This past Sunday Pastor Morgan continued our Sermon on the Mount series. This week we focussed on Matthew 6:16-18.

 

For context, Morgan walked us through Luke 15:28-32 and Tim Keller’s work from his book The Prodigal God. Specifically, we focussed on the attitude and spirit present in the older brother in this story. The older brother is representative of the dangers of the wrong motivations for good works, specifically to elevate the self and to transactionally receive something in return for our good works. 

 

In the beginning of Matthew 6, as pastor Morgan alluded to last week, Jesus is teaching us about the dangers of selfish motivations for good works. As we follow Jesus, we will be tempted by the spirit of the older brother. He knows that self denial often invites the desire for recognition and attention. So, what should our relationship with good works look like? 

 

Specifically in verses 16-18, Jesus is speaking about fasting. There was a temptation for people to physically appear tired and afflicted by their fasting as a means to receive praise for practicing fasting. Their disheveled appearance acted as a signal to the world of their spirituality. But Jesus says, “not so with you.” The purpose of our fasting is not the praise and adulation from those around us, it is to know God and elevate him. So Jesus instructs his followers to do their best to appear normal and to practice good bodily hygiene when they fast so as not to draw attention to themselves. 

 

What is our motivation for the good works we do? Are we seeking visibility, praise, and attention from those around us? Or are we seeking God in our practices and good works?