Matthew 6:14-18: a reflection

14“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 16“Moreover when you fast, don’t be like the hypocrites, with sad faces. For they disfigure their faces that they may be seen by men to be fasting. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward. 17But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18so that you are not seen by men to be fasting, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches about how we do our acts of devotion, using fasting as an example. Do not, he says, be like the hypocrites, who disfigure their faces and look gloomy so that others will see them fasting and admire their piety; they have received their reward, the admiration they sought. But you, when you fast, wash your face and appear normal, so that your fasting is not seen by others, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Devotion, Jesus teaches, is to be done for God's eyes, not for human approval.

Notice the contrast: doing devotion to be seen by others, or for the Father who sees in secret. The hypocrites did their fasting for human admiration, and that admiration was all the reward they got. But genuine devotion is done for God, in secret if need be, not to be seen by others but by the Father, who sees what is done in secret and rewards it. The question is whose eyes we are performing for: others', or God's.

That is a searching test of our devotion. It is possible to do our acts of devotion, prayer, giving, fasting, service, at least partly to be seen and admired by others, seeking human approval rather than God. Jesus calls us to do them for the Father who sees in secret, not for human eyes. Examine whose approval you are seeking in your devotion. Do it for God, who sees in secret, not for the admiration of others. Let your acts of devotion be done for the Father's eyes, whether or not anyone else ever sees, content with his notice and reward rather than seeking human applause. The Father sees in secret; do your devotion for him.

Lord Jesus, you taught that our acts of devotion should be done not to be seen and admired by others, but for the Father who sees in secret and rewards. Search whose eyes I am performing for. It is possible for me to do my devotion, prayer, giving, service, at least partly to be seen and admired by others, seeking human approval rather than you. Keep me from that. Help me do my acts of devotion for you, the Father who sees in secret, not for human eyes. Free me from the need for others' notice and applause, content with your seeing and your reward. Let my devotion be done for you, whether or not anyone else ever sees. You see in secret; help me do all my devotion for you, seeking your approval alone, not the admiration of others.