Q: In Matthew 5:16, Jesus says, Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. A similar sentiment is expressed in First Peter 2:12. But in Matthew 6:1 and 23:3-5, Jesus speaks against doing good works in public. Should we let others see our good works, or not?
A: The answer is not complicated: under some circumstances ~ when it is condusive to the glory of God ~ we should, and under other circumstances ~ when it is not condusive to the glory of God ~ we should not. To insist on a simple Yes or No would be to ignore the qualifications which the pertinent texts contain. Lets take a look at them.
In Matthew 6:1, Jesus instructs us not to do our alms (giving offerings and gifts, especially gifts to the poor) before men to be seen of them. Fair enough. If we give a lot of money in order to receive admiration from people, we are not really giving with open hearts, but for an ulterior motive which is somewhat self-centered. That would be bad.
In Matthew 23:3-5, Jesus criticizes the scribes and Pharisees for doing various good works to be seen of men. This is the same objection Jesus had to self-centered works in Matthew 6. The problem is not that the act is performed publicly; its that the primary motive for the act is self-centered.
Jesus Himself frequently taught, and healed, and prayed publicly. So did His early followers. When Christians today do these things in public, it ought to be a sample, an overflow spilled from the cup of what they do privately and secretly. And any good work which a Christian does in public ought to be done in such a way that God, and not Gods shovel (the human benefactor) is praised.
It is not always easy to gauge when it is appropriate to do a good deed in public. If Christians were to do nothing at all in public, people would tend to think that they were idle and socially useless. On the other hand, Christians should not show off when they do good works. There are some special cases I can think of what public displays of charity are worthwhile, but as a general rule, Christians should not plot to make sure their good deeds get noticed by people. Any reputation that Christians get as doers of good should be obtained accidentally, so to speak, by loving others at all times.
Yours in Christ,
Waterrock
A: The answer is not complicated: under some circumstances ~ when it is condusive to the glory of God ~ we should, and under other circumstances ~ when it is not condusive to the glory of God ~ we should not. To insist on a simple Yes or No would be to ignore the qualifications which the pertinent texts contain. Lets take a look at them.
In Matthew 6:1, Jesus instructs us not to do our alms (giving offerings and gifts, especially gifts to the poor) before men to be seen of them. Fair enough. If we give a lot of money in order to receive admiration from people, we are not really giving with open hearts, but for an ulterior motive which is somewhat self-centered. That would be bad.
In Matthew 23:3-5, Jesus criticizes the scribes and Pharisees for doing various good works to be seen of men. This is the same objection Jesus had to self-centered works in Matthew 6. The problem is not that the act is performed publicly; its that the primary motive for the act is self-centered.
Jesus Himself frequently taught, and healed, and prayed publicly. So did His early followers. When Christians today do these things in public, it ought to be a sample, an overflow spilled from the cup of what they do privately and secretly. And any good work which a Christian does in public ought to be done in such a way that God, and not Gods shovel (the human benefactor) is praised.
It is not always easy to gauge when it is appropriate to do a good deed in public. If Christians were to do nothing at all in public, people would tend to think that they were idle and socially useless. On the other hand, Christians should not show off when they do good works. There are some special cases I can think of what public displays of charity are worthwhile, but as a general rule, Christians should not plot to make sure their good deeds get noticed by people. Any reputation that Christians get as doers of good should be obtained accidentally, so to speak, by loving others at all times.
Yours in Christ,
Waterrock
