Jesus & The Sermon on the Mount - Matthew 6:1-4

In Sermon on the Mount teaching from Matthew 6:1–4, Pastor Matt Dean explains that Jesus contrasts genuine righteousness with religious hypocrisy, warning believers not to do good works for public praise but from a heart that desires to honor God. In Jesus' day, public giving to the poor often became a means of gaining status and recognition, but Jesus teaches that the true reward comes not from people but from the Father who sees in secret and judges the heart. Salvation itself is a gift of grace through faith, not earned by works, yet those saved by Christ are created to walk in good works prepared by God. Because God sees, knows, and weighs every motive, believers are called to practice generosity, obedience, and righteousness quietly and faithfully, motivated by gratitude for the mercy of Jesus rather than self-promotion, trusting that faithful obedience now leads to deeper joy, eternal reward, and the ultimate satisfaction of knowing and pleasing God Himself.