Sermon on the Mount - Part 7 [Notes]

In the Gospel of Matthew, chapters 5-7, we find arguably the most famous sermon of all time, Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Covering subjects like the beatitudes, being salt and light, the Lord’s prayer, generosity, and more, Jesus’ words are just as important and applicable today as they were 2,000 years ago. Whether you’re exploring the Christian faith, a new or newer believer, or a longtime follower of Jesus, we invite you to join us for this 12-week journey as we seek to grow together as His disciples.

Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of people, to be seen by them. Otherwise, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So whenever you give to the poor, don’t sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. I assure you: They’ve got their reward! But when you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. I assure you: They’ve got their reward! But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. When you pray, don’t babble like the idolaters, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words. Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask Him.
– Matthew 6:1-8 (HCSB)

Whenever you fast, don’t be sad-faced like the hypocrites. For they make their faces unattractive so their fasting is obvious to people. I assure you: They’ve got their reward! But when you fast, put oil on your head, and wash your face, 1so that you don’t show your fasting to people but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
– Matthew 6:16-18 (HCSB)

The word “hypocrite” comes from the Greek word for an actor’s mask. In the Greek theatre, there were two types of play—the comedy and the tragedy. In a comedy, the actor would wear a mask with a huge smile; in a tragedy, with a huge frown or a sad face. Whatever the mask, it represented the actor in character, not the real person.
– I.D. Campbell

Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of people, to be seen by them. Otherwise, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
– Matthew 6:1 (HCSB)

This word [righteousness] may be used in any one of a variety of ways, but here it refers to any good deed that a person may do as part of his service of God.
– L. Morris

This word refers to a reward that is given as an appropriate compensation for a particular action.
– Crutchfield, J. A

This expression employs the ordinary commercial term for a receipt and is a lively way of bringing out the truth that these hypocrites have received all the reward they are going to get for this “good” deed. They sought the praise of men. They received the praise of men. There is nothing more to come.
– L.Morris

For God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you demonstrated for his name by serving the saints—and by continuing to serve them.
– Hebrews 6:10 (CSB)

So whenever you give to the poor, don’t sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. I assure you: They’ve got their reward!
– Matthew 6:2 (HCSB)

But when you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
– Matthew 6:3-4 (HCSB)

“It is not action before others as such which is the problem, but action before others with a view to being seen. The desire to create an impression of piety and virtue is what is being criticised.”
– J. Nolland

Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. I assure you: They’ve got their reward! But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. When you pray, don’t babble like the idolaters since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words. Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask Him.
– Matthew 6:5-8 (HCSB)

Whenever you fast, don’t be sad-faced like the hypocrites. For they make their faces unattractive so their fasting is obvious to people. I assure you: They’ve got their reward! But when you fast, put oil on your head, and wash your face, so that you don’t show your fasting to people but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
– Matthew 6:16-18 (HCSB)

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