Matthew 6:1-4
1"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

Jews practiced their faith through three types of training; charity, prayer, and fasting. These trainings were very important method for them to reach the state of piety. However, Jesus points out problems that could arise as believers practice these trainings of faith. As we listen to the word of Jesus, we should strive to practice these trainings of faith (charity, prayer, and fasting) in proper way.

First thing Jesus pointed out has to do with charity that carries expectation of receiving reward. Jesus said "Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness before men, to be seen by them. This means not to do good acts only to boast to others. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven, said Jesus.

When we do the acts of righteousness first, then there is reward prepared. However if we do the acts of righteousness only to be seen by people, then no reward can be given from our God. It's because the motive is wrong. Jesus declared two thousands years ago, those who wish to help others do not give charity with expectation of reward as return. When you are helping someone with the expectation of reward, then it is not a proper charity.

When we help people, we must check whether we have these wrong motives in us as well. We must check with what kind of heart we are living the life of charity. This applies the same in our path of faith everyday. Our faith must not be in a form of only expecting to receive blessing. It is granted that if you walk the path of faith you will receive rewards and blessings, however if you walk the path of faith only to receive rewards, then that faith can be in danger of deviation. Only expecting to receive reward is not the true faith.

In this part of the Beatitude, the word of Jesus carries components of judgment. We must make sure not to have faith that only wants reward, because this is something God doesn't want to see and neither we want to practice. It is not beautiful when you see someone posting their pictures to boast about their deeds. That is not beautiful at all. As we live, we still act this way. It is crucial to correct this in our path of faith. This is what Jesus is pointing out in today's main passage. Jesus said not to do 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them, or for reward as return. We must not be people who do good works with these wrong motives.

Pastor Borah Lin

Matthew 6:16-18
16"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

- Do not look somber

As the third spiritual piety and training, Jesus talked about fasting. Fasting is regarded as one expression of a confession of faith. In order to depend only on God (and the spiritual food of grace), believers practiced fasting in their walk of faith. It is an expression of faith to show one's desire to abandon all the sinful life of the past through death (fasting) and to live again a new life.

Jews constantly fasted and kept the piety of their faith. However, as Jesus saw how hypocritical Jews fasted, he pointed them out by saying, when you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do.

When the Jews fasted, they tore their clothes and covered up themselves with ash. Ash symbolizes a disaster. As ash covered all over their body creating wretched appearance, Jews fasted saying please forgive this pitiful one who is worthy of disaster. By how much more sorrowful expression one can portray, Jews judged the quality and the seriousness of their fasting.

However, Jesus said when you fast, do not look somber. Many times, Jews didn't fast to repent before God and to return back to Him, but rather their fasting concerned people's view. Fasting became hypocritical as they started to only focus to show people how somber and serious they are. Jesus commanded not to fast in that matter to show people their wretched appearance. Because if you fast hypocritically, with only wretched appearance suggesting torturous pain, then the true fasting loses its meaning and its value.

- Receive rewards from heaven

It feels awkward to be around people who fasts and says it’s not hard at all. Believers fast in order to abandon shameful sins and flaw on their walk of faith. But if one fast with the intention to boast and to let others know, this is not the fasting with right foundation. Jesus said they have received their reward in full. However, Jesus told people to put oil on your head and wash your face when you fast.

As we fast, if we pray with the attitude “Lord, I know you are hurt in your heart by seeing me going through hunger and suffering, however, God please don't worry. I will bravely endure.” If we have this attitude when we fast, then God will accept our fasting with greater joy with his scarred heart.

Our fasting and prayer should be the ones that can comfort God. After we are done with fasting, we must be able to meditate about and comfort God who has protected us and suffered with us in the midst of our sufferings together, all the way. We should be able to remember the heart of God who was groaning and suffering together with us because of His love for us. Through fasting, we need to know the heart of God in depth, and have an opportunity to share a deeper relationship with God.

Jesus said God sees what is done in secret. Later He will reward us with comfort and mercy. Do we have false image of charity, prayer or fasting? Jesus wants us to deeply observe these in us. When we have the piety that comes from proper heart and thoughts, then the true power of piety will be revealed to us.