Is Scripture contradictory? The answer to that is ‘no’! The Bible is both inerrant and infallible. It is inspired by God and it is absolutely coherent. However, there are some teachings that seem contradictory. Let me expound upon what may seem to be one of the most blatant examples of this in the teaching of Jesus. In fact, both of these occur in the Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew.
Jesus said, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you they have their reward in full. But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:1-6).
Jesus also said, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lamp-stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).
Now, whether Jesus said these two sayings at the same time is open to interpretation and debate. However, it is clear that Matthew saw fit to put both of these teachings together into the same discourse of Jesus. These two sayings must be able to coincide; otherwise we must conclude that Matthew was merely a moron—some unlearned fool. However, Matthew must have had at least some education; after all, he was a tax collector. So I think it is safe to assume that Matthew knew what he was doing in putting these two teachings of self-conduct in the same narrative.
Both of these teachings are concerned with practicing good deeds before others. One commands you to do your good deeds so that others may see them, the other commands you not to do your good deeds before others. One is saying that you will be rewarded for doing your good deeds for people to see them (though not explicitly) while the other says that you already have your reward, and it is a foolish, perishing reward if you do you deeds for people to see them. This is the essential problem that we have here.
In the first (Matthew 6:1-6), notice what the “hypocrites” do. They blow the trumpet when doing good deeds and they pray in open places for others to see them. This is an attitude of self-piety. They are seeking for men to see them doing what appear to be righteous deeds so that they might be honored. When they give, they desire to be praised for being generous givers. They desire to be noticed and applauded, they desire to receive the glory when they pray. They are like the self-righteous Pharisee who saw himself as better than others (Luke 18:10-12). These are those who believe they are better and more righteous than others—and this is in some way inherent in them.
The latter (Matthew 5:14-16) seek attention to be given to their deeds not so that they may receive the praise of men, but so that those who see them may glorify God. They have been extended grace and so want others to see what God has done. They, being the light of the world, are seeking to bear witness to the true Light who lives inside of them (John 1:1-18). By showing their deeds, they are saying, “Look beyond me to the One who has changed me; the One who has given me this new heart” (cf. Ezekiel 11:19).
The essential difference here is not the deeds that are done nor the where they are done; rather, it is the reason for which they are done and the attitude that motivates them. As Christians, we must seek to do good deeds for the world to see—that we may be witnesses of the Light. However, we must have the same attitude within us that was in the first witness to the True Light: “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven” (John 3:27). The good deeds, as well as the heart of faith that does them are both the gifts of God (Ephesians 2:8-10). We are not the Christ; we do not deserve any glory—all is do to Him (John 3:28). So we must say along with the Baptist, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).
However, such an attitude will overflow only when we have killed the sin that dwells in our flesh. This will occur when we give in secret and when we pray in secret. When we seek the reward that is ours from God, and not the praise of men. Recognize that you will be rewarded for your faithfulness—your reward is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:1-4, 1 Peter 1:3-5). Seek to give with an attitude that does not seek to draw attention to yourself. Make it so hidden that not even your right hand will know that your left hand is given (this does not mean not to put your name on the offering envelope, but rather not to drop handfuls of change in the offering plate so as to make a big commotion) (the right hand, left hand teaching is obviously hyperbole—you can never actually make it so that parts of your body do not know that they other part is giving or doing something—this is merely given to serve to show how secretive your intentions ought to be).
Also, seek to pray in private. This does not mean not to pray over your meal in public, but do not seek to draw attention to how pious you are because you are praying. We must have secret lives of prayer to give us strength and total reliance upon God for our daily lives. However, it may be more of a temptation not to pray in public today, in our secularized society, because people may think of you as some kind of superstitious bimbo. However, let it be known that you unashamedly believe in God and that you personally know Him. This will be a witness to them so that God may receive the glory.
Soli Deo Gloria!
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