Verse of the Day 11-29-22

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:1-6

In old western movies, they would create a town that appeared to be full of buildings, but each structure was a façade. A building might look like a saloon from the front, but there was nothing on the other side of its door. Similarly, hypocrites (6:2) are play actors, giving an external appearance of spirituality without an accompanying internal reality. If, like a hypocrite, you give for the applause of people, that’s all the reward you’re going to get. But give and pray in secret, and your Father will reward you (6:3-6).

This passage challenges us to consider our motives for doing what is right. (1) If we do good things simply to gain the approval or admiration of others, then we lose our reward and honor from God. People who seek honor for themselves under the pretense of giving glory to God will be exposed as hypocrites (i.e., phony, lacking a true heart).
(2) Jesus speaks specifically about our actions in three areas: giving (vv. 2-4), prayer (vv. 5-8) and fasting (i.e., going without food for a limited time to give greater attention to spiritual matters, vv. 16-18). His harsh criticism of untrue or insincere behavior challenges many contemporary Christian efforts and motives, including competing for recognition, boasting of one’s own success, performing and entertaining in the name of worship and the driving desire to be first (see 1Co 3:13-15; 4:5).

Today’s Bible Readings:

Daniel 6, 2 Peter 3, Psalm 119:129-152 and Proverbs 28:21-22