Wednesday 20 June
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
Jesus’ teaching on the hidden and secret nature, if you like, of the interior life kicks against the goad. There is an impulse within us which wants to be praised, affirmed and recognized for our good works, the intensity of our devotion and our generosity to good causes. Of course this is subtle – very few are so garish and uncouth that they parade it around with announcement and fanfare, although there are always one or two who succumb to this temptation. On the whole the modus operandi of human nature is to weave into our conversation or our dealings with others some reference to the good and holy things we do or are involved in which put us in the best possible light and ideally elevate us over and above others. Generous benefactors through the generations have given to great causes because of the implicit understanding that they will be affirmed, recognized and remembered in some way. Since the dawn of time we have striven to be applauded, seen as a cut above the rest and holier than thou.
This is certainly the weakness and sin that Jesus is addressing in his teaching today in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus calls those who seek this kind of adulation and recognition ‘hypocrites’. Too harsh? The origin of our word ‘hypocrite’ is the Greek word for ‘actor’: the hypocrite is one who plays a role in public which is different from their role in private. The idea of parading our good deeds and our own righteousness before others reveals a lack of understanding of righteousness and holiness.
The truth is no matter what we do or achieve or strive for, we in and of ourselves are not holy or righteous. We only need to look into our hearts to see this. We are all sinners in need of God’s mercy and salvation. We are not those who seek the praise of others but the praise of God. Our righteous acts, our generosity, our service of others, as wonderful as these are, do not win for us the holiness and righteousness of God. We are all saved through the saving death and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord, who alone has lived a holy and righteous life.
Lord, teach me the wisdom of the Scriptures which declare that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and that we are justified through faith, not by our works.
2 Kings 2:1, 6-14 • Psalm 30(31):20-24
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
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