Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Matthew 6:1
Jesus lays it on thick in this text from Matthew 6. These lessons from the Sermon on the Mount are the beginnings of Jesus’ teaching the ways of the kingdom. Ego-centered religion has no place in it. Jesus must have surely gotten tired of the sight of those religious folks who were puffed up in self-righteousness and false piety. He gives instruction on how to live faith in humble, genuine ways that are pleasing to God and up-building of the kingdom.
The religious folk of Jesus’ time thought they had the keys to the kingdom and all the answers. They were quick to tell of their righteousness and practiced a faith with more legalism than grace and more long-suffering than joy. The religious piety of the Pharisees missed the point of the way of righteousness that Jesus was teaching and modeling. Jesus taught the way of forgiveness and love, joy and generosity, kindness and grace to all, selflessness in all things of faith and practice. This way is the way of the kingdom; this is the way that will be rewarded by God.
For all those who wear piety on their sleeve like a badge of favor or a ticket for judging others, beware. Satisfaction from such piety is short lived, a faith that is a flash in a pan. True piety that mirrors the love and grace of Christ is known only in the heart that loves the Lord and seeks to be in right relationship with others and all creation. This is the piety that will find reward in the goodness of God.
In this Lenten season, may we examine our faith in honest ways to measure the ways we live piety and faith. If we come up short, may we be honest in seeking to be made new from the inside out and may God bless the truth we work to live.
Almighty God, where pride has clouded my vision and self-centeredness has compromised my relationship with You and with others around me, clean me up and set me right again. Open my eyes to see the error of my life and of my faith. Give me courage to make a new way in You. In Christ I pray. Amen.
