Righteousness Theater: the Danger of Following the King for the Sake of Being Seen

Hopson Boutot

Poquoson Baptist Church

Matthew: The King and His Kingdom • Sermon • Submitted 2 years ago

Matthew 6:16–18

Matthew 6:1–6

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Rescuer

WELCOME

Good morning family!

Hear the Word of the Lord from the lips of Mary, after learning that she would give birth to the Son of God, our Rescuer...

“[God’s] mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear him.

He has done a mighty deed with His arm; He has scattered the proud because of the thoughts of their hearts;

He has toppled the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly.

He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. (Luke 1:50-53)

You might feel weak, lowly, and poor… GOOD NEWS!!!

In just a moment we’ll hear a reading from the text for today’s sermon in Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18. Turn there now.

While you’re turning, 4 quick announcements:

1) A word about PBC. We are Disciples.

Disciples = followers of Jesus

We follow Jesus in every arena of life, including what we do with our money

Since giving is a topic that is covered in our sermon text for today, I wanted to talk for a moment about giving at PBC

Three ways to give:

Give in person—fill out an offering envelope with your name and the amount and place your gift in one of the white bins near the exit

Give online—one time or recurring gifts at poquosonbaptist.org

By mail using the address on the screen

However you give, we hope you’ll do so cheerfully because you really believe that the Lord loves a cheerful giver

2) TableTalk at 5:30 (“One Another”)

Jake Rogier will be teaching us about Scripture’s command that Christians “be at peace with one another”

3) PBC Work Day, this Saturday from 9-12

4) Easter Egg Hunt Outreach, Saturday, April 9 from 10-12

We need plastic eggs filled with pre-wrapped candy ASAP (at the missions table or the church office). Please deliver them on or before April 3.

Volunteers can sign up at the blue flag or scan the code on the screen

Now look in your Bibles at Matthew 6:1 as Bibi Laborte comes to read for us.

Scripture Reading (Matthew 6:1-4)

Prayer of Praise (God is great), Bibi Laborte

To God Be the Glory

Hymn of the Ages

Prayer of Confession (anxiety), Sam Garcia

Only A Holy God

PBC Catechism #11

Pastoral Prayer (Bubba Jones)

SERMON

Adam Ruins Everything.

I’m not referring to that fatal day when the father of humanity ate a piece of fruit and plunged the entire cosmos into sin and misery.

It’s the name of a television show where host Adam Conover is on a hilarious and informative quest to “reveal the hidden truths behind everything you know and love.” [1]

He takes a topic we’re familiar with and ruins it by showing you how it isn’t really what you think.

One of the first episodes I watched was called Adam Ruins Security. He started with a takedown of the infamous airport security checkers, the TSA.

Apparently there’s very little evidence that the TSA has ever stopped a terrorist or found a real bomb.

"When Homeland Security tested them, the TSA failed to find mock weapons and explosives 95% of the time." [2]

He introduced me to a concept called “security theater,” a system that’s more concerned with looking safe than being safe.

The inconvenient truth is, much of what we think keeps us safe and secure is merely security theater.

For example...

Do we really think that a tiny plastic tamper-resistant seals can keep a murder off your medicine?

Do we really think that signing a credit card receipt really protects you from identity theft? How often do you think your signature is compared to the real one on file?

Or what about the host of changes we’ve endured to protect us from the spread of Covid-19? (I’ll be gentle I promise).

Last year the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. publicly admitted that requiring temperature checks for their guests didn’t offer any increased health benefits. Since the temperature checks were often unreliable, they didn’t do anything to improve guest security. Nevertheless, they announced they would continue to require the temperature checks because of their psychological benefits. [3]

In other words, by their own admission these temperature checks became just another form of security theater. They were more concerned with looking safe than being safe.

But you didn’t come here today to talk about the TSA, credit card receipts, or Covid-19. Hopefully you came to hear the word of Christ.

In our passage today, Jesus is warning us about a concept we could call righteousness theater.

Righteousness theater is an approach to religious devotion that is more concerned with LOOKING righteous than BEING righteous.

And you’ll see three examples of righteousness theater in Matthew 6

Turn there now

Jesus has been teaching His disciples about living righteously as dual citizens of the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of this world.

But there’s a danger, that in pursuing righteousness we will become more concerned with looking righteous than being righteous.

Jesus wants His followers to be righteous not merely look righteous.

Three Keys to Avoiding Righteousness Theater:

1) Pay Attention to Your Own HEART

6:1a—“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them...”

“Beware” literally means to “to pay close attention to something” [4]

What are we supposed to pay attention to?

Jesus talks about “practicing your righteousness before other people”

Is Jesus against the public display of righteousness? If so that would contradict something we studied earlier...

Matthew 5:14-16—“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

It’s significant that Jesus here refers to our public righteousness as a light.

Except for something like the Batsignal, lights don’t exist to be seen. They exist to help you see something else.

Are you doing good works so that the spotlight is on you? Or so that others “give glory to your Father who is in heaven”?

Jesus wants your righteousness to be seen.

He’s against righteousness that exists in order to be seen

It’s right and good for your righteousness to be visible to the world around you. But being seen by others shouldn’t be the motivation for your righteousness.

That’s what Jesus says in 6:1a—“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them...”

He’s warning us about the temptation to care more about looking righteous than being righteous.

That’s why the first key is to pay attention to your own heart.

The heart is the seat of your motivations. It’s the steering wheel that directs your reasons for doing what you do.

If you’re going to avoid righteousness theater, you need to pay attention to your heart.

In a bit we’ll discuss three examples of righteousness theater that existed in Jesus’ day, but let’s examine some ways we’re prone to this today...

Do you care more about quality time reading your Bible, or the quality of your social media posts about reading your Bible?

Do you raise your hand during singing in order to be seen as spiritual? Or do you not raise your hand in order to not be seen as one of those that do?

Will you pray or read Scripture publicly when you’re unwilling to do it privately?

Do you volunteer in order to be seen? (SS teacher, musician, elder/deacon, etc.)

Heart examination: are you willing to do the types of ministry that only God sees?

Do you act one way when Christians are around, and another way when they’re not?

Ask yourself: how are you prone to righteousness theater? Where are you tempted to be more concerned about looking righteous than being righteous?

Remember, our first key is to pay attention to your own heart

Don’t judge others here. This is about motivations, something you cannot know or see.

Jesus can judge the Pharisees hearts because He knows their hearts. But you’re not Jesus.

So pay attention to your own heart and trust Jesus to work on your neighbor’s heart.

If we desire to be righteous and not merely look righteous we must pay attention to our own hearts.

But also we must...

2) Pursue the Reward that SATISFIES

6:1—“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, FOR then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

The word “for” in our translations often gives us the purpose or reason for a particular statement

Jesus is not arbitrarily telling us not to pursue righteousness theater. His reason is not “because I said so!”

The main reason to avoid righteousness theater is that the Father does not reward it.

Jesus is not saying there is no reward for righteousness theater...

Three times in verses 2, 5, and 16 Jesus says that there is a reward for righteousness theater.

The hypocrites who give, pray, and fast for the applause of men do receive a reward.

But the only reward they will receive is the applause of men.

The NLT’s translation is accurate when it says, “they have received all the reward they will ever get.”

Sin is rewarding!

Don’t tell people that sin is drab and dull while holiness is beautiful and satisfying.

Yes, holiness is beautiful, yes it’s satisfying. But it often doesn’t feel that way in the short-term.

Sin often feels much more exciting and much more rewarding.

According to Jesus, sin does reward us in a way. But it’s pleasure is short-lived.

One sin that feels especially pleasurable is being recognized as righteous by other people...

I still remember a moment in 2000 when my youth pastor recognized me for being righteous. I was with a group of teenagers on a mission trip to the UK and it was during our first day of sightseeing in London. We were all tired after an overnight flight into Heathrow Airport and we kept complaining about how we wanted to sleep instead of see the sights. So Pastor Paul did what every good youth pastor should do in a moment like that. He rebuked us for our complaining spirit. I must’ve responded rightly to his rebuke and apologized instead of defending myself or complaining even more, because a bit later he pulled me aside and thanked me for my humility.

I don’t know that I had ever felt any prouder than I did in that moment.

That moment was burned in my memory because it felt so good to be recognized as righteous.

The praise of men is an addicting drug. Perhaps especially when that praise comes for a public display of righteousness. It will bring you pleasure. But it will not satisfy you. And it will be all the reward you’ll ever get.

Jesus loves you too much for that, Christian. So He offers a better way. He invites you to pursue the reward that satisfies.

Three times in verses 3, 6, and 18 Jesus says that if you give, pray, and fast rightly you will be rewarded.

But not with the fleeting applause of men. You’ll be rewarded by Your Father in heaven.

You will effectively avoid righteousness theater not by avoiding or ignoring rewards, but by pursuing the only reward that truly satisfies.

Does that surprise you?

Does it seem strange that Jesus doesn’t rebuke them for pursuing rewards? Is it even stranger that He motivates His people with the promise of rewards?

In his essay, The Weight of Glory, C.S. Lewis famously wrote:

“If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition [we could add here the “and the applause of men”] when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in the slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at sea. We are far too easily pleased.” [5]

Our problem isn’t chasing rewards. It’s that we’re too easily satisfied with puny rewards when God wants to offer us so much more.

Some might object, “that turns you into a mercenary!” To which Lewis responds, “there are different kinds of rewards.” [6]

Two Types of Rewards:

Corrupting Rewards have no natural connection to the thing done to gain the reward. As a result, over time they corrupt the one who pursues them, turning him into a mercenary.

Consummating Rewards are naturally connected to the thing done to gain the reward.

Lewis says, “the proper rewards are not simply tacked on to the activity for which they are given, but are the activity itself in consummation.” [7]

Consider an example from professional sports...

Most athletes start out with a genuine love of the game. But over time, the reward shifts to the money or popularity. And over time inevitably it corrupts the sport.

The athletes that manage to avoid this are motivated by something different entirely. They just want to keep competing for the love of the game. And so the reward for them is an opportunity to stay on the field. That’s a consummating reward, it’s connected to the thing itself. And it keeps the athlete from becoming a mercenary.

Or consider an example from marriage...

Most of us would object to a woman who marries a man for his money. Why? Because it’s a corrupting reward.

But marriage itself is an appropriate reward for the woman who truly loves her fiancee. Why? Because it’s a consummating reward. She wants to marry him because she loves him. And marriage allows her to love him more fully and intimately. That’s the right kind of reward.

Now let’s look at our text with these two categories of rewards in mind...

The hypocrite is giving, praying, and fasting. But not in order to draw near to God. He’s doing it in order to be praised by others. That’s a corrupting reward. And that’s all the reward he’ll ever get.

But we should give, pray, and fast because we really love God. And if that’s our heart’s motivation, then we will be rewarded. Not with wealth, health, and prosperity but with a deeper communion with God. That’s a consummating reward.

And it’s infinitely more satisfying than the fleeting applause of men.

What are you aiming at? What type of reward are you seeking? Are you practicing your righteousness to earn treasures on earth? Or are you aiming at the pleasure of heaven?

If we desire to be righteous and not merely look righteous we must pursue the reward that satisfies.

Finally we must...

3) Practice Righteousness RIGHTLY

Jesus is incredibly practical. He’s not interested in mere academic theories or philosophical arguments. He cares about your street-level application of these principles.

He graciously gives us three examples of what I’m calling righteousness theater...

v. 2—Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.

The hypocrites are not interested in loving God through giving but being seen as people who give.

v. 5—And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.

The hypocrites are not interested in loving God through prayer but being seen as people who pray.

v. 16—And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.

The hypocrites are not interested in loving God through fasting but being seen as people who fast.

From these three examples we see three lessons on how to practice righteousness rightly:

Practicing Righteousness is Expected

Jesus says “when you give,” “when you pray,” and “when you fast”

He doesn’t even command His disciples to do these things in this passage. He just assumes that we will!

Do you give?

In our Discover Class we share a few practical principles about giving [9] ...

Give to your local church first.

Galatians 6:6—“Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.”

Since your local church is your primary source of teaching, it should be the primary recipient of your giving.

We don’t need your money, but you need to learn the value of giving!

You should give regularly and deliberately.

In 1 Corinthians 16:2, Paul exhorts the church to give something every Sunday when they gather for worship

Giving to the church shouldn’t be spontaneous or sporadic.

You should give sacrificially and cheerfully.

You should give sacrificially because Jesus has given sacrificially to you.

You should give cheerfully because God loves a cheerful giver.

Giving is expected. How can you grow as a giver?

Do you pray?

We’re not going to spend a lot of time here

We’ll cover verses 7-15 in the weeks ahead

For now just understand that Jesus expects His disciples to pray.

Is prayer a regular part of your life? How can you grow in your prayer life?

Commit to be here as often as possible during our study of the Lord’s Prayer

Commit to be here as often as you can when we gather for prayer

Do you fast?

I know this is not a popular topic, especially in Southern Baptist circles, but Jesus expects that His disciples will eventually fast.

Again, we’re going to talk about fasting more in-depth in the future, so if this isn’t even on your radar don’t be discouraged.

Jesus intends to change you slowly over time, not rapidly overnight. Be faithful, attend faithfully, and over time you’ll be amazed at how much you’ve grown.

Whether we’re talking about giving, prayer, fasting, Bible intake, church attendance, or some other spiritual discipline clearly taught in Scripture these things are expected of us.

Does your life reflect this?

Practicing Righteousness Can be Corrupted

With all three examples, Jesus warns us not to practice our righteousness like the hypocrites.

They give, pray, and fast in order to be seen and praised by others

This is a good reminder that any spiritual discipline can be corrupted. Merely performing a good work isn’t enough if your motivation is selfish and evil.

The problem is not doing the righteous act

The solution isn’t to stop practicing righteousness!!!

The problem isn’t even being seen doing the righteous act.

The solution isn’t to isolate yourself from others

The problem is our hearts

Last night, feeling a connection to Zeke

Practicing Righteousness Must be Guarded

In all three examples, Jesus encourages His disciples to guard their hearts so that their motives for practicing righteousness remain pure

vv. 3-4—But when you give to the needy, do not 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.

When you give, don’t do it in order to be seen. Do it for the good of your neighbor and the glory of God.

I used to think Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:3 meant I had to hide one hand behind my back when I put money in the offering plate.

John Stott—“Not only are we not to tell other people about our Christian giving; there is a sense in which we are not even to tell ourselves. We are not to be self-conscious in our giving, for our self-consciousness will readily deteriorate into self-righteousness. So subtle is the sinfulness of the heart that it is possible to take deliberate steps to keep our giving secret from other people while simultaneously dwelling on it in our own minds in a spirit of self-congratulation.” [8]

What matters is your heart’s motivation. Are you giving to be congratulated (by self or others), or to glorify God?

v. 6—But when 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. . . .

When you pray, don’t do it in order to be seen.

Jesus isn’t against praying publicly.

Moses, Daniel, Ezra, the Apostles, and Jesus Himself prayed publicly.

What matters is your heart’s motivation. Are you praying to be noticed, or to draw near to God?

We had a mini-debate in a Town Hall a few months a year ago about our public prayers at PBC. Most of you plan to some degree your public prayers. Is that violating what Jesus teaches here? Only if your heart’s motivation is to be noticed. It’s possible to pray a spontaneous prayer with the same sinful motivation. What matters is your heart!

vv. 17-18—But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

When you fast, don’t make yourself look miserable so people ask how you’re doing and you tell them “I’m fasting for God!” Don’t draw unnecessary attention to yourself.

It’s not necessarily wrong to let people know that you’re fasting.

Throughout Scripture and history there are countless examples of God’s people fasting together.

What matters is your heart’s motivation. Are you fasting to be noticed, or to draw near to God?

There is perhaps no better example of the depravity of our own hearts than the fact that we must so vigilantly guard our hearts against righteousness theater. Even as Christians, we are prone to all of this and more.

Where have you dropped your guard? Who should you talk to this week to help you be accountable in how you practice your righteousness?

Adam ruined everything.

God created humanity in His image to walk in perfect community with Him. To live righteously with hearts that loved Him perfectly and never sought the applause of anyone other than God Himself.

But Adam and Eve believed a lie from a slithering snake, and ever since then our hearts have been corrupted by sin.

The consequences of that sin are much bigger than making it hard to be righteous. It’s made it impossible… unless God gives us a new heart.

The Bible tells us that Jesus lived a perfectly righteous life—always doing the right thing with the right motive—and yet He died a sinner’s death.

Why? So that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.

If you’re not a Christian, your first step here isn’t to try harder at giving, praying, or fasting.

It’s to repent and believe the Gospel. To trust that apart from Jesus you can’t do any of this.

If you’re a Christian, your responsibility is to devote the rest of your life to practically being righteous, not just looking righteous.

Thanks be to God, Jesus has given us His Spirit to help us do that, by His grace and for His glory.

Good & Gracious King

Benediction (Galatians 1:3-5)

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