Good morning,
This week we will learn more from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Matthew 6 speaks of the hypocrisy of Israel’s religious leaders in giving, prayer, and fasting. Then Jesus teaches us about investing in the future. Finally, Jesus reminds us that He will meet all our needs.
Jesus’ teaching of almsgiving (1-4)
Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
“Your giving is between you and God, and you should not give in order to be noticed by people. The minute you get a third party involved, then you don’t get any credit for it at all. The Lord describes a scene in a crowded synagogue where a hypocrite drops his gift to the poor in the offering and then blows a trumpet to announce their gift. “They have their reward,” Jesus said (6:2). They were after the applause of men, and they got it. Their generosity wasn’t between them and God and is worth nothing before God. Instead, Jesus said, do your giving in secret. The Father sees it and will reward openly.” (Through the Bible, Matthew Bible Companion, pgs. 36-37)
Another term for alms or almsgiving is charitable works. If our motive is to be seen by man, we lose our reward from God. Our motive should always be to glorify God.
Is that our goal? This week try to be a blessing to others. Without them knowing. It will be a double blessing. The person will receive a blessing and we will receive God’s blessing.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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