“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)
Read Matthew 6:1–6,16–21.
In today’s passage, we take a little tour through some of Jesus’ core teachings in the Sermon on the Mount. His message is quite straightforward and not complicated. Jesus points out the spiritual practices of the “hypocrites” in a negative light. They are out to get recognition for their piety, and that is what they’ll get. But that reward is short-lived, nothing but fast food. It doesn’t nourish the soul. It doesn’t permeate the world with eternal life and love. It only feeds the ego, which will always be insatiable.
Jesus’ words urge us to pause and reflect on our own spiritual habits and actions. What are our core motivations? How “secret” are our spiritual acts, and how “hidden” are our spiritual habits?
The word hypocrite can be linked to our modern word for actor, someone only playing a part. They might say and do the right things, but deep inside, they are really someone else. This lack of authenticity is what Jesus seems to condemn in these verses.
Jesus doesn’t want behavior modification; He invites us into heart transformation. It’s not about simply having the right habits. It’s about having the right heart. Because Jesus knows the right heart will naturally produce the right habits. But behind a person whose only motivation is to be seen having the right habits can lurk a heart that is, in reality, quite wretched. Acts 2:46 describes the disciples of the early church as having “glad and sincere hearts”.
So, where is our treasure? Are our hearts set on fast-food faith? Do we crave the feeling of being seen as a “good Christian”? We might want to check our hearts.
Prayer
Father, I have a sinful heart that needs Your love, grace and mercy to work correctly. Help me to be a right child belonging to You and let my “right” heart always be what is truly seen.
Stay encouraged!
Pastor Mike
