Re:Verse passage – Matthew 6:1–8, 16–18 (day five) Anyone else notice the possible contradiction in the preaching of Jesus? Just a few verses before, He says, “Let your light shine before men.” And yet in our Re:verse text, He says, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them.” Why would He seemingly be saying two different things? One is commanded and the other is prohibited.
If we look more closely, we realize that Jesus is confronting the sinful tendency of the human heart. He is calling out two particular sins- cowardice (in the earlier passage- that would keep our light from shining) and vanity (in this week’s text- that would cause us to want to be seen and get recognition). So, how do you know which is which? What is the litmus? I believe the telling issue is the Glory of God. We must answer the question that comes from both passages, “Who gets the glory?” Is it God or man? Our heart’s desire should always be that by what we do and where we do it, that God, not man, be glorified. This discerning ability demands constant communication and engagement with the Lord- a vibrant personal relationship with Him. Perhaps a worthy resolution for the new year.
