Matthew 6: The Sermon on the Mount: Inner Life (1)

Pray Psalm 121.1, 2.
I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.

Sing joyously Psalm 121.1, 2.
(Duke Street: Jesus Shall Reign)
I lift up my eyes up to the heights:
Whence comes my help by day, by night?
My help comes from the Lord above!
He made creation by His love!

Read and meditate on Matthew 6.1-4.

Prepare.
1. What did Jesus say our orientation should be in all our spiritual life?

2. What must we guard against in our spiritual life?

Meditate.
Jesus does not want His hearers to misunderstand about the true nature of righteousness. Righteousness, He has been saying, begins in the heart and is expressed in works of self-denying love, in which we are continually seeking to improve. He continues in this next section of the sermon on the mount to insist on the deeply personal and spiritual nature of true righteousness and Kingdom living.

First, as previously, Jesus points to the bad examples of spiritual life. Hypocrites make a show of their righteousness, giving and doing other good works for others to see and admire. If all we’re seeking is the praise of men by our good works, that’s all we’ll ever realize (v. 5).

Jesus says that our focus in all our works of righteousness must be on the heavenly Father. We want to be seen by Him to be doing works of true Kingdom righteousness. Thus, we will prepare before Him, seeking His will in prayer concerning the work of each day (v. 10; cf. Ps. 90.16, 17). We will not advertise our good works. We will do our works from the heart, in self-denying love, keeping focused on the Father, Who is perfect, and Whose love we seek to emulate in all we do.

We are not ashamed to admit that we seek a reward for our good works. But the reward we seek is not to be thought well of by others. Rather, we seek to enter the life of our heavenly Father, Who does good to all, and to participate in Him and the good works He does, even for His enemies.

Jesus encourages us to be charitable and do good works, but not so that we might impress others; instead, He wants us to know the blessedness of true Kingdom living, which is to participate in the Father and His work of gracing the world. Knowing we are part of this great work is sufficient reward.

Reflect.
1. Explain the reward Jesus encourages us to seek for living in true righteousness.

2. Why is it wrong to seek praise from others for the good works we have done?

3. How can we keep focused on the Father and the work He is doing in the world as we go about our own work each day?

A hypocrite is one who pretends to be something one is not. This person pretends to be righteous yet shows no evidence of righteousness. All attention is focused on how one is being perceived or praised by others. Even pretenders may receive this praise precisely while they are deceiving those to whom they seem to be good. But they receive no reward from God the searcher of the heart—only reproach for their deceit. Augustine (354-430), Sermon on the Mount 2.2.5

Do good through me today, O Lord, but only for Your glory, especially as I…

Pray Psalm 121.3-8.
Give thanks to God for all His help, all day long!

Sing Psalm 121.3-8.
Psalm 121.3-8 (Duke Street: Jesus Shall Reign)
God will not let our footsteps fall;
He will preserve us all in all.
He does not slumber, does not sleep;
God will His chosen people keep.

You are our Keeper and our Shade;
You have our debt of sin repaid!
You will preserve us by Your might.
Naught shall afflict us day or night.

Lord, You will guard our lives from ill;
You will our trembling souls keep still.
All our endeavors You will guard.
Eternal praise be Yours, O Lord!

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006). All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).