The Sermon on the Mount is Jesus’ for human flourishing in the in-breaking, upside-down of God.
What does Jesus mean by “Hypocrites”?
We think: “Saying one thing, doing another.”
Jesus says: “Doing ‘good things’ for the wrong reasons.”
“They are hypocrites because they are not unified in heart and action; they actually do ‘right things,’ but they are not the right kind of people because their hearts are wrong.” –Jonathan Pennington, The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing
Integrity—
Doing the right thing even when no one else is watching.
What “reward” is Jesus speaking about?
Heaven’s reward is to be by God.
“For any believer the greatest value must be receiving glory/honor/praise from God himself.” — Jonathan T. Pennington, The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing
1. Give
Matthew 6:2-4 NIV
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.
Proverbs 14:31 NIV
Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker
but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
Proverbs 19:17 NIV
Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,
and he will reward them for what they have done.
2. Pray
Matthew 6:5-6 NIV
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 6:7-8 NIV
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Matthew 6:7 NIV
“And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions…”
“Jesus warns against prayer that is an attempt to manipulate God or impress people. Real prayer is honest, Godward, and relational.” — D.A. Carson
Matthew 6:9-13 NIV
This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Matthew 6:14-15 NIV
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
3. Fast
Matthew 6:16-18 NIV
When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Fasting is a response to a sacred moment, not an instrument to get what we want.”— Scot McKnight, Fasting: The Ancient Practices
The Prayer of Ephrem of Syria:
O Lord and Master of my life,
Take from me the spirit of sloth, despair,
lust of power, and idle talk.
But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility,
patience, and love to Your servant.
Yes, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own transgressions,
And not to judge my brother,
For You are blessed unto ages of ages. Amen.