As the Hypocrites

Giving should be part of every Christian’s life. What is our motivation for giving? What do wrong motivations look like? We hope to provide answers today.

You can play, download, or read the transcript of this Take Note Podcast below.

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Matthew 6:1-8

If we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and are following Him, as one of His disciples
We do things for Him
We do things because of Him
We do things as a result of His commands
We do what He did
A follower would have to do that
Or they wouldn’t be a follower

A follower of Jesus can also do things that appear to be for Him
But are really for self
To be seen of others
So they can think well of us

Our passage of the day commands us not to do this
To guard our motivations and ask ourselves “why” we do things
Our primary desire should not be “looking good” to others
And so, we should take some steps – many of them outlined in this scripture – to avoid the temptation
To look good, to appear pious, to seem Godly, without actually being Godly

Matthew 6:1-8 is where we find this wisdom
To avoid behaving “As the Hypocrites”
And that is our theme of the day

How we appear to men is important (to some degree or another) to all of us
We don’t want people to think poorly of us
We would rather they see us in a good light
This is not necessarily a big problem
But it can be, especially if we think more about how we appear than who we really are
Because who we really are is the most important thing

That becomes apparent as we begin our passage of the day…

Matthew 6:1

1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

We should define our terms from the beginning
Alms are charitable activities of a religious nature
It could be charitable giving or a donation
Alms are good deeds intended to help others
Certainly it is right to do charitable things to provide care for people, right?

Why?
Because people are valuable
God sent His son to die for people
God loves people
We are His followers, we ought to love people
And give ourselves for them

Of course, if we have opportunity, we should give money as well
Because we want to help
It is right to help
It honors God to help

With what motives should we do this?
Certainly not, to be seen
Our Father rewards those who obey Him in giving
But not when we do so to be seen

There is further explanation in the next verse…

Matthew 6:2

2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

It’s obvious that some people in this day – and in our day too – give to be applauded
There are announcements and television interviews and photo ops and press releases planned
So that anyone watching and listening will think well of the giver
But this notoriety is the only reward a person with this motivation receives
This is not the reason any believer should have for helping others

To make a charitable donation for the reputation’s sake is something hypocrites do
The proper motivation is doing good because someone needs it
Because it will be a genuine help
And because God wants us to help people

So, what should we do instead?

Matthew 6:3-4

3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

Giving can, and often should, be done secretly
Make a personal donation anonymously
Let it be seen of no one
And let men thank God for the money
As he provided us with the strength to earn it

This kind of giving, not done to receive praise of men, will be rewarded
Not by the applause of impressed crowds, but by God himself
Who, it says here, will reward us openly

What about prayer?
The passage goes on…

Matthew 6:5

5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Hypocrites use prayer in a similar way
They want to appear pious to others
They put their religiosity on display
And whatever boost to their reputation they receive in doing it
Is all they receive

There is another way…

Matthew 6:6

6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

When we pray, we are seeking God for something
We want him to intervene in our lives or in the lives of others
And we pray believing He will do it
We want Him to hear us, not others

Obviously, some prayers are meant to be public
Particularly when we gather to seek Him a group, a congregation in the local church
But the vast majority of our prayers are to happen in this prayer closet

Our prayers are meant for Him, not our reputation
We want Him to hear, not others
And so we shouldn’t make a show of it

There’s more…

Matthew 6:7-8

7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

Repetitive, meaningless prayers are common in the religious world
Prayers that are said as a duty
They are repeated to accomplish some religious purpose, but not to reach the God of the universe
And whether it is the volume of words spoken or the eloquence of them, they actually accomplish nothing
Except, maybe, to impress someone

But God is not interested in this kind of prayer
He knows our needs before we ask
He knows our motivations
He knows our thoughts
And our prayers should reflect this

Prayer should be sincere
Filled with faith
Given in sincerity
And never a religious show
That is what hypocrites do…

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