Kingdom Piety/Religious Disciplines
Matthew 6:1-8
v1 gives the main point of v1-18 concerning the practices of alms, prayer & fasting. Beware/be on guard against practicing these important religious disciplines to be noticed by others. This will disqualify us from any reward from our Heavenly Father.
1. Alms (Matthew 6:2-4)
a) Alms- charitable giving for the poor was an important priority in the OT (Deut. 15:1-11, Prov. 19:17).
“When”- “you give (singular)”: assumes Jesus disciples will continue this practice.
b) “sound a trumpet”- there are various suggestions of how a trumpet might have been used (public fasts
proclaimed by trumpets where prayers would be offered & alms given OR trumpet sound to notify the
poor to come to receive). It is at least a hyperbole metaphor for giving in such a way that you draw
maximum attention to yourself. Creative ministry strategies to give recognition to people who give
more can move us down this path.
c) hypocrites- stage actors who wore a mask to play a part that was not true. They play acted in the
synagogues (center of religious, civic & social life in a community) & streets (narrow street, lane) as
pious individuals who gave to the poor. Their conduct revealed their motives of doing this to be
honored by people. They received their pay/reward in full (business t.t. to receive a payment in full &
have the receipt) with getting the honor they sought.
d) Jesus instructed His disciples to give in such a way that your left hand does not know what your right
hand (usual hand of action) is doing. It is a hyperbole (literally not possible) to give to the poor in a
self-forgetful way that once it is done you will not dwell on it to internally honor yourself let alone
seek honor from onlookers. The same applies to any act of service.
e) This is giving in secret. Our Father, continually sees what happens in secret & will repay us. This
could include joy over meeting a need, further development of Christ-like character & greater rewards
when He establishes His kingdom. Whose notice do we want?
2. Prayer (Matthew 6:5-8)
a) Religious hypocrites loved to stand in their synagogues or on broad, busy street corners to pray out
loud. Devout Jews prayed 3 times a day. The latter scenario could be timed to be in a prominent place
when it was time to pray. Jesus was not against standing to pray or public prayers (John 11:41-42,
12:27-30). He was against praying public to impress people. When I am asked to pray, I need to make
sure I don’t mentally prepare an eloquent prayer that impresses people, but a sincere expression
addressed to our Father.
b) Jesus instructed His followers to go into the inner room in their house (a storeroom that could be
locked) that was more private than the large room in their house. There we can pray to our Father who
is in secret. He continually sees in secret and will repay/reward. The reward could be answered prayer,
peace & divine perspective or a closer relationship with your Father (clearer hearing of His voice &
discovery of how to converse with Him).
c) Jesus added instruction about prayer concerning a typical Gentile misunderstanding about prayer
(pagans uttered various names of gods & nonsensical syllables in magic incantations). Do not use
meaningless repetition, where you babble on and on with words/phrases without thought as though the
right words, or a large amount of words will manipulate God into giving you what you ask (He was
not against sincere repetition, 26:44, or long periods of prayer, Luke 6:12). This is a magical approach
to prayer that does not grasp our Father already knows what we need before we ask. Repeating the
same phrase or even prayers of the Bible mindlessly & heartlessly follow this wrong way of thinking.
Keep in mind we never tell our Father something He does not already know, or pressure Him with the
right words, or many words into giving something He does not want to give.