MPC, 15th June 2003.Matthew 6:1-18 - "The Problem with Religion"
Phil Campbell MPC, 15th June 2003.
I wonder if the names Adrien Brody and Chris Cooper ring a bell? If they don't, what about Nicole Kidman and Catherine Zeta-Jones?
Adrien and Chris respectively won this years Oscar awards for best Actor in a leading role and best Actor in a supporting role. Nicole and Catherine, best actress. And supporting actress. For The Hours. And Chicago.
You know, whether you've heard of them or not, it's a funny thing when you think about it. The Oscar awards, the glamour, the red carpet; millions watching all round the world. Because in the end, what we're doing is rewarding someone for pretending to be someone they're not. And the better you are at pretending, the more likely you'll get the award.
But there's another kind of pretending to be someone you're not that Jesus says has very few rewards.
Another kind of acting. That goes on every day; you see it all the time. And Jesus wants to show us in this section of the Sermon on the Mount that it's a sort of acting God's not impressed with at all. It's a kind of pretending to be someone you're not that's called hypocrisy. And Israel is full of it. As Jesus confronts the teaching of the much respected Pharisees. Who he says are playacting.
The word hypocrite originally meant exactly that - actor. Stageplayer. And the sort of hypocrites Jesus is talking about here are people who act as though they're righteous. Who want to put on an outward display of being religious, when on the inside they're all wrong. If you look at your passage, you can see Jesus mentions these hypocrites a lot. They're in verse 2. They're in verse 5. They're in verse 16. He's talking about the Pharisees. These very religious Jews. And that's the word he uses for them. Hypocrites. In fact as you keep reading Matthew's gospel, he says it 15 times. A bit later on, chapter 23, he says woe to you, you hypocrites. You scribes and Pharisees make the outside of the cup clean, and on the inside it's corruption and excess.
The outside appearance just doesn't match the inner reality.
And I want to tell you this morning, Jesus hates religion when it creates hypocrisy like that. Which is why being religious is such a dangerous thing. 'Cause the things we think of as being religious things, the outside things we can see people doing - they're such an easy trap. And it's so easy to be playacting. And to forget that God's more interested in what's in our hearts.
In the passage we're looking at Jesus gives three examples. Three religious acts you did if you were a Jew. Three Jewish religious acts that they'd turned into hypocrisy. Giving to the poor. Praying. And fasting. And every time, Jesus says exactly the same thing. Don't do it to be seen by men. Don't do it for show. Because God's looking straight at your heart. God's the God who says he'll restore your fortunes when you turn back to him with all your heart and soul. And the best you Pharisees can do is some second rate playacting.
There's a good summary of the passage in the very first verse. Here's what he says. "Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven."
Now I want you to notice carefully what he's not saying. 'Cause he doesn't say "Don't do your acts of righteousness." He says "Don't do your acts of righteousness before men to be seen by them." Don't put on a show. Don't playact for an audience.
Because he says "you've got a very simple choice." The praise of men. Or the praise of God. It's one or the other - and you can't take both.
Well, let's have a look at example number 1. We've seen the principle. Let's see how it works out in practice.
Have you noticed the telethons on TV, and the Radio appeals, they've learned a simple lesson. If you read people's names out on the air, they give more money. Especially if you've got a celebrity reading the names. And so if you've ever watched something like that, you know it's a real bore listening to these hundreds and hundreds of names being read out. With $20. Or $30. Incredibly dull. Until it gets to your name. 'Cause you've rung in as well. To the Farmhand appeal. Or whatever it was Ray Martin was doing. And they're reading out your name and your amount. And everyone in the whole of Brisbane can wonder at your remarkable generosity.
Well, they didn't have telethons when Jesus is talking. But they had the same idea. And that's what Jesus says in verse 2. Follow what he says. "So when you give to the needy, don't announce it with trumpets as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honoured by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving is in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
I don't know if they really did that. Incredible picture, isn't it? Out on the street, this stately Pharisee in his flowing robes, and he's got his helper tagging along with a trumpet. And they find this poor beggar by the side of the road. And out comes the Pharisees wallet. And as it comes out there's a fanfare on the trumpet. And a dum roll as he hands over the ten dollar note with a flourish. Making absolutely sure that everyone can see.
And if there's no audience, there's no giving. And the hungry bloke on the street can just stay hungry.
Jesus says, there's only one audience that counts. And that's God. Who sees what you do in secret. Who sees who you are backstage. Where the masks come off, and you're genuine.
Well, I guess I don't have to tell you, do I? Even in the church these days, hypocrites are alive and well. In spite of what Jesus says here, there are people who just haven't listened. And there are still Christians who give so people will see what they're doing. And be impressed.
A friend of mine told the story of a guy in church in Northern NSW, and this is a generation ago, who when the plate was passed around took out a 100 pound note. And not content for just the bloke passing the plate around to see it he held it up and waved it round over his head before he put it in the plate. Now back then a hundred pounds was an incredible amount of money. So he didn't want to waste the opportunity. He wanted everyone to know how much he was giving. And he wanted people to think highly of him because of it.
That's probably a ridiculous extreme. But there are other more subtle ways we do the same thing, aren't there? And if you give in to the hope that other people are going to notice how generous you are, or how Godly you are, or how wonderful you are, then Jesus says... you're a play-actor. You can line up for your Oscar. And if it's the praise of men you want, then you can have it. That's easy. It's yours. Only don't expect any praise from God. Because you've had all the reward you're going to get.
So how should the disciples of Jesus give? If you're going to be one of these people he's on about who's hungry and thirsty for righteousness, how are you going to tame the tendency to play to the audience? Well, number 1, the generousity should be real. From the heart. And not just for show. So to play it safe, Jesus says be discrete. Do it by reflex. Without even thinking about it. Instead of fussing about it, instead of carrying on about it, making a show of it - do it without a second thought. Jesus says, don't even tell yourself about it! Don't even let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.
Well, what about prayer? 'Cause Jesus goes on to say even with prayer, exactly the same thing can happen. That your carefully crafted precisely pronounced prayers end up being prayers to the audience... instead of prayers to God. And the audience might well love it.
The Pharisees were great at it. Try to outdo the guy who prayed last week. By going for longer. Using bigger words. Sounding more pious.
But if you're inclined that way, take a good look what Jesus says in verses 5 and 6.
"And when you pray, he says, "don't be like the hypocrites - for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 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."
Now I don't think Jesus is saying you can't pray with other people. I don't think he's saying you can't pray together in church. 'Cause if you look at what he goes on to say next, you can. He says we pray our Father. Not just my Father. Praying together is important. But he is saying, don't pray to be seen by men. Don't pray to the audience. Pray to God.
And I have to tell you, I've been to prayer meetings and church services with exactly the sort of people he's talking about. And people who most of the time speak quite normally, when you get them praying it's full of holy words in a special holy tone of voice that in the end God's not impressed with at all. And you get em started, off they go. On and on and on. As if God weighs prayers are weighed by the hour. Or else if God doesn't, at least the audience does.
Which is the point. Hypocrites pray to the audience. And always have done. Hypocrites pray so people will think well of them.
To which Jesus says, pray to your father in heaven. And forget about anyone else. And so the most beautiful prayer in God's ears may well be the shortest prayer. The most stumbling prayer. The most humbling prayer. Of them all.
And so you can see in verses 7 to 15 Jesus spells out how we shouldn't pray. And how we should pray.
Jesus says the pagan idol worshippers have got the idea that the way they get through to their Gods is to bore them to death. So they'd keep on repeating their prayers and their chants over and over again like a Hindu mantra. Over and over again, until you finally wear down your God and you get what you want. And some of the Pharisees weren't much different.
Read from verse 7. He says, "When you pray, don't keep on babbling like the pagans - for they think they'll be heard because of their many words." Don't be like them. I mean, it's not as if God doesn't know what you need. He knows before you even ask him. He's not like a pagan God who you've got to force into action. And he's not impressed if you pray the same stuff over and over and over again. Christian prayer isn't about twisting God's arm. It's simple.
And so Jesus goes on to give us a pattern. A pattern for prayer. A very short prayer. That gets right to the point.
Interesting if you look at verse 9. Jesus doesn't say, this is what you should pray. As if it's something you've got to repeat word for word. There have been disputes over the years about whether you should pray the Lord's prayer in modern English. Some people say it's a sacrilege to change the words Jesus gave us.
Problem is, the only record of the words Jesus gave us is written in ancient Greek. Translating what he said in ancient Aramaic.
The exact words aren't the issue. So much as the model. A model for all our prayers. A model that's brief. A model that reminds us who we're praying to. A model for the disciples that focuses first and foremost of the great mission of Jesus... to bring about God's kingdom. In the midst of a fallen world.
You've probably heard it a thousand times. But run your eye through it from verses 9 to 13.
Verse 9. It's a prayer first of all for these Israelites to pray. A humble prayer. That's going to challenge the state of their hearts. Keep in mind, the whole Sermon on the Mount, it's all about calling Israel to repent and be what they should be. To be hungry and thirsty for righteousness. To be merciful. And gracious, like the Lord their God.
So Jesus says, pray like this. It's simple. Our Father in heaven... may your name be honoured. That's what the word hallowed means. Verse 10, he says, pray for God's kingdom to come. As we read on and see Jesus crowned as the king of God's kingdom at the cross. And raised to rule in earth and heaven. As the gospel of the kingdom is proclaimed to all the nations. Jesus says pray for that. I wonder if we do? I mean, I wonder how the balance is between praying for the growing of the kingdom, and praying for our needs.
Verse 11, Jesus says pray for God's will to be done. And then for our daily needs. Our daily bread; day by day.
And verse 12, a prayer for forgiveness. Which again is the big idea of the whole of the sermon on the mount. The whole message of Jesus to Israel. That it's time for the people of God to turn back to God and be who they should be. And there are hard words here. He's said already back at the start of the sermon on the Mount... blessed are the merciful.
And yet Israel and the Pharisees are so harsh. So religiously judgemental. So quick to condemn. He says, that's not how you turn back to God heart and soul. Pray for God's forgiveness. And make sure you're showing forgiveness to others as well.
Verse 12, "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."
Israel needs a change of heart. If they're going to be the people of God, they need to be forgiving people. And they haven't been. Which means they need to repent. If they're going to be the people of God, they should be hungry and thirsty for righteousness. And they haven't been. Which means they need to repent. Or else they'll have no place in the kingdom. And it will be handed over to others. Who are hungry for that. Who aren't full of religious pretensions and hypocrisy.
Well let's move on. The final section, and Jesus is talking about fasting. For the Jews, fasting was a ritual. It was one of the great marks of the Jew. Which Roman historians like Tacitus and Seutonius have noted as one of their strange national distinctives. The Old Testament told Israel to fast once a year. But the interesting thing about the Pharisees, is they'd turned a command to fast once a year, into a command to do it once a week. And the Pharisees, they were prepared to put up with a few tummy-grumbles for the sake of the great show they could put on. You can read what they do in verse 16. Jesus says "When you fast, don't look sombre as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting."
They rub on the dirt, they screw up their faces, they moan with the agony - because there's nothing they want more than for someone to say to them, "What's wrong? You look terrible." And then they get to blow their own trumpet for an hour about the fact they haven't eaten a thing since lunchtime.
And Jesus says the same thing he said before. If the praise of men is what you want, you can have it. But that's all you'll get. He says "I tell you the truth, they've got their reward in full." An impressed audience, a reputation for being holy. But if they think God's impressed - they're wrong.
Read from verse 17. Here's how they should have been doing it. And Jesus is an expert. Having just fasted 40 days and 40 nights in the desert. But when you fast, says Jesus, put oil on your head and wash your face. Splash on some after shave and comb your hair. Look fresh, look bright, so that it won't be obvious to men that you're fasting, but only to your father, who is unseen... and it's the third time he says these words... and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Can you see what Jesus is doing? He's chosen three things that were basic to the life of a Jewish believer; three acts of religion; and he's shown three times how they've been wasting their time. Because of the state of their hearts. A great job of acting out giving and praying and fasting. While on the inside they've got unmerciful, unforgiving hearts. Just looking for the praise of men.
I don't have to tell you, do I, it's quite easy for us to do the right action for the wrong motive as well. In fact, it's not just possible. It's darn easy.
And Jesus certainly isn't saying there's anything wrong with Giving. Or Praying. Or fasting. But he is saying that the thing God's interested in isn't so much the religious act. As in who you are when nobody's looking.
The whole point of the sermon on the Mount, is that Jesus is saying here's what real righteousness looks like. And on the outside, it might not look like much at all. Because all your praying and your giving and your acts of religion, they might be done totally in secret.
For us as Christians, maybe there's a whole range of new ways we try to do things to impress one another with our spirituality.
Think about it. And be honest. Can you think of any areas in your Christian life where you do things to impress other people... so that other people will notice? Praying to the audience. Giving. Where the bigger the audience, the bigger the gift? It's a trap. So let me ask you, how many of the things you do, would you still do if nobody knew about it? Nobody at all? It's a good test, isn't it? Because then you know it's between you and God. And it's genuine. From the heart.
It comes back to what Jesus said right back in verse 1. We need to make sure our acts of righteousness - the way we serve Jesus - aren't just done for the crowd. That they're not done for the praises of men. But for God. Because what we should be longing for is his approval. His praise. Because we're hungry and thirsty for righteousness... in the way that the Israel simply wasn't.