YOUR ALMS MATTHEW 6:-4 Text: Introduction: As we begin to focus our attention on Matthew 6, Jesus shifts His attention away from the PRESENCE of righteousness toward the PRACTICE of righteousness in our lives. In this section, Matthew 6: is the foundational truth. Matthew 6: 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. The key thought within these verses the Lord warns us that religious ACTIVITY must never to become AUTOMATED! Note 3 questions from our text:. WHAT IS THE EMPHASIS OF GIVING? Matthew 6:2-4 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. Notice There is an expectation to give (When thou doest thine alms) God expects his followers to be kind and merciful. We are not to be selfish, stingy, and skeptical. We live in a day of selfishness. 2. WHAT ARE THE ENTRAPMENTS OF GIVING? Entrap means to be lured into doing wrong. The Lord warns about hypocrisy and having the right motive when we give. Matthew 6:2-4 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. - 2 -
Don t sound a trumpet so that they may receive glory of men. There are two kinds of hypocrisy: A. Crafty Hypocrite Matthew 22:5 5 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. B. Confident Hypocrite Matthew 7:-5 Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. Illustration: Ananias and Sapphira Acts 5:- But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the - 3 -
price of the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. 6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. 7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. 9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. 0 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. Their motive was wrong. 3. WHAT SHOULD BE THE EXPRESSION OF GIVING (VS. 3-4) Matthew 6:3-4 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. Jesus expresses just how QUIET and PRIVATE our giving should be. NO ONE should know what we have given and if there is a danger that secret pride will be nurtured, he says - 4 -
don t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing no one knows. Motivation It is not about the AMOUNT of the gift. It is about COMPASSION and DESIRE. - 5 -