, we are all agreeing TOGETHER in prayer, someone is providing a guide for prayer AS the church, and we are praying an intercessory prayer FOR the church body. But whether it is in a service or small group or out in public, to pray just so that other people will think: “wow – he MUST be a Christian” or “she must be REALLY close to God” is not only prideful, but it defeats the whole purpose in praying! Which is:
[6] …And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
What is the reward of prayer? Certainly that God hears us and that our relationship with him is grown. But more than that, there is something special and even powerful about the gift of prayer that God has given us to talk to Him that (for lack of better words) moves the heart of the Father.
There is so much I do not understand about the spiritual realm and where our prayers and the will of God intersect, but I do know this: the same God that spoke the World into existence, that parted the sea for Israel, that caused the sun to stand still for Joshua, that turned water into wine because Mary asked, that healed blinded eyes, made the lame to walk, raised the dead, that has the power to forgive sins, overcome death, and that continues to advance his church against the gates of hell that are powerless to stop it… that same God is the God that we pray to and there is NOTHING too hard for him! Amen?
There is so much we can say here, but instead let’s read what the Apostle Paul said in his prayer for the believers in Ephesus. He prayed that:
“… from [God’s] glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3:14-21, NLT).
That gives us a hint toward the “rewards” of prayer. But only if our hearts are in the right place as followers of Christ.
Then Jesus gives us another bad example to avoid. Just like the volume or prettiness of our prayers do not matter, he says:
[7] “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the [non-God-worshiping] Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. [8] Do not be like them…
Some translations use the phrase “vain repetition” or “babbling on.” The point is that God has good ears – there is no reason to repeat yourself over and over or to say nonsense in your prayers. In fact, you can even just pray in your own mind and never say an audible word. Because (make sure we get this amazing truth that Jesus says next):
[8] …for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
How cool is that? But even though he knows what we need, he loves it when his children come to him in prayer.
———
Now look at verse 9. Jesus lays out for his followers some more incredibly helpful “tips” on praying – including a model to learn from so that anyone can learn to pray the kinds of prayers that the Father loves. He says:
[9] Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. [10] Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. [11] Give us this day our daily bread, [12] and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. [13] And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [14] For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, [15] but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
This is not the only time that Jesus told his disciples to pray, nor is it the only prayer that he told them to pray. It is not even Jesus’s personal prayer – it is just an example that he gave to teach his disciples. Nevertheless, there is something about this particular prayer that has caused it to resonate with believers throughout history in a profound way. We have done a few sermons on this prayer in the past, and we could easily do an entire series on this passage in the future, but for now I just want to note a few important details and move on (and I would encourage you to study this passage and topic further on your own).
We see in this prayer 3 main sections:
First, for the first time in Scripture, we are told to pray to “Our Father” – and only Jesus had the authority to say that. Because THROUGH Jesus (our Mediator and Great High Priest) we can actually have a personal relationship with God as our Heavenly Father. According to John 1:12, those who receive Christ have been given the “power [or authority] to become sons of God, even to them that… believe on his name.” And it is from that new, fresh vantage point that Jesus teaches in the Gospels
Secondly, Jesus fills (and starts) his model prayer with surrendering language. He says to pray three statements: (1) “hallowed by your name” (or you could say “may your name be honored”), (2) “Your kingdom come” and (3) “your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
Thirdly, Jesus shows us that God wants us to pray for the things we need and desire (even though he knows them already). He says to make “supplications” for daily provision, for forgiveness of debts, and for deliverance from evil (or the evil one). There are quite a few deeper and even controversial topics in this part of the prayer, but with the short time we have today, in context I believe that Jesus is saying that we can and should pray directly, humbly, and daily for God’s name to be glorified, His will to be done, and our needs to be met.
This is not just a casual prayer that looks nice on a plaque on a wall – this is modeling prayer for intense and radical worship, surrender, and submission to God. I hope we treat it as such. It is both “wonderful and dangerous” as Al Mohler stated. Because to declare Jesus as Lord is to say that no one else is! And just like giving, the right prayer can only come from a right heart.
Then Jesus moves on to a third righteous practice that will be produced when we possess righteousness: fasting.
[ON FASTING]
Fasting is very simply abstaining from something. It is typically food, but it could really be anything. Private and corporate fasting was a common practice in the ancient world – and actually still is today both for spiritual reasons and (even more recently it seems) for health reasons.
Now read what Jesus says:
Matthew 6 [16] “And [just like before, not IF you fast, but…] when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces [to look miserable] that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward [which is acknowledgement and praise from others]. [17] But when you fast, [here is the right way to do it] anoint your head and wash your face, [18] that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret.
The point is not so others never know – because your family will find out and you may even chose to fast with others (As a church, we challenge everyone to fast in January as part of our 21 Days of Prayer). Instead, the point is to not do anything to make it obvious. Take a shower, comb your hair, brush your beard, and don’t complain about how hungry you are. The point isn’t to try to “hide it” in a hypocritical way, but to simply not draw attention to yourself!
Because then:
…And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
What are the “rewards” of fasting? While there very well may be a kind-of supplemental effect when we pray AND fast, it seems that even more than that, the impact of fasting is more personal. It trains us for abstinence, quiets our lusts, drives us to prayer, and it testifies to our repentance (Calvin’s commentary).
And as I was discussing with someone just last week – fasting trains us to suffer. Think about it – if our bodies and minds are so used to the comforts and pleasures of life, how will we ever deal with suffering and pain when the time comes? Jesus began his ministry on earth by fasting for 40 days and 40 nights. Can you imagine how that must have strengthened his mind and soul to face what he had to face?
But for us, if we fast for the wrong reasons and to be applauded – then that will be our reward. What a waste!
So as we close and consider how God would have us respond to His Word, let me say this. As we explain in our Growth Track, being a disciple of Jesus Christ is not just about “connecting to God” and worshiping him, it WILL result in “next steps” such as building community with other believers, serving others as a part of the body of Christ, going leading others to Jesus, and (as we talked about today) a heart that desires to please the Father through giving, praying, and fasting. Or again we say:
The righteousness we possess will produce righteousness in practice.
God is so big that if he lives in us, he WILL make a difference! You may not know the right answers or have a degree in anything, but if God is in you, it will make a difference.
My prayer is that this causes us to ask many questions about ourselves and WHY we do what we do. Is it to please to please God out of a relationship with him, or is it to please people. Let me pray for us…
This message was preached at Village Church in Churchville, VA as part of our “Thy Kingdom Come” series.
Live Well. Lead Well. 