Ostentatious Piety (Whatever That Is) Matthew 6:1-18

The bragging and exhibitionism…and much that passes for normal in our ‘self-esteem’ culture, are part of a life with no sense of our standing in the presence of God.

The most important thing in life is not the praise of other human beings, but the approval of the Supreme Being.

Citizens of the Kingdom of the Heavens should be aware that God is more concerned about what’s in the heart than what’s visible to the world.

Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.

The word “hypocrite” was actually used of actors on a stage in the first century.

Three acts of piety: Almsgiving Praying Fasting

So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men.

When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men.

Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticied by men when they are fasting.

Citizens of the Kingdom of the Heavens ought to know that whom they can’t see is more important than whom they can.

But we know God is real, that he hears us, and that we have his attention with the simple utterance of the words, “Our Father who is in the heavens.” 

As citizens of the Kingdom of the Heavens, how do we practice our piety?

Is it possible to give to the Lord’s work with a desire for recognition? For whose benefit do we pray in public? Do we let others know when we are fasting and praying?

As citizens of the kingdom we need to remember that the most important thing in life is not the approval of our peers, but the approval of the One who is peerless.   

Jesus calls us to do what we do for an audience of one – our Father who is in the heavens.