The Bible emphasizes that God examines the motives behind our religious acts, not just the acts themselves.
In Matthew 6, Jesus addresses the heart of the matter regarding religious duties such as almsgiving, prayer, and fasting. He instructs us to examine our motives, warning that actions done for the praise of men lack merit before God. Christ delineates between the motive of merit, which seeks recognition, and the motive of grace and gratitude, which acknowledges that all merit belongs to Christ and is a response to His grace. This teaching aligns with the Reformed understanding that true obedience stems from a heart transformed by grace and not from self-seeking motives.
Matthew 6:1-6
Grace is essential for Christians as it signifies God's unmerited favor and the basis of our acceptance before Him.
Grace is central to the Christian faith, as it is through grace that we receive imputed righteousness, essential for salvation. In the context of Matthew 6, Christ teaches that our religious acts should stem from a recognition of this grace rather than an attempt to earn favor. The Reformed tradition emphasizes that all acts of worship and obedience are only accepted before God through the merits of Christ's finished work. Understanding and relying on grace prevents us from resting in our own righteousness and helps us to live in gratitude for what Christ has accomplished for us.
Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 3:24
Our righteousness is sourced in Christ and is imputed to us, confirming that we cannot achieve it through our own efforts.
The doctrine of the imputation of Christ's righteousness is foundational in Reformed theology. In Matthew 5:20, Jesus states that our righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees, leading us to understand that true righteousness cannot be achieved through our works. It is solely through the finished work of Christ, accomplished on the cross, that His righteousness is credited to our account. This truth reassures us that our standing before God does not rely on our merit but on the perfect obedience and sacrificial death of Christ, which fulfills the law on our behalf.
Romans 5:19, Philippians 3:9
Christians are called to give, pray, and fast as expressions of gratitude and worship to God, driven by proper motives.
In Matthew 6, Jesus presupposes that His followers will engage in giving, praying, and fasting. These acts are not merely rituals; they are opportunities for Christians to express gratitude and reliance on God. However, Christ warns against doing these acts for the sake of gaining human approval or recognition. Instead, they should be performed in secret to honor God genuinely. This reflects the Reformed understanding that our actions should be the fruit of an inner transformation by the Holy Spirit, where our motives align with grace and not self-seeking desires.
Matthew 6:2-4, Matthew 6:5-6, Matthew 6:16-18
Jesus teaches that one cannot divide loyalty between God and earthly pursuits; true service must be singularly directed to God.
In Matthew 6:24, Jesus states, 'No man can serve two masters.' This underscores the reality that our allegiance cannot be split between God and the desires of this world, represented by 'Mammon.' The historic Reformed perspective upholds that true faith and service stem from understanding God’s sovereignty and grace. When believers recognize that their ultimate treasure and reward come from their relationship with God, they’re compelled to live out their faith without duplicity, fully trusting in His provision rather than clinging to earthly wealth or approval.
Matthew 6:24, Colossians 3:2-3
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