How do you reconcile Matthew 5:14-16 with Matthew 6:1-4?

[rltrdc]

Matthew 5:14-16 tells us to do our good deeds in front of others so that we may be a light to the world, and Matthew 6:1-4 tells us to do our good deeds in secret, so that our Father will see us in secret and reward us openly.

I am perplexed on how to reconcile these passages, especially considering they came from the same book and are basically back to back.

 

[Soyeong]

Hello,

Matthew 5:14-16 is about giving glory to God while Matthew 6:1-4 is about not giving glory to yourself.

 

[rltrdc]

Hello, Thank you I must say I find your reply to be insightful and true and I find nothing wrong with it. However, I still have to ask how can I obey both passages and do things in the open and secret simultaneously?

Or is it that we do some things openly, yet humbly, to give honor to God. However, in this case, don't we still violate Matthew 6:1-4 ?

At other times, we do them in secret, to show our devotion and receive His rewards? In this case, don't we still violate Matthew 5:14-16 ?

 

[justsurfin12]

I think the trouble lies when we try to make everything in scripture a "black or white" rule. Many passages (especially Proverbs, etc) are more of a principle or "rule of thumb" to be applied according to the situation.

With these 2 teachings, I think the underlying principles are really all about one's motivation. There's a time to show that, as a Christian-- because you're motivated by the love of Christ, you do good in the world around you. And there's other times when, you should do things privately not expecting any recognition/reward.

 

[Soyeong]

It's not so much about the location as it is about having a humble attitude. The Pharisees were wanting everyone to look at them praying to see how pious they were, but when we pray in private that pretentious attitude is gone. I think it is permissible for someone to pray in a group or public setting as long as they don't draw undue attention to themselves. I think Matthew 5:14-16 is more about doing good works for others as a demonstration of Christ's love.

 

[NJA]

Matt. 6 is about "alms" - natural charity
Matt. 5 is the works of God, revealing God's nature, things that natural man cannot do.

 

[Strong in Him]

Matthew 5:14-16 tells us to do our good deeds in front of others so that we may be a light to the world, and Matthew 6:1-4 tells us to do our good deeds in secret, so that our Father will see us in secret and reward us openly.

I am perplexed on how to reconcile these passages, especially considering they came from the same book and are basically back to back.

In Matthew 5 Jesus says, "you are the light of the world". What strikes me is that this is not only what we do but who we are - patient, kind, loving etc. Jesus tells us to let our light shine; I think we do this by asking Jesus, the true light of the world, to live in us and shine through us. Jesus also told his disciples to be his witnesses and to make disciples - the light of Jesus and the Gospel needs to shine so that as many people as possible will see it.
Good deeds might appear to make us shine, but I don't think that they, themselves, point people to God, because atheists/humanists/cult members can do good deeds.

In Matthew 6 Jesus is talking about bringing alms - money(?). He contrasts the way the Pharisees gave - blowing trumpets so that people knew what they were doing, or about to do - with the way they, his followers, should give. I think this could apply to good deeds too - not announcing to the whole church that you gave up a shopping trip to go to visit someone in hospital, for example.

 

[fatherjimparker]

Matthew 5:14-16 tells us to do our good deeds in front of others so that we may be a light to the world, and Matthew 6:1-4 tells us to do our good deeds in secret, so that our Father will see us in secret and reward us openly.

I am perplexed on how to reconcile these passages, especially considering they came from the same book and are basically back to back.

In Mathew 5, Jesus tells the people that their way of life should be a reflection of their faith. We should be easily identifiable as children of God because of how we act and those actions should result in the praise of God.

In Matthew 6, Jesus tells the people not to make a show of their piety in order to draw attention to themselves. The purpose of such acts is to bring praise to ourselves rather than to God.

 

[Dialogist]

Matthew 5:14-16 tells us to do our good deeds in front of others so that we may be a light to the world, and Matthew 6:1-4 tells us to do our good deeds in secret, so that our Father will see us in secret and reward us openly.

I am perplexed on how to reconcile these passages, especially considering they came from the same book and are basically back to back.

In 5:14-16, I don't believe that the Lord is instructing us to do our good deeds in front of others as much as He is warning us that, as His disciples, our actions will be scrutinized. If we provide a poor example, we will cause others to stumble.

Theophylact (probably paraphrasing John Chrysostom) explains the passage as follows:

Ye are the light of the world. First He calls them salt and then light. He who reproves what is done in secret is light, for whatsoever doth make manifest is light [Ephesians 5:13]. The apostles did not enlighten one nation only, but the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. He teaches them to struggle and to be strict in living a virtuous life, for they will be in view of all. Do not imagine, He says, that you will be hidden away in some corner, for you will be most visible. See to it, then, that you live blamelessly, lest you become a stumbling block for others.

 

[pshun2404]

Hello,

Matthew 5:14-16 is about giving glory to God while Matthew 6:1-4 is about not giving glory to yourself.

Amen...

 

[Dialogist]

Amen...

I actually think that there is a different interpretation of Matthew 5:14-16 - namely, that the Lord is warning the disciples to live blamelessly, so that, as teachers themselves, they not become a stumbling block for others. I would interpret the verses as follows:

• In all of the Sermon of the Mount, the Lord is speaking to the disciples and not the multitude (v.1). The Sermon is not only for their own general edification, but also as instruction for how they themselves were to eventually teach.

• Hence, the Lord warns them that as the salt of the earth, they must not let the salt lose its savour (at which point it would no longer have any astringent value and would be cast out and trodden under foot (v.13)

• He points out to them that as the light of the world, they will be like a city that is set on a hill that cannot be hid (v.14)

Finally, He does not say "Let your light shine before men", but rather "Let your light so shine before men", so that they will serve as a good example for those they teach, causing them to give glory to God (v.16).

Anyway, those are my thoughts. From what I have read, the above is consistent with how the passage was understood in the early Church.

 

[ScottA]

Matthew 5:14-16 tells us to do our good deeds in front of others so that we may be a light to the world, and Matthew 6:1-4 tells us to do our good deeds in secret, so that our Father will see us in secret and reward us openly.

I am perplexed on how to reconcile these passages, especially considering they came from the same book and are basically back to back.

The two passages are not about the same matter. Matthew 5:14-16 is about spreading the light of the gospel...while Matthew is about acts of charity. Spreading the gospel, and charity...two different matters.

PS, I see your translation does not show them as different. I would look at a few different translations, and perhaps do a word study of the original words.

 

[Johnlove1]

Matthew 5:14-16 tells us to do our good deeds in front of others so that we may be a light to the world, and Matthew 6:1-4 tells us to do our good deeds in secret, so that our Father will see us in secret and reward us openly.

I am perplexed on how to reconcile these passages, especially considering they came from the same book and are basically back to back.

A Christian who has the indwelling of God, will always do as God has him or her do.

A Christian will be a light to the world in God’s way.


If God wants a person to preach the Good News than he or she is being a light to the World.


First though, a person needs to become a temple of God’s. He or she does this by always obeying God.


(John 14: 23) “Anyone who loves me will keep my word and my Father will love him, and we shall come to him and make a home in him.”