In this tremendous sermon, Jesus has declared who is blessed. Those blessed ones, His people, will shine the light of Christ through their good deeds. In first century Judaism, good deeds would have been defined by the so-called religious elite. Jesus says that the righteousness of God’s true children must exceed that of Scribes and Pharisees. He then goes on to describe the true nature of the law. Fulfillment of the law is not outward legalism, but a heart that seeks after God and honors Him. He finishes that section of the sermon with the exhortation “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).

Jesus knows our hearts. He knows that as soon as we hear the high command to be perfect, to be complete, to be righteous, to be holy as God is holy, righteous, and perfect, the command will be twisted in our hearts. We will immediately turn towards doing our deeds so that other people will praise us. As He begins a new section of His sermon, Jesus kindly and firmly commanding, engages this idolatry. He calls us to beware of practicing our righteousness to be seen by men. True righteousness is humbly doing what is right in the sight of God. Jesus then applies this principle in the ways that first century Judaism would’ve practiced righteousness – giving to the poor, prayer, and fasting. He gives a caution or rebuke and then an encouragement for each. As believers in Christ, we should take both to heart. As we look at giving this Sunday, pray that God would convict us of sin and that we would follow His call to humble giving, for God’s glory alone.