The Rodeo

Mike Raiter gave this talk on Matthew 6:1-18. I think it should be we men, not us men. But anyway…

• Jesus’ worst words were for hypocrites.
• Matthew 5:20 is the key verse.
• Righteousness: Godly conduct (righteousness is not from Jesus’ grace in this context - this is our righteousness). We have to be better than the pharisees.

• Intention and action is what he wants.
• The truly righteous are men of integrity - what we do and what we say are the same.

• This is not an optional extra! These aren’t unreachable ideals - we have to do them.

• We won’t be perfect, but we must be consistently men of integrity - it’s demanded of us by Christ.

• The reading is just three examples, we should be like this in everything.
• What you intend is as important as what you do.

• The examples given are exaggerations - they are like cartoons:

• One hand not knowing what the other is doing.
• Praying in the cupboard.
• Fasting - spruce up! (Don’t let everyone know about it).

• True integrity is a life lived before an audience of one:

• These verses don’t mean that no-one should see what you do, rather do them so God receives the praise.
• Do it for Him.

• Consequenses: Just because God graces us to believe and obey doesn’t mean we don’t have a responsibility to believe and obey or a culpability if we don’t.

• If we do things for people’s recognition, we’ll get what we want and that will be all.
• Seeking men’s acclaim, not God’s.
• Do things for God and we will get paid by him.
• Do it with God as your audience.

• We will be commended and rewarded if we do these things for God.

• The reward isn’t specified, it could just be God’s praise.
• Look for God’s praise, not men’s.

This teaching provokes two responses:

1. It is liberating: We don’t have to be perfect in our prayers/sermons etc, as we only need to be judged by God, not men.
2. Fear: of the one who will assess us.

• If we do our righteousness in secret, people can’t judge us.
• Learn from Vitalis

RodeoClown: wants to be like Vitalis (but won’t be hiring any prostitutes).

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