In the Fulness of Time/Part 23
| By: Dr. Thomas O. Figart; ©2007 |
| Jesus demonstrates his authority over natural forces when he heals the woman with the hemorrhage. Was she healed simply by touching His robe, or was more involved? |
Proper Practice of true Discipleship in His Kingdom. Matthew 6:1-7:11
All of us have seen television shows or have watched movies. Did you ever realize that every actor, without exception, is an hypocrite? This is true because the word hypocrite is from the Greek word hupokrites, which means “play-actor” or “pretender.” Thus, the word has come to refer to anyone who is not sincere in his practice, and attempts to appear as someone or something which he is not. Obviously, the Pharisees were hypocrites (Matthew 6:2, 5, 16), and this fed their self-righteousness. In this section, Christ presents proper practices for His true disciples. Much of this teaching is applicable to all people of every dispensation since these are universal truths which should be adopted and enforced at all times.
Three Sayings about Sincerity. 6:1-18
Sincerity in Almsgiving. 6:1-4
- Matthew 6:1 “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men”
Though the Textus Receptus (the received Greek Text) has the word eleemosune for “alms” (in the King James Version) some of the more recent translations, based on the Nestle’s Greek Text have the more general word dikaiosunen, “acts of righteousness.” Their reasoning is that verse 1 is the general principle introducing three acts of righteousness, namely, almsgiving, prayer and fasting which are discussed in 6:2-18. However, it was interesting to find that the rabbis adopted the Hebrew word tsedekah (righteousness) as a special term for charity, or almsgiving:
- “The word has since passed into popular usage and is almost exclusively used for charity. The word tsedekah literally means ‘righteousness’ or ‘justice’; by their very choice of words the rabbis reveal a great deal of their attitudes to the subject, for they see charity not as a favor to the poor but something to which they have a right, and the donor an obligation. In this way they teach ‘the poor man does more for the householder (in accepting alms) than the householder does for the poor man (by giving him the charity), for he gives the householder the opportunity to perform a “mitzvah.”’ (Jewish Values, Jerusalem: Keter Pub. House, Ltd., 1974, p. 167).
A mitzvah is a good work in obedience to a commandment and accomplishes the following: “Zedekah, to the rabbis, hastens the redemption, ensures that the doer will have wise, wealthy, and learned sons, and atones for his sins.” (Ibid., p. 168). It is possible then, to interpret either dikaiosune or eleemosune as referring specifically to almsgiving and take Matthew 6:1-4 as a unit. The New King James Version, also based on Textus Receptus translates Matthew 6:1 “Take heed that you do not your charitable deeds before men” and then uses “charitable deeds” in 6:2-4 which also preserves 6:1-4 as a unit.
Jesus warns His disciples not to do their alms before men “to be seen by them.” That this was directed against having the self-righteous motives of the scribes and Pharisees can be observed directly in Matthew 23:27-28 where Jesus calls them “whited sepulchers,” saying, “Even so do ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” True disciples of Christ do not act this way!
- “otherwise ye have no reward of your Father who is in heaven.”
This part of the verse infers three things. First, there is the possibility of true sons of the Father sinking to the level of the unbeliever in doing good works. Instead of glorifying the Father (5:16) the good works may be burned up (I Corinthians 3:12-15) resulting in a loss of reward. Second, there is expectation of heavenly reward if alms are given sincerely and secretly (verse 4); and third, that “glory from men” (verse 2) is all that can be expected from self-righteous almsgiving. Believers therefore need the admonition at the beginning, “Take heed!”
- Matthew 6:2 “Therefore, when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets.”
As many have pointed out, there is no solid evidence that trumpet sounding was used to gather the poor for alms and at the same time call attention to the Pharisees giving alms. So, maybe this trumpet sounding is metaphorical, such as “Do not advertise your almsgiving.” However, the verse does not say this is the normal way of giving alms; it is hypocritical! Is it any less likely that self-righteous scribes and Pharisees would literally sound trumpets, than for them to stand by themselves in the synagogues and on the street corners and pray aloud to attract attention (verse 5), or for the Pharisee in Luke 18:9-14 to stand in the Temple and publicly deride men who are less righteous than he? Even if trumpets were not used for almsgiving, they were used in many ways for gathering the people together, as in wartime (Numbers 10:1-9) or on feast days (Numbers 10:10) among other occasions. It thus becomes a quite natural, though ostentatious method of drawing attention to oneself in the giving of alms to the poor.
- “that they may have glory from men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.”
To reach their goal they have gone to uncalled-for extremes; yet, their goal is reached. They are praised by men for their generosity and have received their reward. The word apexousin is used to emphasize that they have “received in full” their reward; none can be expected from God!
- Matthew 6:3 “But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth.”
Perhaps Jesus is using the language of exaggeration here. In contrast to hypocritical giving where the goal is public acclaim, true giving is to be so secret and un-ostentatious that the giver does it unconsciously, as in Matthew 25:37-40 when the righteous will be so oblivious to their good deeds to Christ’s brethren that they have to ask, “When saw we thee hungry, and fed thee . . .?” For the true disciple giving is done so naturally that he gives no thought as to how it was done.
- Matthew 6:4 “That thine alms may be in secret; and thy Father who seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.”
When it is a question of sincerity, secrecy is proper in good works; when the question is our testimony (5:16), then publicity in good works is necessary. There is no contradiction here, for in both cases the Father in heaven is glorified and the believer is assured of reward. God “sees in secret” and one day our reward will be given openly. Paul says, “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness (such as hypocritical almsgiving) and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall every man (the true almsgivers) receive praise of God.” (I Corinthians 4:5). This reward is sure to occur “in the fulness of time.”(For a complete verse by verse commentary on Matthew, contact [email protected])
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