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Check Your Motives for God does - Matthew 6
Check Your Motives for God does - Matthew 6
The more you contemplate the Sermon on the Mount, the more profound it becomes. It goes to the very heart – the greatest commandment – love the LORD thy God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Thus Jesus warns about religion that is practiced
- ‘… before men to be noticed by them’ (1)
- ‘… so that they may be honored by men’ (2)
- ‘…may be seen by men’ (5).
But, Jesus was not done here for he continued to confront such attitudes:
“How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God?” (John 5:44).
"But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments” (Matthew 23:5)
“And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God” (Luke 16:15).
“… who devour widows' houses, and for appearance's sake offer long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation” (Luke 20:47).
“While He was still speaking, behold, a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was preceding them; and he approached Jesus to kiss Him” (Luke 22:47).
"He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him” (John 7:18).
“Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God” (John 12:42-43).
Returning to the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus thus the instructs to ‘go into your closet’ and to ‘not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing’. Religion can be its stumbling block. It can actually bring condemnation IF we approach it from the wrong motive! Examine yourselves (2 Cor. 13:5). Are seeking to please God, or men? Are you seeking the glory that comes from men, or that which comes from God? Check your motives, for God does!
Hugh DeLong
