1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:26,800 As the choir comes down, if you would open the scriptures to Matthew chapter 6. 2 00:00:26,800 --> 00:00:32,800 Our text this morning will be found in the first four verses. 3 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:43,160 Matthew writing, Jesus speaking, says, take heed, beware, that you do not do your charitable 4 00:00:43,160 --> 00:00:51,240 deeds before men to be seen by them, otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 5 00:00:51,240 --> 00:00:55,000 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, and specifically it's talking about the giving 6 00:00:55,000 --> 00:01:02,920 of offerings and alms, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues 7 00:01:02,920 --> 00:01:06,280 and in the streets that they may have glory from men. 8 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:09,960 Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 9 00:01:09,960 --> 00:01:16,200 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand 10 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:18,320 is doing. 11 00:01:18,320 --> 00:01:24,560 That your charitable deed may be in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will 12 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:28,080 himself reward you openly. 13 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:30,000 Let's pray. 14 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:34,280 Father, the text this morning is very clear. 15 00:01:34,280 --> 00:01:36,280 Lord, we hear the words of our Lord. 16 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:39,520 Lord, you desire truth in the inner man. 17 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:46,240 Father, that what we do is not for the acclaim and praise of men, but Lord, for the smile 18 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:47,840 of our Father in heaven. 19 00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:52,640 God, would you help us this morning, Lord, to understand ways that we have fallen short. 20 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:57,160 Lord, that we would even cast ourself upon your mercy. 21 00:01:57,160 --> 00:02:00,920 And Lord, God, that we would live our lives worthy of the gospel to which we have been 22 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:01,920 called. 23 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:03,840 Lord, we need your help this morning. 24 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:05,640 We need your spirit. 25 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:08,760 And you have promised to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask. 26 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:10,280 And so, Father, that's what I'm doing this morning. 27 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:11,880 I ask for him. 28 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:12,880 I ask for aid. 29 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:15,560 I ask for help and for empowerment. 30 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:20,200 And I pray, God, that you would grant this request in Jesus' name. 31 00:02:20,200 --> 00:02:21,200 Amen. 32 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:27,800 There's a story that appeared in Chaplain Magazine about Charles Spurgeon and his wife. 33 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:33,520 They raised chickens and then they would sell the eggs and refused to give any of the eggs 34 00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:34,520 away. 35 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:39,400 Apparently, even close relatives came to them and they were told, well, you can have them, 36 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:41,840 but you have to purchase them. 37 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:48,400 And when this was found out, many people began to criticize and label the Spurgeons as greedy. 38 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:52,160 Yet neither Spurgeon nor his wife ever defended themselves. 39 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:56,360 But they did not feel compelled to offer any explanation either. 40 00:02:56,360 --> 00:03:01,400 But the full story was not actually revealed until after Mrs. Spurgeon died. 41 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:06,040 And at that point, it was revealed the reason they sold the eggs is because all the prophets 42 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:10,120 went to support two elderly widows in their town. 43 00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:13,720 But Spurgeon nor his wife, they never told anyone. 44 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:18,040 They never let anyone know about their charity because they were unwilling to let their left 45 00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:23,680 hand know what their right hand was doing according to Matthew chapter 6 verse 3. 46 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:24,960 And so what happened? 47 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:27,440 They simply endured these attacks silently. 48 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:32,760 And I think that's really a great illustration of the point that our Lord is driving home 49 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:34,200 in our text this morning. 50 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:42,080 Now, we start a new chapter, Matthew 6, and here Jesus is going to focus on how we behave, 51 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:45,240 especially in regards to our religious life. 52 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:49,520 Now, his central thesis, his central point is not hard to pick up. 53 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:56,360 It's simply that this, you and I should practice our righteousness, our good deeds, so that 54 00:03:56,360 --> 00:04:01,120 God sees us and not be concerned with anyone else. 55 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:06,120 So basically, he's warning his disciples about hypocrisy in religion. 56 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:11,720 Now, in Judaism, there were three main pillars on which the religious life was built. 57 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:17,360 The giving of alms, the offering of prayers, and fasting. 58 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:19,320 Almsgiving is the way we relate it to others. 59 00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:21,440 It's our charity, if you will. 60 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:25,960 Prayer is the way we relate to God, particularly the Father, to whom our prayers are addressed. 61 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:30,080 And fasting is the way we relate to oneself in discipline. 62 00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:33,600 And those are the three aspects of religious life that Christ is going to focus on. 63 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:37,480 And you're going to see this next week when we look at prayer, then the following, I don't 64 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:40,880 know if we'll do it the following week or not, but we'll look at fasting. 65 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:44,360 Now see, we have to understand our Lord was not against any of those things. 66 00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:49,280 In fact, Jesus would consider all them good and even necessary. 67 00:04:49,280 --> 00:04:51,480 His disciples should give. 68 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:53,920 The disciples of Christ should pray. 69 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:56,680 And the disciples of Christ should fast. 70 00:04:56,680 --> 00:05:00,560 But what we are going to see in this text this morning, he is opposed to these good 71 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:05,160 things being done from an impure motive. 72 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:07,080 So what is our motive? 73 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:12,480 True piety is concerned with God and God alone. 74 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:15,680 So he's going to, once again, make a contrast. 75 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:20,920 There's the religious life of his disciples, and there's the religious life of the scribes 76 00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:25,120 and Pharisees who were the leading religious officials. 77 00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:30,520 And much of what these religious leaders did was simply to be seen by men rather than praised 78 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:32,240 by God. 79 00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:33,800 They were looking for outwardly. 80 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:35,800 They were looking horizontally, if you will. 81 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:40,680 Their eyes were not on God at all, but on those who would be watching them. 82 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:46,280 Now some theologians, they see a contradiction between chapter 6 verse 1 where it says, take 83 00:05:46,280 --> 00:05:51,480 heed, you don't do your charitable deeds before men, and chapter 5 verse 16 where it says, 84 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:56,480 let your light so shine before men that they, the good, the men might see your good works 85 00:05:56,480 --> 00:05:57,960 and glorify your Father in heaven. 86 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:00,240 I mean, is this a contradiction? 87 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:05,720 No, there's no conflict at all because what our Lord is condemning in chapter 6 is ostentatious. 88 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:13,160 This ostentation, this ostentatious, this flamboyant seeking to bring attention to oneself. 89 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:15,660 That is what he is warning against. 90 00:06:15,660 --> 00:06:23,600 Because listen, church, your life as a disciple of Christ is naturally and correctly public. 91 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:27,120 People ought to know that you are a disciple of Christ. 92 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:28,640 I mean, it shouldn't be like a surprise. 93 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:30,880 You mean John Doe, he's a Christian? 94 00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:33,620 Wow, I never would have thought that. 95 00:06:33,620 --> 00:06:35,480 Now we may not like the term religious. 96 00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:36,480 None of us do. 97 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:38,400 It's used pejoratively in our culture. 98 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:41,440 However, I would say this. 99 00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:50,400 Those who are lost ought to think of us, Christians, as religious, God-fearing people. 100 00:06:50,400 --> 00:06:55,840 Yet that does not give us the right to seek to bring attention to ourselves in our religious 101 00:06:55,840 --> 00:06:57,280 devotion and practice. 102 00:06:57,280 --> 00:07:02,480 See, there's a great difference between living your life in a public way that is godly, which 103 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:07,680 is all of us are called to do, and seeking to make a name for ourselves based on how 104 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:10,080 godly we supposedly are. 105 00:07:10,080 --> 00:07:11,680 Do you see? 106 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:14,960 We ought to be known as godly, but you ought not to be concerned that people know you as 107 00:07:14,960 --> 00:07:16,920 godly if you would say it that way. 108 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:20,080 Now the Pharisees, here's what was the problem with them. 109 00:07:20,080 --> 00:07:22,800 The Pharisees wanted to put on a show. 110 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:28,600 They wanted, they really hoped that others would notice how righteous they were. 111 00:07:28,600 --> 00:07:31,080 They wanted the esteem of men. 112 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:35,040 They wanted to be exalted in the eyes of other people. 113 00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:39,720 And Jesus saw clearly through this, he looks upon the heart, he saw the third motivation 114 00:07:39,720 --> 00:07:45,280 was not to please God, but rather garner attention to themselves, and in fact they were in a 115 00:07:45,280 --> 00:07:47,600 glory war. 116 00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:48,600 Who's going to get the glory? 117 00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:50,280 The Pharisees or God? 118 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:53,640 See, they wanted glory for themselves. 119 00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:59,360 All that people would speak their name highly, that people would hold them in high esteem, 120 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:05,640 rather than having the single-minded devotion of seeking to bring glory to God alone. 121 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:08,240 Now in our text today, Jesus looks to his followers. 122 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:10,700 Now the religious leaders are there listening to him. 123 00:08:10,700 --> 00:08:12,720 So this is really a secondary attack on them. 124 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:16,620 But he's talking to his followers and he says, now you take heed. 125 00:08:16,620 --> 00:08:20,000 Now listen, when the son of God says beware of something, we ought to beware. 126 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:24,360 He says take heed, pay attention to yourself, be cautious about what I'm getting ready 127 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:25,960 to say. 128 00:08:25,960 --> 00:08:31,520 So there's a warning about the way that we give, the way we give to the Lord, and the 129 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:33,800 way that we give to others in need. 130 00:08:33,800 --> 00:08:39,360 Now let me just say this, it is assumed that the disciples of Christ will give. 131 00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:41,240 It's assumed. 132 00:08:41,240 --> 00:08:48,080 If because you will give to support the church, and you're also going to give to charity, 133 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:51,040 to help brothers and sisters in need. 134 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:56,560 In fact, if you don't give, it is a sign that you are in trouble spiritually. 135 00:08:56,560 --> 00:09:00,680 Now I say that because you will always give to what is important to you. 136 00:09:00,680 --> 00:09:04,040 Look at your money, and look at your time, and now you'll find your God. 137 00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:08,080 Where you spend your money on and where you spend your time on, that's what you're serving. 138 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:10,360 Now people give much money, and they do it all the time. 139 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:14,800 We see people paying a lot of money for private music lessons, private sports lessons, traveling 140 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:15,800 for ball. 141 00:09:15,800 --> 00:09:17,760 Why, it's a priority to them. 142 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:20,160 Spend a lot of money on those things. 143 00:09:20,160 --> 00:09:24,680 The assumption then for God's people is that they're also going to give to support the 144 00:09:24,680 --> 00:09:30,840 work of God and take care of God's people because it is important to them. 145 00:09:30,840 --> 00:09:32,840 It is a priority. 146 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:34,720 So it is important to note though something. 147 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:36,360 Now look at the text again. 148 00:09:36,360 --> 00:09:40,400 Our Lord never said you cannot give in front of men. 149 00:09:40,400 --> 00:09:41,860 He didn't say that. 150 00:09:41,860 --> 00:09:48,080 The warning is to take heed, be careful that you're not doing it in order to be seen by 151 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:49,420 men. 152 00:09:49,420 --> 00:09:53,160 The focus is not on the act, it's on the motive. 153 00:09:53,160 --> 00:09:59,800 Take heed that you don't do your charitable deeds before men to be seen by them. 154 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:04,680 Desiring to be seen by men, the others are going to notice how pious you are. 155 00:10:04,680 --> 00:10:09,840 Again, I think this is a person that just is itching for commendation. 156 00:10:09,840 --> 00:10:12,600 Now that word to be seen is a really interesting word. 157 00:10:12,600 --> 00:10:14,400 Theaomai in Greek. 158 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:19,320 Theaomai, if you can look at it, you can see the first three letters there. 159 00:10:19,320 --> 00:10:23,120 This is the word from which we get our word theater, theaomai. 160 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:26,840 And it literally means to be seen, to be put on a stage. 161 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:33,960 So when you do any religious work, in this case giving, desiring, hoping to be seen by 162 00:10:33,960 --> 00:10:39,600 others, your giving becomes a theatrical performance. 163 00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:42,680 And that's exactly what the Pharisees and scribes were doing. 164 00:10:42,680 --> 00:10:46,620 They were in essence putting on a play in front of other people so that others would 165 00:10:46,620 --> 00:10:49,480 see them and applaud them for their devotion. 166 00:10:49,480 --> 00:10:53,080 Do you see the rife hypocrisy? 167 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:55,840 They're not giving to please God. 168 00:10:55,840 --> 00:11:00,240 Theirs was a performance designed to make an impression on the people who are watching 169 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:01,440 them. 170 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:02,440 That's what they wanted. 171 00:11:02,440 --> 00:11:06,920 And this type of giving will never be approved by God. 172 00:11:06,920 --> 00:11:13,080 In fact, Christ tells his disciples, you must be concerned and you must take peace in that 173 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:17,840 God knows and God sees. 174 00:11:17,840 --> 00:11:23,080 You and I live with an eye towards God, not with an eye towards others. 175 00:11:23,080 --> 00:11:26,480 Now I would say if you would have asked the scribes and Pharisees of that day, they would 176 00:11:26,480 --> 00:11:29,160 have agreed with Jesus in theory. 177 00:11:29,160 --> 00:11:33,240 Of course they would have said, you need to be concerned with what God thinks. 178 00:11:33,240 --> 00:11:34,720 But they did not live accordingly. 179 00:11:34,720 --> 00:11:36,920 And friends, you and I can do the same. 180 00:11:36,920 --> 00:11:38,500 We can give lip service to this. 181 00:11:38,500 --> 00:11:43,840 Of course all of us would agree it is more important that God sees what we are doing 182 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:48,000 rather than man sees what we are doing. 183 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:53,400 How many people still court public approval? 184 00:11:53,400 --> 00:11:55,980 They want to receive the applause of men. 185 00:11:55,980 --> 00:12:00,240 There are some people who will post their good deeds on social media hoping for likes 186 00:12:00,240 --> 00:12:02,000 and comments. 187 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:04,680 I'm not saying everyone who does it, I don't know. 188 00:12:04,680 --> 00:12:08,240 I'm just saying we have to, Jesus has taken key to yourself. 189 00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:10,920 Why are you doing what you are doing? 190 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:18,680 That which is done to please men will never ever receive God's accommodation or reward. 191 00:12:18,680 --> 00:12:20,400 Commendation let's say. 192 00:12:20,400 --> 00:12:23,440 You have no reward from your Father in heaven. 193 00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:28,000 It's a strong statement and it comes from the Son of God. 194 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:30,000 There is no reward for that. 195 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:31,840 Spurgeon says it well. 196 00:12:31,840 --> 00:12:37,840 You cannot expect to be paid twice if therefore you take your reward in the applause of men 197 00:12:37,840 --> 00:12:40,880 who give you a high character for generosity. 198 00:12:40,880 --> 00:12:44,080 You cannot expect to have any reward from God. 199 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:48,880 We ought to have a single eye to God's accepting what we give and to have little or no thought 200 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:52,640 of what man may say concerning our charitable gifts. 201 00:12:52,640 --> 00:12:54,720 Amen. 202 00:12:54,720 --> 00:12:56,720 Be content. 203 00:12:56,720 --> 00:13:02,880 God knows, God sees regardless if man ever does. 204 00:13:02,880 --> 00:13:07,520 Because when we are wanting the commendation of men or wanting the recognition that comes 205 00:13:07,520 --> 00:13:13,560 from man, church that reveals a heart that is full of pride. 206 00:13:13,560 --> 00:13:15,360 The deadly sin of pride. 207 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:18,440 The cancerous sin of pride. 208 00:13:18,440 --> 00:13:22,880 When you want others to notice how pious you are or whether you give or whether you pray 209 00:13:22,880 --> 00:13:25,240 or whether you attend, all those things. 210 00:13:25,240 --> 00:13:30,020 This is the man who is not satisfied that God knows. 211 00:13:30,020 --> 00:13:32,680 He wants the rest of the world to know also. 212 00:13:32,680 --> 00:13:35,000 And Jesus said to man take heed there. 213 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:36,000 You better be on guard. 214 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:38,160 And it's a real temptation. 215 00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:40,000 So there is a hypocritical giving. 216 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:41,000 Look at verse 2. 217 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:45,180 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, when you give your alms, don't sound a trumpet 218 00:13:45,180 --> 00:13:49,200 before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and the streets so that they may have glory 219 00:13:49,200 --> 00:13:50,200 for men. 220 00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:53,720 He said, assuredly, I'm telling you right now. 221 00:13:53,720 --> 00:13:55,920 That's the reward. 222 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:58,340 Now he says don't be like the hypocrites. 223 00:13:58,340 --> 00:14:00,240 We use the word hypocrite and we know what we mean. 224 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:06,280 But the word originally, it's hu-pock-rit-ace and it literally meant a stage actor. 225 00:14:06,280 --> 00:14:09,380 The word, so it's an actor on a stage. 226 00:14:09,380 --> 00:14:13,280 So hu-pock-rit-ace, it was used to describe one, because he's a stage actor, they would 227 00:14:13,280 --> 00:14:15,400 often wear masks. 228 00:14:15,400 --> 00:14:17,480 That's what the hypocrite was. 229 00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:22,140 So later it became to be used as a pretender. 230 00:14:22,140 --> 00:14:24,820 Someone who is metaphorically wearing a mask. 231 00:14:24,820 --> 00:14:29,560 You're pretending to be something or someone that you are not. 232 00:14:29,560 --> 00:14:34,160 A hypocrite is like a clean glove that's hiding a dirty hand. 233 00:14:34,160 --> 00:14:37,300 It pretends to be good, but in fact it is evil. 234 00:14:37,300 --> 00:14:41,600 One of the criticisms of the church, and you hear this a lot, and it's brained about all 235 00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:45,160 the time, is that the church is full of hypocrites. 236 00:14:45,160 --> 00:14:48,360 And let's be honest, the church has always had hypocrites in our midst and she always 237 00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:49,360 will. 238 00:14:49,360 --> 00:14:52,680 There will always be weed among tares, or tares among weed I should say. 239 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:58,040 We have the supreme hypocrite of Judas Iscariot who betrayed our Lord with a kiss. 240 00:14:58,040 --> 00:15:04,520 In the book of Acts, we have Ananias and Sapphira who sold some land and reportedly gave all 241 00:15:04,520 --> 00:15:07,600 the proceeds to the church, but they lied. 242 00:15:07,600 --> 00:15:11,720 They kept back some and it cost them their lives. 243 00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:15,720 Throughout the Old Testament, you cannot go very far without reading there were hypocritical 244 00:15:15,720 --> 00:15:17,320 worshipers of God. 245 00:15:17,320 --> 00:15:21,520 The Old Testament hypocrites, they thought they were fine as long as they went through 246 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:26,560 religious motions and the religious rites, then somehow they are pleasing to God. 247 00:15:26,560 --> 00:15:29,360 But God was weary of it. 248 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:35,880 He has never desired mere external compliance, but rather inward delight. 249 00:15:35,880 --> 00:15:44,120 Amos 5, I hate, I despise your feast days. 250 00:15:44,120 --> 00:15:48,280 And I do not savor your sacred assemblies, that's the gathering. 251 00:15:48,280 --> 00:15:53,120 Though you offer me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, nor 252 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:56,680 will I regard your fattened peace offerings. 253 00:15:56,680 --> 00:15:58,720 Take away from me the noise of your songs. 254 00:15:58,720 --> 00:16:00,720 They're singing to you. 255 00:16:00,720 --> 00:16:06,320 For I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments, but let justice run down like 256 00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:11,400 water and righteousness like a mighty stream. 257 00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:18,280 See the problem was the people, religious, they were not living righteously. 258 00:16:18,280 --> 00:16:22,360 They were living unrighteously, yet they still went to the temple, they still offered their 259 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:29,160 sacrifices, they still sang the praises to Jehovah, and God says, I hate it all. 260 00:16:29,160 --> 00:16:30,160 Stop it. 261 00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:31,160 You weary me. 262 00:16:31,160 --> 00:16:32,880 You make me tired. 263 00:16:32,880 --> 00:16:37,680 Because any religious activity that is not accompanied by a righteous living, an inner 264 00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:42,280 heart desire, is an abomination to God. 265 00:16:42,280 --> 00:16:43,700 See God is not pleased. 266 00:16:43,700 --> 00:16:51,160 In this case, religious exercise simply becomes a way that you can soothe your conscience. 267 00:16:51,160 --> 00:16:55,080 Today there are many people who try to soothe their conscience in a hypocritical way. 268 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:58,960 Oh, they're not living righteously, but they'll write a check to the church. 269 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:03,920 Oh, they're not living righteously, but they will give to charity. 270 00:17:03,920 --> 00:17:08,240 They're not living righteously, but they will attend the services. 271 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:15,120 And they assume somehow that that's going to pay God off or please God by their actions. 272 00:17:15,120 --> 00:17:16,840 God says he hates it. 273 00:17:16,840 --> 00:17:23,720 Isaiah chapter one, he says, to what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to me? 274 00:17:23,720 --> 00:17:28,480 Says the Lord, I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle. 275 00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:32,920 I do not delight in the blood of bulls or lambs or goats. 276 00:17:32,920 --> 00:17:37,920 When you come to appear before me, who has required this from your hand to trample my 277 00:17:37,920 --> 00:17:39,760 courts? 278 00:17:39,760 --> 00:17:43,280 Bring no more feudal sacrifices. 279 00:17:43,280 --> 00:17:45,280 Incense is an abomination to me. 280 00:17:45,280 --> 00:17:49,560 The new moons and Sabbath and the calling of assemblies, I cannot endure iniquity in 281 00:17:49,560 --> 00:17:51,640 the sacred meeting. 282 00:17:51,640 --> 00:17:56,240 Your new moons and your appointed feasts, my soul hates. 283 00:17:56,240 --> 00:17:58,000 They're a trouble to me. 284 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:01,000 I am weary of bearing them. 285 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:05,960 When you spread out your hands to pray, I will hide my eyes from you. 286 00:18:05,960 --> 00:18:11,640 Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear what your hands are full of blood. 287 00:18:11,640 --> 00:18:12,640 What's the answer? 288 00:18:12,640 --> 00:18:13,840 Wash yourselves. 289 00:18:13,840 --> 00:18:15,140 Make yourselves clean. 290 00:18:15,140 --> 00:18:18,440 Let away the evil of your doings from before my eyes. 291 00:18:18,440 --> 00:18:19,440 Cease to do evil. 292 00:18:19,440 --> 00:18:22,000 And he's talking to religious people. 293 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:23,000 Learn to do good. 294 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:24,000 Seek justice. 295 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:25,560 Rebuke the oppressor. 296 00:18:25,560 --> 00:18:26,560 Defend the fatherless. 297 00:18:26,560 --> 00:18:27,740 Plead for the widows. 298 00:18:27,740 --> 00:18:29,600 Look out for the poor and marginalize. 299 00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:32,600 Let justice fall. 300 00:18:32,600 --> 00:18:37,920 And he knows he's speaking to a wicked people and he offers this gracious invitation. 301 00:18:37,920 --> 00:18:41,760 Come now and let us reason together, says the Lord. 302 00:18:41,760 --> 00:18:44,560 Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow. 303 00:18:44,560 --> 00:18:48,400 Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 304 00:18:48,400 --> 00:18:51,040 Do you see what was taking place? 305 00:18:51,040 --> 00:18:56,000 They were honoring God with their lips and their hearts were far from him. 306 00:18:56,000 --> 00:19:00,920 And this is the same indictment that Jesus is making in Matthew 6 concerning the hypocrisy 307 00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:05,360 of the scribes and Pharisees, the leading religious officials. 308 00:19:05,360 --> 00:19:07,600 They were hypocrites. 309 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:09,760 The Puritan Thomas Watson, he writes about hypocrites. 310 00:19:09,760 --> 00:19:17,160 He said, they desire not the way of righteousness, but they do desire the crown of righteousness. 311 00:19:17,160 --> 00:19:22,900 He doesn't want to be made like Christ, but he wants to reign with Christ. 312 00:19:22,900 --> 00:19:28,660 He wants heaven, but he also wants to keep his pride and covetousness. 313 00:19:28,660 --> 00:19:33,680 As Arthur Pink says, hypocrites want a savior from hell, but they do not want a savior from 314 00:19:33,680 --> 00:19:36,720 their sin. 315 00:19:36,720 --> 00:19:38,680 Hypocrisy is subtle, church. 316 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:43,080 This is why Jesus talking to his followers says, take heed. 317 00:19:43,080 --> 00:19:44,080 Beware. 318 00:19:44,080 --> 00:19:46,080 It is very dangerous. 319 00:19:46,080 --> 00:19:51,400 And the danger is because it allows something that appears to be good, charitable giving, 320 00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:55,160 giving to the Lord to be used as an evil. 321 00:19:55,160 --> 00:20:00,840 Again, I want you to notice friends, when you do a charitable deed, verse 2, it's when, 322 00:20:00,840 --> 00:20:02,640 it's not if. 323 00:20:02,640 --> 00:20:06,760 It's always expected the disciples of Christ, the followers of God will be generous charitable 324 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:10,320 people both to the Lord's work and to poor people. 325 00:20:10,320 --> 00:20:15,240 Billy Graham says, God has given us two hands, one to receive with, the other to give with. 326 00:20:15,240 --> 00:20:17,120 You and I are not cisterns made for hoarding. 327 00:20:17,120 --> 00:20:20,120 We are channels made for sharing. 328 00:20:20,120 --> 00:20:22,040 And our selfish generation needs to hear that. 329 00:20:22,040 --> 00:20:24,900 And by the way, a younger demographic needs to hear that. 330 00:20:24,900 --> 00:20:29,160 The most generous people are not the younger people who are in the prime of their careers. 331 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:31,520 It's all about themselves. 332 00:20:31,520 --> 00:20:32,520 God help you. 333 00:20:32,520 --> 00:20:34,440 That's hypocrisy, friends. 334 00:20:34,440 --> 00:20:40,160 And I say that as lovingly as I can, this is going to fall under the scrutiny of God 335 00:20:40,160 --> 00:20:41,160 Himself. 336 00:20:41,160 --> 00:20:44,720 One of the ways we give to the Lord though, we do give, how? 337 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:46,480 We give tithes, we give offerings. 338 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:48,720 Secondly, we also give to those in need. 339 00:20:48,720 --> 00:20:52,220 And let me say this, Christians ought to do both. 340 00:20:52,220 --> 00:20:55,160 We give to fund the Lord's work and we also give to our brothers and sisters who need 341 00:20:55,160 --> 00:20:56,160 help. 342 00:20:56,160 --> 00:20:57,840 And who's our neighbor? 343 00:20:57,840 --> 00:20:58,840 It's not just Lawrence County. 344 00:20:58,840 --> 00:21:03,120 It's believers throughout the world in this kingdom. 345 00:21:03,120 --> 00:21:05,600 John McCarthy had a good quote that helped me. 346 00:21:05,600 --> 00:21:09,080 He said, never in the history of the church have Christians been so bombarded with appeals 347 00:21:09,080 --> 00:21:12,920 to give money, many of them to legitimate and worthwhile causes. 348 00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:14,400 Right now we're in Christmas season. 349 00:21:14,400 --> 00:21:17,640 Your mailbox is going to be inundated if you've ever given to any religious charity. 350 00:21:17,640 --> 00:21:20,680 They're all going to be asking for end of the year donations. 351 00:21:20,680 --> 00:21:24,640 Knowing how and where to give is sometimes extremely difficult. 352 00:21:24,640 --> 00:21:28,240 Christians are to give regularly and systematically to the work of their local church. 353 00:21:28,240 --> 00:21:29,560 First Corinthians 16, 2. 354 00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:33,320 Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in store as God has 355 00:21:33,320 --> 00:21:36,800 promised for him that there'll be no gatherings when it come. 356 00:21:36,800 --> 00:21:40,440 That you and I are also called to give directly to those in need when we have the opportunity 357 00:21:40,440 --> 00:21:42,640 to do so and the ability. 358 00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:49,440 But the Old New Testament's make it clear that willing, generous giving has always characterized 359 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:51,040 the faithful people of God. 360 00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:52,040 It's true. 361 00:21:52,040 --> 00:21:53,040 Why? 362 00:21:53,040 --> 00:21:55,140 Because that's how our God has been to us. 363 00:21:55,140 --> 00:21:59,000 As God has been to us, so must we be to other people. 364 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:00,000 How was God to us? 365 00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:01,000 You're like, what do you mean? 366 00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:02,360 How has God been so generous? 367 00:22:02,360 --> 00:22:03,800 Second Corinthians 8, 9. 368 00:22:03,800 --> 00:22:08,680 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though he was rich, yet for your sake, 369 00:22:08,680 --> 00:22:12,240 that's for us, he became poor. 370 00:22:12,240 --> 00:22:16,480 You and I through his poverty might become rich. 371 00:22:16,480 --> 00:22:17,480 Wow. 372 00:22:17,480 --> 00:22:20,080 Jesus, you're talking about being rich? 373 00:22:20,080 --> 00:22:23,520 I mean, we're talking about richness that no one knows, including Bill Gates or Jeff 374 00:22:23,520 --> 00:22:25,400 Bezos. 375 00:22:25,400 --> 00:22:34,520 He willingly impoverished himself so that you and I, the people of God, might be enriched. 376 00:22:34,520 --> 00:22:36,480 That's the same spirit that was in Christ. 377 00:22:36,480 --> 00:22:38,480 It's the same spirit that now lives in his people. 378 00:22:38,480 --> 00:22:42,560 So this is what I do know, the people of God will be a generous people because God is a 379 00:22:42,560 --> 00:22:43,560 generous God. 380 00:22:43,560 --> 00:22:48,040 But he's also very concerned with the poor among us. 381 00:22:48,040 --> 00:22:49,040 Very concerned. 382 00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:50,840 We have to meet needs. 383 00:22:50,840 --> 00:22:51,840 John asks a question. 384 00:22:51,840 --> 00:22:58,680 He says, but whoever has this world's goods, 1 John 3, and sees his brother in need and 385 00:22:58,680 --> 00:23:05,120 shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God invite him? 386 00:23:05,120 --> 00:23:08,400 He said, my little children, we need to love not just in word or tongue, not just in what 387 00:23:08,400 --> 00:23:12,880 you say, but in deed and in truth. 388 00:23:12,880 --> 00:23:15,320 You meet the needs of the poor brothers. 389 00:23:15,320 --> 00:23:16,880 And we have a responsibility to do that. 390 00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:20,480 And we've got poor brothers in third world countries and developing countries that don't 391 00:23:20,480 --> 00:23:21,480 have enough to eat. 392 00:23:21,480 --> 00:23:24,520 So John and I, we need to meet those needs. 393 00:23:24,520 --> 00:23:27,280 Now obviously you have to meet the needs of your family first. 394 00:23:27,280 --> 00:23:29,160 But we have a responsibility. 395 00:23:29,160 --> 00:23:30,660 We're a generous people. 396 00:23:30,660 --> 00:23:34,760 God takes giving so seriously that he says, if you lend to the poor, now listen to this, 397 00:23:34,760 --> 00:23:35,760 this is amazing. 398 00:23:35,760 --> 00:23:39,040 He considers it almost like you're giving a loan to him. 399 00:23:39,040 --> 00:23:40,720 You're like, how could you ever loan God? 400 00:23:40,720 --> 00:23:41,720 It's not my word. 401 00:23:41,720 --> 00:23:43,640 Look at Proverbs 19, 17. 402 00:23:43,640 --> 00:23:50,360 He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord and that which he has given will the Lord 403 00:23:50,360 --> 00:23:52,400 pay back. 404 00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:53,400 I know I just messed that verse up. 405 00:23:53,400 --> 00:23:57,380 I was quoting King James and you see the new King James there. 406 00:23:57,380 --> 00:24:00,240 He whoever has pity on the Lord lends to the Lord and that which he's given, the Lord will 407 00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:02,600 pay back. 408 00:24:02,600 --> 00:24:06,860 During the time of Jesus, now understand how they did their giving. 409 00:24:06,860 --> 00:24:08,900 You and I, we have one collection plate here. 410 00:24:08,900 --> 00:24:10,960 Now before COVID, we used to pass the plate. 411 00:24:10,960 --> 00:24:11,960 After COVID, we've not done it. 412 00:24:11,960 --> 00:24:15,840 So it's been so long that many of us don't remember how it was done. 413 00:24:15,840 --> 00:24:18,160 There used to be a box back in the foyer for a collection box. 414 00:24:18,160 --> 00:24:20,240 And that's how it was done for a long time. 415 00:24:20,240 --> 00:24:23,640 But at the time of Jesus in the temple, there were these large collection boxes that were 416 00:24:23,640 --> 00:24:27,260 there in front of the temple and they were used to collect offerings. 417 00:24:27,260 --> 00:24:28,920 That's why you remember the widow put her two mites in. 418 00:24:28,920 --> 00:24:31,460 Jesus and his disciples could see it. 419 00:24:31,460 --> 00:24:35,880 Now there were certain appointed temple officers who would go and they would collect the offering 420 00:24:35,880 --> 00:24:41,480 from the boxes and later they would go amongst the poor of the town and distribute the money. 421 00:24:41,480 --> 00:24:44,080 But the scribes and Pharisees, no, no, no, no, no. 422 00:24:44,080 --> 00:24:46,240 They wanted the attention from others. 423 00:24:46,240 --> 00:24:49,680 So in order to get other people to see how much they were giving, and by the way, the 424 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:53,920 scribes were a very rich class, they would not put their money in the boxes. 425 00:24:53,920 --> 00:24:57,400 They would put their money at the door of the temple or the synagogue instead of in 426 00:24:57,400 --> 00:24:59,320 the collection box. 427 00:24:59,320 --> 00:25:00,760 Or they would just take their money personally. 428 00:25:00,760 --> 00:25:02,640 They would never give it to the temple. 429 00:25:02,640 --> 00:25:07,880 They would just go amongst the street distributing the money themselves as they were walking. 430 00:25:07,880 --> 00:25:10,800 Well, who's getting the glory there? 431 00:25:10,800 --> 00:25:12,760 Jesus said they're hypocrites. 432 00:25:12,760 --> 00:25:18,000 He said, you're not concerned for the poor, but for the glory of man. 433 00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:19,240 That's what they loved. 434 00:25:19,240 --> 00:25:23,320 Just like remember Judas, he was a treasure and he says, hey, why was this flask broken 435 00:25:23,320 --> 00:25:25,480 and not sold and given to the poor? 436 00:25:25,480 --> 00:25:29,920 And the caption says not that he cared for the poor because he was a thief and already 437 00:25:29,920 --> 00:25:32,240 had his hand in the money bag basically. 438 00:25:32,240 --> 00:25:35,240 See, the hypocrisy. 439 00:25:35,240 --> 00:25:37,320 And this is exactly what was taking place here. 440 00:25:37,320 --> 00:25:42,760 So these men, very wealthy, giving to gain the admiration of others who would notice 441 00:25:42,760 --> 00:25:44,760 how much they gave. 442 00:25:44,760 --> 00:25:49,760 And what should have been a good deed has now become sin in their lives. 443 00:25:49,760 --> 00:25:53,360 As I think about this, I think it is a test of our worship. 444 00:25:53,360 --> 00:26:00,760 Are you okay if no one ever knows what you do, where you serve, or how much you give 445 00:26:00,760 --> 00:26:01,960 except God? 446 00:26:01,960 --> 00:26:07,520 Now again, I'm not saying that no one can ever know that you give or even how much. 447 00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:12,760 The point the Lord is making is don't sound a trumpet like the hypocrites do. 448 00:26:12,760 --> 00:26:15,960 And the sound of trumpet, some people say that was a little trumpet because there was 449 00:26:15,960 --> 00:26:18,040 times the trumpets were blown for worship. 450 00:26:18,040 --> 00:26:19,800 I think the Lord is speaking metaphorically. 451 00:26:19,800 --> 00:26:22,560 It's kind of like we're saying don't toot your own horn. 452 00:26:22,560 --> 00:26:27,680 Listen, don't call attention to yourself because there have been times, and I think this is 453 00:26:27,680 --> 00:26:32,000 wonderful, in private conversations, I have church members from this blessed church come 454 00:26:32,000 --> 00:26:38,120 up to me and say, hey, pastor, is there any missionary or any person that's in need of 455 00:26:38,120 --> 00:26:40,680 this church we would like to give? 456 00:26:40,680 --> 00:26:43,640 And they don't tell me how much, but could you help us direct it to where it would go 457 00:26:43,640 --> 00:26:44,640 to a needy cause? 458 00:26:44,640 --> 00:26:47,040 The Lord's not against that. 459 00:26:47,040 --> 00:26:48,040 That's a great way. 460 00:26:48,040 --> 00:26:52,800 Or, I'm going to say this, if you write a check to the church, the financial secretary, 461 00:26:52,800 --> 00:26:55,760 not I, she's going to record it and deposit the check. 462 00:26:55,760 --> 00:26:57,600 She's going to know how much you give. 463 00:26:57,600 --> 00:27:01,320 If you do a charitable deduction giving statement on your taxes, the IRS is going to know how 464 00:27:01,320 --> 00:27:02,320 much you give. 465 00:27:02,320 --> 00:27:04,960 None of that is what our Lord is prohibiting. 466 00:27:04,960 --> 00:27:05,960 He's not saying that. 467 00:27:05,960 --> 00:27:08,720 But here's what he is prohibiting. 468 00:27:08,720 --> 00:27:14,520 If you give so that, people know how much. 469 00:27:14,520 --> 00:27:16,120 That's what he's warning against. 470 00:27:16,120 --> 00:27:19,040 The rebuke is against an impure motive. 471 00:27:19,040 --> 00:27:23,680 They want it to be seen by men. 472 00:27:23,680 --> 00:27:25,680 Sometimes people will see you. 473 00:27:25,680 --> 00:27:28,040 Just make it sure it's not your aim that they do. 474 00:27:28,040 --> 00:27:29,120 Now look at the second part. 475 00:27:29,120 --> 00:27:33,000 He said, their reward is the glory that man can give. 476 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:34,080 How sad. 477 00:27:34,080 --> 00:27:35,080 You want man's praise? 478 00:27:35,080 --> 00:27:40,560 Well, you have it, but you get nothing from God except his rebuke. 479 00:27:40,560 --> 00:27:44,160 It's a fleeting, shallow glory. 480 00:27:44,160 --> 00:27:46,120 So why do you and I give? 481 00:27:46,120 --> 00:27:50,960 For the glory of God, not for any glory that can come from man. 482 00:27:50,960 --> 00:27:51,960 So then how do you and I give? 483 00:27:51,960 --> 00:27:53,040 Well, there's a righteous giving. 484 00:27:53,040 --> 00:27:54,600 Look at the last two verses. 485 00:27:54,600 --> 00:27:58,320 But when you give, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that 486 00:27:58,320 --> 00:27:59,520 your giving may be in secret. 487 00:27:59,520 --> 00:28:04,640 And your father who sees in secret will himself, I love that, will himself reward you openly. 488 00:28:04,640 --> 00:28:10,920 When you give, whether to the church or to charity or to both, it ought to be done as 489 00:28:10,920 --> 00:28:13,580 discreetly as possible. 490 00:28:13,580 --> 00:28:16,160 And leave the recognition to God. 491 00:28:16,160 --> 00:28:19,560 He says, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 492 00:28:19,560 --> 00:28:23,120 Again, he's speaking with intended exaggeration for effect. 493 00:28:23,120 --> 00:28:24,740 He's speaking metaphorically here. 494 00:28:24,740 --> 00:28:26,320 But I want you to notice the contrast. 495 00:28:26,320 --> 00:28:28,340 What did the hypocrites do? 496 00:28:28,340 --> 00:28:29,920 They blew a trumpet publicly. 497 00:28:29,920 --> 00:28:36,240 It says, in the synagogues and in the streets, and our Lord says, no, no, no, no, no. 498 00:28:36,240 --> 00:28:38,000 Here's what I want you to do. 499 00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:42,320 Your giving, let it be so private that if it were even possible, you don't even let 500 00:28:42,320 --> 00:28:43,320 yourself know. 501 00:28:43,320 --> 00:28:45,240 And I know that sounds crazy, doesn't it? 502 00:28:45,240 --> 00:28:46,920 It's a metaphor. 503 00:28:46,920 --> 00:28:52,160 The true child of God gives with the goal of pleasing our Father and the satisfaction 504 00:28:52,160 --> 00:28:54,720 knowing that he sees and that's enough. 505 00:28:54,720 --> 00:28:57,400 Now look at the promise in verse four. 506 00:28:57,400 --> 00:29:01,480 The Father sees your giving in secret. 507 00:29:01,480 --> 00:29:04,160 He's going to reward you openly. 508 00:29:04,160 --> 00:29:05,600 It's enough. 509 00:29:05,600 --> 00:29:08,120 God knows, God sees. 510 00:29:08,120 --> 00:29:11,120 If you give secretly and you say, well, no one knows it, let me assure you, there is 511 00:29:11,120 --> 00:29:17,180 someone who knows it because God knows what is done in secret, always. 512 00:29:17,180 --> 00:29:18,180 So why do you and I give? 513 00:29:18,180 --> 00:29:20,760 Out of obedient, grateful hearts. 514 00:29:20,760 --> 00:29:26,840 But Jesus would tell his people, leave the bookkeeping to God. 515 00:29:26,840 --> 00:29:29,000 God will reward you openly. 516 00:29:29,000 --> 00:29:32,920 Now I am not told and we are not told when that open reward will come nor what it will 517 00:29:32,920 --> 00:29:33,920 be. 518 00:29:33,920 --> 00:29:37,400 We are simply told it's going to come. 519 00:29:37,400 --> 00:29:41,880 Now some say, well, listen, pastor, you should not seek to serve the Lord for any reward 520 00:29:41,880 --> 00:29:42,880 in life. 521 00:29:42,880 --> 00:29:46,000 That virtue itself is its own reward. 522 00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:49,920 Well now that sounds good and that sounds pious, except it goes against what our Lord 523 00:29:49,920 --> 00:29:51,420 says here. 524 00:29:51,420 --> 00:29:55,920 He promises three times that his Father in heaven will see what you're doing secretly 525 00:29:55,920 --> 00:29:57,840 and reward you openly. 526 00:29:57,840 --> 00:30:02,560 Verse four, verse six, verse 18. 527 00:30:02,560 --> 00:30:07,200 Verse four, giving, verse six, praying, verse 18, fasting. 528 00:30:07,200 --> 00:30:10,840 The right type of giving, the right type of praying, the right type of fasting will come 529 00:30:10,840 --> 00:30:12,120 with a reward from God. 530 00:30:12,120 --> 00:30:16,480 And again, I don't know what the reward consists of and I don't know when God will give it, 531 00:30:16,480 --> 00:30:21,440 but we can rest assured that God always, always, always keeps his promises. 532 00:30:21,440 --> 00:30:25,200 But let me tell you what the reward is not. 533 00:30:25,200 --> 00:30:26,760 This I do know. 534 00:30:26,760 --> 00:30:31,440 The reward for fasting and praying and giving is not salvation nor entrance into the kingdom 535 00:30:31,440 --> 00:30:33,120 of God. 536 00:30:33,120 --> 00:30:34,120 It's not. 537 00:30:34,120 --> 00:30:40,260 During the time of Christ, there was a lot of poor teaching and confusion concerning 538 00:30:40,260 --> 00:30:42,440 charitable giving. 539 00:30:42,440 --> 00:30:45,280 And this is where it really gone downhill quickly. 540 00:30:45,280 --> 00:30:52,800 Many rabbis taught that almsgiving, giving to the poor, could atone for sin. 541 00:30:52,800 --> 00:30:57,560 But there's an apocryphal book, the Wisdom of Sirach, this is not inspired, but people 542 00:30:57,560 --> 00:30:58,560 read it. 543 00:30:58,560 --> 00:30:59,560 It was used. 544 00:30:59,560 --> 00:31:03,920 Wisdom of Sirach, chapter three, verse 30 says this, as water will quench a flaming 545 00:31:03,920 --> 00:31:06,840 fire so charity will atone for sin. 546 00:31:06,840 --> 00:31:08,200 Now that's heresy. 547 00:31:08,200 --> 00:31:10,140 That's not true. 548 00:31:10,140 --> 00:31:16,080 Some others taught that almsgiving will deliver from hell and can make one perfectly righteous. 549 00:31:16,080 --> 00:31:18,960 So you know what began to happen in the Jewish culture? 550 00:31:18,960 --> 00:31:25,560 They came to believe it would be easier for a rich man to go into the kingdom of heaven 551 00:31:25,560 --> 00:31:28,320 because he had more to give to charity. 552 00:31:28,320 --> 00:31:30,780 That's why they started to esteem. 553 00:31:30,780 --> 00:31:34,720 They said, so when Jesus said it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle 554 00:31:34,720 --> 00:31:37,960 for a rich man in their kingdom, they're like, well, who can be saved? 555 00:31:37,960 --> 00:31:39,960 Why did they say that? 556 00:31:39,960 --> 00:31:41,840 They're products of their culture. 557 00:31:41,840 --> 00:31:45,400 If you give a lot, it was expected that you would certainly make it into heaven because 558 00:31:45,400 --> 00:31:49,240 people began to see salvation as a financial transaction. 559 00:31:49,240 --> 00:31:53,160 The more you give, the greater your chances of making it into the kingdom. 560 00:31:53,160 --> 00:31:56,300 But here's the truth. 561 00:31:56,300 --> 00:32:02,080 There is not any amount of money that can ever atone for sin. 562 00:32:02,080 --> 00:32:07,600 There are not enough good deeds and not enough alms to be given that can ever atone for your 563 00:32:07,600 --> 00:32:08,600 sin. 564 00:32:08,600 --> 00:32:09,640 It's an impossibility. 565 00:32:09,640 --> 00:32:10,980 You can't do enough. 566 00:32:10,980 --> 00:32:12,240 You can't give enough. 567 00:32:12,240 --> 00:32:15,960 You can't be good enough to rescue yourself from hell. 568 00:32:15,960 --> 00:32:16,960 It's an impossibility. 569 00:32:16,960 --> 00:32:20,400 Well, how can I ever be saved? 570 00:32:20,400 --> 00:32:26,840 The good news is only by the precious blood of the spotless lamb of God. 571 00:32:26,840 --> 00:32:28,840 It alone atones for sin. 572 00:32:28,840 --> 00:32:35,960 First Peter 1, knowing, you need to know this church, you were not redeemed with corruptible 573 00:32:35,960 --> 00:32:38,120 things like silver or gold. 574 00:32:38,120 --> 00:32:39,840 Why is he saying that? 575 00:32:39,840 --> 00:32:43,200 Because some people thought they were redeemed with silver and gold. 576 00:32:43,200 --> 00:32:46,680 You are not redeemed with those corruptible things from your aimless conduct received 577 00:32:46,680 --> 00:32:48,480 by traditions from your fathers. 578 00:32:48,480 --> 00:32:52,360 Well, how were you redeemed then? 579 00:32:52,360 --> 00:33:01,920 With the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 580 00:33:01,920 --> 00:33:04,680 So what's the bottom line in all this? 581 00:33:04,680 --> 00:33:09,400 The scribes and Pharisees, the ones who are supposed to be leading people to God, they 582 00:33:09,400 --> 00:33:11,400 were in a war with God. 583 00:33:11,400 --> 00:33:17,000 They wanted the glory, the esteem, and the accolades of the people. 584 00:33:17,000 --> 00:33:21,760 They wanted to be seen as a somebody and held in high honor. 585 00:33:21,760 --> 00:33:23,800 That's what they were driving at. 586 00:33:23,800 --> 00:33:29,360 Their eyes were always horizontal, looking to their fellow man to make sure that man 587 00:33:29,360 --> 00:33:32,800 noticed what they were doing. 588 00:33:32,800 --> 00:33:37,240 And our Lord comes on the scene, the divine Son of God. 589 00:33:37,240 --> 00:33:40,440 He's the true crown prince of heaven. 590 00:33:40,440 --> 00:33:46,920 And he always had his eye vertical, looking to his father for his approval. 591 00:33:46,920 --> 00:33:50,880 This is why our Lord never tries to make himself to be a somebody. 592 00:33:50,880 --> 00:33:53,160 He never tries to make a name for himself. 593 00:33:53,160 --> 00:34:00,200 Rather, he to whom all the glory in the cosmos is owed, he has all the glory that belongs 594 00:34:00,200 --> 00:34:02,720 to him. 595 00:34:02,720 --> 00:34:06,920 We read that he humbled himself and made himself of no reputation. 596 00:34:06,920 --> 00:34:08,320 No name. 597 00:34:08,320 --> 00:34:10,520 Philippians 2. 598 00:34:10,520 --> 00:34:17,320 Jesus, who being in the form of God, he was God, did not consider robbery to be equal 599 00:34:17,320 --> 00:34:18,320 with God. 600 00:34:18,320 --> 00:34:20,440 He didn't hold on to his divine status. 601 00:34:20,440 --> 00:34:29,880 But he made himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bond-servant, that's a slave, 602 00:34:29,880 --> 00:34:35,120 doulas, and coming in the likeness of man and being found in appearance as a man. 603 00:34:35,120 --> 00:34:36,120 He took on our nature. 604 00:34:36,120 --> 00:34:38,320 He was born in flesh. 605 00:34:38,320 --> 00:34:46,880 God, Jesus, humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the 606 00:34:46,880 --> 00:34:49,000 cross. 607 00:34:49,000 --> 00:34:51,920 Praise be to God. 608 00:34:51,920 --> 00:34:56,780 You and I are in the season of Advent, where we celebrate the greatest gift that God could 609 00:34:56,780 --> 00:34:59,360 ever give to mankind. 610 00:34:59,360 --> 00:35:02,680 It's the unspeakable gift of his Son. 611 00:35:02,680 --> 00:35:03,680 This is incredible. 612 00:35:03,680 --> 00:35:04,840 This is grace. 613 00:35:04,840 --> 00:35:07,080 This is true glory. 614 00:35:07,080 --> 00:35:12,420 We celebrate the riches of God's grace in that he sent us Christ, the one who would 615 00:35:12,420 --> 00:35:19,920 offer his own body as a sacrifice that would redeem his sinful people. 616 00:35:19,920 --> 00:35:23,760 Friends, this is what the scriptures tell us. 617 00:35:23,760 --> 00:35:29,400 You and I have been redeemed by the rich king who impoverished himself. 618 00:35:29,400 --> 00:35:36,400 He made himself poor so that we, his very, very poor people, might be enriched. 619 00:35:36,400 --> 00:35:42,920 And after we have come to Christ, that same generous spirit now lives in us. 620 00:35:42,920 --> 00:35:47,320 And we do it for an audience of one, for God himself. 621 00:35:47,320 --> 00:35:50,520 I close with this quote from Spurgeon. 622 00:35:50,520 --> 00:35:53,320 He says, let us hide away our charity. 623 00:35:53,320 --> 00:35:56,720 That's what he and his wife did when they sold eggs. 624 00:35:56,720 --> 00:36:00,000 Hide it, yes, hide it even from ourselves. 625 00:36:00,000 --> 00:36:04,680 Give so often and so much as a matter of course that you no more take note that you have helped 626 00:36:04,680 --> 00:36:07,160 the poor than you have eaten your regular meals. 627 00:36:07,160 --> 00:36:09,160 He said, you probably don't even take notice of what you're eating. 628 00:36:09,160 --> 00:36:10,160 You just do it. 629 00:36:10,160 --> 00:36:12,760 That ought to be how often you're giving. 630 00:36:12,760 --> 00:36:17,180 Do your alms without even whispering to yourself, how generous I am. 631 00:36:17,180 --> 00:36:19,560 Do not thus attempt to reward yourself. 632 00:36:19,560 --> 00:36:24,280 Leave the matter with God, who never fails to see, to record, and to reward. 633 00:36:24,280 --> 00:36:27,920 Thus is the man who is busy and secret with his kindness. 634 00:36:27,920 --> 00:36:28,920 Amen. 635 00:36:28,920 --> 00:36:29,920 Amen. 636 00:36:29,920 --> 00:36:33,720 This is what our Lord was driving at in Matthew 6. 637 00:36:33,720 --> 00:36:36,640 All friends, we have a great God. 638 00:36:36,640 --> 00:36:40,560 He took notice of us in our pitiable condition. 639 00:36:40,560 --> 00:36:47,160 When we are lost without God having no hope in the world, in the fullness of time, I send 640 00:36:47,160 --> 00:36:48,720 the son. 641 00:36:48,720 --> 00:36:52,160 And he sends a son who will redeem us at the high cost of his own life with the precious 642 00:36:52,160 --> 00:36:54,160 blood that he would offer. 643 00:36:54,160 --> 00:36:55,920 He rose again. 644 00:36:55,920 --> 00:36:57,720 He ascended into heaven. 645 00:36:57,720 --> 00:37:01,360 He is crowned as now the King of Heaven. 646 00:37:01,360 --> 00:37:06,100 And you and I get to have fellowship with this King today as the Spirit of God lifts 647 00:37:06,100 --> 00:37:10,240 us up with our Lord, because we are seated with him in the heavenly places, and we do 648 00:37:10,240 --> 00:37:13,440 so at the meal that God has designed. 649 00:37:13,440 --> 00:37:18,840 Let us commune with this King who is rich and made himself poor so that we, his poor 650 00:37:18,840 --> 00:37:21,200 people, might be made rich. 651 00:37:21,200 --> 00:37:22,680 What a glorious God. 652 00:37:22,680 --> 00:37:25,600 Let us prepare our hearts for communion at this time. 653 00:37:25,600 --> 00:37:29,240 Father, thank you for your word. 654 00:37:29,240 --> 00:37:34,480 It is absolutely breathtaking, Lord, if we would stop to examine it. 655 00:37:34,480 --> 00:37:59,680 And Father, we also, Lord.