Bible Studies for Life Series for November 4: Seeking your Father’s approval

Posted: 10/26/07

Bible Studies for Life Series for November 4

Seeking your Father’s approval

• Matthew 6:1-18

By Steve Dominy

First Baptist Church, Gatesville

Each of us has Scripture passages that are more meaningful to us than others. It should be that way; there are passages that are more pointed in their meaning and application. This is one of those passages.

None of us would deny all Scripture is meaningful, but the Sermon on the Mount and the Lord’s Prayer in particular might be called peaks of Scripture. Entire books have been written on both the Sermon on the Mount and the Lord’s Prayer, so how do we do justice to them in the space we have?

We need to look at Jesus’ focus in all of these sections and find the point Jesus was trying to get across. As we get that point, we can then look deeper in our own study into the implications of Jesus’ focus.

In Matthew 5:20, Jesus says our righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. In the section of the sermon we study this week, Jesus shows some of what that will mean.

Giving, prayer and fasting were three traditional practices of righteousness in Judaism. These are the most prominent requirements for personal piety in Judaism. Jesus accepted these as central to the life of his disciples, and Jesus does not repudiate them but points us to the correct motivation and attitude in their practice.

Notice that in the beginning of each section, Jesus makes a comparison with “the hypocrites.” Each time, he condemns the method in which they conduct these practices. Concerning giving, he says not to give in order “to be honored by men.” Concerning prayer, Jesus says not to pray in order “to be seen by men.” And concerning fasting, he says not to fast to “show men they are fasting.” In each instance, the motivation for religious action is to be noticed by men. Their observance of religious practice has nothing to do with God and has everything to do with their own egos.

Some have argued Jesus contradicts himself at this point in the Sermon. In Matthew 5:16, Jesus says, “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Yet in Matthew 6:1, Jesus says, “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them.”

If we read these passages in their entirety and in their contexts, there is no contradiction, and we are pointed directly to the point Jesus was making. The righteousness that Jesus calls us to is the righteousness that points people to glorify the Father and not glorify us—the motivation and the purpose are completely different. There may be times when people misplace their focus because of our deeds or giving.

That was the case with Peter and Cornelius in Acts 10. When Peter entered the house, Cornelius fell at his feet, but Peter responded, “Stand up; I am only a man.” Peter went on to point them to Christ and not himself.

None of us is innocent of desiring recognition, even if we are uncomfortable when we receive it. The problem arises when our motivation becomes our own recognition and not God’s. We put ourselves in God’s place and take what is rightfully God’s. Peter had it right when he said, “I am just a man.” Like him, we are human and not God and are not the rightful recipients of honor due God.

In each teaching, Jesus gives us the alternative to inflating our egos—to give in secret, to pray in secret and to fast in secret. It is quite a contrast to the hypocrites who do everything in a very public manner, calling attention to themselves.

This does not mean we should never pray in public. The New Testament makes it very clear that the church prayed together, but it certainly does question our motivation. It is hard to seek the applause and praise of others when we are alone. It is in that solitude that God can deliver us from our desire to impress others, and it is in that solitude that God can deal with us, working to transform us into his people.

In each of the practices Jesus mentions, right motivation and practice honor God and as such are reciprocated by God. Notice that when Jesus speaks of giving and fasting, he repeats the same line, “Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” That statement shows the disciples’ actions are diametrically opposed to the actions of the hypocrites. All of the Lord’s Prayer deals with our dependence on God and our recognition of that dependence. It brings us into a relationship of dependence on God, and an honoring of God and not ourselves. The purpose in our giving, praying and fasting is to please and honor God.

One of the passages God consistently reminds me of in the course of my ministry comes from Galatians 1:10. It follows the same theme of the Sermon on the Mount: “Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

Jesus’ primary point in all of this is that in our religious practice God be honored. We have heard more than once that “it is not about us.” Our righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and the Pharisees when we seek to honor God in all of our practices.

Discussion questions

• How do we ensure that we are putting God’s honor before our own?

• How should we respond to people who obviously are seeking their own recognition?