Jesus Demands Sincerity

GOLDEN TEXT: “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” —Matthew 6:21

MATTHEW 6:1-8, 16-18

IN THIS lesson Jesus contrasts outward professions and claims with inward or heart sincerity, and warns that unless we are sincere of heart we will have no reward from our Father in heaven. The marginal translation states, “with your Father.” This is in keeping with the Beatitude, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” (Matt. 5:8) As we noted in our study of the Beatitudes, they may be considered a summary of much of the detail presented in this entire Sermon on the Mount.

Our Golden Text presents a true index of the Christian’s sincerity of heart in the worship and service of God. The “heart” stands for one’s true desires, and the “treasure” suggests the reward for which we are seeking. If we are looking to God for our reward, then we will not be concerned about the opinions of men and will not do our “alms” to be seen and heard by them.

But if we are more interested in the present plaudits of men than we are in attaining the favor and blessing of God, then we will “sound a trumpet” in order to call men’s attention to what we are doing and to our professions of good works. Concerning those who do this Jesus said, “They have their reward.” In other words, their hearts being centered on receiving the praise of men, this is their “treasure.” They obtain this treasure now so have no right to expect any further reward from God.

The privilege of prayer is a sacred one, and affords an opportunity for personal communion with the Heavenly Father. To misuse this privilege by praying to be seen and heard of men is a flagrant evidence of insincerity. The scribes and Pharisees were guilty along this line, and because of this Jesus pronounced “woe” upon them instead of blessing.—Matt. 23:13-16

We might even condemn the practice of the Pharisees in making long prayers to be heard of men, and yet not be wholly sincere in prayer ourselves. This could easily be true in offering prayer at public and church gatherings. Often a brother in praying at the opening of a public meeting will explain various features of the divine plan. Obviously such a prayer is presented to the audience and not to God.

At times it happens that a brother who has given a discourse on the truth will, when closing the meeting with prayer, mention various points which he overlooked in his lecture. Certainly the Lord does not need to have these points of truth told to him, so evidently these further explanations are presented for the benefit of the audience.

This does not mean that brethren who practice these unwise uses of prayer are hypocrites, like the Pharisees. More than anything else it is probably just a case of being careless in one’s use of the sacred privilege of prayer. If we could always remember when praying, whether in public or in our own “closets,” that we are addressing our Heavenly Father, it will make us exceedingly careful what we say.

Jesus said that the “heathen” use vain repetitions in their prayers, but we are to remember that we will not be heard for our “much speaking.” There is nothing that we can tell our Heavenly Father that he does not already know. Expressions of thanksgiving and adoration are appropriate; as are also petitions on behalf of others and ourselves which are in keeping with the divine will. But these need not be long, drawn-out reasonings nor oratorical classics in order to enable God to understand our needs. He knows our needs, Jesus declares, even before we ask him.

MATTHEW 6:22-24

THE lesson in these verses relates to a slightly different phase of sincerity; namely, singleness of purpose in our service of God—“If thine eye be single.” We might think of the “eye” in this illustration as representing our outlook on life, or our aspirations. If we have a “single” vision, then our bodies, or our beings will be filled with “light”; that is, influenced and controlled by the divine will.

An “evil” eye suggests a viewpoint out of harmony with God’s will and plan. Jesus indicates what he means in this instance by saying that “no man can serve two masters.” The “evil,” therefore, is that of compromise—that false outlook which supposes that it is possible to serve both God and mammon. This double-minded viewpoint is sure to lead to the loss of whatever spiritual vision we may have had. We cannot hold the truth in insincerity, but only by a wholehearted love for it, and for our Heavenly Father who has revealed it to us.

QUESTIONS

Explain the Golden Text in relation to Jesus’ reference to those who give alms to be seen and heard of men.

Is there a possibility that even those who are sincere in their service of God may misuse the privilege of prayer?

What is the relationship between having a single “eye” and Jesus’ statement, “Ye cannot serve two masters”?

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