In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus was teaching His Jewish disciples. Then, as now, most people wanted to be seen as righteous.  They wanted others to think well of them. Rather than doing the right thing because it was the right thing and pleased God, their motivation was to look good before others.

The first area Jesus considered is in giving to the needy. Jesus taught in Matthew 6:1 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.” Jesus taught that if your motivation for doing charitable deeds is to be seen by men, then you will receive no reward from the Father in heaven.  To look good before others, you would want to make sure that others knew what you had done. Matthew 6:2 “Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.”  It seems pretty extreme to blow a trumpet to announce a charitable deed.  But you might instead brag about what you have done; you would make sure others knew what you have done. If your motivation is to be praised by others, that is the only reward you will receive. On the other hand, your motivation should be compassion and love for those in need or to simply do what pleases the Father.  Jesus advised the following. Matthew 6:3-4 “But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.” The motivation behind the charitable deed is important. 

The next area where someone might seek to look good is in praying.  Jesus taught in Matthew 6:5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.” The reward such a person would receive is the temporary glory they might get from others. Matthew 6:7 “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.” Again, these might be extreme examples of seeking to be honored by others for praying.  But another way to seek to receive approval from others might be to brag about how much you pray or to have beautiful, flowery public prayers. I have heard public prayers that include preaching and quoting scripture; these demonstrate that the one praying knows his Bible. But God doesn’t need us to preach to Him. Jesus advised the following.  Matthew 6:6 “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.” The motivation behind the prayer is important.  The motivation should be to communicate with the Father, not to be seen as righteous. Matthew 6:8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”

The next area where someone might seek to look good is in fasting.  Jesus taught in Matthew 6:16 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.” The reward such a person would receive is the temporary glory they might get from others. The spiritual discipline of fasting should be to humble yourself, be detached from worldly distractions, and seek divine guidance. By abstaining from food and physical comforts, believers can shift their focus toward self-reflection and prayer. The motivation is not glory from others, but seeking to be closer to the Father in heaven.  Matthew 6:17-18  “But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” It shouldn’t be our desire to make sure others know that we are fasting.

Jesus was critical of the scribes and Pharisees of His time.  Matthew 23:5-10 “But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ.” A phylactery was a small strip of parchment with portions of the Law written on it; it was fastened with a strap to either the forehead or the left arm to remind the wearer of the duty of keeping the commandments of God. The Jews understood that they were commanded to do this (Deuteronomy 6:8).  To make their phylacteries broad was to make them big so that others would see how righteous they were. The Jews were also commanded to make fringes in the borders of their garments with blue thread as a reminder to keep the commands of the Lord (Numbers 15:38-39).  To enlarge the borders of their garments was to make them big and obvious so that others would see how righteous they were.  The religious leaders also wanted the seats of honor at feasts or synagogue assemblies so that others could see that they were the righteous ones.  They liked titles of honor and to be respected as a righteous person.  They did all these things to be seen by men.  Do you also do what you do so that others will think you are righteous?

Jesus taught about charitable deeds, prayer and fasting as areas where your actions might be motivated by your desire to appear righteous before others.  But what other areas might there be where you are guilty of wanting to appear righteous before others?  Maybe it is in your church attendance or your hymn singing. Or maybe it is in the religious jewelry you wear or religious sayings you post on social media.  Do you brag to others about what good things you have done?  I encourage you to check your motivation.  Is it to be seen as righteous before others?  Instead, I encourage you to seek to please your Father in heaven from your heart.