Matthew 6:1-8
Key Verse: “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. Otherwise, you have no reward with your Father in heaven. So whenever you give to the poor, don’t sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward.” (Matthew 6:1-2 CSB)
Why do you do what you do? When you choose to pray, read your Bible, gather together on a Sunday with the church, help the poor and needy, or take any other step of obedience to God, what is behind those decisions? What is motivating you to do this?
In Matthew 6:1, we are told to “be careful.” According to Jesus, it is possible to be doing all the right things but for the wrong reasons. We must be vigilantly on guard to ensure that we do not fall into the trap of following Jesus with impure motives.
What are the wrong motivations that Jesus is talking about here? Jesus says, “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them” (v.1). It’s the motivation of wanting to be seen by others. This doesn’t mean that we should follow Jesus in secret or in such a way that no one notices. Rather, we must guard our hearts to ensure that we are not making the things that we do about drawing attention to ourselves.
Jesus gives us two examples to consider in these verses. The first is our generosity toward those in need, which Jesus assumes is happening in our lives. He says, “whenever you give to the poor, don’t sound a trumpet before you” (v.2).
When you’re about to help out someone in need, there’s no need to call a press conference or to livestream it on social media. Generosity in the name of Jesus should never be about the accolades and applause from others. It shouldn’t be about drawing attention to self. Instead, it should be done quietly and humbly, without any fanfare. It should be done for the Lord. When that is the case, “Your Father who sees you in secret will reward you” (v.4).
The second example that Jesus gives for us to consider is prayer. He says, “whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people” (v.5). To be clear, Jesus wants us to pray. But He wants us to do so without hypocrisy.
The motivation of the “hypocrites” to pray was to be seen and heard. They stood in public places, praying loudly and with much verbiage. Prayer wasn’t about seeking to know the Father more closely or about bringing their needs to Him. It was about getting the attention of others and impressing God with their long-winded prayers.
Instead, Jesus calls us to a life of prayer “in secret.” Be sure to pray. But do so in the right way and for the right reason. Keep it simple. Find a quiet place and simply pour out your heart to Him. Make prayer about knowing God more and seeing more of His glory comes in your life. Remember, “Your Father knows the things you need before you ask him” (v.8).
Prayer: Father, please search my heart today. Whatever I do, help me to do it from a pure heart, as something done for you and not for the applause of others. Help me in every way direct the focus and attention to you alone. Amen.
