Authentic Righteousness: Living in Relationship with the Father

 

Summary

In our journey through the Sermon on the Mount, we have reached a pivotal point where we explore the profound inner logic of Jesus' teachings. Jesus, appointed as King at His baptism, embarks on a mission to establish God's kingdom, confronting the evil that has plagued humanity. His ministry is not just about physical restoration but also about transforming lives, fulfilling the promises of the Old Testament. The word "fulfillment" encapsulates the essence of chapter 5, where Jesus fulfills the Law and calls His disciples to a deeper righteousness than that of the Pharisees and scribes.

As we transition into chapter 6, Jesus shifts focus to the practice of religion, highlighting the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. He critiques their motivations in giving, praying, and fasting, emphasizing that these acts should not be for public display but for the Father who sees in secret. The key word here is "Father," mentioned ten times in the first 18 verses, underscoring the intimate relationship Jesus invites us into. This relationship with the Father is the antidote to hypocrisy, as it shifts our focus from seeking human approval to seeking the Father's approval.

Jesus uses vivid illustrations to expose the Pharisees' hypocrisy, likening them to actors wearing masks, concerned more with appearances than genuine devotion. He challenges us to examine our motivations, urging us to practice righteousness out of love for the Father and a desire to reflect His heart. Our giving should be motivated by compassion, not recognition, and our spiritual disciplines should draw us closer to the Father, not serve as a means to impress others.

Ultimately, knowing God as our heavenly Father transforms our perspective, freeing us from the need for human validation. It invites us into a life where our primary concern is what the Father thinks, allowing us to live authentically and generously, reflecting His love and grace to the world.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Kingdom's Fulfillment: Jesus' ministry fulfills the Old Testament promises, calling us to a deeper righteousness that surpasses the Pharisees. This fulfillment is not just about adhering to the Law but embodying its spirit through transformed lives. [02:32]

2. Intimacy with the Father: The repeated emphasis on "Father" in Matthew 6 highlights the intimate relationship Jesus offers. This relationship is the remedy for hypocrisy, as it shifts our focus from seeking human approval to seeking the Father's approval. [12:46]

3. Authentic Righteousness: Jesus critiques the Pharisees' motivations, urging us to practice righteousness out of love for the Father, not for public recognition. Our acts of giving, praying, and fasting should be genuine expressions of our relationship with God. [08:29]

4. Freedom from Hypocrisy: Knowing God as our heavenly Father frees us from the need for human validation. It invites us to live authentically, focusing on what the Father thinks rather than what others perceive. [16:21]

5. Reflecting the Father's Heart: Our giving and spiritual disciplines should reflect the Father's heart, motivated by compassion and a desire to extend His love to others. This perspective transforms our actions into genuine acts of worship. [19:17]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:21] - Inner Logic of the Sermon
- [00:42] - Jesus' Coronation and Battle
- [01:45] - Establishing the Kingdom
- [02:07] - Transforming Lives
- [02:32] - Fulfillment in Chapter 5
- [03:14] - Higher Righteousness
- [04:02] - Practice of Religion
- [05:09] - Giving, Praying, Fasting
- [06:34] - Motivation in Discipleship
- [08:29] - Hypocrisy and Appearance
- [12:46] - The Father in Matthew 6
- [16:21] - Remedy for Hypocrisy
- [19:00] - Giving with the Father's Heart
- [22:20] - Spiritual Disciplines and the Father

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 5:17-20
2. Matthew 6:1-18
3. Luke 18:9-14

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Observation Questions:

1. In Matthew 5:17-20, how does Jesus describe His relationship to the Law and the Prophets? What does He mean by "fulfillment"? [02:32]

2. According to Matthew 6:1-18, what are the three religious practices Jesus addresses, and what common issue does He highlight in each? [05:09]

3. In the parable from Luke 18:9-14, how does Jesus illustrate the difference between the Pharisee and the tax collector in their approach to God? How does this relate to the theme of hypocrisy? [04:02]

4. How many times is the word "Father" mentioned in Matthew 6:1-18, and what significance does this repetition have in the context of Jesus' teachings? [12:46]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. What does Jesus mean by a "righteousness that surpasses that of the Pharisees" in Matthew 5:20, and how does this concept challenge traditional views of religious observance? [02:51]

2. How does the repeated emphasis on "Father" in Matthew 6:1-18 redefine the believer's relationship with God, and why is this significant in combating hypocrisy? [13:52]

3. In what ways does the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:9-14) serve as a warning against self-righteousness, and how does it connect to Jesus' critique of the Pharisees in Matthew 6? [04:27]

4. How does Jesus' teaching on giving, praying, and fasting in Matthew 6:1-18 encourage believers to examine their motivations for religious practices? [06:34]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own spiritual practices. Are there areas where you might be seeking human approval rather than God's? How can you shift your focus to seeking the Father's approval? [08:05]

2. Consider the role of "Father" in your spiritual life. How does viewing God as a loving Father change your approach to prayer and other spiritual disciplines? [13:08]

3. In what ways can you ensure that your acts of giving are motivated by compassion and a desire to reflect God's heart, rather than seeking recognition from others? [19:17]

4. Think about a time when you may have acted like the Pharisee in Luke 18:9-14. How can you cultivate a more humble and authentic approach to your relationship with God? [10:31]

5. How can you practice spiritual disciplines in a way that draws you closer to God, rather than using them as a means to impress others? What changes might you need to make in your current practices? [22:20]

6. Reflect on the concept of "fulfillment" as described in Matthew 5:17-20. How can you embody the spirit of the Law in your daily life, rather than merely adhering to its letter? [02:32]

7. Identify one specific area in your life where you seek validation from others. What steps can you take this week to focus more on what the Father thinks about you? [18:13]

Devotional

Day 1: The Kingdom's Fulfillment
Jesus' ministry is a profound fulfillment of the Old Testament promises, calling believers to a deeper righteousness that surpasses that of the Pharisees. This fulfillment is not merely about adhering to the Law but embodying its spirit through transformed lives. Jesus, appointed as King at His baptism, embarks on a mission to establish God's kingdom, confronting the evil that has plagued humanity. His teachings in the Sermon on the Mount reveal the inner logic of this mission, inviting us to participate in a kingdom where righteousness is not just a matter of external compliance but an internal transformation. [02:32]

"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Romans 14:17, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you embody the spirit of the Law in your daily life, moving beyond mere compliance to genuine transformation?


Day 2: Intimacy with the Father
In Matthew 6, Jesus emphasizes the intimate relationship He offers with the Father, which serves as the remedy for hypocrisy. The repeated mention of "Father" underscores the shift from seeking human approval to seeking the Father's approval. This relationship invites believers into a life where their primary concern is what the Father thinks, freeing them from the need for human validation. By focusing on this divine relationship, believers can live authentically and generously, reflecting God's love and grace to the world. [12:46]

"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." (Matthew 6:6, ESV)

Reflection: How can you cultivate a more intimate relationship with the Father today, focusing on His approval rather than seeking validation from others?


Day 3: Authentic Righteousness
Jesus critiques the motivations of the Pharisees, urging believers to practice righteousness out of love for the Father, not for public recognition. Acts of giving, praying, and fasting should be genuine expressions of one's relationship with God, motivated by compassion and a desire to reflect His heart. By examining their motivations, believers can ensure that their spiritual disciplines draw them closer to the Father, rather than serving as a means to impress others. [08:29]

"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." (Matthew 6:1, ESV)

Reflection: What is one spiritual discipline you can practice today with a pure heart, focusing solely on your relationship with God rather than seeking recognition from others?


Day 4: Freedom from Hypocrisy
Knowing God as our heavenly Father frees believers from the need for human validation. This freedom invites them to live authentically, focusing on what the Father thinks rather than what others perceive. By embracing this perspective, believers can live a life that reflects God's love and grace, unburdened by the pressures of seeking approval from others. This transformation allows them to engage in genuine acts of worship, motivated by a desire to please the Father. [16:21]

"For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." (Galatians 1:10, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life do you feel the pressure to seek human approval, and how can you shift your focus to seeking the Father's approval instead?


Day 5: Reflecting the Father's Heart
Believers are called to reflect the Father's heart in their giving and spiritual disciplines, motivated by compassion and a desire to extend His love to others. This perspective transforms their actions into genuine acts of worship, allowing them to live authentically and generously. By focusing on the Father's heart, believers can ensure that their motivations align with His, leading to a life that reflects His love and grace to the world. [19:17]

"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:4, ESV)

Reflection: How can you reflect the Father's heart in your actions today, ensuring that your motivations are aligned with His love and compassion for others?

Quotes


He has come, Matthew tells us, to establish the kingdom of God in which He is king. He has been appointed publicly in His baptism as the king who is stepping onto the arena of history. In a sense, Jesus' baptism is a kind of miniature coronation, is it not? "You are my Son, you are the king to whom I am going to give the kingdoms of this world." [00:37:40]

In Christ, the Law is fulfilled and then in His disciples, the Law reaches a much deeper fulfillment than was ever seen in the scribes and the Pharisees. So, if we wanted one big word to help us think about what is in chapter 5, I think it would be the word "fulfillment." [02:51:42]

He now focuses our attention on a second big word, and it is all over the sixth chapter. I will return to that in a moment, you can think for a little as you listen about what is the big word of Matthew chapter 6? In the first half of the chapter, He deals with the practice of religion. [03:48:62]

He speaks about our motivation in our discipleship, He speaks about the result of our discipleship, and He speaks about the losses that there may be in our discipleship. He says this over and over again. He is saying the hypocrites -- "hypocrite" as you know is the Greek word for the actor in the Greek dramas. [06:34:94]

Jesus is saying, and I think you would see rightly that the more intense people sometimes are in their religious activities, the more prone they may be to this kind of hypocrisy, to keep up the standards for the sake of appearance. And so, Jesus deals with people's motivation and in this case He says, "You know, they are really doing it in order to be seen by men." [07:22:85]

He states they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners. They are so pious, but not only do you see them like the Pharisee going to the temple, but they are just walking down the street and then there is just the little gesticulation, and the eyes raised heavenwards, and they begin to pray. [09:53:89]

Now if you just glance down these first 18 verses of Matthew chapter 6, if my arithmetic is correct, you will notice that Jesus uses the word "Father" no less than 10 times. In verse 1, "your Father in heaven." In verse 4, "your Father who sees in secret." In verse 6, "Pray to your Father," and again in verse 6, "your Father will reward you." [12:46:53]

You will not find a group of 18 verses in the Old Testament in which the Lord is referred to in this personal way as "Father" 10 times. You will not find 18 chapters together as a block in the Old Testament in which the heavenly Father is addressed in this way. [13:59:63]

But you simply do not find in the Old Testament Scriptures the kind of references to knowing God as your heavenly Father that the Lord Jesus is speaking about here, and He is saying that this is the essential problem, and knowing God as your heavenly Father is the essential remedy for this problem of pharisaical hypocrisy. [16:15:62]

And then when you think about it, it is only when the Son is revealed that we would begin to think about the fact that in the Godhead there are three persons. We know the Son. Remember Peter, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God," and the implication of that is if He is the Son, then the first person of the Godhead must be the Father. [17:16:14]

What He wants to introduce into the lives of His disciples is a knowledge of the Father that brings them into such intimacy with the Father that their chief concern immediately becomes, "What does my Father think about things? What does my Father think about my life?" And as I am taken up with Him, then less and less am I going to be concerned with what anybody else thinks about my life. [18:04:92]

We give because we love the Father, and we give because we share something of the heartbeat of the Father towards the needy. So in giving, we are not giving out of a motivation of what is in it for me. We are giving because the Father has opened our hearts, and we begin to see people with the Father's eyes and we want, as it were, to extend the riches He has given to us to others. [19:35:61]

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Transcript
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