“A Question of Motive.”
Matthew 6:1-8, 16-18
Jesus has just finished describing the incredibly high standards of behavior required of those who would be His disciples. In verse twenty of the previous chapter Jesus had told His disciples that their right-eousness must exceed that of the Pharisee and teachers of the law. Then beginning in verse twenty-one through verse forty-eight Jesus gave six examples of how the teachers of the law had changed the law to suit themselves.
Jesus now moves to dealing with the motivation in which one carries out their religious devotion. Jesus declares that even right things can be done for the wrong motives. Why people do good things may not be as obvious as we think. “I read a story about vandals who cut down 6 huge royal palms along a major Miami Blvd. The city wasn’t sure if they could pay to replace palms that large. But then someone donated 6 more…even bigger ones. They had them planted even. The old ones were 15 ft. high and were a nice fore-ground to a billboard which said, ‘Fly Delta’. The new ones were 35 ft…completely hiding the sign. The new donor: Eastern Airlines! [Jerry Shirley. “A Super Secret Message.” Matthew 6:1-18. www.sermoncentral.com]
To make His point about motivation Jesus uses as examples the three most important demonstrations of religious devotion in Jewish religious practice; giving, prayer and fasting. The question of motive still comes into play in our religious lives today, especially when in our day there are some who teach that material prosperity is a demonstration of the favor of God. God wants us to give, to pray and to fast, but he wants us to do it for the right reasons. Those who would be disciples of Jesus are to practice their religion from the heart and not for the notice and reward of men.
Jesus introduces the subject in verse one saying, "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.”
The principle is; “Beware of doing the right thing for the wrong reasons.” The fundamental principle is found in that the word translated “take heed” or “beware” (NASB, ESV) is not only an impera-tive but it in the present tense denoting that the disciples must continually guard against doing good deeds for the wrong reason.
‘‘In normal, everyday conversations most of us have learned to use the absolute words such as always and every sparingly. We know that statements such as ‘You always leave the dishes on the table’ or ‘Every time I want to talk to you, you’re watching television’ or ‘You always want to be in control’ can get us in hot water… But Jesus’ words here are absolute. Jesus is saying, ‘Anyone who does a good deed so as to be seen and appreciated by others will lose his or her reward, no matter how ‘good’ and beneficial the deed is. Absolutely no exceptions!” [R. Kent Hughes. “The Sermon on The Mount” (Wheaton, ILL: Crossway Books, 2001) p. 146]
The question that we must each ask ourselves is: “Do I want the approval of God or the approval of others?” The truth is that it is almost impossible to have both. What Jesus deals with in these verses is the human tendency in each of us that desires the apprec-iation of others. This is shown when in verse one the word translated “to be seen” (theathenai) is from the same root word that we get the word “theater” from. It has in mind a spectacle to be gazed at.
Now let’s look at the three areas that Jesus applies the general principle in. In each of these three areas there is a wrong way and a right way to go about it!
First, If you Give to Be Seen Of Men – You Have Your Reward. (6:2-4)
“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.”
Notice the assumption in verse two: “…when you do a charitable deed…” In fact in the discussion of each of the three areas Jesus does not begin with “If you give, pray, fast, then this is what you should do.” Instead He says, “When” (vv. 2, 5, 16) you do so.” He takes for granted that they will do these things.
In the area of giving it is because you have been brought into the Kingdom of God, it is assumed that you will give to the Kingdom of God, to further the Kingdom of God. It’s an evidence that you are truly saved…not just that you give the tenth, but above that, but that as a minimum.
• The Wrong way to Give (v. 2)
In verse two Jesus points out the wrong way to go about giving. “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.”
The word “hypocrite” means ‘to wear a mask’, as the Greeks did in their dramas [smile, frown, angry, etc.] When the Pharisees were going to give to the poor, they would sound a trumpet. They said it was to get the poor to come to them, but Jesus saw thru the mask…the real reason was to call attention to themselves! They wanted the recognition and applause of men; they wanted the prestige and honor of being known as godly men.
Jesus is using a figure of speech when He says in verse three— “do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” - common sense tells us that He doesn’t intend for you hide your left hand as write the check with your right hand. I don’t think Jesus even means that you can’t keep track of your giving, say, for tax purposes.
When the Lord says, “they have their reward” He uses the terminology of commerce to indicate that they have been “paid in full.” He indicates that this honor or applause of humans is going to be their reward in full. In others words they can have the approval of God or the applause of others. If we choose the applause of others, then that applause becomes our reward.
Yet it is not whether something is done in a public place or not, but rather the motivation that matters. The ancient Christian preacher, Chrysostom, of the 1st century stated it this way. “You may do good deeds before men, and yet not seek human praise; you may do them in secret, and yet in your heart wish that they may become known to gain that praise.”
Some clarifications concerning rewards.
Is it wrong for the Christian to be motivated by rewards? There is a misconception that many Christians hold to, that we should never be motivated by reward.
You may say, “Well, maybe some people need to look for a reward from God to do good works, but it must be better to do good works without expect-ing any reward even from God!” And as spiritual that sounds one can also say, “Are saying that you are more spiritual than Moses?” Moses looked to a reward. In the book of Hebrews we read, “By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, (25) choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, (26) esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.”(Hebrews 11:24-26)
Heaven itself is not the reward for a faithful life. Salvation is by faith through grace (Ephesians 2:8-10). But the Bible does have a lot to say about rewards that await the faithful Christian. In fact one of the prominent doctrines of the New Testament is the Doctrine of Rewards and the Judgment Seat of Christ. The judgment seat of Christ is not a place and time when the Lord will mete out punishment for sins committed by the child of God. Rather, it is a place where rewards will be given or lost depending on how one has used his or her life for the Lord. That means that our decisions and words in this life directly affect our eternal status. Will you be great in heaven, or least? Are you daily investing in eternity so as to earn rewards to enjoy forever, or are you merely living for the temporary earthly rewards that you can see?
• The Right Way to Give (vv. 3-4)
There is also a Right way to go about giving (vv. 3-4). “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 reward you openly.”
The Roman orator Maricus Aurelius once said, “One man when he has done a service for another is ready to set it down to his account as a favor conferred. Another, while he may not go so far as that, still thinks of the man as his debtor, and is conscious of what he has done. The third does not, if we may so speak, even know what he has done and betrays no consciousness of his kindness, but is like a vine which produced grapes and seeks for nothing after it has produced the fruit proper for it. As a horse when he has run, a dog when he has caught game, a bee when it has made honey, so a man when he has done a good act, does not call out for others to come and see, but goes on to another act, as a vine goes on to produce again grapes in the season.” [Maricus Aurelius. Mediations.]
Not only in the area of Giving but also…
Secondly, If You Pray To Be Seen Of Men – You Have Your Reward. (6:5-8)
• The Wrong Way to Pray (v. 5)
As with giving there is a wrong way to pray given in verse five, “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.”
It should be noted that the Lord spends more time devoted to how motivation applies to the subject of prayer than to any other Christian act. This is no doubt because it is easier to be a hypocrite in praying than in any other Christian act.
It is not a sin to pray in public. It is not a sin to stand while praying. The fault lies in the desire to be seen and applauded by men in doing it. Deep with each believer is the desire to pray and to have people stand in amazement at our skillful use of words, to say, “Did you hear that wonderful prayer?” “Wow, I sure wish I could pray like that.”
• The Right Way To Pray (vv. 6-8)
Jesus gives us the right way to pray beginning in verse six, “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 heathens do. For they think 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….”
Here Jesus tells us of the value of praying in secret! Since prayer is communication between a believer and his God then anything that can be done to eliminate every possible distraction and disturbance is wise. It is not wrong pray in public in fact we will spend the next message studying the “Model Prayer” that Jesus gives as an example. Prayer can be done in public, but it must always be remembered who is being spoken to. It is not wrong to pray in public, but it’s wrong to pray in public when we’re not praying in private. We should pray in secret before we pray in public.
Jesus also tells us to “Cut to the chase!” God is not impressed with the number of words that we use in our prayers. It is my contention that some of the world’s most effective prayers have been short. Peter prayed a very effective prayer from his heart as he was sinking after trying to walk on the water to Jesus. He said, “Lord, save me!” (Matthew 14:30)
Not Only in the area of Prayer but also …
Third, If You Fast To Be Seen of Men – You Have Your Reward. (6:16-18)
Fasting is usually understood to mean the abstaining from food for some spiritual purpose. The instruction given here in the Sermon on the Mount on how to fast is of course based on the assumption that believers would fast. The issue is not how often we fast but how we fast and why.
• The Wrong Way To Fast (v. 16)
Jesus is not condemning fasting as a practice. Rather He is condemning fasting done for the wrong reasons. Jesus first of all tells the wrong way to fast in verse sixteen, “Moreover when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.” The problem, as in the other cases was the motive of the heart. Those who wanted to “appear to men to be fasting” would put on a gloomy face. It is the attitude that said, “I may have to fast but by golly I want people to notice how spiritual I am.” They wanted everyone to know they were denying themselves. Even self-denial can be a self-gratifying experience when we do it for the sake of being noticed by others.
Even that which begins as a spiritual act of self discipline can become an occasion for pompous self-righteousness. “Tragically we can do similar things today…. In one campus outreach group, Christian students were strongly urged to carry their Bibles to school and college as a sign of their faith and as a witness to others. After all, if they were not embar-rassed to carry…a chemistry text or a novel, why should they shy away at carrying their Bibles? But pretty soon it was noticed that some of the Christians were carrying exceptional BIG Bibles… Like hypocrites in Jesus’ day, they were trying to establish a reputation for godli-ness.” [D.A. Carson. “The Sermon on the Mount: An Evangelical Exposition of Matthew 5-7.” (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1978) p. 73.]
• The Right Way to Fast (vv. 17-18)
Finally beginning in verse seventeen we are told the right way to fast, “But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, (18) so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”
Like almost every other facet of Jewish spiritual life, fasting had been perverted and twisted beyond the scriptural intention. Fasting was seen as a way to gain merit with God and the attention of men. The Jews of Jesus day were only commanded by the Old Testament to fast one day each year on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16). The Pharisees however prided them-selves on fasting twice a week (Mondays and Thurs-day). It even became somewhat of a point of contention as to why the follow of John the Baptist fasted “often” but the followers of Jesus did not (Matthew 9:14). Jesus answered that when He was not longer with them- “when the bridegroom was taken away” - then His disciples would fast (Matthew 9:15).
Fasting is most often thought of in connection with abstaining from food. But there are other appli-cations to fasting, it is to abstain from any legitimate thing, in order to spend the time thus gained with God. So one can legitimately fast from; television, reading, playing computer games, communicating on facebook , etc. But (fasting) abstaining from anything that does not result in more time spent with God is of no value.
So when might one want to fast; in times of national crisis, seeking to know the will of God, when faced with seemingly impossible situations. Got a major problem, big decision, heavy burden? Try fasting! And do it in secret. As always the choice is between the approval of God and the applause of others.
Conclusion
In these verses Jesus gives three very clear ways that the righteousness of His disciples can exceed the Scribes and Pharisee’s. The hypocrisy of these religious leaders had stripped the spiritual value out of three most important facets of religious life; giving, prayer and fasting. As followers of Jesus we are expected to do all of these things but do them with the right attitude.
The thrust of these verses is very humbling! Why do we do the things we do? Why do we serve in the church? Why do we teach Sunday School? Why do we work in Upward program or AWANA? Why do we help others? Why do we pray?
Do we serve out of a humble sense of gratitude for all that Christ has done for us? Or do we serve, and give to be recognized by others? If you do then you have received your reward. But those do these things from their heart for God alone, will be rewarded by Him.
“A Question of Motive.”
Matthew 6:1-8, 16-18
The principle is; “Beware of doing the right thing for the _______________ reasons.”
First, If you ____________ to Be Seen Of Men – You Have Your Reward. (6:1-4)
•The Wrong Way to Give (v. 2)
•The Right Way To Give (vv. 3-4)
Misconceptions concerning rewards. There is a misconception that many Christians hold to, that we should never be ___________________ by reward.
But we’re not supposed to think about it.”
It must be better to do good works without expecting any reward even from God!” (Hebrews 11:24-26)
Secondly, If You ___________ To Be Seen Of Men – You Have Your Reward. (6:5-8)
•The Wrong Way to Pray (v. 5)
•The Right Way To Pray (vv. 6-8)
Third, If You _____________ To Be Seen of Men – You Have Your Reward. (6:16-18)
• The Wrong Way to Fast (v. 16)
•The Right Way To Fast (vv. 17-18)
