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Scripture:
For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:20)
Read:
Matthew 5:17-20, Matthew 6
Reflections:
What is the one word that Jesus would call to describe a scribe (a man learned in the Mosaic law and in the sacred writings, an interpreter, teacher) and a Pharisee? Jesus said in Matthew 23:15 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte (newcomer), and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves." Jesus, himself, calls these religious leaders hypocrites, pretender. Why study about "Pharisees"? Because of what Jesus said in Matthew 5:20, "For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." and I should take heed on everything Jesus says.
As you read and study this particular passage in the New Testament, you will notice how the biblical writers use phrases in order to start or end a section. As I have observed, we read this phrase "Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward." which is stated three times in this chapter (Matthew 6:2, 5, 16). These phrases then function as transitional phrases to key points in this chapter.
Now, inside these key points are contrasting statements of Jesus between the motives of the hypocrites and oft a real God-believing person.
In Giving To The Needy
Jesus said in Matthew 6:1-2, “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. “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.” Then he adds, "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. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." (Matthew 6:3-4). Here we see the contrast in the motives between a hypocrite and a true believer. The hypocrites do so—give to the needy, so that they may be praised by others. Giving to the needy in itself is not wrong, what is wrong is when you give it with a motive to be noticed by others. There are instances in the New Testament where Christians are selling their properties and giving proceeds to the church and distribute it to others who are in need. As a result, their faith became known for their care to the poor and the needy. You can read more of that in Acts 2.
In Praying
Jesus said in Matthew 6:5, “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.” Then he continued, “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.” (Matthew 6:6) Here we see again the contrast in the motives of a hypocrite and a genuine believer. The key phrase that reveals the Pharisees’ motive is “that they may be seen by others”. The same thing we read in the prior verses. Again, there is nothing wrong in praying. It is even commanded by God that we pray. But if we pray with a twisted motive, the same way the scribes and Pharisees do, then we miss the very point of it. We pray for many things but ultimately, we pray for his name to be known, and for his Kingdom to be established and many more! Read more about “The Lord’s Prayer” Matthew 6:9-13.
In Fasting
Lastly, Jesus said in Matthew 6:16 “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.” Then he added, “But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 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. (Matthew 6:17-18) Now you see a clear pattern in this particular passage of Scripture.
God had a specific design or purpose for the gift of spiritual disciplines. They were not to be means for selfish purposes. They were given to us as Paul said to the believers in Corinth, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
The Reward
We read over and over again about the rewards that a hypocrite and a genuine believer will have. To hypocrites (pretenders), they will reap what they have pursued in the first place. They will get the fleeting pleasures of money, fame and power. These in itself are not evil. What is evil is a persons’ suicidal pursuit of such things as their primary goal in life. To the genuine believer of Jesus Christ, giving, praying and fasting are great joy because he/she knows that fullness of joy can be found only in Christ alone. He/she knows that more than the valid needs that he/she has, God is “exactly what [he/she] needs” Matthew 6:8. That is the main goal of “The Lord’s Prayer” Matthew 6:9-13
Let me leave you with four practical applications that you can start right away as we end this session.
As you read your Bible during your personal devotions;
1. Appreciate the glory of God in the life, death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ.
2. Have a greater grasp on Jesus' righteousness counted as ours (Doctrine of Imputed Righteousness)
3. Discern for ourselves where we are in our faith journey (our relationship with God through Jesus Christ)
4. In our giving, praying and fasting, may we do all to the glory of God.
Conclusion:
We can never truly know, love and serve God apart from what Jesus Christ fulfilled. “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. (Matthew 5:17)
The righteousness that saves does not come from ourselves because we are so dead in our sins that we cannot even see Jesus as glorious and wonderful. It has to come from outside of us. Salvation has to come from the outside. Ephesians 2:8-9 is very clear on this, “by grace you have been saved through faith”. You and I did not create that faith. It was granted to us by God.
Jesus is the righteousness that we will never attain by ourselves and the salvation that we never deserve. He is “exactly what you need” (Matthew 6:8).
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