Jesus is For Quiet Virtue

What Jesus is For
Written By Tommy Smith

Sermon Notes

KEY PASSAGE

Matthew 6:1-6 ESV… Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

VIRTUE SIGNALING GONE WILD

  • Virtue signaling… It’s when a person openly flaunts how virtuous they think they are… Usually regarding some trendy cause or social justice issue.

  • Jesus called out the religious leaders for the “virtue signaling”... Mt. 23:1-2 & 5-7

  • Phylacteries… Small wooden boxes from the hides of ceremonially clean animals… Deut. 6:6-8

  • Fringes… tassels at the ends of garments… Num. 15:38-40

  • The religious leaders loved the places of honor at public events… Mt. 23:6-7

“VIRTUE-AL SILENCE” IS THE NAME OF THE GAME

  • Jesus told his disciples to beware of practicing your righteousness before others… Mt. 6:1-6

  • However, Jesus also told his disciple to let their good deeds shine forth… Mt. 5:14-16

  • Our good works should draw people’s attention to God… and not ourselves… 2 Cor. 4:5-7; 10:31; Col. 3:17

  • When tempted to make things about ourselves… we should do things in “virtue-al silence” believing God will reward us in due time… Mt. 6:6

TWO AREAS WHERE IT’S SUPER EASY TO VIRTUE SIGNAL

  • When giving to the needy… Mt. 6:2-4

  • When praying… Mt. 6:5-6

WHAT CONSUMES YOU?

  • Are you consumed with the glory of God… or your own glory?

  • “God’s purpose for my life is that I have a passion for his glory and that I have a passion for my joy in that glory, and that these two are one passion.” - Jonathan Edwards

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

  • Do you ever see Christians “virtual signaling”? Where? When?

  • Why is it so hard to be content with God alone seeing our good works?

  • How might we recognize when we are making things about ourselves?

  • What consumes you… God’s glory or your own?

Tommy Smith
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