Motives In His Kingdom.

Motives In His Kingdom.

Matthew 6:1-13NKJV

General Oglethorpe once said to John Wesley, "I never forgive and I never forget." To which Wesley responded, "Then Sir, I hope you never sin."

As Jesus speaks in Matthew 6, His entire message is about Believer’s and their motives.

And when our motive is right, or righteous, in return, we run parallel with our Master—Jesus Christ.

We stay in sync with Him—Jesus.

Matthew 6:1-13NKJV “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.

6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.

9 In this manner, therefore, pray: 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 forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

In Matthew 6:1-8, Jesus speaks about motives, He’s speaking to people of the synagogue, temple and church attenders. Those who makeup His church, and to be His body.

The body of Christ. Matthew 16, Jesus proclaims that the gates of hell will not prevail.

In the near future Jesus is coming on the clouds in the air for His body.

Therefore, Jesus begins chapter 6, by teaching about giving.

Matthew 6:1-4TPT “Examine your motives to make sure you’re not showing off when you do your good deeds, only to be admired by others; otherwise, you will lose the reward of your heavenly Father. 2 So when you give to the poor, don’t announce it and make a show of it just to be seen by people, like the hypocrites in the streets and in the marketplace. They’ve already received their reward! 3 But when you demonstrate generosity, do it with pure motives and without drawing attention to yourself. 4 Give secretly and your Father, who sees all you do, will reward you openly.”

Jesus is saying, “Don’t blow your own horn.”

According to Jesus there are open-window -blessings (OWB), for those who give with the right motive, attitude and passion.

It’s not, “I got to give,’ it’s—‘I get to give!” P.H

Pastor Matthew Kratz gives a story about rearranging ashes:

An Eastern ascetic holy man who covered himself with ashes as a sign of humility and regularly sat on a prominent street corner of his city.

When tourists asked permission to take his picture, the mystic would rearrange his ashes to give the best image of destitution and humility.

Pastor Matthew states, “A great deal of religion amounts to nothing more than rearranging religious "ashes" to impress the world with one's supposed humility and devotion.”

Jesus goes on and say’s in, Matthew 6:5-8TPT “Whenever you pray, be sincere and not like the pretenders who love the attention they receive while praying before others in the meetings and on street corners. Believe me, they’ve already received their reward. 6 But whenever you pray, go into your innermost chamber and be alone with Father God, praying to him in secret. And your Father, who sees all you do, will reward you openly. 7 When you pray, there is no need to repeat empty phrases, praying like the Gentiles do, for they expect God to hear them because of their many words. 8 There is no need to imitate them, since your Father already knows what you need before you ask him.

Jesus is saying—Be sincere, Be authentic, Be humble, Be yourself.

Next on Jesus’ agenda—He gives His followers a great blessing by giving them a clear cut example on—How To Pray.