Vol. VII No. 8 April 20, 2008

To Be Seen of God

(Matthew 6)

Written by Christopher Mentzer

Our gospel meeting this week covers the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5-7. Our focus is “The heart of being a Christian.” One of the more important aspects of being a Christian is humility. In Matthew 6 Jesus give three examples of what the Pharisees did and then tells us what we should do instead.

The first example concerns charitable deeds. Jesus said in verse 2, “When therefore thou doest alms, sound not a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward.” We know the Pharisees are all about ‘Pomp and Circumstance’ as Jesus relates in Matt. 23: 6-7, “6. and love the chief place at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7. and the salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called of men, Rabbi.” When they made an entrance they wanted people to know. So when they did their charitable deeds of alms or giving to the synagogues they made sure there were witnesses around to see the amount that they give.

The Jesus tell us what we should do in verse 3 and 4, “But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 4. that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee.” If at all possible, remain anonymous when donating money to charities; keep your name from being announced or published. And when putting money in the offering plate keep the amount well hidden from prying eyes.

The second example concerns prayer. Jesus say of the Pharisees in verse 5, “And when ye pray, ye shall not be as the hypocrites: for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward.” This reminds me of the parable of the Pharisee and the publican. The Pharisee prayed as such, “God, I thank thee, that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I get.” (Lk. 18: 11-12)

Jesus warns us that when we pray we are not to use vain repetitions (see verse 7). He does tell us how to pray in verse 6, “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thine inner chamber, and having shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee.” Jesus also gives us an example of what we might pray in verses 9-13.

His final example is on fasting. He describes what some people do in verse 16, “Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen of men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward.” Here these appear to be fasting to receive pity or to simply say: ‘Look at me! I’m suffering for God!’ But for us he states in verses 17 and 18, “But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head, and wash thy face; 18. that thou be not seen of men to fast, but of thy Father who is in secret: and thy Father, who seeth in secret, shall recompense thee.”

In all three examples Jesus warns us of the prideful behavior of those who call themselves religious leaders. He encourages us to be humble in all that we do so that we might be seen of God and not of men.