Hypocritical Giving
Matthew 6:1-4 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
Matthew 6:1-4 (NLT) “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.
Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
Introduction: Thank God for opportunity to learn from the Master of the Universe. Learning what disciples’ attitudes should be is a challenge to us, which confirms that living a Christian life requires determination to put human nature under check if eternity with God is to be achieved.
Advancement into the Kingdom of God is with force because the World, our Flesh and Satan are attacking every move towards the Kingdom of God.
Matthew 11:12 (NLT) And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it.
We are continuing Sermon on the Mount for disciples of Christ. Do not entertain the thought that these attitudes we have been learning are unachievable, all we need is setting a standard for ourselves using the Word of God. What makes good schools recognizable by all? It is because of the standard set for students. Majority of students do well because of educational standard laid down by teachers for students to avoid errors that cause failure. Likewise, true believers will be able to know errors that are now prevalent in the Church when the word of God becomes the standard.
This week, we are looking at hypocritical Giving that is prevalent in the body of Christ.
Jesus Christ told His Disciples from NLT version of our text;
“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get.
Hypocritical Giving is gift or services rendered by hypocrites.
How do we identify hypocrites? How can we detect in ourselves as Christians when our deeds are hypocritical?
1️⃣. Heart of Hypocrites is far from the Word of God.
Matthew 15:7-8 (NLT) You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
It doesn’t matter how eloquent with enticing words coming out of any man of God, check out the heart using the Word of God. There are several founders and General Overseers of churches that their hearts are far away from God. Giving in the Church is now based on management theory from the world standards not Biblical standard.
2️⃣. Hypocrites are vain in worship with man-made ideas.
Matthew 15:7,9 (NLT) You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’”
No matter the state of the heart instruments of worship, motive of hypocrites is a farce, full of vanity with man-made ideas. Praise, dance and worship are full of worldliness that lack repentance and results in spiritual death.
2 Corinthians 7:10 (NLT) For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.
3️⃣. Hypocrites give to tempt God
Matthew 22:18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
When giving to God is primarily to get double from Him and not love for Him, it amounts to temptations. Our leaders have made Church members to be hypocrites thereby giving in expectations to receive double or more immediately. If they couldn’t get in return to their giving, they abandon God for worldliness. Why do you give or serve God?
4️⃣. Hypocrites do not keen on the Kingdom of God
Matthew 23:13 (NLT) “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either.
When Messages of prosperity and fleshly desires are more pronounced than the Messages of the Kingdom of God, Beware, hypocrites may be in charge Giving out hypocritical messages. We have many satanists in the Church today, they know they are not going to Heaven and they debar many from going.
5️⃣. Hypocrites convert people to Hell.
Matthew 23:15 (NLT) “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn that person into twice the child of hell you yourselves are!
I can see ignoramus among so called Christians following deceivers all over the world as father- in- the Lord, not knowing that they are being led into hell. The truth is the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate.
❓Where are many of the churches founded by deceivers today? Gone with the wind.
🛑 Beware you are not led to hell by any father in the Lord. Let the Word of Christ dwell richly in you.
Job 15:34 For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery.
6️⃣. Hypocrites place money above salvation.
Matthew 23:23 (NLT) “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.
Hypocrites prioritize money above salvation of souls. Indices of Church growth in many churches is income generated through tithes and offerings. Churches has become a business venture with the sacking of pastors without financial profits in their parishes. I have also been categorised as unfruitful because I couldn’t multiply parishes at all cost. The bottom line is more income coming in not salvation of souls. I am not moved sincerely since I know God’s judgement of fruitfulness is far different from the judgment of man. When more important things about the Kingdom of God are neglected, beware hypocrites are in charge.
7️⃣. Hypocrites are outwardly holier-than-thou
Matthew 23:25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
Hypocrites present themselves as Holy thereby replacing God in the lives of many followers whereas they are full of extortion and greed. Hypocrites make followers see them as God whereas we are all awaiting results.
✍ Finally brethren, Jesus Christ said; But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
Our giving in form of Talent, Treasure or Time unto God should be without hypocrisy.
When you see multitude of people gathered together in ministries especially this end times to worship God, you must Beware of hypocrites among the leaders if your focus is the Kingdom of God because judgment will start from the house of God.
🛑 Jesus Christ warned His Disciples in Luke 12:1-2 (NLT)
Meanwhile, the crowds grew until thousands were milling about and stepping on each other. Jesus turned first to his disciples and warned them, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees—their hypocrisy. The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all.
✋ Maranatha.
