Matthew 6:1–6, 16–21 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 6:1–6, 16–21 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 6"Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Verse 2"So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. Verse 3But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, Verse 4so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Verse 5"And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. Verse 6But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Verse 16"And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. Verse 17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, Verse 18so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Verse 19"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; Verse 20but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. Verse 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Devotion
Jesus instructs his listeners to go pray in private. He tells them, “Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them.” This sentiment has been very popular among Protestants. We have a deep, but quiet faith. And yet, if we look at the hymn for this week, we see the author wanting to sing openly and publicly to the Lord. The songwriter says, “I’ll tell everybody about you wherever I go.” So, which is it? What does God want us to do? Perhaps Jesus’ instructions are meant to free us from having to prove our “Christian” identity. We don’t have to pray in public because God already sees what we need. He sets us free from having to prove ourselves through some kind of identity. We are who we are because of Jesus Christ, not because we look like “Christians.”
Prayer
Lord, you know our hearts’ desires and our human needs even before we do. Open us up to the endless possibilities of living in your divine freedom, both in our public and in our private lives. Amen.