Covet God's Approval Series

synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward

in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so

that your giving may be in secret.”

A. Jesus calls those who do good things with selfish intentions hypocrites

1. That word comes into our language directly from the New Testament Greek language

2. It means “an actor who wears a mask”

--In the theatre of Jesus’ day, one actor could play several roles on stage. They designated the

changing of the role onstage by wearing different masks.

3. A hypocrite in its simplest sense is someone who pretends to be something that in reality they are not.

-- I read a newspaper piece not long ago about a young dockworker who came into the local

Western Union agent and tried to cash a check made out to Roadway Express, which is a trucking

company based out of Dallas, TX. The manager figured something was up and slyly asked the

young man for his ID. The 18-year-old produced a fairly well-made picture ID and under the name

it said, “Roadway V. Express”.

The manager told the young man to wait there while he went in the back to get the money. When

the manager went into the back of the office, he called the police and they promptly arrested Mr.

Express.

B. Evidently the Pharisees, who craved the praise of men, sometimes made a big show out of what they

gave to the temple treasury.

1. In the Jewish system of worship, they didn’t pass the offering tray and people didn’t give by

anonymous envelopes or folded checks.

2. The treasury boxes were set outside the worship area and people gave their money as they came in

--Mk. 12:41 – “Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd

putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts.”

3. People still sometimes give to good causes for public approval.

a. Listen to any fund-raising telethon.

--You’ll hear the names of the donors names read out loud: “So and so gave a hundred dollars.”

b. Go to almost any hospital in America and you can read plaques like “This wing donated by so and

so,” and a family is listed who has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to that hospital.

c. Our Bible Colleges put names of donors on bricks or, if you give enough money, you can have a

dormitory or library named after you.

--This method is a very successful method of gaining donors and it’s not all wrong.

C. But Jesus raised the bar once again

--He uses a unique phrase that puzzles some people in our age: “But when you give to the needy, do not

let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.”

1. Notice Jesus assumes that if we’re subjects to the King of kings and want to live according to his

expectations, we will be “givers”

--He doesn’t say “if you give” but “when you give”

a. Being generous in helping meet the needs of others was a mark of the early church

b. A Greek philosopher named Aristedes from Athens, as early as 125 A.D., presented a defense of