What is the meaning of Matthew 6:1? Be careful “Be careful” signals Jesus’ loving warning to those who desire to follow Him. He calls for alertness—an ongoing, intentional watchfulness over motives and actions. • Proverbs 4:23 urges, “Guard your heart with all diligence,” echoing the same vigilance. • 1 Corinthians 10:12 cautions, “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall,” reminding believers that drifting happens when we stop paying attention. Jesus sets the tone: discipleship is never autopilot; it is awake, aware, and responsive to the Father. not to perform your righteous acts before men The Lord zeroes in on public displays of devotion—giving, praying, fasting, and every other good work. The acts themselves are not condemned; the location “before men” is not the primary issue; the heart posture is. • In Matthew 5:16, Jesus already instructed, “Let your light shine before men,” so that good deeds glorify the Father. Thus there is no contradiction. The difference lies in whose approval we are seeking. • Galatians 1:10 asks, “Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God?”—the same dividing line. We practice righteousness, but we must not stage it for an audience of people. to be seen by them Here Jesus exposes the motive: craving applause. The same deed can honor God or feed vanity depending on the hidden intent. • 1 Samuel 16:7 teaches, “The LORD looks at the heart,” reminding us that God’s gaze penetrates beyond appearances. • Acts 5:1-11 (Ananias and Sapphira) shows the deadly seriousness of seeking prestige through religious acts. If the spotlight is the goal, God steps out of the auditorium. If you do A conditional clause introduces consequences. The Lord treats motive as decisive, not peripheral. • James 4:17: “To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” Knowing the right motive yet choosing the wrong one invites discipline. • Hebrews 4:13 underscores that “everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account,” reaffirming the certainty of divine evaluation. you will have no reward Loss, not merely reduction, is at stake. Heavenly reward is forfeited when earthly applause is pursued. • 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 describes works tested by fire: some burn, some endure. Works done for show are wood, hay, and straw—gone in a flash. • Colossians 3:23-24 urges service “as for the Lord,” promising “an inheritance” when motives are right. Wrong motives erase that inheritance. from your Father in heaven The reward we risk losing is a personal commendation from our Father—a relational, eternal treasure. • Matthew 25:21 pictures the reward: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Such words are infinitely richer than any human praise. • Revelation 22:12 records Jesus saying, “My reward is with Me,” emphasizing the certainty and value of what the Father gives. The Father delights to reward, yet He refuses to compete with the fleeting applause of men. summary Matthew 6:1 sets a heart-level boundary around every righteous act. Jesus commands vigilant self-watch, discourages performance religion, and warns against motives aimed at human praise. Acts of devotion remain essential, but they must flow from a desire to honor the Father who sees in secret. Choosing the spotlight of men cancels the reward of heaven; choosing the Father’s approval secures eternal commendation. |
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