How Jesus’s People Find Reward—Matthew 6:1-18

In this passage, Jesus teaches us how to get rewarded for our righteousness.

Does that sound rather mercenary? Would it be better to do what is right without any thought of reward? I think of my two-year-old, who is learning to dress herself. When she puts on her clothes by herself, she comes to us, and she wants us to throw our hands in the air and say, "I'm so surprised!" and give her a big hug. Would it be better for her to say, "No need for a hug. I am diligent simply for diligence's sake"? Hardly. I'm glad she wants us to be pleased with her. And it's equally proper that we should want God to be pleased with us.