Hypocrisy within Institutional Religion:

What is hypocrisy?

- hypocrisy is pretending to be what one is not, or to believe what one does not.

- a hypocrite professes to be what he is not.

How does hypocrisy creep into institutional religion?

- there is a tendency to miss the inner reality of the kingdom in the outward trappings of religion.

Can institutional religion avoid hypocrisy? Can we avoid hypocrisy?

In the next section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus exposes ways in which kingdom righteousness can be, and had been, turned into religious acts of hypocrisy.

Giving to the Needy: Choose your reward.

Matthew 6:1-4 "...Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you..."

What is "practicing righteousness"?

- putting into practice, into real living, that which is right.

What two formats does Jesus say are available for practicing righteousness?

- live it out to be seen by other people.

- live it out to be seen by God.

What reward is available for practicing righteousness?

- applause from people.

- reward from God.

What righteous act does Jesus refer to in this passage?

- giving to the needy.

What does it mean to "not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing"?

- no fanfare, no highlighting the action, readily forgetting that it was even done.

How can giving to the needy be hypocrisy?

- giving to receive praise from men is not the same as giving to meet need.

How can we be guilty of this type of hypocrisy?

- are we enjoying back pats for our ministries or quietly fulfilling kingdom ministry?

Praying: Choose your audience.

Matthew 6:5-8 "...And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him..."

What does the phrase "when you pray" imply?

- that you will pray.

How and why do hypocrites pray?

- in public, with empty phrases and many words.

- to be seen by others.

- to be considered pious.

What reward is received when praying to be seen?

- the respect and praise of men.

How and why did Jesus say a person should pray?

- in secret.

- God doesn't need elaborate explanations, and prayer is not uttered to inform him, but to put ourselves in such communion with him as to make us fit to receive.

What reward is received when praying to your Father in secret?

- that which is really needed.

How are the instructions on prayer similar to the "not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing"?

- no fanfare, no highlighting the action, just getting it done.

Is Jesus against public prayer, prayer meetings, and corporate prayer?

Matthew 18:19-20 "...Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them...”

Acts 1:14 "...All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers..."

- properly focused corporate prayer is a powerful connection to the Almighty.

What is the ever present danger with corporate prayer?

- the focus so easily shifts away from healthy interaction with God our Father.

- people have a difficult time avoiding self-consciousness.

- people have a tendency to enjoy attention and complements from others.