6 “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.
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. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Prayer
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. 6 But 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.
(Matthew 6:1-6, NIV)
Jesus isn’t condemning public worship; He is condemning theatrical religion. The Greek word used for “hypocrites” in these verses refers to stage actors wearing masks.
The Methodist movement was born because John Wesley noticed that many people were “mask-wearing” Christians—attending church but lacking the “power of godliness.”
Reflection:
The Audience: When I do a good deed or say a prayer, am I seeking “applause”? From whom? If no one sees my good deeds, will I still continue to do them?
The Door: Jesus says to “shut the door” when we pray. Am I authentic before God? What is my life like when no one is watching?
The Reward: Performance-based faith gets its reward immediately (human praise). Secret-based faith may not bring immediate rewards, but we will receive a reward from the “Father who sees in secret.” Which type of reward am I seeking?
