The Motives of the Heart / Matthew 6:1-18
The Interior Life of the Kingdom
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus Christ presents a radical reframing of what it means to be a child of the kingdom. Moving beyond the external adherence to the Mosaic Law, the King addresses the underlying condition of the human heart. This teaching establishes that the life of a believer is not merely defined by the avoidance of prohibited actions, but by the cultivation of righteous affections directed toward God rather than self-exaltation.
Matthew 6:1 (NASB)
’Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.
The opening verse of Matthew 6 serves as an overarching warning for the entire discourse. It functions as a caution against the temptation to perform acts of piety for the sake of human observation. The central tension presented is a choice between two distinct audiences: the fleeting praise of men or the eternal reward of the Father. When righteousness is practiced as a public performance, the spiritual value of the act is nullified by the pride of the performer.
The Theater of Hypocrisy in Giving
Giving to the poor, or almsgiving, was a foundational pillar of Jewish piety and a necessary social mechanism in a world without modern welfare systems. While the act itself is commanded and expected of those in the kingdom, the motive determines its spiritual validity. Jesus warns against the practice of those who seek to draw attention to their generosity, likening them to actors on a stage.
Matthew 6:2 (NASB)
’So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
The term “hypocrite” refers to the Greco-Roman tradition of actors who spoke from behind masks to portray a character. In a spiritual context, hypocrisy involves wearing a mask of piety to disguise a heart seeking self-glory. Those who give to be seen by others have already received their reward in full through the temporary esteem of their peers. In contrast, the kingdom citizen is called to a level of discretion so profound that the left hand remains unaware of the right hand’s actions.
Matthew 6:3-4 (NASB)
’But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees [what is done] in secret will reward you.
The Relational Essence of Prayer
Prayer is the most extensively addressed discipline in this section, emphasizing its central role in the believer’s life. Jesus critiques two primary distortions of prayer: the performative public display and the use of mindless, mechanical repetition. True prayer is not defined by its length or the complexity of its vocabulary, but by its sincerity and its orientation toward a private communion with God.
Matthew 6:7 (NASB)
’And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.
The use of “meaningless repetition” or “babble” suggests an attempt to manipulate the divine through sheer volume of words. However, because God is a Father who knows the needs of His children before they are articulated, the believer is invited into a relational dialogue rather than a religious ritual. The model prayer provided by Christ begins with the address of “Father,” signaling an intimate, familial connection that was revolutionary in its context.
Matthew 6:9-10 (NASB)
’Pray, then, in this way: ’Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. ’Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
This prayer balances the tenderness of God’s fatherhood with the reverence of His holiness. To pray for His kingdom to come and His will to be done is an act of submission, acknowledging that the believer has died to their own master to serve a new, benevolent Master. This submission extends to a daily dependence on God for basic sustenance and a commitment to the rhythm of forgiveness.
Matthew 6:11-12 (NASB)
’Give us this day our daily bread. ’And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
The theological implication of the petition for forgiveness is profound. It suggests that those who have truly experienced the grace of God will naturally become conduits of that grace to others. A heart that refuses to forgive reveals a fundamental lack of capacity to receive the Father’s own forgiveness. This is not a matter of conditional salvation, but a diagnostic of the heart’s alignment with the nature of the kingdom.
Matthew 6:14-15 (NASB)
’For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ’But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.
The Discipline of Fasting
Fasting is presented as a normative spiritual rhythm rather than an optional suggestion. It is a discipline designed to remind the believer of their ultimate dependence on God for existence. In a culture often defined by physical indulgence, fasting serves as a physical declaration that the Word of God is more essential than bread.
Matthew 6:16 (NASB)
’Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites [do], for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
As with giving and prayer, the danger of fasting lies in the desire for external recognition. Jesus instructs His followers to maintain their normal appearance so that their fast remains a secret between them and the Father. The hunger pains associated with fasting are intended to serve as prompts for prayer, turning the body’s physical needs into a spiritual orientation toward the Provider.
Matthew 6:17-18 (NASB)
’But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees [what is done] in secret will reward you.
Conclusion: The Pursuit of a Greater Reward
The call of Christ in the Sermon on the Mount is a call to greatness that requires the constant recalibration of the heart’s affections. The Father’s love for His children is secure, yet He continues to push them toward a holiness that transcends mere rule-following. This process involves a lifelong journey of “failing forward”—recognizing one’s shortcomings while continually turning back to the Father’s grace.
Ultimately, the believer must decide which reward is more valuable. The rewards of the world are immediate but fleeting, while the rewards of the Father are often delayed but eternal. By practicing righteousness in secret, the child of the kingdom acknowledges that the only audience that truly matters is the one who sees what is done in the hidden places of the heart. This posture of hiddenness leads to a life of integrity, where the internal reality of the soul matches the external profession of faith.