True worship in Matthew: Jesus's teachings and modern practice

Right and Wrong Types of Worship in Matthew 5:13-7:23

Part of Jesus' intention in Matthew 5:13-7:23 is to instruct his worshippers how to worship correctly. Jesus directed his teaching to a community that was still practicing Mosaic Law. He stressed the congruence of his teachings with the laws of the Torah (Matthew 5:17). Jesus felt that he was teaching the true, fundamental dictates of Mosaic Law. Jesus thought that instead of focusing on technical matters of what to eat and drink and wear, focusing on the basic, simple principles of living a righteous life was more important.

Jesus intended his teachings to demonstrate to his followers the correct way to behave and believe. He stressed what was important to do and what was not important to do to help his followers understand the correct way to observe and fulfill Mosaic Law. Reflecting his social context, many of Jesus' dictates are act-based in nature, such as showing charity to others. But making a great show of one's piety and fasting means little to God, says Jesus: instead, a believer should practice, but in secret, to show to God that the believer had no interest in social approbation, only an interest in manifesting righteousness before the divine.

Contrary to how Christianity is sometimes interpreted, Jesus did not say external actions were unimportant: giving to the needy was important, but what was essential was that God recognized such actions, not that a Christian was known as a charitable person in society. Both the external and the internal were important to Jesus: the doing of good deeds, and the humility with which one performed them. But the external actions did not need to be revealed to anyone else but God.

Jesus clearly felt that first century believers were obsessed with minutiae regarding eating and drinking habits, as specified in the law. He also felt that worship and piety had become a social matter, rather than a relationship between the believer and God in a manner that elevated the worshipper's soul. That is why Jesus says he dislikes the idea of praying, standing in street corners, or making a great show of fasting. The point worship is to be justified before God, not before humanity (Matthew 6). Being overly obsessed with being judged by the community and judging others was not righteousness.

Worship for Jesus is rooted in the cultivation of a personal relationship with God and righteousness of one's soul. Good actions flow naturally from such a relationship. If a Christian does not perform or wish to perform acts of charity there is likely something amiss with his or her relationship with God, but being more ostentatious about giving to the poor is not the answer to the failure of his or her connection to God. Spiritual practices stem from being humble and meek in spirit, not the other way around.