The Secret Service (Matthew 6:1-4)

The Gospel According to Matthew
Jesus for President (Part 17: Secret Service)

Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:4, 6 & 18

This phrase reinforces 2 key attributes of God
God is All-Knowing (even knows our secrets)
God is Just (sees that righteousness is rewarded)
And 2 key questions emerge...

What Kinds of Secrets do you Have?

Secret Sinner: Matthew 6:1-2, 5, 16, Luke 11:39-43
Many professing Christians compensate for their internal sinfulness with external ‘acts’ of righteousness.
- ACT of righteousness
- Public Prayer
- Public Fasting
* God sees the secret

Secret Servant: Matthew 6:3-4, 6, 17-18
Other professing Christians have discovered that the best way to do acts of ‘righteousness’ is to do them secretly.
- It's a question of motivation, not publicity alone (compare with 5:14-16)
- We have to be careful b/c the heart is tricky
- The best way to be careful is to aim for secrecy

What Kinds of Rewards do you Want?

Treasures on Earth: Matthew 6:19, Luke 14:12
When we do good works in order to be seen by men, we get rewarded (they see us AND often return the favor).
* this is the classic 'I scratch your back, you scratch mine' mentality

Treasures in Heaven: Matthew 6:20, Luke 14:13-14
Secret works are rewarded too, but since they aren’t rewarded here, they are rewarded in the hereafter.
- Luke 14:12-14 is not a blanket condemnation of having dinner with friends
- The above is fine, but its reward is earthly
- When we give to those who can't repay, we will get repaid (James 1:27)

"There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known” Matthew 10:26 & Luke 12:2

How to apply this principle this week
1. Help someone anonymously
2. Compliment someone behind their back
3. Don't report back to me!