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Jun 1, 2011

30 Did Jesus say, Make your good deeds seen?


Mr. Matthew vs Mr. Matthew!

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus' sermon on the mount teaches the listening crowd:
To make their good deeds seen by other people


Just a minute!

The same sermon teaches the crowd:
To make their good deeds unseen by other people


Jesus encourages you to make your good deeds seen before men

Matthew Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.



But then he warns you not to make your good deed seen before men

Matthew 6:1 Be careful not to do your “acts of righteousness” before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. 3 But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Thus Matthew vs Matthew.

Related post:
29 Did Jesus tell his disciples to carry a staff

2 comments:

  1. This is not a contradiction, Jesus is talking about the attitude of the heart. In the first instance Christians are asked to do their works in the light to bring glory to God. In the second instance they are told not to take their own good works to heart but to minimize their own selves, again to give glory to God. Christians are servants of God their purpose is to reflect Gods' light right back to Him. Humility is goal of every Christian.

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    1. Well, there's a significant amount of inference in your view. Especially where the Gospel says as follows:

      Matthew 6: 3 But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

      In secret is to not let it be seen, as in verse 4 in the above quotation.
      Give privately and not openly. It's not just a matter of heart. It's a matter of being seen, too. Thus, let men see your deeds (Matthew 5) versus help the needy privately (Matthew 6).

      I've heard of your view before; but the context that I have selected doesn't support it entirely.

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