The Secret Life (8 of 12)
Series: Sermon on the Mount
Will McGee
Matthew 6:1-18
Before we get into our teaching text today, I want us to do a spiritual exercise. I want us to meditate on a Scripture passage from the Apostle Paul.
Close your eyes. I am going to read the passage once... Then, again at a slower pace. Listen to the words as they are spoken over you... reflect on your own life...
I will pause for a brief moment of silence for reflection... Then I will read our teaching text for today.
Galatians 1:10 - For am I now seeking the approval of [others], or of God? Or am I trying to please [people]?
Jesus says in Matthew 6:1 - [1] ''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.
This passage hits me right between the chest. It exposes the primary struggle in my own life... I suspect a struggle for others as well... The need to perform for people... To be seen... Recognized... the incessant craving for approval from others.
Jesus is forcing us to answer this question... Who is the primary audience of your life? And what is the reward that you want from them?
BEWARE OF PRACTICING RIGHTEOUSNESS IN ORDER TO BE SEEN
Jesus is speaking into a context where there are social benefits to appearing a certain way.
Jesus' audience is primarily (almost exclusively) Jewish. In that culture, at that time, for these people... The way they would earn the acceptance of others... Be well-thought of... Popular... Respected. The way they would gain influence... Was to be seen as religious.
For the Jewish people, religion was at the center of their culture/identity. If you wanted to be respected... You had to be religious.
So, every person in Jesus's audience would have felt the pressure not only to be pious in their religious commitments.... But to appear pious... To be seen being faithful.
Jesus gives three practices where ...
Series: Sermon on the Mount
Will McGee
Matthew 6:1-18
Before we get into our teaching text today, I want us to do a spiritual exercise. I want us to meditate on a Scripture passage from the Apostle Paul.
Close your eyes. I am going to read the passage once... Then, again at a slower pace. Listen to the words as they are spoken over you... reflect on your own life...
I will pause for a brief moment of silence for reflection... Then I will read our teaching text for today.
Galatians 1:10 - For am I now seeking the approval of [others], or of God? Or am I trying to please [people]?
Jesus says in Matthew 6:1 - [1] ''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.
This passage hits me right between the chest. It exposes the primary struggle in my own life... I suspect a struggle for others as well... The need to perform for people... To be seen... Recognized... the incessant craving for approval from others.
Jesus is forcing us to answer this question... Who is the primary audience of your life? And what is the reward that you want from them?
BEWARE OF PRACTICING RIGHTEOUSNESS IN ORDER TO BE SEEN
Jesus is speaking into a context where there are social benefits to appearing a certain way.
Jesus' audience is primarily (almost exclusively) Jewish. In that culture, at that time, for these people... The way they would earn the acceptance of others... Be well-thought of... Popular... Respected. The way they would gain influence... Was to be seen as religious.
For the Jewish people, religion was at the center of their culture/identity. If you wanted to be respected... You had to be religious.
So, every person in Jesus's audience would have felt the pressure not only to be pious in their religious commitments.... But to appear pious... To be seen being faithful.
Jesus gives three practices where ...
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