Audience of One
The Kingdom: Week 5
Main Passage: Matthew 6:1–18
Big Idea: Kingdom people do not practice righteousness to impress people. They live to please their Father.
Intro
Sometimes we do the right thing, but we are doing it for the wrong audience.
Three practices central to us as Christians:
Giving.
Prayer.
Fasting.
The problem is not the practice.
The problem is the performance.
The difference is the purpose.
In Matthew 5, people see our good works and glorify God.
In Matthew 6, people see our good works and glorify us.
The question running through this entire passage is simple:
Who is your audience?
1. Kingdom People Live for Their Father’s Approval
““Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:1-4 ESV
Original Language Insight
“hypocrites” is hypokritēs…
- an interpreter
- an actor performing a role.
- a pretender.
“received their reward” - apechō
- receiving payment
- issuing a receipt.
- paid in full.
Kingdom generosity is not a business transaction.
The question is not merely:
“Did I tell anyone?”
The question is:
Would I still do it if nobody ever knew?
Jesus says:
“Your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
The Father sees.
- He sees every quiet sacrifice.
- He sees the money given when the budget was already tight.
- He sees the meal dropped off without recognition.
- He sees the person cleaning after everyone else has gone home.
- He sees the prayer offered for someone who will never know.
- He sees the parent serving a family day after day without applause.
- He sees the faithful volunteer whose name is never called from the stage.
When the Father’s approval is enough, recognition becomes unnecessary.
2. Kingdom People Pray to be Known by God, Not Noticed by Man
“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:5-15 ESV
They were talking to God, but performing for people.
Jesus is calling us into a relationship with God that does not depend upon anyone else knowing about it.
There is something dangerous about having a public spiritual life that is larger than your private spiritual life.
Jesus is not merely teaching a technique for better prayer.
He is teaching us who we are speaking to.
This changes everything.
We do not pray to inform God.
Jesus says:
“Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
We pray because prayer brings our needs, fears, desires, and lives into relationship with Him.
You do not have to impress your Father with religious vocabulary.
You do not need to make prayer longer so it sounds more spiritual.
Prayer does not become powerful because we use impressive words.
Prayer is powerful because of the One to whom we pray.
Prayer begins by re-centering our lives around God.
The Lord’s Prayer is not complicated.
It is relational.
Start simply.
- Ten honest minutes.
- Close the door.
- Put down the phone.
- Read a short passage.
- Thank God.
- Confess what is true.
- Ask for what you need.
- You do not need to create a moment.
- You simply need to meet with your Father.
3. Kingdom People Desire Their Savior’s Presence
“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:16-18 ESV
Throughout Scripture, people fasted while seeking God, grieving, repenting, praying, or facing significant decisions.
But once again, a beautiful spiritual practice had become a public performance.
If fasting makes you cruel to your family and proud toward everyone else, you may be hungry…but you are not becoming holy.
The goal is not simply to stop doing something.
The goal is to seek Someone.
One heart…one audience
The secret life is where God frees us from needing to be seen.
Close
Who is your audience?
“I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” John 8:29
So here is the challenge this week:
Do one good thing that nobody else will ever know about.
- Give secretly.
- Serve quietly.
- Encourage someone anonymously.
Then spend intentional time behind a closed door with your Father.
- No audience.
- No performance.
- No phone.
May we live to hear Him say:
“Well done.”
Not because we performed perfectly…
but because we faithfully walked
With Jesus.
Like Jesus.
For Jesus.