Matthew 6:1–8, Matthew 6:16–18

Jesus’ message is clear and simple: kingdom citizens must do good works in order to please the Father and not to win the approval of men. One would expect that this message was assumed by God’s people, and so we ask the question, Why is it that we must be warned against self-righteous hypocrisy? Why is it that kingdom citizens so often fall into the trap of looking to please men rather than our Father?

Perhaps one answer is that we find it hard to believe and live in the light of our new identity. Right at the beginning of his Sermon, Jesus told those who came to him that they are blessed, because they have come to learn from him, they believe him to be the Christ, and they trust his words and hold fast to his promises. God’s favour rests upon all those who come to Jesus in faith, all those who have been united to his Son. Kingdom citizens have the privilege of calling God Father. As adopted children they belong to him; they have the full rights of sons.

This is the reality for the believer; he has been justified in the sight of God just like Abraham of old (Romans 4:22–25). Still, we keep thinking there is something more that needs to be done. It is in our sinful nature to find a contribution, a token from our side to ensure God’s favour and make sure he really loves us. Biblical promises are one thing, but what we hear with our ears and see with our eyes are just so much more sure. And so if people praise us for our good works, then we have solid testimonies of approval and we can bring them to God.

That was the thinking and the motives of many in Jesus’ day. The apostle Paul confirms that he also thought along these lines before coming to Christ. He was zealous for the law (Galatians 1:14), convinced that he was able to obey it and that his obedience was necessary for life with God. He sought to win God’s favour with his works. He did not know God as the Father who can be served with joy and without fear of wrath or rebuke.

But this is how kingdom citizens know God. This is how we ought to think of God. Ten times in Matthew 6:1–18, Jesus has repeated the word Father. There is a relationship that exists as a result of our union with Christ. We are confident of his love and mercy, confident because the Saviour to whom we belong was perfect. Jesus is our King. Through his life and death he did everything that is needed for us to enjoy God’s favour, and for us to look forward to life in the new creation. Our place in the family has been secured and it remains secure forever.

And this confidence ultimately serves to be the difference between the life of a child of God and a hypocrite. A hypocrite presents; he cannot meet the standards of God’s law. He cannot bring the righteousness that God requires. Sadly, instead of recognizing his sin and holding fast to Christ for salvation, he covers and pretends. First, he reduces God’s law so that he can claim obedience (Matthew 5:21–48). Then he gets involved in religion and good works so that he can have a human testimony to his goodness. But it is not a true righteousness, not a righteousness that will stand in judgment, because it is all pretend. It is an effort to win favour with half-hearted obedience that allows you to keep hatred in your heart and lust in your mind because it never goes beyond the surface.

The child of God lives differently. He does not present, or rather, he is learning to stop presenting. He knows that his deeds are not the basis of his relationship with God. He knows he cannot meet the standards of God’s law. But he is confident that Christ has done what he cannot do, and he is confident that because of Christ he enjoys God’s favour. Now, in his service to God, his aim is to please and not to manipulate. That is the reward he longs for: to please the Father, thankful for the gift of salvation. Like a child who draws a picture or comes to help with a task in the home, so the believer wants to serve. He wants to follow the example of Christ; increasingly he wants to do good for the glory of God.

And so if other people notice his good works and thank him for it, that is OK. It is not the aim of our actions. We want to please our Father. But since pleasing the Father involves doing good for our neighbour, we are happy when there is a positive outcome. We are glad when our giving can help someone in need or serve to support the ministry of the gospel. We rejoice when someone thanks us for our prayer or asks us a question because they notice a godly habit. Yes, we are conscious of the fact that the praise of men can quickly go to our head, but that does not stop us from seeking to please the Father. Certainly it calls for wisdom, but it does not drive us to a hermit lifestyle where everything is done in secret and no one knows that you are a Christian.