WEBVTT 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:05.120 Looking at Jesus' words on the s that he gave on the Sermon of the Mount. 00:00:05.280 --> 00:00:07.200 And we're going to dig in a little deeper. 00:00:07.360 --> 00:00:15.759 We've been in this series called Different, Following Jesus in a World That Is Not, or Following Jesus in a World That Isn't Different. 00:00:15.919 --> 00:00:17.280 And we are to be different. 00:00:17.440 --> 00:00:24.480 And he gives us a lot of truths and treasures that we saw in the last chapter as it began in Matthew chapter five. 00:00:24.640 --> 00:00:37.439 But today we're going to look in Matthew chapter number six and look at the different um motives, the different motives that that come behind whatever acts that we do. 00:00:37.920 --> 00:00:47.679 And I'll give you a statement or two and then I'll sort of open our minds to a question or two and then I'll dig in and read the verses and then we'll preach through the verses. 00:00:47.840 --> 00:00:56.560 But when you know you are loved by the Father in heaven, you no longer need to live for the applause of people. 00:00:57.759 --> 00:01:06.640 When I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that I am loved by my Father in heaven, I don't have to live for the applause of people. 00:01:07.040 --> 00:01:15.120 And essentially that's what Jesus is digging into in Matthew chapter number six, and we'll look primarily in the first 18 verses. 00:01:15.359 --> 00:01:17.439 But let me ask you this before we read. 00:01:17.599 --> 00:01:22.239 What uh who are you trying to impress if I were to ask you that? 00:01:22.560 --> 00:01:23.359 Now I get it. 00:01:23.519 --> 00:01:31.840 In life, I might ask my kids that same question, and they would respond back with Dad, I'm trying to impress you. 00:01:32.640 --> 00:01:37.760 Yesterday after Montgomery's game, he'd come up and said, Dad, did I do good? 00:01:37.920 --> 00:01:39.040 And I said, Yeah, why? 00:01:39.200 --> 00:01:42.959 Because he wanted his dad to tell him, yes, you did awesome. 00:01:43.280 --> 00:01:54.799 So I understand that as a child you want to impress your father, but I'm asking you individually right now, right here, who is it that you try to impress? 00:01:55.280 --> 00:02:01.599 Because there is something on the inside about us individually that likes to be noticed. 00:02:01.760 --> 00:02:08.319 We like for someone to pat us on the back and say, good job, or man, that really that I'm glad that you did that, or I'm happy that you did this. 00:02:08.400 --> 00:02:20.639 And listen to me, there's nothing wrong with wanting to be encouraged or for somebody to encourage you unless the reason behind it was for only you to be noticed. 00:02:20.800 --> 00:02:23.120 And that's sort of what Jesus is digging into. 00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:26.479 It's interesting as we read these verses here in a moment. 00:02:26.560 --> 00:02:28.159 We're gonna see three topics. 00:02:28.319 --> 00:02:32.080 We're gonna see giving, we're gonna see praying, we're gonna see fasting. 00:02:32.240 --> 00:02:39.680 And what you and I are gonna discover and learn is that you can do the right thing for the wrong reason. 00:02:40.000 --> 00:02:48.800 Interesting to me that I can do what was right or what I'm supposed to do, but I have the wrong motive behind it, what's the point? 00:02:48.960 --> 00:02:53.439 And we're gonna see that come to life in uh chapter number six. 00:02:53.599 --> 00:02:59.599 I can give, but if I give for the wrong reason, because I do it for someone to clap or tell me good job, that's obviously the wrong reason. 00:02:59.759 --> 00:03:04.000 If I pray and I pray for the wrong reason, you might say, how could you do that? 00:03:04.080 --> 00:03:07.280 And I'll show you when we get to this portion of the scripture. 00:03:07.439 --> 00:03:09.599 But if you do it for the wrong motives, the wrong reason. 00:03:10.000 --> 00:03:17.680 You can serve, but if you do it for the wrong reasons, you listen, you can come to church, but if you do it for the wrong reasons, it's the wrong motives. 00:03:17.759 --> 00:03:25.280 And we're gonna look at that because Jesus is trying to open our eyes to see that, man, what's on the outside's gotta match the inside. 00:03:25.520 --> 00:03:32.080 See, I can fake it on the outside, but if my inside's not broken and bent under the Lord, then I've messed up, I've missed it. 00:03:32.319 --> 00:03:37.599 Because people can see what I do, but hear me out, Jesus can see why I do it. 00:03:37.840 --> 00:03:38.960 There's the difference. 00:03:39.199 --> 00:03:44.159 People see what I do, but only Christ knows why I do it. 00:03:44.400 --> 00:03:48.479 That's what he's getting into as he shows us and opens up our minds. 00:03:48.639 --> 00:03:54.800 Last week we saw that Jesus dealt with our hearts behind every sin that's ever done. 00:03:54.879 --> 00:04:08.800 Now he goes a little deeper, digs in a little deeper, and says, you know what, there's some times that I can avoid some outward sins, but yet if my heart ain't right, as I avoid those, is it wrong anyways? 00:04:08.960 --> 00:04:09.599 That's the motive. 00:04:09.680 --> 00:04:14.000 So let's look together in this text because it's somewhat challenging, man. 00:04:14.080 --> 00:04:17.680 I think, man, I'm doing what's right, but if I my motives are not right, then I'm then I'm not right. 00:04:17.839 --> 00:04:23.759 So it's somewhat challenging because I don't think the problem isn't what we're doing, it's the problem is why we're doing it. 00:04:23.839 --> 00:04:25.279 And that's what he's trying to hit right here. 00:04:25.360 --> 00:04:26.720 Let's look together, verse one. 00:04:27.519 --> 00:04:34.319 Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. 00:04:34.800 --> 00:04:39.120 Otherwise you have no reward from your father in heaven. 00:04:39.360 --> 00:04:46.160 Now remember when he began in Matthew chapter 5, verse number one, he's preaching this sermon, and now we get to chapter 6, it's a continuation. 00:04:46.560 --> 00:04:53.439 The chapters and the verses were added as they translated it in the original language to our language to help us know where to turn. 00:04:53.519 --> 00:04:55.199 So this sermon continues on. 00:04:55.360 --> 00:04:57.759 And he got finished last week what we read now. 00:04:57.920 --> 00:05:01.439 He starts not necessarily a new topic, it's a continued sermon. 00:05:01.600 --> 00:05:14.879 Then he goes in verse 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogue and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. 00:05:15.600 --> 00:05:22.240 Assuredly I say to you, he's saying, Truly I am telling you, they have their reward. 00:05:22.800 --> 00:05:28.560 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 00:05:28.879 --> 00:05:36.720 That your charitable deed may be in secret, and your father who sees in secret will himself reward you openly. 00:05:36.959 --> 00:05:42.720 Now he goes in verse number five, and he begins talking about prayer, but notice some of the same words are going to be used. 00:05:42.879 --> 00:05:47.439 He goes in verse five, and when you pray, you should not be like the hypocrites. 00:05:47.600 --> 00:05:48.720 There's that word again. 00:05:49.040 --> 00:05:56.800 For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the street, that they may be seen by men. 00:05:57.120 --> 00:06:00.639 Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 00:06:01.199 --> 00:06:15.279 Verse six, Jesus continues, but you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your father who is in the secret place, and your father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:24.240 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 00:06:24.480 --> 00:06:26.639 Therefore, do not be like them. 00:06:27.439 --> 00:06:32.240 For your father knows the things you have need of before you ask. 00:06:32.720 --> 00:06:37.920 And now we'll flip over to verse fourteen and we'll or excuse me, sixteen, and we'll come back to those in a moment. 00:06:38.079 --> 00:06:39.600 Here's the third topic. 00:06:40.319 --> 00:06:53.040 Moreover, verse sixteen moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites with a sad countenance, for they disfigure their face their faces, that they may appear to be men to be fasting. 00:06:53.279 --> 00:06:56.720 Assurely I say to you, they have their reward. 00:06:56.879 --> 00:07:10.879 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but you to your father who is in the secret place, and your father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:22.160 Chapter six, verses one through eighteen hits on three different topics, but yet at the same point, meaning if our heart ain't right, it doesn't matter what I do on the outside. 00:07:22.319 --> 00:07:27.680 He hits it and he uses this word hypocrite multiple times in the text. 00:07:27.839 --> 00:07:31.040 Now we've heard that word hypocrite be used before. 00:07:31.279 --> 00:07:42.160 Listen, God has opened doors for me to invite somebody to church, and I'll never forget this one person in particular told me, man, they should look, I appreciate you, and you're nice and all. 00:07:42.399 --> 00:07:43.519 And I knew there was a butt. 00:07:43.759 --> 00:07:44.240 You understand? 00:07:44.560 --> 00:07:45.519 I knew it was coming. 00:07:45.759 --> 00:07:50.399 But, man, I just I just can't, man, there's just too many hypocrites there at church. 00:07:50.639 --> 00:07:51.680 I just can't come. 00:07:52.319 --> 00:07:56.560 And I was like, man, I I I've heard I said I've never heard that one before. 00:07:56.720 --> 00:08:01.759 But I said, man, you're in the Walmarts and you're cool with buying the stuff here. 00:08:02.240 --> 00:08:03.519 There's hypocrites here, right? 00:08:03.680 --> 00:08:05.040 Oh, yeah, yeah, they're everywhere. 00:08:05.199 --> 00:08:07.519 And I said, Oh, but you don't want to go to church. 00:08:07.759 --> 00:08:10.319 And he laughed and he got what I was saying then. 00:08:10.560 --> 00:08:16.000 But the truth of the matter is, is this word hypocrite is used multiple times through this section of scripture. 00:08:16.240 --> 00:08:16.800 So why? 00:08:17.040 --> 00:08:18.160 What does that word even mean? 00:08:18.319 --> 00:08:21.519 Well, I can tell you what it meant in scripture. 00:08:21.759 --> 00:08:32.559 I can't tell you exactly what people mean when they say it outside of the context of scripture, but in scripture, the word hypocrite that is used multiple times in this section of verses is used this way. 00:08:32.799 --> 00:08:36.559 It means to pretend to be something that you're not. 00:08:37.200 --> 00:08:44.240 The word actor comes from this particular word in the Greek, meaning that I am imitating something. 00:08:44.399 --> 00:08:48.639 I am impressing, I'm in, I am, I'm making something out of nothing. 00:08:48.799 --> 00:09:00.639 I am impressing somebody else than I actually am to do or to achieve a goal, an actor, and uh uh to be something that I truly am not. 00:09:00.879 --> 00:09:14.559 And so essentially what Jesus is saying here is that these men, the Pharisees, were giving and on the outside wanting the world to see them, but on the inside, they were doing it only for the applaud of man. 00:09:14.639 --> 00:09:20.399 So the outside of them, they were pretending to be something that they truly internally were not. 00:09:21.279 --> 00:09:25.519 He uses the same phrase in the context of praying. 00:09:25.600 --> 00:09:35.519 They're praying in ways for only people to applaud them, to say, man, you pray really, really good, or man, you've really could, man, you really got a hold of God on that one. 00:09:35.759 --> 00:09:37.919 But on the outside, they were hypocrites. 00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:38.240 Why? 00:09:38.320 --> 00:09:40.480 Because internally they were not bent to that. 00:09:40.559 --> 00:09:44.159 They were just saying what they had to say to get the applause of man. 00:09:44.240 --> 00:09:45.679 And the same concept with fasting. 00:09:45.759 --> 00:09:51.200 So he uses it three different times, and I want to make sure that we understand what this word actually means. 00:09:51.279 --> 00:09:55.840 It's almost as if somebody's wearing a mask, pretending to be something that they are not. 00:09:56.159 --> 00:10:00.799 Jesus knows our heart, but only we know the outside of each other. 00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:12.399 And I think in a nutshell, what Christ is saying is this be careful that your relationship with God doesn't become a performance. 00:10:12.799 --> 00:10:16.559 And if we're not careful, sometimes that's what it actually could be. 00:10:16.960 --> 00:10:19.519 All about show and what others think. 00:10:19.840 --> 00:10:27.600 To get an applause or to get somebody to pat us on the back and tell us how good we were at giving this or praying that or fasting at certain times. 00:10:27.679 --> 00:10:30.720 And that's exactly what Jesus is trying to safeguard us from. 00:10:30.879 --> 00:10:40.000 Don't ever let your relationship with God turn into some level of performance because there's, I promise you, I can't perform enough to please the Lord. 00:10:40.159 --> 00:10:45.200 Listen to me, I have got to be broken internally, and then it'll show up on the outside. 00:10:45.440 --> 00:10:48.559 So let's break this down into three parts, and I'll give them to you. 00:10:48.720 --> 00:10:52.080 Jesus sort of broke them up in scripture, but we'll we'll look at them as he did. 00:10:52.159 --> 00:10:56.559 We'll look at the first few verses from verse one through four, and we're gonna look at this thought. 00:10:56.879 --> 00:10:59.200 When you give, when you give. 00:10:59.279 --> 00:11:03.360 So that word hypocrite is gonna be used a lot, but we're gonna break it up in three sections here. 00:11:03.440 --> 00:11:04.000 When you give. 00:11:04.159 --> 00:11:09.759 Notice in verse number two, as we've read, I'll sort of refresh our mind here. 00:11:09.840 --> 00:11:15.120 In verse number two, after it says, Therefore it says, when you do a charitable deed. 00:11:15.440 --> 00:11:21.120 The way I like it is that Jesus doesn't say if, he says when. 00:11:21.519 --> 00:11:29.600 And then what's interesting is that Jesus assumes that generosity will follow every one of his followers. 00:11:29.840 --> 00:11:34.639 He makes an assumption that all of his followers are going to be generous because why? 00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:40.799 He knew what he was gonna do in the end. 00:11:40.879 --> 00:11:47.039 So as he brings his disciples together and pours this out to them, he's thinking, man, I'm gonna end up giving my entire life. 00:11:47.200 --> 00:11:50.399 Why can't you give something out of the right hearts? 00:11:50.720 --> 00:12:02.159 So he says, when you give, Jesus is assuming that his followers are generous and that they are giving unto the Lord and they're being generous with what God has blessed them with. 00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:04.799 So the issue isn't whether you are or aren't. 00:12:04.960 --> 00:12:05.200 Why? 00:12:05.279 --> 00:12:08.639 Because it doesn't, it states and lays the truth that you are. 00:12:08.799 --> 00:12:09.919 He assumes that you are. 00:12:10.080 --> 00:12:11.120 So here's the question. 00:12:11.279 --> 00:12:14.159 Not whether you are, no, you are as important to him, is what he's saying. 00:12:14.240 --> 00:12:15.840 So I can only assume what he assumed. 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:17.840 Here's the question: why are you? 00:12:18.559 --> 00:12:24.240 So he says, when you give, now the deeper thought process is, why are you doing it? 00:12:24.399 --> 00:12:25.360 Why are you doing it? 00:12:25.759 --> 00:12:26.960 He's established that you are. 00:12:27.039 --> 00:12:28.080 So let's break it down. 00:12:28.159 --> 00:12:31.039 In verse number two, giving can become a performance. 00:12:31.200 --> 00:12:32.799 That's why he said what he said and two. 00:12:33.200 --> 00:12:40.720 Do not sound a trumpet before men as the hypocrites did, is what uh the middle part of verse number two says. 00:12:40.799 --> 00:12:41.840 Don't sound a trumpet. 00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:45.759 Now, listen, I you what is a trumpet is going to bring attention to itself, right? 00:12:45.919 --> 00:12:48.960 Friday night at the football game, halftime. 00:12:49.200 --> 00:12:52.879 I look out there and there's all kinds of instruments walking on the field. 00:12:53.039 --> 00:12:54.320 Or people are holding them, obviously. 00:12:54.399 --> 00:12:55.039 You know what I mean. 00:12:55.279 --> 00:12:56.480 They're walking out there. 00:12:56.720 --> 00:12:58.399 Now, I don't, I'll be honest with you. 00:12:58.559 --> 00:13:00.639 I don't know what a trumpet. 00:13:00.960 --> 00:13:03.039 They all were trumpets to me, just to be honest with you. 00:13:03.200 --> 00:13:09.039 Well, if they have a horn and you do this and make it and you blow air through it, it's a it's a trumpet in my mind, okay? 00:13:09.200 --> 00:13:10.320 But what happens? 00:13:10.559 --> 00:13:12.080 It brings attention. 00:13:12.320 --> 00:13:17.600 There was uh all kinds of thoughts going on the stands, meaning there was already one lightning delay. 00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:19.279 Is there going to be another lightning delay? 00:13:19.360 --> 00:13:26.639 There's some people are thinking, man, am I gonna wait four hours for French fries in that line that is very, very slow, slower than the self-checkout at Walmart? 00:13:26.720 --> 00:13:26.960 No. 00:13:27.200 --> 00:13:28.879 They're just trying to decide what they're gonna do. 00:13:28.960 --> 00:13:32.080 And then the trumpets and the band begin to play, and what happens? 00:13:32.320 --> 00:13:34.960 Your mind stops looking around. 00:13:35.279 --> 00:13:42.080 You begin to focus in on what is happening on the football field, the movements of their feet and the timing of the music. 00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:52.639 It brings attention to the performance that they were practicing week after week after week since the summer to show us on the halftime show, a performance. 00:13:52.879 --> 00:14:01.120 And if I read verse number two, he says, Don't sound the trumpet before men, meaning don't make it a performance about you, because why? 00:14:01.360 --> 00:14:04.000 When you do that, it makes it all about you. 00:14:04.080 --> 00:14:05.679 That's why he followed up in verse number two. 00:14:05.840 --> 00:14:08.240 It says that they have glory from men. 00:14:09.120 --> 00:14:20.399 He's saying, if you tell everybody and make it all about what you just gave, or how you just helped somebody, therefore it makes it a performance for you, and all the attention is on you. 00:14:20.559 --> 00:14:21.200 What's the motive? 00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:25.360 The motive was for them to get some level of applause or to be celebrated. 00:14:25.519 --> 00:14:28.639 They wasn't interested in helping somebody, what Jesus is saying. 00:14:28.799 --> 00:14:33.759 They were interested in somebody seeing them help somebody, and therein lies the problem. 00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:37.919 They didn't just give, they gave for recognition. 00:14:38.080 --> 00:14:44.159 And Jesus is trying to lay it out there in such a clear way for his followers and for us. 00:14:44.320 --> 00:14:47.440 That's why he says, actors, a hypocrite if you were. 00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:50.480 The outside action is, man, look what I've done. 00:14:50.639 --> 00:14:52.559 And the inside's not broken for the Lord. 00:14:52.639 --> 00:14:56.559 The inside's, yes, keep telling me how good I was at doing that. 00:14:56.799 --> 00:15:02.080 Verse 3 goes a little deeper and says, man, giving should flow from the heart as we seek after the Father. 00:15:02.240 --> 00:15:03.440 Look at verse 3. 00:15:03.679 --> 00:15:13.039 But when, again he assumes, when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:14.879 It's interesting terminology there. 00:15:15.039 --> 00:15:16.000 We've heard that before. 00:15:16.080 --> 00:15:22.879 A lot of times in corporate world, they may say that when there's a poor communication within the office, the left hand, the right hand don't know what's up. 00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:28.639 So why would Jesus use this sort of terminology here in chapter number six in verse number three? 00:15:28.720 --> 00:15:31.120 I think he was being a little exaggerant in some degree. 00:15:31.200 --> 00:15:37.039 He was sort of saying, man, listen to me, this is exactly, we shouldn't exaggerate this and make some level of performance. 00:15:37.279 --> 00:15:40.159 So what should I do if the right hand and the left hand shouldn't know? 00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:42.000 This is essentially what he's saying. 00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:45.519 Don't make a production out of giving. 00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:46.639 This is what he says. 00:15:47.039 --> 00:15:48.240 I love simple stuff. 00:15:48.320 --> 00:15:50.960 I like to keep it very simple, but my mind processes that easy. 00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:51.840 This is what he's saying. 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:53.120 Don't do that, do this. 00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:55.120 Give and then move on. 00:15:55.440 --> 00:15:57.039 Give and then just move on. 00:15:57.120 --> 00:15:58.879 That's essentially what he's letting everybody know. 00:15:58.960 --> 00:16:03.039 It's like, man, if you're gonna help somebody, if you're gonna give something, just do it and move on. 00:16:03.200 --> 00:16:04.480 Why should we just move on? 00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:06.960 Well, he tells us the answer in verse number four. 00:16:07.200 --> 00:16:13.360 Verse number four, that your charitable deed may be in secret, that your father who sees in secret will himself reward you openly. 00:16:13.519 --> 00:16:20.000 So your father who sees it, therefore the audience that you need to worry about seeing is the audience of one, which is Christ. 00:16:20.159 --> 00:16:20.799 And guess what? 00:16:20.960 --> 00:16:22.000 He sees all of it. 00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:25.519 You don't have to wonder if somebody saw it because he sees all things. 00:16:25.679 --> 00:16:28.960 No different than my kids will say, Dad, did you see that hit I made? 00:16:29.200 --> 00:16:30.720 Dad, did you see the tackle? 00:16:30.879 --> 00:16:32.720 And I say, Yes, man, I saw it. 00:16:32.799 --> 00:16:33.759 Go make another one. 00:16:33.919 --> 00:16:35.200 Go hit that ball further. 00:16:35.440 --> 00:16:37.840 Or my girls will say, Dad, did you see my cheer? 00:16:37.919 --> 00:16:39.200 Did you see me get thrown in the air? 00:16:39.360 --> 00:16:40.159 Yes, I saw that. 00:16:40.320 --> 00:16:40.879 Continue on. 00:16:41.039 --> 00:16:43.440 They want the approval of me and Megan. 00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:43.759 Why? 00:16:43.919 --> 00:16:45.519 Because they want us to be proud of them. 00:16:45.679 --> 00:16:50.960 You don't have to wonder if anybody sees it because the only one that matters saw it all is what he's saying. 00:16:51.440 --> 00:16:53.600 He sees everything, everything. 00:16:53.840 --> 00:16:55.360 Now listen, we have a choice to make. 00:16:55.440 --> 00:16:57.919 In life, there's a lot of choices. 00:16:58.240 --> 00:17:02.240 But here, you and I must decide what kind of reward that you and I want. 00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:07.279 Because notice the sobering statement that Christ made in chapter two, in verse two of this chapter. 00:17:07.440 --> 00:17:14.319 In verse 2, in the latter part of verse number two, he says, Assuredly I say to you, they have their reward. 00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:15.759 He's speaking to the hypocrites. 00:17:16.079 --> 00:17:17.119 They have their reward. 00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:19.599 Jesus didn't say they won't receive an award. 00:17:19.839 --> 00:17:23.920 Yet they gave out of the wrong motive, and Jesus didn't say, I'm going to withhold them in a reward. 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:26.400 No, he said they have their reward. 00:17:26.880 --> 00:17:28.400 They got exactly what they wanted. 00:17:28.480 --> 00:17:29.039 What do they want? 00:17:29.279 --> 00:17:30.400 People to notice. 00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:31.920 What'd they get? 00:17:32.160 --> 00:17:33.599 They got an applause. 00:17:33.920 --> 00:17:34.640 What'd they get? 00:17:34.799 --> 00:17:39.759 They got people to care about what they did and to think it was spiritual. 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:42.799 So essentially what he is saying is, that's your reward. 00:17:42.960 --> 00:17:44.480 You wanted applause, you got it. 00:17:44.799 --> 00:17:48.480 Their reward is going to be surface level only, nothing eternal. 00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:49.039 Okay? 00:17:49.200 --> 00:17:50.079 But hear me out. 00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:56.240 Don't confuse the applause of people with the approval of your Savior. 00:17:56.559 --> 00:17:57.759 It's far different. 00:17:58.000 --> 00:17:58.319 Right? 00:17:58.400 --> 00:17:59.519 We know what Christ says. 00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:01.440 He is going to give us the ultimate approval. 00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:02.079 Listen to me. 00:18:02.160 --> 00:18:04.720 It doesn't matter how many times I get clapped for on this earth. 00:18:04.799 --> 00:18:06.319 I'm not doing it for them. 00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:09.519 I'm doing it for him, and that's what all that matters. 00:18:09.759 --> 00:18:13.359 Jesus is forcing you and I'd ask a question: which reward do you really want? 00:18:13.599 --> 00:18:16.400 Do I want temporar temporary recognition? 00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:19.039 Or do I want eternal pleasure from my Father? 00:18:19.279 --> 00:18:19.920 It's up to us. 00:18:20.079 --> 00:18:21.200 Individually, we must ask that. 00:18:21.279 --> 00:18:25.680 So let's make this super personal just for a second, and then we'll move on to our next couple verses. 00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:28.240 Why do you serve? 00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:30.480 I'm just assuming that you do. 00:18:30.720 --> 00:18:31.839 Why do you give? 00:18:32.079 --> 00:18:34.559 I'm only assuming that you do, that's what Christ did. 00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:35.920 Why do you help people? 00:18:36.079 --> 00:18:39.200 I'm only assuming that you do, as he did, right? 00:18:39.680 --> 00:18:41.519 What happens inside when I do it? 00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:45.680 Do I secretly want recognition or am I cool knowing that only the Father sees it? 00:18:45.839 --> 00:18:51.039 Because sometimes in those moments like that, it actually will open our eyes to see the ultimate. 00:18:51.200 --> 00:18:53.759 It's okay to stop Paul's and analyze. 00:18:53.839 --> 00:18:56.880 There's times in my life where I have to think of why did I do what I did? 00:18:56.960 --> 00:19:00.079 And if I need to make some internal adjustments in my life, I do it. 00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:00.880 I readjust. 00:19:01.279 --> 00:19:02.400 Life is all about adjustment. 00:19:02.559 --> 00:19:06.079 And we tell you, if I'm doing it for the wrong reason, I'm the only one that can adjust that. 00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:07.039 I have to. 00:19:07.200 --> 00:19:09.599 I can't do it for anybody else but for me. 00:19:09.839 --> 00:19:12.240 Jesus isn't telling you and I to stop doing good. 00:19:12.319 --> 00:19:16.960 No, he's telling us to stop looking at the wrong audience as we do good. 00:19:17.119 --> 00:19:18.400 You see the difference? 00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:20.799 Give, serve, help, be generous. 00:19:20.880 --> 00:19:21.680 That's what he's saying. 00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:24.960 If the father, let me give you this statement, then we'll move to our next verse. 00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:29.440 If the father sees it, you don't need anyone else to notice it. 00:19:29.599 --> 00:19:30.640 You see the difference? 00:19:31.039 --> 00:19:32.880 All right, let's move on to verse 5. 00:19:33.359 --> 00:19:36.000 So he shows us when you give. 00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:41.359 Now the next topic that he's preaching about in the Sermon on the Mount is when you pray. 00:19:41.839 --> 00:19:48.079 So in verses five through essentially 15, he gives us these verses about prayer. 00:19:48.160 --> 00:19:50.720 And I only read a few of them, but I'll read the other ones in a moment. 00:19:50.880 --> 00:19:52.160 But he says, when you pray. 00:19:52.319 --> 00:19:54.640 So notice the text in verse number five. 00:19:54.799 --> 00:19:59.359 When you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites, the actors, the pretenders. 00:19:59.680 --> 00:20:04.319 Jesus says, he doesn't say if you pray, he is assuming that you do it. 00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:06.640 Now, out of the three, most of us are good. 00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:08.160 Well, I can do the prayers. 00:20:08.319 --> 00:20:11.119 Now here's the question: are we only praying when we need something? 00:20:11.359 --> 00:20:11.680 Okay? 00:20:12.079 --> 00:20:15.599 Are we only praying when I need God to change something that I don't like? 00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:16.559 Listen to me. 00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:21.359 What is the mindset behind my prayer life with the Lord? 00:20:21.519 --> 00:20:23.279 He says, not if, but when. 00:20:23.519 --> 00:20:30.960 So Jesus is assuming that you pray on a regular basis, a constant conversation with the Lord. 00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:36.640 Can you imagine just opening up your phone and getting on your phone and just talking to somebody for days on end? 00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:37.759 Now, some of y'all could. 00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:39.759 My kids probably love this, right? 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:42.160 But I'm thinking to myself, man, I got stuff to do. 00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:43.119 I need to hang up. 00:20:43.200 --> 00:20:45.599 I got some activity. 00:20:45.680 --> 00:20:47.680 I got some action, I got to do a bunch of junk. 00:20:47.920 --> 00:20:49.359 But I'm thinking about like this. 00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:54.160 Instead of being on the phone with somebody, what if I'm like constantly having the phone on with the Lord? 00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:58.160 The constant communication with the Father, meaning I'm leaving, man. 00:20:58.400 --> 00:20:59.119 I'm talking to God. 00:20:59.279 --> 00:21:00.480 God, should I go left or right? 00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:04.000 Should I hit that gas station or should I go to Ingalls or to go to Kroger? 00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:08.079 And y'all might think that's silly, but I do that because I always think that God lays my step. 00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:11.920 What if I'm supposed to be at Engels to encourage somebody or to invite somebody to church? 00:21:12.079 --> 00:21:13.599 But I went to the Kroger's because it's easier. 00:21:13.759 --> 00:21:17.440 Or what if I went to Ingalls because Kroger's like a madhouse 24-7? 00:21:17.680 --> 00:21:22.240 That one up there, like you can't really get in there and get out within five minutes. 00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:23.440 So I'm like, I'm going to Ingalls. 00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:24.480 I don't care if it's$2 more. 00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:25.839 I'm just going to get out of there, you know? 00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:27.039 But maybe the Lord says no. 00:21:27.119 --> 00:21:30.000 And there's been times where I've had to talk to somebody that hadn't seen it in a while. 00:21:30.559 --> 00:21:34.960 Or maybe somebody came up to me and asked me a question because they saw me pray at an event or something. 00:21:35.039 --> 00:21:37.599 And then I think, Lord, I know you laid those steps out. 00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:43.759 I'm saying a constant communication, meaning I'm talking to the Lord all the time, not just when I want something. 00:21:43.920 --> 00:21:46.960 See, the issue isn't whether you pray, it's why you pray. 00:21:47.519 --> 00:21:50.480 Remember, he's assuming that you're praying. 00:21:50.720 --> 00:21:59.039 And I think prayer more than anything else of the three topics here reveals how we view our relationship with God. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:07.279 I tell you this, when I was preparing for this, I stopped and thought over the last month, what did I pray about the most? 00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:15.119 Because I'm telling you, it proves and shows the true motive behind my relationship with the Father. 00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:17.839 Then, you know, listen, this is not a religion, this is a relationship. 00:22:17.920 --> 00:22:21.519 It's a living, breathing, vibrant relationship. 00:22:21.839 --> 00:22:23.359 I talk, he talks. 00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:25.759 He opens my eyes, he guides my steps. 00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:27.519 It's a constant conversation. 00:22:27.680 --> 00:22:30.559 And I started to think about, man, what am I priority? 00:22:31.200 --> 00:22:36.400 This reveals my prayer life will actually reveal how I reveal how I view my relationship. 00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:39.440 Is it just one-sided, that's all about me and not about him? 00:22:40.079 --> 00:22:41.039 Does it show me? 00:22:41.200 --> 00:22:42.000 Does it prove what? 00:22:42.160 --> 00:22:44.559 That's open my eyes and I hope that it'll open yours as well. 00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:48.000 Let's look at these, let's look at verse five and six just for a second. 00:22:48.319 --> 00:22:53.599 See, prayer is a conversation with your father, not a performance for people to look at. 00:22:53.839 --> 00:22:55.519 Remember, not hypocritical, right? 00:22:55.599 --> 00:22:57.440 The actor, the pretending. 00:22:58.160 --> 00:23:00.000 Prayer is a conversation with the Father. 00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:16.559 Notice in verse 5 it says, when you pray, then look in verse number 6, but but you, when you pray, go into your room and when you have shut your door, pray to your father who is in the secret place, and your father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:18.000 So what's he mean? 00:23:18.079 --> 00:23:20.000 Does Jesus condemning public prayer? 00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:23.279 Well, I would say no, because he actually prayed publicly. 00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:28.000 Is he criticizing when we as a church pray publicly? 00:23:28.160 --> 00:23:32.240 No, because you can go back to Acts and read of the first church and they prayed publicly. 00:23:32.480 --> 00:23:37.279 So the method isn't necessarily praying aloud or praying even publicly. 00:23:37.680 --> 00:23:39.839 Remember the focus of what is happening here. 00:23:39.920 --> 00:23:42.240 It's they're not condemned, he's not condemning public prayer. 00:23:42.319 --> 00:23:48.240 No, it's something that happened all through uh through his ministry and happened all through the ages of the church. 00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:53.200 See, the problem isn't where they're praying, the problem is why are they praying. 00:23:53.519 --> 00:23:59.200 So he mentions clearly in verse number five about them praying on the street corners and even praying in the synagogues. 00:23:59.359 --> 00:24:04.079 And so it's not where they were standing or that they were standing in a way that all could see them. 00:24:04.240 --> 00:24:05.440 No, it's why they pray. 00:24:05.680 --> 00:24:12.240 And if they're only praying to be seen and to be heard by the people around them, then the motive was definitely wrong. 00:24:12.480 --> 00:24:15.920 They stood on the street corner and they prayed so that others could see. 00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:18.799 That's what verse 5 says, that they may be seen by men. 00:24:18.960 --> 00:24:26.720 So in theory, they're not really talking to God, they're performing for people to look at and to say, man, man, what a great prayer that was. 00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:28.000 Let me tell you something. 00:24:28.160 --> 00:24:40.720 Every time when I talk about the posture of prayer, yes, I know physically there's times where I'll kneel down on my knees and pray, but if my heart isn't kneeled and bent and broken under the Lord when I pray, man, I've missed the mark the entire time. 00:24:41.279 --> 00:24:42.960 That's what he's showing us in the text. 00:24:43.119 --> 00:24:44.480 That's what he's not about men. 00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:46.000 It's not about performance. 00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:50.319 Well, then reading in verse 6, it talks about when you pray, go into a secret room. 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:54.880 And I'm thinking to myself, man, what if I had need something to pray, but I ain't got time to go to the closet and pray? 00:24:55.039 --> 00:24:56.079 Is that okay? 00:24:56.319 --> 00:24:57.119 Oh, yes. 00:24:57.279 --> 00:24:57.680 Of course. 00:24:57.759 --> 00:24:59.200 I pray when I drive down the road. 00:24:59.359 --> 00:25:02.880 Whether you're somebody's in the car or not, I might pray when I'm walking around. 00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:07.599 There's times where I pray where I'm not all alone, and there's times that I pray when I am all alone. 00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:12.319 So why would he say clearly in verse number six, when you pray, go in a secret spot? 00:25:12.640 --> 00:25:16.079 See, prayer isn't a speech delivered to impress God. 00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:17.440 What is it then? 00:25:19.039 --> 00:25:21.599 It's like talking to a child talking to their father. 00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:32.000 And so if I'm only praying to get attention, then that's why he's essentially saying, go to the secret place, because you're only praying for the audience of one, not for the audience of many. 00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:36.640 And I want you to go and approach the father as a child approaches their father. 00:25:36.799 --> 00:25:43.680 Now, listen, if you want to have some humorous moments, if I could record some conversations that I have with my kids, I'm sure you have them as well. 00:25:43.839 --> 00:26:10.160 And I'll never forget we can be driving down the road and I'll get this story out of I don't know where, about something that probably never actually happened, but yet it sounded really cool, and there was all kinds of actions and activity that went with it, and I am just driving, engaging in the conversation, laughing, cutting up, because I always think, man, if they're gonna tell me about this craziest stuff they're half making up, I want them to know that I'm gonna listen because one day they're gonna come with something very serious that I'm gonna have to listen. 00:26:10.240 --> 00:26:12.079 I want them to know that their dad listens to them. 00:26:12.240 --> 00:26:14.480 But I'm just thinking about how they approach me. 00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:17.039 They don't worry about the vocabulary. 00:26:17.359 --> 00:26:21.440 They don't want to make sure that their words are elegant or any of that nature. 00:26:21.519 --> 00:26:27.359 No, they just approach the father openly and innocent and say, God, dad, this is what I'm thinking. 00:26:27.440 --> 00:26:32.319 This is some stuff I got going on, or man, this is a story that I just made up that I want it to sound real. 00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:42.319 And I start thinking about why do we try to approach the father in heaven and have to and make it feel like I've got to give some speech to impress? 00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:47.680 Because no matter how I pray, my prayers ain't gonna impress God. 00:26:47.920 --> 00:26:53.039 The brokenness in my heart and my approach is what he's after, not the words that I say. 00:26:53.200 --> 00:26:56.160 Listen, if we had to have a vocabulary test, I would fail it. 00:26:56.799 --> 00:26:57.519