Matthew 6: The Sermon on the Mount (22)
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 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.
What “reward” should we seek?
Prepare.
1. What did Jesus say our orientation should be in our life?
2. What must we guard against in our 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 “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. For in His Presence, righteousness leads to peace and joy.
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 of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit is sufficient reward.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Ps. 91.1).
“But you, when you pray, go into your room,
and when you have shut the door,
pray to your Father Who is in the secret place…” (Matt. 6.6).
Historically, I’m not sure when Big Splash Christianity became a thing to be desired;
but whenever it was, it was a mistake.
Think of all the things this includes (none of which are innately wrong—they are just not “secrets”):
crusades, big tent meetings, nativity displays on courthouse lawns, the Law stamped onto schoolhouse walls, picketing of abortion clinics, picketing of anything we find displeasing, John 3:16 banners everywhere, billboards galore, one-minute gospel spots on TV, and on and on it goes, ad infinitum.
But Solomon said this:
“Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
but such as keep the law contend with them” (Prov. 28.4).
Secretly, quietly, contending against evil, just by keeping God’s Law—daily, consistently.
Christians are so eager to get out and make a big splash that they do not spend time alone, in secret, with their heavenly Father—keeping the Law themselves, in every aspect, in every nook and cranny of their lives.
Righteous and holy—secretly, and quietly before God in heaven.
In the very same way, as discussed yesterday, we mistakenly believe and preach a partial gospel;
we also grossly misunderstand the necessity for an intimate, personal, private, and consistent walk with God.
This is God’s way. Think of His encounter with Elijah, to bolster his confidence:
“Then He said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD.’
And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’” (1 Kgs. 19.11-13).
God and Elijah then conversed about his Personal Mission Field and what he was supposed to do next. Very intimate. Very personal. God was not in the hubbub—He spoke in a still small voice that Elijah had to be listening for, to hear.
When we are too busy, doing amazing multi-faceted and splashy things,
we run the risk of missing God altogether.
“Be still, and know that I AM God,
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!” (Ps. 46.10).
First, before we do anything, we are to know Him, and His righteousness.
He is God. He will be exalted. Maybe even without our splashy assistance.
“Now it came to pass in those days that Jesus went out to the mountain to pray,
and continued all night in prayer to God” (Lk. 6.12).
Reflect.
1. In what ways might you be tempted to “parade” your “righteousness”?
2. Why must we check this tendency? To what, unchecked, can it lead?
3. What is your practice of being alone and quiet before the Lord?
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
Pray Psalm 121.3-8.
Give thanks to God for all His help, all day long!
Sing 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. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest: This week: The Read Moore podcast continues readings from our book, The Kingdom Turn. Our Crosfigell teaching letter presses ahead in a series on the state of the Church in Europe at the time of the Celtic Revival. The ReVision column looks at people in ministry. Check out our other excellent writers. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
