Matthew 5:16: "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
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."
Is there a difference in "good deeds" and "acts of righteousness"? If so, is there a listing of which is which? Any of you out there with knowledge of the "original greek", feel free to tell me what's going on here!
8 comments:
Okay. . .my after 10:00 answer on a Friday night is. . .it's a matter of the heart and your intent. It also depends on who Jesus is talking to at that exact moment--is it a crowd in general or the Pharisees? (I haven't looked it up--see the after 10:00 on a Friday night reference above.)
If I give a kid at school a pencil bag or a binder or map colors that I've purchased with my own money and that I will never ask them to return. . .well that's a good deed. They know I did it. They may even tell someone I did it.
That glorifies God.
If I start telling everyone I did it. . .then there's a problem. The shine is gone from the deed, because I'm glorifying myself.
Oh---and the reason I said it matters who Jesus is speeking to is that exegesis thing. . .what was the intent at the time the statement was made. Obviously "all scripture is Spirit breathed" and every word Jesus says is one on which to hang our actions. . .but his audience is important.
This is like the whole "faith without works/works don't save you" thing.
I also think it is a heart thing. Being like the pharisee in scripture who flaunted what he gave is a very bad thing, very bad indeed, he has received his reward on earth. I think that the Lord is very good at convicting hearts where the line is crossed in situations like this, and I also think the Lord is very good at spurring people on to do good in His name.
I, too, think that it is a matter of intent. It's not wrong to allow what we do to glorify God; however, if we do something for the purpose of glorifying ourselves, then we are wrong. I think there is no difference in "good deeds" and "acts of righteousness. After looking in my Complete Word Study:the New Testament about the two passages, I THINK that essentially the two phrases mean the same. The Greek in Mt 6:1 refers to ACTS (or outward manifestations) of mercy; whereas, the phrase in Mt. 5:16 refers to "noble deeds." For my money, they're the same.--MSR
You have to look at context here.
In Matt 5:16, He was talking about being an example to the world through your actions.
In Matt 6:1, He was talking about giving to the needy, which should be a private example and not to be done for the benefit of men.
(See the parable of the poor woman giving her last coin to the synygogue, wheras the Pharasee makes a big show of how much $$$ he puts in the coffer.)
Bible questions make me fart.
www.crashtestcomic.com
Sarah,
I have a quote taped above my computer station with these words:
"We're called to obedience not notoriety. We're called to significance, not success." by Chip MacGregor agent/author/editor
I think they may be commentary on what you are asking. We are called to obedience and significance, to make a difference in this world, and to make God look good, not ourselves.
Motivation is a key, and Jesus is the leader in "letting lights shine" and "acts of righteiousness" --in doing these correctly. Nothing he did was for the sole purpose of being seen by men or self-glorification.
He was simply obeying the Father and men saw. He knew that as he went about doing good that people would see and take notice, but he took the spotlight and turned it toward the Father.
Jesus was here as the exact image of God, to interpret God to the world (Col.1).
Our calling is similar: interpreting Jesus/God to the world. That's the purpose of our lives. When we shine the spotlight back on him, more of his light shines through us--we have nothing to do with the making of that light. It's his brightness, holiness, power, love that shines through.
An altar fire, a place of sacrifice is burning and shining through me. And I know that I get singed when I try to steal that fire and make a little light shine on Cathy.
If God brings the lifting up of my head, or a tiny spotlight on my life, that's different than me trying to arrange a stage for ME. When God arranges life-gigs that put me on "stage," then I'm to accept those, but when I take my bows, it's in his name and to his glory alone.
God recognizes those who are humble in heart and can handle and battle the temptation of pride. He knows who has a heart for stepping out and shining for him without getting a bouffant big-head about any seeming successes.
Well that got longer than intended...Blessings...CM
I fail miserably in either context. When I fret, worry, and grumble about stuff and whenever the word "but" comes out of my mouth.
I'm frustrated over this and that; I'm disappointed in so and so.
"But" I did this, this, and this.
I get the feeling from both of these scriptures, and from this comment discussion, that whatever we do, whether people can see us or not, it may be better to do things quietly and somewhat uncomfortably.
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