“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven” (Matt 6:1).
Some call this a contradiction. Matt 5:16 says to “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds.” This verse says not to. What’s going on?
Things are clearer when you read the whole passage. They always cut 5:16 off early. Jesus said to let them see your good deeds “and glorify your Father in heaven.” In chapter 6, Jesus is talking about doing things “to be honored by others” (6:2). It’s a matter of the heart.
It also helps to look at what is described in these two sections of the Sermon.
When Jesus tells us to let our light shine, he’s talking about being people who aren’t hateful, who don’t take revenge, who are faithful to our spouses, keep our word, and love our enemies.
When Jesus warns us about doing things “to be seen by them”, he talks about giving to the poor, praying in public, and making sure everyone knows you’re fasting. The first list is about real, heart righteousness. The second list is of those “religious acts” that can be done for show if you’re not careful.
“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do ... 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” (6:2-4).
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (6:5-6).
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face” (6:16-17).
Jesus wants us to give, pray, and — heaven help us — fast. But he wants us to do it out of love for God and our neighbor, not for the attention and acclaim.
So when you give, give secretly if at all possible. And if not, make sure that down in your heart you’re not doing it to be noticed. Sometimes we have to pray out loud, but don’t do it so everyone will admire your prayers or piety. And when you fast, don’t make a big deal about it; no one else needs to know.
When you do these things for show, the attention of men is all you get. When you do these things for God, you get the attention of God.
Do you want your reward from God or men?
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Part of Christianity 102
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