LEARNING DAILY

 

Matthew 6:1, “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.” Jesus

 

To this point Jesus has discussed the description of the Christian in the Beatitudes and described the relationship of the Christian to God’s law.  Now He turns to teach how the Christian is to live his life in the world in the presence of God; it is to be an active submission to God and in total dependence upon Him.  He divides this part of the Sermon on the Mount into two sections.  Verses 1-18 deal with the individual’s religious life which deals with their direct relationship to God.  When one gets saved, he begins a unique relationship with God.  It is a journey where one no longer does as what the world does because he walks according to what God desires him to do.  The rest of Matthew 6 deals with how the Christian is to live in the world.  It is important to see the link between these two sections because too many make the mistake of thinking they will have no problems after they accept Christ as their Savior.  The reality is this life is full of problems for everyone – including Christians.

 

The theme of Matthew 6 is the first verse.  Jesus is telling Christians not to live their righteousness before men.  But, didn’t He say to “let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” in chapter five.  Does Matthew 6:1 contradict His previous statement?  No, there is no conflict because Christians are to do both at the same time.  Jesus is telling Christians to do good works to glorify God; that does not include living in a way that calls attention to yourself.  He gives three examples – charitable deeds, prayer, and fasting – to illustrate what He meant.  Righteousness is central to each of the examples.

 

The choice to please God or to please ourselves is an ongoing choice.  Pleasing others in a way that we are recognized for doing it creates a better situation for one’s self. It is really a way to bring self-gratification.  What appears to be selfless is really an act of selfishness.  Christians must keep in mind that the most important matter in life is their relationship to God.  Christians are to please God at all times in everything they do.   Jesus did everything He did to please His Father in heaven.  I wonder what would happen if all Christians remembered that God sees, hears, knows all we do, and sees the heart of every person; Christians are always in the presence of God and must discipline themselves in what they say and do.

 

Did you notice the last statement in Matthew 6:1?  It is a general statement about rewards.  Jesus is indicating that there are rewards associated with living righteously.  The rewards God gives are holiness and being in His presence.  The rewards of men do not last; if one seeks rewards from men God does not need to reward you as well.  The question, then, is how does one go about charitable giving, prayer, and fasting in the right way.  The wrong way is to announce to everyone one what you doing or going to do.  It is not done so the preacher tells the congregation what you have done, or to get your name spread across the internet.  That would be your reward.  The right way is to do these things in secret.  Do what the Holy Spirit tells you to do and then forget about it.  Forgetting what you have done brings rewards because God remembers and rewards what you have done. 

 

Matthew 6:4, 18, “… and your heavenly Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.”  Jesus

 

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