Charitable Deeds: Let your Light so Shine
1 The Sermon on the Mount (continued): As Children of the Kingdom of grace we behold the Father always before our eyes. The word "Father" runs constantly through these verses.. Beholding Him we are freed from hypocrisy.
2 Matthew chapter five deals with the false teaching of the scribes and Pharisees and the wrong conduct (false righteousness), that resulted. Matthew chapter six deals with their false piety (false holiness) - apart from anything they were teaching.
3 Jesus said,
Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds (good works) before men, to be seen by them, otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Matthew 6:1
4 The Pharisees were doing their good works to be seen by men. The recognition of men would be their only reward.
Beholding the Father, our motive for doing good (works) will be entirely different. Jesus had already said...
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16
5 Jesus explained...
Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. Matthew 6:2-4
6 The real motive for serving God (doing good works) is a loving and thankful heart. Our reward is in heaven. Yet it pleases our Father God to reward us openly, thus recognizing us as His sons. God is good.
note: The Hebrew thinking of Jesus day was that doing good works was the evidence of your salvation. The Christian interpretation of good works is somewhat different. Our good works are the result of grace at work in us. We don't prove our salvation by doing good works.
...who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special (beyond usual) people, zealous for good works. Titus 2:14
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10
Discussion: How can we do our good works in such a way that our Father in heaven is glorified.
Memory Verse: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.