Religion That's Pure

Jesus' attention on religious practices.

I wonder what Jesus would have to say about singing as a form of practicing religion today? It’s notable that it’s not even on the list.

Giving to the poor.
Prayer.
Forgiveness.
Fasting.

Jesus assumes these practices of his followers. They aren't optional disciplines for the super-devout—they are the expected expressions of life in the kingdom. That alone is worth sitting with.

But what concerns Jesus is not whether we do them (that he assumes), but how we do them.

He warns against performing religion to be seen. He critiques the hypocrites—a word that originally meant actors—for turning sacred practice into public theater. Over and over, he says, Your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

This is not a call to privatize faith, but to purify it. The reward is not applause or reputation, but deeper communion with God and people. Less concerned with being seen, and more attuned to being faithful.

Matthew 6:1-18

“Be careful that you don’t practice your religion in front of people to draw their attention. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

“Whenever you give to the poor, don’t blow your trumpet as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets so that they may get praise from people. I assure you, that’s the only reward they’ll get. But when you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that you may give to the poor in secret. Your Father who sees what you do in secret will reward you.

“When you pray, don’t be like hypocrites. They love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners so that people will see them. I assure you, that’s the only reward they’ll get. But when you pray, go to your room, shut the door, and pray to your Father who is present in that secret place. Your Father who sees what you do in secret will reward you.

“When you pray, don’t pour out a flood of empty words, as the Gentiles do. They think that by saying many words they’ll be heard. Don’t be like them, because your Father knows what you need before you ask. Pray like this:

Our Father who is in heaven, uphold the holiness of your name.
Bring in your kingdom so that your will is done on earth as it’s done in heaven.
Give us the bread we need for today.
Forgive us for the ways we have wronged you,
just as we also forgive those who have wronged us.
And don’t lead us into temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.

“If you forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you don’t forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your sins.

“And when you fast, don’t put on a sad face like the hypocrites. They distort their faces so people will know they are fasting. I assure you that they have their reward. When you fast, brush your hair and wash your face. Then you won’t look like you are fasting to people, but only to your Father who is present in that secret place. Your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Psalm 131:1-2

Lord, my heart isn’t proud; my eyes aren’t conceited. I don’t get involved with things too great or wonderful for me. No. But I have calmed and quieted myself like a weaned child on its mother; I’m like the weaned child that is with me.

Prayer

God,

Even as I read Jesus’ purification of religious practices, I began thinking of how others don’t practice them.

…as if I’ve even fasted in the last month. Ugh.

Help me, God - give me deeper concern for the integrity of my own actions than for judging the actions of others. Save me from the trap of thinking that if I just hold the right opinions or criticisms, the world might be set right.

Focus my eyes, my head, my heart, my mouth, my hands, my feet toward what I can do and not what I cannot do. What I should do and not what others should do. Give me grace to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you.

By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.