Blueprints: The “Why” Behind the “What”
We’re in a message series called Blueprints, a deep dive into the Sermon on the Mount, which is the longest recorded teaching of Jesus, found in Matthew chapters 5–7. Preached on a hillside on the north side of the Sea of Galilee, this sermon captivated a diverse audience—farmers, moms, fishermen, skeptics, sinners, and outcasts. It wasn’t the religious elite who gathered around Jesus that day. It was everyday people, hungry for truth.
What made Jesus’ words so powerful wasn’t just the content—it was the way He taught. Unlike the religious leaders of the day, Jesus spoke to the heart. He offered a blueprint not for religion, but for relationship—with God and with people.
Three Parts, One Message
This sermon has three parts:
- Kingdom Identity – Who we are becoming in Christ.
- Kingdom Living – How we live differently because of that identity.
- Kingdom Choice – The decision we all face: build on Jesus’ blueprint or our own.
We’re currently in the middle—the part about greater righteousness. That’s a churchy word, but it simply means being right with God and right with others. And Jesus makes one thing clear: true righteousness isn’t about external checkboxes—it’s about the heart.
Spiritual Practices: The Heart Behind the Habit
Jesus tackles three common spiritual practices: generosity, prayer, and fasting. Each was (and still is) a good thing. But Jesus warns us not to do good things for the wrong reasons.
In Matthew 6, He begins:
“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven.”
He’s speaking into a Judeo-Greco-Roman culture, where honor and shame were powerful social currencies. In that collectivistic world, everything you did reflected on your family, your community, even your race and religion. Honor opened doors—so people sought it through spiritual acts.
Sound familiar? In our digital age, social media has become a modern-day synagogue, where spiritual displays are often more about likes than love.
Jesus uses a key word in each of His examples: hypocrite. Today, we hear “hypocrite” and think of someone two-faced or morally inconsistent. But in Jesus’ time, it meant something simpler: an actor—someone playing a role, changing masks for different scenes.
1. Generosity – Who Are You Giving For?
“When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets…to call attention to their acts of charity.” — Matthew 6:2
Giving was a central part of Jewish worship, especially since there were no social safety nets like welfare or Medicare. People gave alms to those in need, often right outside the synagogue.
Jesus uses humor here—“blowing trumpets”—to expose how some gave for applause rather than compassion. The issue wasn’t the giving, but the motivation.
He continues:
“But when you give…don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” — Matthew 6:3
In other words: give quietly, discreetly, from the heart. Not to gain honor. Not to earn influence. Just to reflect the generous heart of God.
2. Prayer – Who Are You Talking To?
“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly…where everyone can see them.” — Matthew 6:5
Prayer was often public in Jesus’ day. But some people timed their public presence to coincide with daily prayers, making sure they’d be seen.
Jesus isn’t condemning public prayer—He prayed in public too—but He’s challenging the motive. Is it about connection with God, or performance for people?
He offers this instead:
“When you pray, go away by yourself… Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” — Matthew 6:6
Private prayer reminds us that we’re not actors on a stage. We pray for an audience of one.
3. Fasting – Who Are You Impressing?
“When you fast, don’t make it obvious…so people will admire you for fasting.” — Matthew 6:16
Fasting was a twice-weekly religious act for many Pharisees. But over time, it became about image. People would appear disheveled, hoping someone would ask, “Are you fasting?” so they could show off their devotion.
Jesus flips it:
“Comb your hair and wash your face…so no one will notice you are fasting, except your Father.” — Matthew 6:17–18
He’s not forbidding fasting—but again, He’s asking: Why are you doing this?
Are You Performing or Practicing?
Jesus’ message is clear: don’t put on a spiritual show.
It’s easy—even noble—to engage in generosity, prayer, and fasting. But when our motives are off, we become actors wearing masks. And the reward we receive? Applause. Influence. Recognition. But Jesus says that’s all the reward you’ll get.
Instead, practice your faith in private, with integrity, and you’ll receive a reward from God that lasts.
So What Now?
Let me challenge you with this:
Do one good thing this week that no one sees but God.
- A quiet act of generosity.
- A moment of prayer that no one hears.
- A personal fast that no one notices.
Do it not for recognition, but because you love God and love people.
Final Thought: Live for the Audience of One
The Apostle Paul put it like this:
“Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.” — Galatians 1:10
Spiritual practices are not performances. They are expressions of relationship—with the God who sees, knows, and loves us deeply.
The blueprint Jesus gave us isn’t just a way to behave—it’s a way to build. A foundation that will last. A life lived authentically. No masks. No acting. Just a real relationship with a real God.
Live for the One who sees in secret. And trust that His reward is always worth it.