The Exposition of Matthew (Matthew 6:1-4)
(Sermon on the Mount)
Questions to be answered in this study
- What is the one primary thing that is the essence of what it means to be a Christian?
- What is the believers first responsibility?
- What is the Talmud?
- How much could the Old Testament tithe amount as far as percentage of income?
- What is the acceptable standard of giving in the New Testament?
- What was the primary motive for giving among the Pharisees and the givers was?
- Why is the method of giving so crucial in God’s eyes when the result is accomplished and the needs are met?
- If one thing is missing when you do all the things right, it is worthless. What is that one thing?
Introduction
In our last study, we looked at the 6th example Jesus gave to refute the false religion of the Pharisees, which is love. Love is the essence of what it means to be a Christian. The evidence of that is found in 1 John 4:20: “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?”
We often think love is primarily a topic of the New Testament. Not so, when Jesus was asked what was the greatest commandment, He quoted Deuteronomy 6:4 (KJV). “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thou might.” And He also included Leviticus 19:18(KJV), “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself:”
Now, as we enter Matthew 6:1-4, the subject matter transitions and focuses on living a godly life, which by all means includes love. There is a connection between chapter 5 and chapter 6 that we need to consider before going further. Throughout chapter 5, Jesus revealed the false teaching of the Pharisees concerning the kingdom of heaven. Their education was incorrect on how to enter the kingdom and as to what true righteousness included. The righteousness of the Pharisees was artificial, whereas the righteousness of God is perfect righteousness that is imputed to believers, received only through faith in Christ. That is God’s standard for entering the kingdom of heaven, and there is no other way. That is also God’s standard for Christian conduct while we are still on earth.
Our conduct while on earth is the connection that leads us into the sixth chapter. Love, the 6th example, which Jesus finishes chapter 5 with, undergirds Christian conduct that Jesus talks about in chapter 6. As we enter chapter 6, the first verse, Jesus gives the warning to beware of living like the Pharisees to be seen of men.
Matthew 6:1, “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.” Jesus instructs His listeners to take heed, not practice their righteousness just to be seen by others. Even though others besides God see our righteousness, Jesus is teaching that there is a right and wrong way. The wrong way is when righteousness is only an act to impress others. It is not crucial whether others approve of us; what is essential is whether God approves us. The Pharisees were only concerned with seeking the approval of others, not God’s approval. The Pharisees received their reward on earth, earthly wealth, worldly praise, and political power while missing God’s heavenly rewards.
In chapter 6, Jesus begins with a warning not to live in such a manner as the Pharisees but instead focus on eternity. Focusing on eternity is like investing in the stock market; you don’t expect to receive rewards right away. Rewards come later; it is a long-term investment. So, it is with our service to the Lord. Jesus promised rewards, eternal rewards that come later. That does not mean that we receive no rewards presently; we do in the form of God’s blessings.
Nevertheless, our first responsibility as believers is to please God rather than ourselves or to receive the praise of man. God wants to reward us with eternal rewards, things like Heavenly authority, Heavenly wealth, Heavenly glory. These rewards will never fade away.
In Chapter 5, Jesus used six examples to show false teachings based on the Mishna. In each of these examples, Jesus quotes from the Mishna and then reveals the truth based on the inspired Scripture. The Mishna, as I defined in an earlier study, is a list of oral rules passed down through the ages that the Scribes began to put together and then later was picked up by the Pharisees and put in a book form called the Mishna and then later called the Talmud, which is the Jew’s Holy book was in two parts. The first part was the Mishna and the second part was a commentary on the Mishna.
In chapter 6, Jesus continues in the same fashion. He now gives four examples of how the Pharisee’s righteousness was only a façade to seek man’s approval, not having God in mind at all. The Pharisees made a mockery of serving God, with their giving to the poor, praying in public, open fasting, and living extravagantly. They sought to practice their righteousness with maximum public exposure to receive the praise of men.
In chapter 6, Jesus shows the proper way of giving, praying, fasting, and things concerning wealth. Jesus is instructing in how to avoid the mistakes that false religion practices. Not only was Jesus teaching God’s perfect standard of righteousness, but He also was teaching how to live it while on earth.
We also have the choice today as to whether we seek our reward on earth or in heaven. Like everything else earthly, earthly rewards are temporal and fading away, while heavenly rewards are eternal.
Matthew 6:2-4, “Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.” 3But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 4That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.”
In these verses, Jesus once again is refuting the false practices of the Pharisees. In this example, it is in how they gave alms. The Pharisees sounded a trumpet in the synagogues or on the streets to call attention to the donations, and Jesus said they had their reward.
Let’s take a look at how the Jews were instructed to give from the inspired Word; They were asked to tithe to provide the needs of the priests, maintain the upkeep of the temple, and fund the scheduled annual feasts. In addition to this, they were to provide for the needs of the poor. That is the same as we are to do through our tithes, providing for the church’s financial needs and providing for the mission endeavor. The concern Jesus was emphasizing was to be concerned for anyone who might be in need.
We see this pointed out in Deuteronomy 15:7-8, “If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother. But you shall freely open your hand to him, and shall generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks. 8But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.”
Even above the tithe, the Jews were expected to care for others in need, as we see in Deuteronomy 26:12. By the way, the Old Testament tithe could amount to as much as 30%. “When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled.”
According to the account given by ancient writers,13 large chests were located in the temple to gather the money that was brought to the temple. The Pharisees started announcing donations to the temple or synagogues with trumpets in the streets to promote giving. As the large crowds gathered at the sound of the trumpet, those who were contributing would be marched into the temple by a procession led by the Pharisees calling attention to the giver as well as to themselves. It was all a show to stroke egos and built the pride of the giver. Instead of having compassion for the poor, they were seeking attention for themselves. Those who saw this were inspired to give that they may gain such attention, and the Pharisees also prospered by receiving their share of the take.
In v.2, Jesus reveals what He thought of this charade. He called them hypocrites. The word hypocrite comes from a Greek root word meaning to act on a stage. It is all a show; it’s pretending to be something you’re not. So, it is not only the giving of concern; it is how it is given.
What is the difference in New Testament requirements for giving at that of the Old Testament? In the Old Testament they were under the law of the tithe, which could amount up to 30% of income. Concerning giving in the New Testament, we read, , “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver,” 2 Corinthians 9:7 (KJV). There is no mention of a tithe here. Notice the words, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart….” In the New Testament, no tithe is commanded; it is up to each person to determine what they will give. We are under God’s grace. How much should we decide to give? Are we to give less under love than what God expected under the law? Are we to ignore what was always God’s standard of forgiving because we are not under the law? God forbid we do less.
There were two groups here, the givers and the Pharisees. Jesus said they both received their earthly reward. The primary motive for giving among the Pharisees and the givers was, The Pharisees received their share of the money, while the givers received their share of the recognition. There was no eternal heavenly reward.
Why is the method of giving so crucial in God’s eyes when the result is accomplished and the needs are met? If you will think back to chapter 5 for a moment, we saw that murder could occur without the actual act of how we treat others. Also, adultery could happen by looking upon a woman to lust after her. What Jesus is emphasizing is not only the law but also keeping the spirit of the law, which includes the attitude of the heart. According to 1 Samuel 21, God sometimes overlooks the violation of the law if it was done to keep the spirit of the law, meaning God is more concerned in the keeping of the spirit of the law, which includes the attitude of the heart.
For example, if we do the right things for the wrong reasons, we receive no credit from God. Here is a present-day application: If we attend church only because we think it is the right thing to do, it is worthless. We sometimes fail to understand that God cares more for our motives than he does for our outward actions.
Even if we comply with God’s commands and our motives are wrong, God gives no credit. According to 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing. 3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing.” Only those things done out of a heart of love for God and others are of value.
All through these examples, Jesus has rewards in mind. He mentions rewards seven times. By the way, 7 is the number for perfection. The point He is making is that rewards in heaven are based on more than actions. The proper spirit and the motive of the heart should be behind all our efforts toward God. Nothing less is acceptable. It is of essence that we examine our reasons in all we do to assure that we are not exchanging eternal rewards for temporal ones that will fade away and perish. Give in secret and do your good works without expecting any recognition whatsoever. Be sure to refuse a brick to be displayed with your name inscribed in honor of your donation or to have your name listed on a plaque. We forfeit any heavenly returns if we expect an earthly return for anything we do in the Lord’s name.
Jesus is showing His love for us in insisting that we do things with the right motivation so that we will not forfeit our eternal rewards. He wanted to prepare our hearts for the moment we stand in judgment before Holy God to give account for our actions while on earth. It is my hope today that none of us here will fail because of the absence of knowledge. I also hope the knowledge you are gaining will assure you not to fail because of disobedience.
Finally, let us pay close attention to God’s message to the Hebrews; for in this message, we see a clear outline of what God expects of us today.