Matthew 6:1-13: a reflection

1“Be careful that you don’t do your charitable giving before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 2Therefore, when you do merciful deeds, don’t sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from men. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward. 3But when you do merciful deeds, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand does, 4so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 5“When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most certainly, I tell you, they have received their reward. 6But you, when you pray, enter into your inner room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7In praying, don’t use vain repetitions as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking. 8Therefore don’t be like them, for your Father knows what things you need before you ask him. 9Pray like this: “‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. 10Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11Give us today our daily bread. 12Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. 13Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.’

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warns against a religion performed for an audience. Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, he says. When you give, do not sound a trumpet to be admired; give so quietly that your left hand does not know what your right hand is doing. When you pray, do not pray to be seen; go into your room, shut the door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.

Notice the audience Jesus tells us to seek: not other people, but the Father who sees in secret. The hypocrites give and pray in order to be seen and admired by others, and that admiration, Jesus says, is all the reward they get. But we are to give and pray for the Father's eyes alone, in secret, seeking his approval rather than human applause. What is done in secret before God, unseen by others, is seen by the Father, and that is what matters.

That reorients why we do what we do. It is easy for our good deeds and even our prayers to become performances, done with a glance toward how others will regard us, hungry for their approval. But Jesus calls us to do our giving and praying for God, in secret, content that the Father sees, whether or not anyone else does. And when we pray, we come to a Father who already knows what we need before we ask. Do your good and your praying for God's eyes, not for human applause. Seek the approval of the Father who sees in secret, and find freedom from the endless need to be seen. What matters is not who else notices, but that your Father does.

Lord Jesus, you warned against practicing righteousness to be seen by others, and taught me to give and pray in secret, for the Father who sees in secret, rather than for human applause. Reorient why I do what I do. It is easy for my good deeds and even my prayers to become performances, done with a glance toward how others will regard me, hungry for their approval. Help me instead do my giving and praying for God, content that the Father sees, whether or not anyone else does. Free me from the endless need to be seen and admired. And thank you that when I pray, I come to a Father who already knows what I need before I ask. Help me seek the approval of the Father who sees in secret, and find freedom there. Let what matters to me be not who else notices, but that you, my Father, do. I do my good for your eyes alone.