Look At Me

Meditation May 27, 2020

Matthew 6

In the beatitudes, Jesus has given us the characteristics, the traits, that constitute the psyche of the new creation in Christ. He has told us that those having been given these traits become the salt and light of the world. Lest we suppose ourselves to be of the new creation when, in fact, we are not, he has explained how those of the new creation, those who are humble, meek, long for righteousness etc., conduct themselves in relation with their fellow man. Now he turns to show us how those of the new creation conduct themselves in their religious duties. Be not deceived, as are some, there are religious duties that attend the new creation. The two great commandments are to love God with all our heart mind and soul and our neighbor as ourselves. As we have noted, they two are inseparable. As our duties in relation to our fellow man are always encompassed by our love of God, so our duties to God always involve our fellow man. The most obvious of these being our duty to gather together for worship.

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. Some translate the Greek dikaiosynen as “alms deed” but it seems to me “righteousness” is better as it is rather obvious Jesus is speaking to any and all religious activity and not just to tithes, gifts and charity. This verse then is an introduction our duties specifically to God; i.e. our duties in our religious activities Having introduced the topic by encompassing all these duties as acts of righteousness, he goes on to list them individually as alms giving (charity) fasting and prayer. These were the duties practiced and taught by the Pharisees. I think it is safe to say under these three, all religious duty can be included for it is noticeable that Jesus does not say as he often has said before, “you have heard…but I say.” He does not add to nor detract from these duties; rather, he addressed the way in which they are conducted.

2“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

We need not understand this literally. It is possible but doubtful that even the worst of the Pharisee blew a trumpet or had someone else blow a trumpet when putting their coins into the alms box. At the same time, it is clear that by timing or some flourish of activity, the Pharisees made certain it was noticed that they were giving alms. The trumpet is a metaphor for doing whatever it is a person may do who wishes to draw attention to their devotion to religious duty. But that is the problem. It was all on the outside. They had no real concern for the approval of God. They wanted to be approved by men, to be seen as holy and applauded as holy whether they were so or not. So, in other places Jesus says of them they are whitewashed sepulchers, i.e. all nice and clean on the outside but a rotting corpse on the inside.

For those hearing Jesus at that time, those who daily saw the Pharisee with their flourish of outward ‘holiness’ the message was clear. “You see what the Pharisees do; don’t you do that. They give to get the approval of men. “I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. When they get the applause and honor of men that “they have received their reward in full.”

Rather than making a flourish of you giving so that all notice or announcing to others afterward that you have given such and such amount, “don’t let your left hand let you right hand is doing.” Probably a proverb at the time for doing something in secret. I remember from my youth the brother of my piano teacher who, when he was visiting her would attend church with her. He was a US ambassador and as skillful as any I have seen in 80 years at drawing attention to himself. (Perhaps that was a learned skill necessary to ambassadors.) When he would enter the church, he would remove his hat and walk to the front of the church (he always sat in the second pew) and take his seat. Yet, without any obvious flourish, he could not have drawn more attention to himself if he had blown a trumpet. It was the same when the offering plate was passed. It would be difficult to put a finger on anything specific he did to draw attention to himself; yet, had he put the offering in the plate while doing a handstand on the back of the pew with the other hand, he could not have made it more obvious. Rather than that sort of activity, Jesus say, give as secretly as possible and your Father in heaven who sees will reward you. The message is clear; i.e. you reward will be eternal and not the brief applause of man.

5“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. 6But 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. 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

As with the giving of alms, so also is it to be with prayer. You remember the Pharisee who lifted up his voice and cried out to God in ‘prayer’ “I thank you I am not like this Publican etc.” That was likely a parabolic teaching and not the recalling of a specific event; nonetheless, such was the custom of the Pharisees. By putting themselves into conspicuous places, praying loudly and/or using a multitude of words, the Pharisees would draw attention to themselves. It was a way of saying.” See me. See how righteous I am.” Our prayers should not be such. The Geneva Study Bible on this verse says “He (Jesus) rebukes two revolting faults in prayer, ambition, and vain babbling.” Words in public prayer, whether by eloquence or abundance, meant to impress those hearing were of one; i.e. sounds made to draw attention to oneself. We are to pray with and for one another in public as well as in private but if in our prayers the hearer is drawn to us rather than to God we have need to better learn to pray. There should be no question in the mind of those who overhear us praying that here is a man or woman who is talking with God. As with the giving of alms, Jesus says those who pray to be heard by men have their reward, they have been heard. That is it. The end of their reward.

“Do not be like them”