Sermon Tone Analysis

Matthew 6:1-4

6:1-18 public religious life

19-34 personal interior life

7:1-12 interpersonal life

Main point of 6:1-18 is 1 Practice righteousness for God’s sake not your sake.

Context - sermon starts with humbly coming to God, then responding publicly by being salt and light for the purpose of revealing God’s glory.

Here we find Jesus still commanding us to do acts of righteousness but with right intent.

6:1 acts of righteousness; how, where?

In front of, to be seen by (no reward) vs in front of to glorify God (reward in heaven & expansion of the kingdom now)

Example in acts

Be hearers and doers, but doers in right way, with pure heart and without blemish.

Be hearers and doers, but doers in right way, with pure heart and without blemish.

6:2 do not announce it - don’t seek attention or recognition seek to do good, that is the reward.

Give

Giving generously is not a new command, but a consistent theme throughout Biblical history.

They were commanded to both give generously in moments of need as well as systemically for ongoing provision.

God includes us in how He provides for His people.

He created a system within Israels nation as well as within the church that required dependence on God and each other, and for needs to be met without requiring outside help, and for ministry to those outside the community.

Deuteronomy 26:10-

Why do we give?

What happens when we don’t?

We give understanding God is the provider and includes us in His mission.

Pure Motives

Sounding the Trumpet - offering chests in the temple we’re trumpet shaped with a winding narrowing funnel that at its narrowest point empties into the chest.

Prevented thieves from stealing.

Likely He meant people who tossed coins noisily into the trumpet chest in order to draw attention to their generosity.

Hypocrites - originally Greek hypocrites were actors that wore masks to play various roles in a play.

Don’t be like a hypocrite who plays various roles for the sake of your public audience.

Not only does it matter that you obey, but it matters how you obey and why you obey.

, ,

Humble Heart

3-4 don’t even make a big deal about it to yourself.

Even if you serve without seeking public recognition, you may be prideful in your mind, serve for the sake of serving.

Understand that it’s a matter of obedience.

Example obeying as a child or employee.

It’s expected of you if you are a child or an employee.

Let God do the praising and we should focus on praising Him.

Beatitudes, approves of God are those with a heart attitude.

Religion without relationship is useless, don’t just go through the motions, don’t do it to earn anything, don’t do it for your own glory, obey God for the purpose of His glory.

Why does Jesus give us this instruction?

What does this text tell us about God? - God gives generously not because He is obligated to but because He desires to, for the purpose of restoring the kingdom, bringing eternal peace to His creation.

Greatest most generous gift was Jesus life.

How do we apply to our life?

- Part of His restorative work is passing His generosity on to His people.

He doesn’t merely bless us as individuals, but desires us to be part of blessing others.

Our lives, our time, even our money are not ends in themselves but tools for ministry, resources for pushing back the darkness.

Jesus promised the gates of hell would not prevail against His church, this is a promise of victory and a call to action, we need to invest in this fight, if we truly believe, love Him we will obey and actively do the work of kingdom expansion.