Matthew 6 (Ash Wednesday)

 This passage occurs on Ash Wednesday

Summary:  I've never done a post on this passage before, but I just saw how strange vs 6:1 is!!  Jesus is -- years before the internet -- warning us against group virtual signalling.  Ouch.

6:1  Προσεχετε δε την δικαιοσυνην υμων μη ποιειν εμπροσθεν των ανθρωπων προς το θεαθηναι αυτοις, ει δε μη γε, μισθον ουκ εχετε παρα τω παρτι υμων τω εν τοις ουρανοις

This is often translated as something like what the NIV or NSRV have:

NIV "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

NRS "Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

A more literal translation might have a bit more bite:

"Beware of practicing your righteousness  before others for the purpose of being seen; if you don't, you are not having a reward from your Father in heaven."

A) Your:  This whole sentence is directed toward the "group" not just the individual.  It is a "you" plural.  Jesus is warning against group virtual signalling, not just individuals.  So much of life is acting out our own virtues, hoping for likes and hearts.

B) Your righteousness:  Turns out their isn't any righteousness that is our own!  There is the Kingdom's righteousness (6:33) but never "your" righteousness.

C)  The word for see will come into English as theater (θεαομαι).  The later word υποκριτης (hypocrite) refers, in fact, to an actor.  Jesus is warning us against "playing a role" for an audience, reminding us that the true audience is God alone!

D)  The not having a reward is an on-going present tense reality, not a future one.