Sermon On The Mount - Part 7

In Matthew 6, Jesus addresses one of the most challenging aspects of spiritual life: the difference between performing for others and living with genuine devotion to God. He warns against doing charitable deeds to be seen by others, using the word hypocrite which originally meant stage actor - someone impersonating or playing a part. This creates empty religion, a form of godliness without power or Substance. Jesus presents three key questions for self-examination that reveal our true motivations. First, who is your audience - are you living for God or for human applause? Character is who you are when no one else is watching, and integrity means faithful living when only God sees. In our social media age, the pressure to perform for likes and clicks has intensified this challenge. Second, whose praise are you seeking? Many people believe in Jesus but won't confess Him because they love human praise more than God's approval. Third, who do you fear? The fear of man brings a snare and becomes an addiction to others' approval, causing us to compromise our conscience and God's word. The beautiful promise throughout this passage is that our Father who sees in secret will reward us openly. When we give, pray, and fast with pure motives out of love for God rather than desire for recognition, He notices and responds. True discipleship moves from external compliance to heart transformation, where our worship becomes personal, authentic, and motivated by love. The solution to performing for others is simple: confess it to the Lord, bringing hypocrisy into the light where it loses its power over our lives.