Matthew chapter five, you know the exercise, Sermon on the Mount, title of the message and the study, The Christians' Works of Righteousness. The Christians' Works of Righteousness. Matthew six, I'm sorry, we begin Matthew six. Verse one, take heed that you do not your arms before men, to be seen of them, otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore, when thou doest thine alms, do not sound the trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth, or is doing, that thine alms may be in secret, and thy father, which seeth in secret himself, shall reward thee openly. This is the text we're looking at. The Lord Jesus in his sermon on the mount moves from some of the internal graces that we were discussing of in the life of the believer to some external graces. Three of these works of righteousness are mentioned in this chapter, and they are giving, praying, and fasting. The latter, fasting, is not a mandate given to Christians today. Some speak about fasting and prayer. You hear a lot of this in Africa. I am fasting and praying for this, but fasting today does not have any spiritual value as back in the days before. Neither is fasting commanded or even recommended for some people. not commanded by Jesus or the Apostles. But today we will also cover the grace of giving in this general topic. The word alms, you read the word alms, is often associated with giving. But the correct translation is the word righteousness. That's why I titled the message, The Christian Works of Righteousness. And the verse is literally rendered this way in the original Greek. Take heed that you do not your merciful deeds before men. If you have a Greek interlinear of the Bible, and I recommend that every Bible teacher should have a Greek interlinear, where he can look at both sides of the text from a literal perspective and from a correct perspective. So the literal rendition take heed that you do not your merciful deeds before men. This is a general subject which the Lord will broaden and show two other merciful deeds. Merciful deeds consists of many things we do externally. Jesus begins this statement with the word, or the phrase, take heed. It is a warning implying that one should consider why they are performing merciful deeds. or deeds of righteousness. The giving of alms back then was an external duty performed by many in Israel as a pretense of holiness. And Jesus begins with this phrase, take heed. The word alms is often misunderstood. Today, where some think it refers to menial giving, But though the word is a small word, four letters in the English, it is a big word in the Greek that is comprised of two words that I wouldn't even dare to call. One has a prefix, but the word literally means works of righteousness. It's a big word. Take your, follow me up carefully, take your concordance and look it up yourself. It's a big word. Another translation of the word is compassionateness, works of compassion. The late Martin Lloyd-Jones, you heard of him, believes that according to the textual manuscripts, the rendition should be, take heed that you do not your works of righteousness before men. the late Martin Lloyd-Jones. Now I'm inclined to agree because the word righteousness sets the tone for the other two acts of righteousness the Lord is discussing here in the chapter which continues all the way down to verse 18 of the of the chapter. It discusses prayer and fasting that are to be done in the same mode. Alms is not the same as tithing, but the same principle applies because tithing is also a righteous act and some did this as an outward form of piety. Remember, the poor usually benefit from the giving of alms. They got by when this grace was practiced. And this is why we read of the man by the temple gate in the book of Acts, that he was sitting at the temple where God's people came in and he was begging for alms, deeds of righteousness. And Peter said, silver and gold I have not, but such I have, I give to you. Peter really attended to his real need. by giving him the gospel. You understand? Okay. Peter knew what the real need was, and Peter had the right motive in giving. And later on, I will show you what Jesus really had in view. You must understand that everything that Jesus is teaching here in the Sermon on the Mount is relative to salvation and the kingdom of God. It is not a code of conduct that is teaching us how to live a good life. The Jews lived a good life, but they also lived an unregenerate life. So the first thing we see here in our material is that the Lord addresses the motive. take heed that you do not your hands before men to be seen of them otherwise you have no reward of your father which is in heaven one can do a righteous deed or one can do many righteous deeds with wrong motives and that is to be seen of men to be seen of others. If one does their righteous deeds to be seen by others, they already have their reward because their reward is that others might see them. One of the worst thing a person can do is to teach the Bible so that they can impress others. This kind of action will yield zero fruit. The same is true of any other deed of mercy, including giving. There are some people would only do things that they're, whereby they are seen. They wouldn't do things that they're not seen. That's why I always commend the ladies for cleaning the church, cleaning the toilets, setting out the paper, vacuuming the floor, doing these things. Some people would never dare do these things because they're not seen. Yet these are the very things that keep the church open, makes it comfortable. It's a deed of mercy. Studying also is a deed of mercy. When you are burning the midnight oil, checking out textual words and such the like, you are doing it for people. It's a deed. You're not doing it to show anybody what you know. It's a righteous deed. But we have here the proper motive for doing such righteous deeds. The Lord had already emphasized in Matthew 5 verse 16 the right motive in giving or doing righteous deeds by saying, let your light shine before men that they may see your, there you go again, your good deeds and glorify your father, which is in heaven. That's the motive. While we are told in one instance that deeds of mercy are not to be done for the applause of men, deeds of mercy are to be done for a man to observe, but for the right motive and with the right motive. The deeds you're doing is for a man. They must see those deeds, but you are not doing those deeds for them to see those deeds. I don't want to confuse you. but I hope you understand. The intent of a believer's good works must always to achieve spiritual goals, less or works are useless. There's a small thought of interest here. Many people give to charitable institutions for a tax write-off. I am sure that or secretary lists what is given, but many people, even some Christians, give for a tax write-off. And Christians are not supposed to do this because the motive for that good deed is wrong. And some may even add on to what they're giving for a bigger tax write-off. And if you're doing that, be careful. You haven't learned that from this booklet. You may remember that two men went to pray in Luke 18. One of those men had an incorrect motive and said, I fast twice a week and I give tithes to all that I have. The other man had nothing to give but his motive. was pleasing to God and he said God be merciful to me the sinner not the text is a sinner but the grammatical phrase should be God be merciful to me the sinner in other words this one is not a sinner but I'm the sinner and he asked God for mercy the Bible tells us that he went home justified what a what an interesting statement that the Lord The Lord said to him, I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other for everyone that exalts himself shall be abased and he that humbles himself shall be exalted. To be justified means to be saved. This publican became saved. He was justified. He was not saved or justified because his motive was God honoring. He was saved, and therefore, because he was saved, his motive was God glorifying. You understand? So I bring this before you. First point we see the Lord Jesus addressing is the motive of doing good deeds. Not only do we see the motive in giving that is being taught, we see the manner in which good deeds are to be performed. The manner in which they are to be performed. Jesus is teaching this. Remember, some commentators in their exegesis, which is correct, and sometimes you're forced to spend more time in a text because of misunderstanding the text before. And in teaching an open forum, you better come here with the correct analogy of the passage. If you haven't looked up a verse or you haven't spent time in it, I would suggest that you refrain from teaching it. A lot of teaching is handed down from people to people, from books to books, and there's no research done. A lot of these men back then were relatively fearful, but they made a lot of mistakes. and you will begin to see that yourself when you begin to study. There's nothing better than personal study of God's Word. That's how the Bereans did it. But some of the commentators in their exegesis of the Word of uh substituted for deeds of righteousness if you pick up martin lloyd jones you see it if you pick up john gill you see it if you pick up hendrickson you see it because they take time and do their work john barodas agrees with martin l jones i have a commentary on john barodas so i can say that Alms giving is an act of outward righteousness and Jesus is showing the manner in which these deeds should be performed within the orbit of the Christian community and also in the world. Verse 2, Therefore when, notice he begins, when thou givest thine alms. Do not song the trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets." Here we see within the confinements of the assembly and then outside in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, disciples, they have their reward. Now, to sound a trumpet is a figure of speech that implies that one advertises the good deeds they do. We often heard from many men, many reports, how many they have won for the Lord. Now, this is very dangerous and a total misunderstanding of the grace of God. We don't win anyone for the Lord. The one who is a soldier is wise as Jesus. This folly is based on a wrong premise some hold about salvation. And missionaries should be careful in sending their reports that bring credit to themselves and, in the process, share God's glory. You will never see me send a report here about how many I led to Christ. you may see how many made professions or how many were externally baptized but that's not my business and i cannot say that jesus characterized this kind of publicity as hypocritical saying the hypocrites do this in the synagogues and in the street that they may have Glory of man now this does not mean this does not mean let me correct this lest we go over with a wrong conclusion This does not mean that we should not share our blessings with others as a motivated Bishop motivational factor and to solicit their prayers It doesn't mean that you don't let sister churches know what is going on, how you're progressing on the mission field. It doesn't mean that you don't let them know. You let them know that they can rightly pray and support, but you don't brag about anything. For had not for the grace of God, then none of us would be anywhere, period. And I have learned this. lesson. And it is so despicable to pick up a printed letter and see coming from IPM Ministries, you know, this week 16 were saved, 20 rededicated their lives, and the list goes on and on and on and on and on. And when you realistically go and look at those people and examine them, nothing worthy to talk about. People play the numbers game because the bigger the numbers, the more to check. And let us stay away from that and trying to bring glory to self. Hypocritical. But we should share our blessings. We should solicit prayers. Paul uses a word in Romans 12. when discussing this gift of giving, saying, having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith, or ministry let us wait on our ministry, or he that teacheth on teaching, or he that exhorteth on exhortation. Now he says, he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity. The word simplicity comes from a word meaning singleness. The idea carries the purpose that one gives with a single purpose in view, singleness. verses 3 and 4 further elaborates on this deed of righteousness by Jesus in Matthew 6 saying, but when thou doest deeds of righteousness, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand is doing, that your deeds of righteousness Now here I am substituting the word alms for deeds of righteousness, may be in secret, and thy father which sees in secret himself shall reward thee openly. We must be careful what conclusions we form from this instruction regarding performing good deeds of righteousness, whether it be giving or praying or anything else. Verse 4 implies that our good deeds should be done in secret, but we better be careful with this too. This does not mean that deeds of giving or such actions are to be hidden. And I have to further explain this. The first word secret means much more than doing something undercover or giving anonymously. The church should know. that we are given. The church should know who's faithful in this grace. The word secret can mean private or inward. That's what the first word secret means. And I challenge you again to take your concordance, take your interlinear and do your own work to prove me wrong. It is a private matter. It's hidden. It is used in 1 Corinthians 4, verse 5, where the apostle Paul says, therefore judge nothing before the time until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsel of the hearts. And then shall every man have praise of God. He's using that text that way, the hidden things, the things we treasure in our heart. We give based on what we treasure in our heart. We treasure God and we treasure his word and that's how we give. The Apostle Paul is referring to the inner attitudes and counsels of the heart that will be revealed. Peter employs this same word when he was giving instructions to wives about the hidden woman in their heart, the secret person. or the secret person comes out publicly. At times, what is in a person's heart and disposition fleshes out publicly. There's no secret. Romans 2 uses this word and translate it inward also saying, for he is not a Jew which is worn outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh, but he is a Jew which is worn inwardly. or secretly, that's the same word, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter, whose praise is not of men, but of God. Therefore the Lord is not implying in any way that good deeds is a secret or an anonymous matter known only between individual and God. He's saying that good deeds must come from an attitude of the heart. You know, sometimes, you know, some people maybe approach, and I'm very glad that that's not my responsibility anymore. And they will give you a remark like, oh, my giving is between me and God. No, no, no, no, no, no. Your giving is not between you and God. Yes, it is. But don't cop that. Giving ought to be transparent. So if you're copying that, all you're doing is saying, I give what I want to give and what I want to give. That's what you're saying in essence. But that's not correct either if you're giving with an attitude like that. As a matter of fact, you have the example of the widow's mite. Jesus commended the attitude of her heart, not the content of what she gave. And Jesus said, well, she gave more than you guys because she gave off her poverty and you guys are just throwing in a few marbles out of your wealth. So let's understand this text carefully. And that's why I said to you that this Sermon on the Mount needs special attention. You don't throw it at anybody. The second word secret in verse four is different. Then the first, it is the word prevail. And thy father which sees in secret himself shall reward thee openly. The father will prevail. So then in this instruction, our Lord is directing to the right motive in performing deeds of righteousness, which is obviously inclusive of giving. He's instructing on the right means in doing such deeds. They are to come from an attitude of heart. But having said this, we don't want to just explain what words mean or the text mean. I don't want to just explain to you what the text is saying, but we want to perform this duty, showing in these last few strands, and let's take giving as an example. or anything else that is a righteous deed. We want to show three strands, whether we be giving or resources, praying or speaking publicly in a teaching frame of mind. We must remember Titus 3, 5 and 6 that says we are not saved by works of righteousness, which we have done. And by the way, praying and all of these things are works of faith. All of these are works of righteousness. And we're not saved by any of these things. We're saved by grace. But these deeds of righteousness should be performed in a practical manner. Let's say the grace of giving. And as I said before, some say, I give my heart, that's the best I can do. Well, this may be correct and this is what we must do. We must give our heart and our heart is foremost, but this is not practical. No one who has the ability and the resources to share in this great grace should say, oh, I give my heart, but what more you want me to give? The Macedonian believers gave their hearts also, and Paul was careful to commend them, saying, and this they did, not as we hope, but first give their own selves to the Lord, that's their heart, and unto us by the will of God. If you give yourself to the apostles, it simply means that you give your resources, you give your time to them. to send forth the gospel. And Paul was careful, says, they first give themselves, they first give, they did not as we hope, but first give their own selves to the Lord. But Paul says they even went beyond that, something that we didn't hope for. Why? Because the Macedonians were poor, poor people. But I'm saying that our giving ought to be practical. Don't say, I give my heart, I come. has to be practical. Jesus is very clear to say, when thou givest thine alms, when thou givest, when thou prayest, when thou fastest, it's practical. Second, it ought to be personal. The narrative uses the personal words a dozen times in the context. Even though our Lord is addressing a multitude, he's also speaking at a personal level and not merely at a corporate or congregational level. Or deeds of righteousness should be personal. Matthew chapter six, state he that you do not your arms before men to be seen of them. Otherwise you have no reward of your father, which is in heaven. Yes, he's talking on a corporate level, but the you also implies the personal nature of the giving or the doing righteousness. You should be personal or deeds of righteousness. Each one of us, if we are being fed by the church, the Bible says that we ought to support the ministry. Bible says in Galatians chapter 6 it's not in my text but I read it I will read it to you and you know all of these these these are in Galatians chapter 6 verse 6 let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things What let the one that is taught in the word, the word communicate means to share or to give unto that one that is teaching and all good things. Now that good, that one is teachers, not me. So don't, don't, don't apply it to me. The Lord is the one teaching and he teach by the arm of the church. Okay. So don't think that the minister is soliciting gifts. I'm not. If you're one of those Christians who think that you can freeload, you're not doing your part. Giving is not only to be practical, it is to be personal, okay? Thirdly, in sharing this text with you and explaining it, it is also to be a spiritual service. or deeds of piety are spiritual. God the Father is spiritual. Deeds are practical, but they have a spiritual intent. And the word of God said, And the father which sees in secret, because he is spiritual himself, shall reward thee openly. How is one rewarded openly? The word openly means externally. Rewards are not some future trophy given to those who are faithful as some churches teach. That is an error. The reward is spiritually common when one performs deeds of righteousness. It may result in the conversion of others. This is a reward. It may result in the establishing of a long-lasting witness. Somebody inquired about the property in in Zimbabwe who else who is who is going to belongs to it is not our business who it belongs to the fact is that there's a lifelong witness there on the ground saying somebody from somewhere came here and established a bible believe in church just like david livingston in africa you guys a big monument in harari David Livingston went there sometime. It's just like Shoranda Hospital in Mount Darwin going up to Mozambique. Somebody had the goal to put a church and a hospital there. They're gone. But this is a reward to those who 50, 100 years ago put these things there as the gospel continues to flow. It's not my business who take over what. My business is to establish the witness. It's a spiritual service. So I hope I touch on rewards a little bit, but I'm not going to belabor it, but this is a big issue. And I understand why people preach that, because that is so disgusting, because God having lavished his love upon us and his grace, what more do we want in eternity? But it is based on a false doctrine that salvation is by grace plus works. And that's because it's the wrong premise, the wrong doctrine. It comes out. The Bible says, Jesus said, he that receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward. And he that receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. Now here in this text, another confusing text, the prophet and the righteous man in view is Christ. This is the context. When you read it, you'll see that's what he was talking about. His reward is eternal life and all that pertains to life. Therefore, we can summarize our thought by saying that Jesus is giving instruction on performing deeds of righteousness. This is the better rendition of the word AMS. Do not your deeds of righteousness before men. We saw the motive. We saw the manner in performing such deeds. But we also look at the application point of this text, the different side of the text of the instruction, and say that our deeds of righteousness or piety should be practical, should be personal, should be spiritual. Don't just Pray for the lady that is in the hospital. Go and see her. That's practical. Don't just promise to give. Give! That's practical. I hope you understand, but it is spiritual. In doing so, you're doing it with a spiritual intent. It's just like James. It's just like 1 John. And as we go through this Sermon on the Mount, I hope you're learning as well as understanding as much as I am learning in studying these messages. Let's pray. Lord, as we let our light shine in this dark world, We pray that you will glorify yourself. And could it be that some may be brought to their knees where they will ask you for mercy? Oh Lord God, this is the reward that we are longing for, to see others bowing before your presence and serving with their lives. We give you glory and praise in Jesus' name, amen.