TEACHING NOTES Introduction As we begin chapter six of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is going to turn His attention to the common practices of first-century Judaism—specifically giving, praying, and fasting. Jesus is going to expose the age-old issue of hypocrisy by pointing out the self-centered motives of fake religion. In the next section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is going explain what it looks like to bear false witness (the 9th commandment). Jesus teaches that how we practice righteousness (actions) and why (motives) we practice righteousness matters. ​ Matthew 6:1 ESV 1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Beware = Grk. prosecho - be alert, be on guard, consider and evaluate carefully. Practicing your righteousness = Grk. poieo hymon dikaiosyne - doing good deeds. Notice that Jesus calls this “your” righteousness. Jesus is implying up front that these good deeds are self-centered in nature. In order to be seen by them = This is the central issue. Jesus is talking about doing good deeds so you will look good in front of others. Later, Jesus will accuse the Pharisees of this exact issue in Matt. 23:5. Then you will have no reward from your Father = Apparently, the Father rewards those who do good deeds, but not if they are done with selfish motives. ​ Matthew 6:2 ESV 2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. When you give to the needy = Notice that Jesus says “when” not “if” you give to the needy. Jesus expects us to be generous to those in need. Sound no trumpet before you = Jesus is exaggerating and being funny here. No one was literally sounding a trumpet when they gave to the needy, but they may as well have been. They were doing it in such a way to get noticed. They made sure people knew about their good deeds. As the hypocrites do = In Jesus’ mind, people who do good deeds for self-recognition are hypocrites. In Greek the word for hypocrite is hypkrites, which is the word for a pretender, an actor, or one who wears a mask. In the synagogues and streets = They only do their good deeds in the public eye. That they may be praised by others = In John 5:44 Jesus asked the Jews, “How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?” They have received their reward = If you do good deeds to be praised by people, that is the only reward you will receive. The praises of people are fickle. Those who praise you today may hate you tomorrow. ​ Matthew 6:3–4 ESV 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Do not let your left hand know what the right is doing = Again, Jesus is exaggerating to add force to His point. It is literally impossible because your brain always knows what both hands are doing. That your giving may be in secret = This is good for both the giver and the receiver. The giver is ensuring that their motives are pure and the receiver is not at risk of being embarrassed. Your Father who sees in secret will reward you = A person with pure motives understands WHO they are really doing good deeds for. They know that God is watching everything. ​ Matthew 6:5 ESV 5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. When you pray = Not “if” but “when.” Again, Jesus expects us to be praying people. They love to stand and pray in the synagogues and street corners = In was common in Israel to see Pharisees standing in the synagogue or on the street corner praying loudly. They have received their reward = In other words, people are listening but God isn’t. If we pray to be heard by others, we are not talking to God. ​ Matthew 6:6 ESV 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Pray to your Father who is in secret = If you want to talk to God, you don’t need anyone else to hear it. We’ve heard the saying, “If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?” Of course it does. It’s the same with prayer. If you pray alone and no one else hears it, God is still listening. Your Father who sees in secret will reward you = Apparently, God rewards people for praying. ​ Matthew 6:7–8 ESV 7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do = The four words “heap up empty phrases” is actually just one word in Greek (battalogeo). The word literally means to babble the same phrase over and over. Ancient pagan religious often practiced loud repetition in their prayers. Some would also babble in incoherent sounds. They believed that they had to pester or irritate the gods so much as to get them to act. Your Father knows what you need = Our God doesn’t need babbling repetition to hear our prayers. God already knows what we need, but He still enjoys hearing from us and prayer helps us focus on Him. Note: Next week we will cover the Lord’s Prayer (Matt. 6:9-15), because it deserves a teaching all to itself. ​ Matthew 6:16 ESV 16 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. When you fast = Fasting is not limited to food alone. One may fast from doing certain tasks, from food, from sex, etc. The purpose of fasting was to stop the normal routine in order to focus on God for a time. Some wrongly assume that Jesus expects everyone to practice regular fasting. In the Old Testament, fasting was only commanded to be done once a year on the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:29-31). Later in the Old Testament, people would fast in an attempt to petition God to act on their behalf—to win a battle or bless their crops, etc. God’s intention for fasting on the Day of Atonement in Lev. 16 was to deny one’s self in order to focus on God. Fasting in the New Testament: In Jesus’ day, fasting had become a weekly tradition and some were even fasting twice a week. Overall, fasting is portrayed positively in the New Testament, except for passages where Jesus is criticizing the abuse of fasting. Fasting in the New Testament is never a command, but a choice to focus on God in prayer. Do not look gloomy = In the same way that people were giving and praying publicly to be seen by others, people were also making a public spectacle of their fasting. They would intentionally look and act gloomy as well as change their appearance so everyone would know they were fasting. The idea was to look more holy than others who didn’t fast weekly. ​ Matthew 6:17–18 ESV 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Anoint your head and wash your face = This was normal, everyday practice in Israel. Anointing your head with oil and washing your face was part of daily hygiene routine. Essentially, it’s similar to our daily routine of washing our face and brushing our teeth every day. Jesus is saying that when you fast, do the same hygiene routine that you would normally practice. Your Father will reward you = God rewards those who fast for the purpose of seeking Him more deeply. If our motives are pure, fasting can benefit our relationship with God. Application Hypocrites do good deeds to please themselves by impressing others. Disciples of Jesus do good deeds to please God by loving and caring for people made in His image. Conclusion Are you an authentic disciple of Jesus or a hypocrite? Today we are going to end our time together by repenting of our hypocrisy and committing ourselves to Jesus.