Hypocrisy

“...do not be like the hypocrites… (Matthew 6:5)”

In the next section of the Sermon, Jesus warns three times of hypocrisy.  Don’t give to be seen by others.  Don’t pray long prayers thinking many words will make you seem holy.  And when you fast, don’t be morose.  This follows Matthew 5, where he warns to keep the Law beyond just checking the box:  don’t hate, don’t lust, speak the truth, love our enemies.  Then the command to be perfect.  Now three ways we worship: giving, praying and fasting.  (Remember, the chapters and verses were added centuries later.  This is one continuous speech.)  

Giving.  As I am sure many reading this do, we give to our church every year by sending payment annually to the office.  No one sees this except the minister.  However, I also make a point of putting a few dollars in the offering plate every week specifically to be seen, especially by my children.  This may not be what Jesus was saying, but I read it that “If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven…. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.”  That is my reward is not from God, but that hopefully my children learn from my example.  And I have seen them putting money into the plate from time to time.  

Praying.  It is ironic that Jesus warns against heaping up empty phrases just before giving the Lord’s Prayer.  I prayed that prayer all my life without ever giving a thought as to what I was saying.  And yet, Jesus teaches it using the first-person plural: “Our Father”.  Clearly it was meant to be a communal prayer!  Just as clearly, we must think about what we are praying.  Paul says to pray without ceasing.  That cannot mean to go into a room, close the door and pray for the rest of our lives, to be “so heavenly minded that we are of no earthly good”.  We pray while we are washing the dishes, going for a run, driving to work, speaking with our boss.  But we also find time, as Jesus did, to go off and find quiet space and speak with God.  More on the Lord’s Prayer in future posts.

Fasting.  A few times, I have skipped a meal or two and called it a “fast”.  Usually, my purpose in doing so is to lose weight.  I love to jump on the bathroom scale the next morning and see how I did.  Not the best mindset.  No, I don’t look somber or disfigure my face, as Jesus warns.  I try not to let anyone know I’m fasting.  But I might as well be doing so.  Fasting should be about focusing on the blessings God has given.  And every time I feel a hunger pain, to thank Him for his blessings.  

There is a right way and a wrong way to treat everyone and there is a right and wrong way to worship God.  Be perfect.  I believe hypocrisy is the most dangerous of sins.  However, we must not let having impure motives stop us from doing the right thing.  This is true with giving, prayer and fasting just as it is true with murder, adultery and making oaths.  God can work on my heart through prayer and petition.