The Giving Hypocrite

Happy Sunday! Today our study on the sermon of the mount takes us to chapter six in the Book of Matthew. Before I read verses 1 to 4, let me ask you a question: why does some people quit going to church or never even go in the first place? You might give many answers. However, among your answers, I bet, is the old reason: the church is full of Hypocrites.

This excuse is given often, and I must agree, the church is chalk full of Hypocrites. I may differ from the excuse maker. I love that Hypocrites are at church. Shouldn't they be there? Don't the sick need a doctor?

I usually tell people that use that excuse that there's always room for one more. Hopefully, after learning in church, we grow and become consistent Christ followers, and we shed the hypocrite label. In Matthew 6, Jesus talks about hypocrites. He addresses three specific areas where people can indeed be hypocritical.

Jesus points to three spiritual areas where we can fail if we're not careful. The three areas are giving, praying, and fasting. Today we look at giving. Here's what Jesus said as chapter 6 begins in Matthew:

"Beware of practicing your righteousness before others in order to be seen by them, for then you have no reward from your father in Heaven. So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the Hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms May be done in secret, and your father who sees in secret will reward you."

Jesus begins with the warning: "beware of practicing your righteousness before others in order to be seen by them." That's the reason: "for then you have no reward from your father in Heaven." In our day and age, we hear the phrase "photo op." When I hear that, I usually think of a self-serving politician trying to take advantage of a situation just to get some exposure.

It goes on all the time. People stand on a red carpet in Hollywood posing for cameras to advance their careers. Facebook gurus post all sorts of things to get more followers. Jesus warned his followers that if they're seeking the reward of men, that's all they'll receive.

Let's look at his example in verses two and three: "So whenever you give alms to do not sound a trumpet before you, as the Hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward." It's a ridiculous picture Jesus points out. The hypocrite, they give for show, not for God. They want to be seen by men. They want to get their name in the paper.

They're doing a good thing for a bad reason. The love of God is nowhere to be seen in the self-promotion. Have you ever wanted to be seen giving? I have, and let me explain. Tip jars are everywhere.

Sometimes I pay for a meal on my debit card and leave a cash tip when the jar is by the register. I want the cashier or the waiter to see that I have given. But at church, in helping the poor, that's not a good idea. In verses three and four, Jesus tell us how, tells us how to give: "But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret, and your father who sees in secret will reward You."

Give in secret. Give so only God sees. The phrase that are left hand doesn't know what our right hand is doing is interesting. What Jesus is saying is that giving should be so natural to us that we forget about it, and we just go on.

There's a perfect illustration for that in Matthew 25. In that chapter, Jesus is judging all people. He divides them into two groups: the Sheep, those who are saved, and the goats, those Bound for hell. Jesus congratulates the sheep for their giving. I pick up the story in verse 35. Jesus said:

"I was hungry, you gave me food. I was thirsty, you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you welcomed me. I was naked, you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you took care of me. I was in prison, and you visited me. Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, and naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' Jesus will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.'"

I love the reply of the sheep: when did we give? When did we do all of that? That is what Jesus means when he says the left hand shouldn't remember what the right hand does. Now, a hypocrite would have a vivid memory in a scrapbook of giving. Not so with a True Believer.

The giving of True Believers changes this world. I thank God for them. Notice in the sermon on the mount that Jesus said "whenever you give." He doesn't say "if you give." He expects us to give. He encourages us to give.

So I encourage you to give. Give to your church, give to a food pantry, help a family that needs help. Jesus loves it when we do that in the right way. Pray with me.

Lord, thank you for the givers that have changed our world. I look back and think of teachers who taught me and put up with me, of Youth workers, of pastors, of helpers. Think back of people that even worked in the nursery. Thank you for those that give of their encouragement and expecting nothing in return.

Lord, you give us so much. Thank you for your goodness to us. Help giving just to be a natural response of who you've made us to be. In Jesus name, amen.