Jump Start # 1779

Matthew 6:1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in Heaven.”

I have been reading a book about the Pharisees. In the days of Jesus, the Pharisees were subdivided into seven factions, each unique and ideologically different than the others. One of these groups were known as the “Bloody Pharisees.” I doubt that was officially how they were named or known, but it became a common way to distinguish them. The men who made up the Bloody Pharisees would never make eye contact with another woman. As they walked the crowded market streets, they closed their eyes when a woman approached. They did this to prevent lust. The problem is, with closed eyes, they walked into walls, fell down into ditches and tripped over tables in the markets. They often became “bloody”. The appearance of blood became a badge of honor and a sign of piety for them. When you saw someone with a bloody forehead, it was a statement that he had refused to look at a woman. The “Bloody Pharisees” would not wipe the blood off of their faces and foreheads. It was their mark of righteousness. They became proud of the blood on them. All of this makes me think of the English rock group Queen who had a line in one of their hit songs, “You got blood on your face, you big disgrace…”

It would probably do our country much good if more closed their eyes rather than looking lustfully at the opposite sex, especially on the internet and in the movies. But these “Bloody Pharisees,” as noble as their intentions were, lost the purpose when they tried to carry their righteousness before others to be noticed, as our passage states today. Jesus gives three examples of practicing righteousness before men.

• Blowing a trumpet before you give to the poor
• Praying in public places to be seen by others
• Putting on a gloomy face when you fast

Jesus was not discounting giving, praying or fasting. Great things to do. Just drop the pretentious “look at me” attitude that kills the good that these things do. When you give, Jesus said, do not let the right hand know what the left hand is doing. Just do good. Don’t tell. Don’t brag. When you pray, go in your closet and close the door. Do not use meaningless repetition. Don’t think that long prayers are better than short prayers. When you fast, don’t look like you are fasting. Wash your self, anoint yourself.

In all three examples, Jesus uses the word “secret.” Concerning giving, Jesus said, “your Father who sees in secret.” Concerning praying, He said, “your Father who sees what is done in secret.” And with fasting, “but your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret.” God knows. That’s what matters.

Giving, praying and fasting all have connection to God. We do these things because of God. God knows. You don’t need to brag to God. You don’t have anyone to compare to when you are focused upon God. Do what you can, the best you can, with your eyes on the Lord.

Can you and I fall into the trap of being like the “Bloody Pharisees?” Is it possible that we brag too much about how many Bible studies we are holding, how many we are baptizing, or how large the congregation is, forgetting that it is God that gives the increase. The American business model infiltrates and colors our spiritual thinking. We immediately assume that larger is better than smaller. More is better than less. Big is it and small isn’t. It is interesting that when you read the seven churches listed in the first pages of Revelation, you cannot put a finger on which one was the largest. Which one had the most growth in the past five years? Which one baptized more? Which one was adding on? Which one was debt free? What we do find and what matters to God is what was in the heart of that congregation. How faithful were they to God? How serious were they about the work in the kingdom? How passionate, committed and loyal were they? Those things are not based upon the size of the building, the number that attend on Sunday, but the hearts of the people that follow Christ.

It’s in our nature to show off. Little kids do that. Teens that date do that. We do that at high school reunions. Golfers will tell stories about the long putt that they hit. Fishermen will tell about the enormous catch they brought in. We brag about the size of our TV screens, the options on our cars and the square footage of our homes. “How big is your lot,” we ask others, hoping ours is the largest. Preachers can get into this as well. “How long have you been at this church?” “How many books have you read this month?” “How many…” Why does it matter? Are you asking that to seek accreditation and approval? Are you hoping that whatever the preacher says, you can top it? What if you can? Does that make you better?

Bragging reminds me of a puff fish. I don’t know much about them, but when they are “puffed” they look enormous. Sticking our chests out, swelling our heads and boasting  is our version of the puff fish. The Pharisees that Jesus addressed, much like the “Bloody Pharisees,” were more concerned about what others said than what God said. Having others say, “Wow, look at that,” was more important than the “well done, good and faithful slave” that they ought to be seeking from God. The approval of others does not mean that God approves. Impressing others isn’t very impressive.

Be yourself. Find what works for you and do it. Put God first and foremost in all that you do. Think about Him. Do things for Him. Others may not think much about you. I expect the “Bloody Pharisees” saw other men with no blood on them and assumed that they were lustful heathens. What a mistake that was. Jesus didn’t walk around with blood on His forehead. He didn’t walk into walls and fall down ditches because He closed His eyes. In fact, Jesus, talked to Mary and Martha. He talked to the sinful woman who was caught in adultery. He talked to the Samaritan woman. Don’t forget, there was the bent over woman that Jesus talked to. There was the Gentile woman that Jesus talked to. There was the widow who was heading to the cemetery to bury her son. Jesus stopped and talked with her. Then, at the resurrection, there were women. Jesus told them to go and tell Peter. The point is, Jesus not only had numerous conversations with women, there is no indication that He did this with his eyes closed, yet the Bible declares that He was without sin. Jesus had His eyes opened and He wasn’t lustful.

The “Bloody Pharisees” must have thought that Jesus couldn’t have been the Messiah. He has no blood on his forehead. He isn’t closing his eyes. Yet, how wrong they were. And so are we, when we judge others righteousness based upon what we are doing. So, you don’t go to an all day Bible study. Does that mean you are not as spiritual as those that do? Be careful. So, you don’t read what others are reading? Does that mean you are not as spiritual as others? So, Mr. Preacher, you are holding more meetings than other preachers. Does that mean you are better than they are? NO. Because others openly tell everyone what they are doing, we feel inferior. We feel less of a Christian. We, sometimes feel compelled to counter. “Here is what I am doing.” And with that, the bragging wars begin. Grab a towel. You might need it to wipe off some blood from your forehead from telling others how great you are. The hymn, “The Great I AM,” is about God and not us. You’d think, the way some act, that it’s their own song and theme.

Just do what Jesus did. Just be righteous. You don’t have to meet the expectations of others. Don’t fall into the trap of having to brag. Be yourself. Be holy. Be like Jesus. You’ll never go wrong if you do that.

Bloody Pharisees. I’m glad that I didn’t see any of those folks. I think I would be laughing if I saw a guy walking into a wall. I once walked into a glass door. I didn’t see it. I banged my head. It hurt. My eyes were open. I didn’t feel righteous. I felt like an idiot and I was embarrassed. My dear wife was with me. She probably thought it’s time to put me in the home.

Keep your eyes open and keep them on Jesus.

Roger

Jump Start # 579

Matthew 6:1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in Heaven.”

These words are part of our Lord’s famous sermon on the mount. This section highlights our relationship and righteousness towards God. Jesus identifies three common religious practices: giving alms; prayer; and, fasting. All of these were part of the Jewish system and things that every Jewish child would have grown up learning and witnessing from their fathers. The Pharisees had lost the essence of what was behind these acts. Instead of connecting with God and helping their fellow man, they were using these things to show-off.

Most folks don’t like show-offs, however they come. Teenage boys typically like to show-off to girls with the hopes of impressing them. What they do usually bombs and they end up looking foolish and without a date.

What Jesus was addressing was not teenage boys trying to get a date, but grown men who were trying to out shine others. Behind the spirit of showing-off is pride.

Notice carefully the language of Jesus in our verse today. It begins with a warning, BEWARE. That ought to grab our attention and make us take notice. When walking through the neighborhood, a BEWARE OF DOG sign will cause me to walk on the other side of the street. It is important to grasp just what exactly Jesus is saying.

It’s not wrong to practice your righteousness. If you don’t practice it, can you really say that you are righteous? What good is righteousness if it isn’t practiced? If you don’t use it, what value or purpose is it. Righteousness is supposed to be practiced.

It’s not wrong to practice righteousness before men. Again, if I’m not righteous before men, what other options do I have? Be unrighteous before men?  Be nothing before men? Those won’t fly, not at all. The chapter before, Jesus said we are to let our lights shine before men in such a way that they will see your good works. Jesus hasn’t changed His mind. He’s not saying, don’t practice righteousness before men. We ought to do that. This is one way we learn, by seeing others. Paul said, be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. It’s follow the leader, or, more precisely, follow the example. Our righteousness before men often causes others to ask about the Lord and His ways.

What Jesus did warn about is practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them. Now that seems a bit odd at first. If I am practicing my righteousness and if I am practicing it before men, won’t they notice? The emphasis that Jesus is drawing us to is the motive or the intention of your righteousness. Are you doing things to help others because that’s the right thing to do, or are you wanting them to praise you? Is the motive making yourself look good? That takes God out of the picture. That makes what you have done vain and selfish.

Some are like that. They want to be the bride at every wedding and the corpse at every funeral. They can’t hear someone else tell a story without somehow telling their story and making what happened to them a bigger thing than the person talking to them. I don’t know if it’s a self esteem issue, a lack of attention at home, loneliness or something like that, but some have to just brag about themselves. They’ll tell you what all they have done. They’ll tell you how hard it was and how no one else was there to help. They put you in a position where you almost have to compliment them and pat them on the back. It’s all very awkward.

Jesus is telling the disciples, don’t do that. Don’t be like that. Don’t show-off. Help others, but don’t do it to make tomorrow’s headlines. Do what you do in secret. God knows. That’s all that matters. Just busy yourself helping others and don’t mention it, don’t remember it, don’t focus nor dwell upon it. First of all, in most cases, someone has done something to us. What we did is not a contest. It’s not who does the most. When you busy yourself doing what you can for as many as you can, you won’t remember.

Second, what God has done for you trumps anything you will ever do. You’ll never surpass God in the kindness, blessings or goodness department. Can’t be done. So why are we trying to get someone to brag about us, for the simple things we’ve done, when God has done so much more. The purpose of being righteous before others is God. The attention goes to God. The praise is God’s. Righteous acts are to help others, encourage others, show others. It’s not about us—this is true in worship and it is true in practicing righteousness. No one will be more righteous than Jesus.

In Titus we read that God’s people are to be zealous for good deeds. The Galatians were told that at every opportunity they had, they were to do good. The story of the good Samaritan ends with the urging, “Go and do thou likewise.” Do-gooders, that’s us. Don’t keep score. That ruins it. Don’t think I’ve done more to others than they have done to me. Be thankful that God can use you and you can be in the position of helping others. Don’t show-off.

An odd thing happened to me just the other day. Most that know me, know that I love bright, colorful and loud, I mean LOUD ties. I have a bunch. The other day, one of our members came to services with a great looking tie on. I was making a big deal about it and he was being very kind and humble about it. Later on, it dawned to me that I had given him that tie. I had forgotten. There I was bragging about a gift that I had given. Very awkward. He must have thought, ‘I’ve already thanked him once for this tie, I guess he wants me to thank him again.’ That’s a perfect example of what not to do. I feel rather embarrassed about it now.

Seeking praise, wanting compliments, showing-off ruins the good that is often done. This tells us that the good that we do, can be destroyed by the spirit of the giver. There is more than the gift that is involved. The motive and the reason behind it has everything to do with it.

BEWARE—Jesus tells us. It is possible to mess up a good thing by having the wrong attitude about it. The Pharisees were masters of this. We can be the same, if we are not careful. The humble Jesus is the example.

Roger