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The SermonThe Sermon

on the Mounton the Mount

Matthew 6:1-4

REVIEWREVIEWIn Mathew 5 we have covered the first 2 themes of the Sermon on the Mount

1.) Chapter 5:3-16 The REAL CHRISTIAN

Jesus DESCRIBED for us the character of the REAL CHRISTIAN (Both before God and before the world).

2.) Chapter 5:17-48 REAL RIGHTEOUSNESS

He closed the subject of REAL RIGHTEOUSNESS with this statement: Mat 5:48 "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

KEY APPLICATION: Those words show to us the NECESSITY of the new birth….. The NEED to be BORN AGAIN in order to be a REAL CHRISTIAN

To LIVE and LOVE as Jesus taught NECESSITATES a NEW HEART and a living relationship with Jesus.

John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (This love is what defines the real Christian)

Later that night He would say -

John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

NO superficial association with things ‘Christian” can produce such a love…. Such a life!

Only a LIVING relationship with the LIVING Christ can…. ONLY the POWER of the Holy Spirit can transform a man or woman into THIS person described by Jesus!

Are YOU born again? Are you growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour?

KEY OBSERVATION: That brings us to the 3rd section of the Sermon on the Mount –

REAL WORSHIP

(Mat 6:1-4 NKJV) "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.

REAL WORSHIPREAL WORSHIPIn addressing the subject of REAL WORSHIP Jesus is going to give several WARNINGS concerning the subject of HYPOCRACY. (Matt. 6:2, 5, 16)

Jesus does this for a very specific reason.

The unbeliever often points to the failures of sincere believers and says - “Christianity can’t be true because it is filled with hypocrites.”

NOTE WELL: A hypocrite is not a person who falls short of his high ideals, or who occasionally sins.

All of us experience these failures.

KEY INSIGHT: The Greek word translated hypocrite originally meant “an actor who wears a mask.”

KEY POINT: A hypocrite deliberately uses religion as a mask to cover appear to be something that he is not for the purpose of self-gain.

Jesus will show that the righteousness of the Pharisees was merely a mask to cover their their pride and their love of the applause of man.

None of it was for the reward of God.

(Mat 6:1 NKJV) "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.

KEY OBSERVATION: In the very first verse of this chapter Jesus lays down the GOVERNING PRINCIPLE of “religious” life for all of us.

NOTE WELL: REAL WORSHIP – real religion, is GOD-CENTERED, NOT man centered.

This fact is lost on most of “Christianity today”. For many today “religion” is MAN-CENTERED.

What can I get out of this? What will it do for me?

Not a coincidence that NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER was by Joel Osteen - Your Best Life Now: Seven Steps to Living at Your Full Potential

KEY INSIGHT: Those who are fixated on church-growth KNOW this and APPEAL to this very thing.

They package and sell a form of Christianity that is PRAGMATIC and MAN-CENTERED.

Come to church for a “good time”…a “happy life”… a “better marriage”.

REMEMBER: The HYPOCRITE is someone who uses religion to cover his sin…. Or to appear top be something their not for the purpose of self-gain

This kind of “religion” is very appealing to the man or woman who wants to have life on their terms.

They can still sin and then cover it up by being “religious.

KEY OBSERVATION: Having laid down the governing principle, He goes on to give three illustrations of that principle

1.) 1.) Giving 2.) Praying 3.) Fasting

These were an important part of the religious life of the Pharisees.

It is IMPORTANT for us to see that Jesus did not condemn these practices.

BUT - He did teach us that for these things to be REAL WORSHIP they have to flow from right hearts as we practice them.

Real GivingReal Giving

(Mat 6:1 NKJV) "Take heed that you do not do (Mat 6:1 NKJV) "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, TO BE your charitable deeds before men, TO BE SEEN BY THEM. Otherwise you have no SEEN BY THEM. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.reward from your Father in heaven.

KEY OBSERVATION: Now, at first glance, Matt 6:1 appears to contradict what Jesus said earlier:

(Mat 5:16 NKJV) "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works….

In both verses He speaks of doing good works In both verses He speaks of doing good works ‘before ‘before men’ men’ and in both He speaks of men and in both He speaks of men “seeing” “seeing” themthem. . 

But in But in Chapter 5 Chapter 5 He He commends it, commends it, while in while in 6:1 6:1 He He condemns it.condemns it.

KEY INSIGHT: KEY INSIGHT: There really is no contradiction at all.There really is no contradiction at all.

The difference lies in the fact that Jesus is speaking The difference lies in the fact that Jesus is speaking against different sins;against different sins;

It is our COWARDICE which moved Him to say, It is our COWARDICE which moved Him to say, “Let your light so shine before men”“Let your light so shine before men”

It is our our VANITY/PRIDE which moved Him tell It is our our VANITY/PRIDE which moved Him tell us to beware of practicing our piety before men.us to beware of practicing our piety before men.

HERE’S OUR PROBLEM

QUOTE: A.B. BRUCE - “We are to “We are to SHOW SHOW when when tempted to tempted to HIDE HIDE and and HIDE HIDE when tempted to when tempted to SHOWSHOW.”.”

KEY INSIGHT: KEY INSIGHT: These verses teach us about These verses teach us about MOTIVE MOTIVE and and REWARDREWARD..

MOTIVEMOTIVE - - Has to do with Has to do with WHY WHY we do something.we do something.

In Judaism, there was a strong concern for charity, In Judaism, there was a strong concern for charity, particularly the giving of alms.particularly the giving of alms.

The Old Testament taught this duty.The Old Testament taught this duty.

Prov 19:17 He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, And He will pay back what he has given.

Prov 29:7 The righteous considers the cause of the poor, But the wicked does not understand such knowledge.

Psa 41:1 Blessed is he who considers the poor; The LORD will deliver him in time of trouble

HERE WAS THE PROBLEM - Charity in Judaism was very much external and because they were performed with the motive of gaining praise from man.

(Mat 23:5-7 NKJV) "But all their works they do to be seen by men.

(Mat 23:28 NKJV) "Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

(Luke 16:15 NKJV) And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts.

NOTE WELL: If our MOTIVE is to get the praise of men, then like the Pharisees, we will call attention to what we are doing.

But if our MOTIVE is to serve God from a loving heart and please Him, then we will give our gifts without calling attention to our giving.

KEY APPLICATION: Pleasing God in all that I do or give should be the MOTIVE ….. driving force!

KEY FACTOR: The presence of God must be the motivating factor.

We need to remind ourselves of His presence always.

REWARDS

Concern about rewards is legitimate and is even Concern about rewards is legitimate and is even encouraged in the New Testament.encouraged in the New Testament.

KEY INSIGHT: There will be a judgment of rewards.

2 Cor 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

NOTE WELL: There is no reward from God for those who seek recognition or reward from men.

Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

KEY QUESTION: Does this mean that it is wrong to give openly? Must all giving be anonymous?

Not necessarily.

EXAMPLE: When the early Christians laid their money at the Apostles’ feet, it was not done in secret.

Everyone in the early church knew that Barnabas had given the income from the sale of his land (Acts 4:34-37).

In contrast there was Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11), who tried to use their gift to make people think they were more spiritual than they really were.

The difference, of course, was in the motive and manner in which it was done.

When it comes to anonymity in giving some only give cash so as to not have their names recorded…. Won’t take tax break for their gifts.

If you are giving to get a tax break…. Wrong.

But you should only render to Caesar the things that belong to him…. And not a penny more…. So that you can have more to give to the Lord.

KEY OBSERVATION: Jesus lays out for us the WRONG WAY and the RIGHT WAY to give.

THE WRONG WAY - THE WRONG WAY - do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets,

This is most likely a metaphor rather than a literal action.

NOTE WELL: Jesus ridicules them, NOT for their giving, but for the way that they gave….. They turned it into a public performance.

NOTE WELL: The Pharisees had a ravenous hunger for the praise of men.

(John 5:44 NKJV) “How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?”

John also records, (John 12:43 NKJV) for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

KEY POINT: Their insatiable appetite for human recognition spoiled all their giving.

NLT - I assure you, they have received all the reward they will ever get.

“If you want to do this for man’s applause, then you can have it. But THAT is all you get, and it is fickle and fleeting!”

THE RIGHT WAY THE RIGHT WAY - - "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.

This is totally unlike the HYPOCRITE who loves to ADVERTISE his generosity.

When you put your hand in your pocket to get something to give, be so secretive about it that the other hand doesn't know what you are doing.

LISTEN!LISTEN!

Don’t pride yourself because you don’t advertise:Don’t pride yourself because you don’t advertise:

QUOTE:QUOTE: DML-J DML-J

“I think that any man with even an element of decency in him rather despises a man who advertises himself. He says it is pathetic… so sad to see men advertising themselves. Yes, but what is so difficult is not to pride yourself because you are not like that! Let us hide away our charity--yes, hide it even from ourselves. Give so often, and so much as a matter of course, that you no more take note that you have helped the poor than that you have eaten your regular meals.”

This is also UNLIKE the HYPOCRITE who craves immediate recognition from man.

REAL GIVING is done with an eye on the Lord and on HIS reward.

QUOTE: C.H. SPURGEON

Do your alms without even whispering to yourself, "How generous I am!" Do not thus attempt to reward yourself. Leave the matter with God, who never fails to see, to record, and to reward. ... This is the bread, which eaten by stealth, is sweeter than the banquets of kings. How can I indulge myself today with this delightful luxury?

(Heb 6:10 NKJV)

For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown

toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.