Preparation for Worship: Ephesians 2:8-10
Call to worship: Psalm 15
Reading of the Law: Proverbs 11:29 (The wicked hardens his own heart. He doesn’t tremble when he commits iniquity. He is bold in his sin, and unrepentant. He will seek his own way. He is captain of his soul… but only for a time. The righteous, on the other hand, do not direct their own paths. He relies on the Father to do so, and submits to His providence.)
AOPG: Psalm 116:5-9
Confession of Faith: The Apostles’ Creed.
Old Covenant Reading : Deuteronomy 15:1-11
New Covenant Reading: Matthew 6:1-18
In the following sermon, we see Jesus expanding upon how the Pharisees twisted God’s Law for their own gain, when it came to their acts of piety. Jesus will address three areas in chapter 6, charitable acts, prayer, and fasting. In all three, the hypocrites turned these acts of piety into performance before men. Their goal was to make themselves see pious and holy. But because they were seeking the pleasure of men, and not God, their acts were considered abominable to God and rejected by Him.
This is not to say, we are not to do good works, especially charity, prayer, and fasting. Jesus expects us to do just that. But we are to do it with an attitude towards our Father in heaven, not man.
The Law is supposed to show us God’s perfect character—His holiness, His righteousness—and act like guardrails to keep us on track in living holy lives. It’s not about earning salvation; it’s about growing in sanctification, reflecting God’s light through our actions. Leithart calls this “redemptive righteousness”—good works that point others to God, not to us.
Then He zeros in on three acts of piety: giving, praying, and fasting. The problem wasn’t the acts themselves—those are good and expected—but the heart behind them. The Pharisees were doing them for the applause of the crowd, not for God. Jesus calls them out as hypocrites, saying don’t be like that. Don’t give to the poor to get a pat on the back. Instead, give quietly, secretly, for God’s eyes only.
He assumes we’ll be charitable, and the Old Testament backs this up, like in Deuteronomy where the Jews were told to care for the poor generously, but with discernment—not just handing out cash to the lazy, but helping those genuinely in need while preserving their dignity. It’s not about showing off; it’s about righteousness flowing from a heart that fears God and loves His commands, like Psalm 112 says.
When Jesus warns against “sounding a trumpet” to announce your giving, it’s like He’s calling out our tendency to crave recognition. I feel that—wanting people to notice when I do something good. But Jesus says that’s a dead-end reward, just fleeting praise from people. Instead, give in secret, and God, who sees it all, will reward you in His way. That’s the kind of righteousness that surpasses the Pharisees’—a heart focused on God, not the spotlight. It’s a challenge, but it’s how we store up treasures in heaven, not just chase vanity here on earth.
Listen to the sermon below…
That... Which Matters Most 
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