Scripture
“so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Matthew 6:4 NIV
“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Matthew 6:6 NIV
“so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Matthew 6:18 NIV
Observation
These three verses represents respectively: “giving to the needy”, “prayer” and, “fasting”.
The hypocrites did those things in the synagogue and on streets so they could show their “righteousness” to others.
They were doing good things, but with the wrong motivation in their hearts.
The first verse on this chapter says:
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 6:1
Application
When I think about things that is “done in secret”, the first things that comes to mind are bad things, things we want to hide. Our sins, our faults and mistakes, our shame and guilty. All those things, we really don’t want to bring to light, yet, God exposes it if we fail to repent.
But here is another application of “done in secret”, the good things, which also contradicts us, because when we do something good, we don’t want to hide, we want to tell people.
Jesus is saying that the reward of giving, praying and fasting, does not come to those who seek somehow approval from others, nor fame, nor glory to ourselves, but the reward comes from the one who is unseen and yet sees everything. There is no better rewards than God’s reward.
If we try to practice our righteousness in front of others to be seen by them, we will have no reward coming from God.
- Give in secret
- Pray in secret
- Fast in secret
Prayer
Father, help me to practice what I learn. Help me to do things that will only be seen by and approved by you. In Jesus’ name, I pray
