As we move from Matthew 5 to Matthew 6, Jesus transitions from a focus on inner righteousness to outward expressions of devotion. He speaks about giving, prayer, and fasting—central spiritual practices—but warns us that even good practices can be corrupted by self-centered motives. If we give, pray, or fast to gain approval, we have already received our reward in full,…

A young man with a bandaged hand once walked into a post office and asked the clerk for help. “Would you mind writing a note on this postcard for me?” he said. The clerk gladly agreed and even offered to write the message for him. After finishing, the clerk asked, “Is there anything else I can help you with?” The…

The Sermon on the Mount (18): Praying in Secret In Matthew 6, Jesus continues His teaching on righteousness—not merely as outward behavior, but as the overflow of a transformed heart. Previously, we looked at almsgiving; now we turn to prayer, and next, to fasting. These disciplines—giving, praying, and fasting—are practical expressions of an inner life oriented toward God. Though they…

The Sermon on the Mount (17): Practicing Your Righteousness in Secret In Matthew 6:1–4, Jesus turns His attention from the inner life of righteousness to its outward expression. After teaching us in chapter 5 that true righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees—a righteousness rooted in the heart, not merely in behavior—He now speaks to how we live out…