AN AUDIENCE OF ONE
(based on Matthew 6:1-6)
(based on Matthew 6:1-6)
In Matthew 5:20 Jesus tells his followers, including us: “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees and the scribes, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Over the past few weeks, we have been focusing on several passages from the Sermon on the Mount in which Jesus illustrates how the righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees simply does not measure up to the righteousness he expects of his followers.
In today’s reading, Jesus addresses certain “acts of righteousness” practised by the scribes and the Pharisees. Earlier in this sermon series, we defined “righteousness” as being in the right relationship with God. The actions that flow out of that right relationship or righteousness are what are called “acts of righteousness.” Matthew chapter 6 makes reference to three such acts—giving to the poor, prayer and fasting.
Let us be clear right off the bat that Jesus has no problem with any of them as an act of righteousness. You will notice that he does not say “IF you give”, “IF you pray” or “IF you fast”...instead he says: WHEN you give, WHEN you pray and WHEN you fast. Nothing wrong with giving, praying and fasting...as “acts of righteousness.”
Actually, Jesus does not even have a problem with practising these acts of righteousness in public. Just over two months ago, Brian Baxter reminded us how Jesus said in the very same Sermon on the Mount: “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Jesus does not want us to remain private with our faith, to hide our distinctive light under a bushel, but to let it shine, to go public.
What he takes issue with is the fact that they do them before others, in order to be seen by others.
It is not the outward, visible nature of the acts that is the problem, it is the inner, invisible motive that is the problem, as Jesus makes clear in verse 2. The real reason why the Pharisees and the scribes did these “acts of righteousness” was “to be honoured by others.”
It is interesting that the Greek word used for the verb “to be noticed” is related to the term from which we get “theatre.” These “acts of righteousness” were turning out to be spectacles to be gazed at, with the Pharisees and the scribes as actors who were simply putting on a performance.
You may have noticed that Jesus calls them “hypocrites.” This word, in Greek, comes from the stage, where the same actor would wear different masks for every character he or she played. Jesus sees the outward display of the Pharisees and the scribes as nothing more than acting, putting on a mask or persona just for the applause.
Listen to Eugene Peterson's version of this passage in the translation known as The Message: "Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don't make a performance out of it. It might be good theatre, but the God who made you won't be applauding. When you do something for someone else, don't call attention to yourself."
Ah, ha! There is the difference. Jesus wants our light to shine, our faith to be visible, so that others may see and “praise our Father in heaven.” The Pharisees and the scribes, on the other hand, were more concerned with others praising them.
According to Jesus, they went to great lengths to make sure that they were noticed by their peers. Jesus talks about how when they gave to the needy, they “announced it with trumpets.”
In today’s reading, Jesus addresses certain “acts of righteousness” practised by the scribes and the Pharisees. Earlier in this sermon series, we defined “righteousness” as being in the right relationship with God. The actions that flow out of that right relationship or righteousness are what are called “acts of righteousness.” Matthew chapter 6 makes reference to three such acts—giving to the poor, prayer and fasting.
Let us be clear right off the bat that Jesus has no problem with any of them as an act of righteousness. You will notice that he does not say “IF you give”, “IF you pray” or “IF you fast”...instead he says: WHEN you give, WHEN you pray and WHEN you fast. Nothing wrong with giving, praying and fasting...as “acts of righteousness.”
Actually, Jesus does not even have a problem with practising these acts of righteousness in public. Just over two months ago, Brian Baxter reminded us how Jesus said in the very same Sermon on the Mount: “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Jesus does not want us to remain private with our faith, to hide our distinctive light under a bushel, but to let it shine, to go public.
What he takes issue with is the fact that they do them before others, in order to be seen by others.
It is not the outward, visible nature of the acts that is the problem, it is the inner, invisible motive that is the problem, as Jesus makes clear in verse 2. The real reason why the Pharisees and the scribes did these “acts of righteousness” was “to be honoured by others.”
It is interesting that the Greek word used for the verb “to be noticed” is related to the term from which we get “theatre.” These “acts of righteousness” were turning out to be spectacles to be gazed at, with the Pharisees and the scribes as actors who were simply putting on a performance.
You may have noticed that Jesus calls them “hypocrites.” This word, in Greek, comes from the stage, where the same actor would wear different masks for every character he or she played. Jesus sees the outward display of the Pharisees and the scribes as nothing more than acting, putting on a mask or persona just for the applause.
Listen to Eugene Peterson's version of this passage in the translation known as The Message: "Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don't make a performance out of it. It might be good theatre, but the God who made you won't be applauding. When you do something for someone else, don't call attention to yourself."
Ah, ha! There is the difference. Jesus wants our light to shine, our faith to be visible, so that others may see and “praise our Father in heaven.” The Pharisees and the scribes, on the other hand, were more concerned with others praising them.
According to Jesus, they went to great lengths to make sure that they were noticed by their peers. Jesus talks about how when they gave to the needy, they “announced it with trumpets.”
We need to remind ourselves that in Jesus’ day, giving was not done with offering envelopes or pre-authorized payments. Remember the story in Mark 12, where "Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury.” That’s when he noticed the widow who gave two coins—all she had. In other words, everyone made their offering in public. So, in order to be noticed, you had to do something more...like “announcing with trumpets!”
Some scholars suggest that the Pharisees and the scribes actually had trumpeters go before them, so they could get everyone’s attention, before making their charitable donation. They justified it by saying that it was the only way they could get the attention of the needy! Others seem to think that it was Jesus’ way of saying that they were “blowing their own horn!” In either case, it is obvious that they did it with some “fanfare!”
Similarly, when they prayed, they made sure that the whole neighbourhood took notice. Jesus says that “they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others.” That is what it was all about for them. To be seen by others.
Jesus wants his followers to do something entirely different. He would prefer that we give and pray “in secret.” That is why he says: “When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” and “When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.”
He gives two reasons as to why this is preferable.
#1 reason is summed up in the words “they have received their reward in full.” In other words, if our only motivation is to be noticed by others, then, once others have noticed us, we have received our reward. It goes no further. Since it was done in public so that we may be honoured by others, once they honour us, then it’s case closed. No more rewards for us.
#2 reason is summed up in the words “then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” When an act of righteousness is carried out with the intent of bringing glory and honour to our Father in heaven, then He rewards us.
Now, let’s be honest...which one would we rather have...the reward of knowing that others have noticed us or the reward that comes from our Father in heaven? Hello?
The answer is obvious, isn’t it?
When we were discussing this passage and sharing our thoughts at the Tuesday Study Group, members raised some interesting scenarios and wondered how this teaching of Jesus would apply to them...
For example, a Christian ministry conducts a telethon, with the names of the donors and the amounts they pledged being read out aloud and/or flashed across the screen for all to see. The reason for doing this, of course, is to motivate others to give. Is it OK to use such motivation for the cause of the gospel? Is it OK for us to allow our names and donation amounts to be made public so others may be inspired to follow our example and give?
Or, take the case of a member or a pastor who shares with the congregation how they have been tithing regularly and invites others to do the same. Is this an act of testifying or could it cross the border and turn into bragging?
Even in our services, does the sharing that happens during the “Celebrating God’s goodness” time run the risk of drawing attention to ourselves?
How about gifts that are acknowledged with a plaque—in a hospital wing or a museum or even a church? Can they take away the glory and the praise from our Father in heaven?
You have to admit that all these questions point to a very real danger that we all face. It is the same danger about which Jesus warns us...the temptation to do “acts of righteousness” in order that we may be seen and honoured by others.
Or, even if we do not actively seek the recognition and adoration of others, sometimes we get upset when our contributions are not acknowledged by others or when we are not accorded special privileges as a result of the special gifts we gave. This too can be problematic, because the focus has shifted from God to us...amen?
This is why Jesus says that we are better off to do our acts of righteousness in secret, to the point that not even our "left hand knows what the right hand is doing." Now, that is really keeping it secret, isn’t it? Needless to say it rules out any room for bragging or drawing attention to ourselves and what we did!
As a matter of fact, a good test of whether we are doing the right thing or not, whether we are crossing the fine line between bragging and testifying or not, is to ask: Who is my audience? Whose attention am I craving? Whose approval is important to me? Who do I need to make sure is watching me?
Jesus makes it very clear to us that as far as he was concerned, we only need to concern ourselves with pleasing our Father in heaven. In John 5:30, Jesus says: "I seek not to please myself but him who sent me."
In other words, Jesus was only concerned with pleasing AN AUDIENCE OF ONE. He was only concerned with the Father saying: “That’s-a-my boy!” After all, the only reward that really matters is what we receive from the Father, isn’t it?
How would our patterns of giving, praying, fasting and other “acts of righteousness” change if we lived with the awareness of the AUDIENCE OF ONE?
Would we do more of our acts of righteousness in secret?
Would we decline opportunities to publicize our giving?
When we are recognized, when we are given the opportunity and the platform, will we take great pains to let everyone know that all the glory, honour and praise goes to our Father who is in heaven?
Would we stop getting upset when people don't notice our good works?
Would we stop feeling and feeding the need to broadcast our service to others?
Would we be weaned of our secret longing for pats on the back from others?
You may have heard the story of a poor man with three daughters who lived in the days when a young woman's father had to offer prospective husbands something of value—a dowry. The larger the dowry, the better the chance that a young woman would find a good husband. Without a dowry, a woman was unlikely to marry. This poor man's daughters, without dowries, were therefore destined to be sold into slavery. Mysteriously, on three different occasions, a bag of gold appeared in their home, providing the needed dowries. The bags of gold, tossed through an open window, are said to have landed in stockings or shoes left before the fire to dry. This led to the custom of children hanging stockings or putting out shoes, eagerly awaiting gifts from Saint Nicholas...who has since come to be known as Santa Claus.
Saint Nicholas was following the teaching of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. His acts of righteousness were done with the aim of pleasing no one else but the AUDIENCE OF ONE.
This Christmas season, could Jesus be calling me and you to apply his words to our gift-giving? For the most part, the gifts we give and receive come with gift tags indicating the name of the giver, right? Do you sense the call of Christ asking you to give “in secret” to someone this Christmas? Who would it be? What would the gift be?
Why don’t we take a moment now to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to us what He would like us to do? Let us pray.
Holy Spirit, come....open our eyes to see the person you are highlighting for us to give in secret this Christmas....open our ears to hear you whisper that name...
Father, we want to please you and you alone. You are our AUDIENCE OF ONE. You are all we need. Yours is the only approval that really matters.
Jesus, let this day mark the beginning of a life in which our motives are pure--for giving, praying, fasting and every other act of righteousness.
May we as a church resist the temptation to make choices designed simply to please others and let our light shine so that others may see our good works and give glory to you, our Father in heaven--everytime.
Holy Spirit, come...come and fill us with your power to live as followers of Jesus who are determined to do only those things that please you, our AUDIENCE OF ONE.
In Jesus’ name we pray. AMEN.
Some scholars suggest that the Pharisees and the scribes actually had trumpeters go before them, so they could get everyone’s attention, before making their charitable donation. They justified it by saying that it was the only way they could get the attention of the needy! Others seem to think that it was Jesus’ way of saying that they were “blowing their own horn!” In either case, it is obvious that they did it with some “fanfare!”
Similarly, when they prayed, they made sure that the whole neighbourhood took notice. Jesus says that “they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others.” That is what it was all about for them. To be seen by others.
Jesus wants his followers to do something entirely different. He would prefer that we give and pray “in secret.” That is why he says: “When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” and “When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.”
He gives two reasons as to why this is preferable.
#1 reason is summed up in the words “they have received their reward in full.” In other words, if our only motivation is to be noticed by others, then, once others have noticed us, we have received our reward. It goes no further. Since it was done in public so that we may be honoured by others, once they honour us, then it’s case closed. No more rewards for us.
#2 reason is summed up in the words “then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” When an act of righteousness is carried out with the intent of bringing glory and honour to our Father in heaven, then He rewards us.
Now, let’s be honest...which one would we rather have...the reward of knowing that others have noticed us or the reward that comes from our Father in heaven? Hello?
The answer is obvious, isn’t it?
When we were discussing this passage and sharing our thoughts at the Tuesday Study Group, members raised some interesting scenarios and wondered how this teaching of Jesus would apply to them...
For example, a Christian ministry conducts a telethon, with the names of the donors and the amounts they pledged being read out aloud and/or flashed across the screen for all to see. The reason for doing this, of course, is to motivate others to give. Is it OK to use such motivation for the cause of the gospel? Is it OK for us to allow our names and donation amounts to be made public so others may be inspired to follow our example and give?
Or, take the case of a member or a pastor who shares with the congregation how they have been tithing regularly and invites others to do the same. Is this an act of testifying or could it cross the border and turn into bragging?
Even in our services, does the sharing that happens during the “Celebrating God’s goodness” time run the risk of drawing attention to ourselves?
How about gifts that are acknowledged with a plaque—in a hospital wing or a museum or even a church? Can they take away the glory and the praise from our Father in heaven?
You have to admit that all these questions point to a very real danger that we all face. It is the same danger about which Jesus warns us...the temptation to do “acts of righteousness” in order that we may be seen and honoured by others.
Or, even if we do not actively seek the recognition and adoration of others, sometimes we get upset when our contributions are not acknowledged by others or when we are not accorded special privileges as a result of the special gifts we gave. This too can be problematic, because the focus has shifted from God to us...amen?
This is why Jesus says that we are better off to do our acts of righteousness in secret, to the point that not even our "left hand knows what the right hand is doing." Now, that is really keeping it secret, isn’t it? Needless to say it rules out any room for bragging or drawing attention to ourselves and what we did!
As a matter of fact, a good test of whether we are doing the right thing or not, whether we are crossing the fine line between bragging and testifying or not, is to ask: Who is my audience? Whose attention am I craving? Whose approval is important to me? Who do I need to make sure is watching me?
Jesus makes it very clear to us that as far as he was concerned, we only need to concern ourselves with pleasing our Father in heaven. In John 5:30, Jesus says: "I seek not to please myself but him who sent me."
In other words, Jesus was only concerned with pleasing AN AUDIENCE OF ONE. He was only concerned with the Father saying: “That’s-a-my boy!” After all, the only reward that really matters is what we receive from the Father, isn’t it?
How would our patterns of giving, praying, fasting and other “acts of righteousness” change if we lived with the awareness of the AUDIENCE OF ONE?
Would we do more of our acts of righteousness in secret?
Would we decline opportunities to publicize our giving?
When we are recognized, when we are given the opportunity and the platform, will we take great pains to let everyone know that all the glory, honour and praise goes to our Father who is in heaven?
Would we stop getting upset when people don't notice our good works?
Would we stop feeling and feeding the need to broadcast our service to others?
Would we be weaned of our secret longing for pats on the back from others?
You may have heard the story of a poor man with three daughters who lived in the days when a young woman's father had to offer prospective husbands something of value—a dowry. The larger the dowry, the better the chance that a young woman would find a good husband. Without a dowry, a woman was unlikely to marry. This poor man's daughters, without dowries, were therefore destined to be sold into slavery. Mysteriously, on three different occasions, a bag of gold appeared in their home, providing the needed dowries. The bags of gold, tossed through an open window, are said to have landed in stockings or shoes left before the fire to dry. This led to the custom of children hanging stockings or putting out shoes, eagerly awaiting gifts from Saint Nicholas...who has since come to be known as Santa Claus.
Saint Nicholas was following the teaching of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. His acts of righteousness were done with the aim of pleasing no one else but the AUDIENCE OF ONE.
This Christmas season, could Jesus be calling me and you to apply his words to our gift-giving? For the most part, the gifts we give and receive come with gift tags indicating the name of the giver, right? Do you sense the call of Christ asking you to give “in secret” to someone this Christmas? Who would it be? What would the gift be?
Why don’t we take a moment now to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to us what He would like us to do? Let us pray.
Holy Spirit, come....open our eyes to see the person you are highlighting for us to give in secret this Christmas....open our ears to hear you whisper that name...
Father, we want to please you and you alone. You are our AUDIENCE OF ONE. You are all we need. Yours is the only approval that really matters.
Jesus, let this day mark the beginning of a life in which our motives are pure--for giving, praying, fasting and every other act of righteousness.
May we as a church resist the temptation to make choices designed simply to please others and let our light shine so that others may see our good works and give glory to you, our Father in heaven--everytime.
Holy Spirit, come...come and fill us with your power to live as followers of Jesus who are determined to do only those things that please you, our AUDIENCE OF ONE.
In Jesus’ name we pray. AMEN.
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