Sermon on the Mount
Pt 5
Charitable Deeds Pleasing to God
Matthew 6: 1-4
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.
OPENING REMARKS
A. Doing Good as Christians
1. If you were able would you give millions to feed the poor?
2. If you were able would you go into the hospitals and heal the sick for no charge?
3. If you were able would you provide shelter and security to the homeless?
4. If you were able would you sacrifice yourself so that others may live?
Depending on how you would answer those questions – would you want anybody to know you were doing these things or would it matter to you?
B. Motive
1. What a man does matters greatly to God.
a. God expects men to be kind and to do good in the world: to help others both through personal involvement and through giving generously and sacrificially.
b. The giving of charitable deeds [alms – KJV] (righteous acts) is in a sense the first act of religion: Love your neighbor as yourself (Matt. 22:39).
2. But there is something else that God expects.
a. God expects man to have the right motive.
b. Just why a man does good and shows kindness matters greatly to God.
i. Many people like being recognized for their efforts. Often the case is when we have done a good deed for another we wish that it be at least recognized by the recipient. If the act is not acknowledged usually our response, what an ingrate – I will not waste my time helping him/her/them anymore.
ii. When this attitude prevails in our heart and minds we must ask: Why are doing what we are doing? What is the motive behind our doing good?
3. This is what Christ here in the text is addressing: the motive of the human heart for giving and doing good.
TEXT
V. 1
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.
A. Two important lessons in this verse.
1. Take Heed – Man must guard and be alert to the deception of giving and doing good before men. A person’s heart can be deceived – (Jeremiah 17:910). It will keep a person from receiving anything from God.
2. Do Charitable Deeds – A person must do charitable deeds. It is the duty of the Christian.
a. In this passage alone Christ says four times – do charitable deeds.
V. 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.
A. When you do a charitable deed
It is a duty to do good.
1 John 3:17-18
[W]hoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
B. Do not sound a trumpet … in the synagogue and in the streets
Two reasons for the wrong motive for doing good.
1. Hypocrites (Gk. means: actor, one who puts on a false front to pretend to be what he is not.)
a. blow one’s own horn – self-praise, self-recognition, self-importance
i. in the synagogue – before religious people
ii. in the streets – before the public
2. Glory of Men
a. Recognition – praise of men during this life and to be remembered in death
b. Prestige – honor, esteem, and glory
c. Applause – admiration, self-satisfaction, fulfillment of duty
NOTE: Men soon fade away from this life. Recognition, prestige, and applause will fade and soon be forgotten by a world that will simply move on to the next person manifesting their glamour and fame.
C. They have their reward
1. The Christian person who does charitable goods for recognition before men has already received their reward.
a. This is an accounting statement meaning: payment has been made in full. God has no reason to reward them any further.
b. Once paid in full, payment is no longer anticipated.
NOTE: It is not always wrong when your charitable deeds are seen by men.
1. Sometimes it cannot be helped due to the deed that has been done – it just cannot be kept secret.
2. Motive behind the act is what matters.
Luke 19:1-10
… Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.
NOTE: The point is not that a person should hold back from doing good, but he should guard against how he gives and does good.
V3-4
But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
A. Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing
1. Give unconsciously. Give out of an inner desire to serve God not to please men.
B. [Do] your charitable deed … in secret
1. Give secretly, quietly, privately.
a. Do not let others know what you are giving and doing.
b. Honor God only.
C. [Y]our Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
1. God sees in secret. Nothing passes His attention.
2. He knows the motive and the acts of every man
a. Every single motive
b. Every single act
3. God is sovereign
a. He rewards accordingly - Trust God in His providence.
b. God Himself will reward openly
2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, whether good or bad.
CONCLUSION
God has made it the duty of Christians to do charitable deeds.
Sometimes it seems that the more good deeds we do the more we notice there needs to be done and so we continue to labor away w/o seemingly any end in sight. If God has bless you with such a burden keep serving knowing that there is a day coming that He will reward you for all of your labor done for Him out of sight of all eyes but His alone. Continue to serve the Master.
2 Timothy 4:7-8
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
[For this sermon please note that I adapted much from the outline notes of The Preaher’s Outline & Sermon Bible: Matthew 1, p. 101-104]
INVITIATION
Lost –
If you have never seen a need for Jesus Christ as your Savior – I urge you today to recognize your sinfulness before God, turn from it and look to the crucified and resurrected Christ in faith as your only hope for salvation. You may accomplish many charitable deeds throughout your life time – but compared to spending an eternity separated from God in the torment and suffering of Hell your good deeds will amount to nothing.
Believer/Church –
What is your motive for charitable deeds this day. If your motive is to be recognized by men I urge you too to run to Jesus Christ today and cast yourself upon Him and plead unto Him to show you how to practice charitable deeds in secret so that His Father will reward you openly accordingly.
COME WORSHIP THE LORD
. Our Invitation is open to all:
. Come to Christ
. Come if you need to pray
. Come be a part of us
. Come share with us what the Lord would have you to do
Bruce Allen
Underwood Baptist Church
bea0210@hotmail.com
September 16, 2007
