Three times Matthew record Jesus saying,
“I tell you the truth, they have already received their reward in full.”
Normally a positive statement indicating that something has been earned and justly paid, here it is a rebuke of the severest kind. Rebuked for using a form of Godliness as self promotion; they take payment themselves in the approval of men without waiting to receive payment from the authorised source, the approval of God. Their pride in wanting to be seen to be righteous by men, ironically causes them to be resisted by God, and discredited out of heaven. Prayer, fasting and generosity; three actions inspired by heaven earn them a ticket to hell.
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we must make every effort to avoid pride and look only to God internal seal of approval; thus we heed Christ’s warning. The moment we step past our confidence in God’s saving grace and our permanent need for it, and step into thinking we are therefore better than other men, God owes us nothing!
Jesus also unlocks a truth for us here. Prayer, fasting and generosity done in secrecy and humble acknowledgement of our need for God, puts God in debt to us! WOW. And He wants us to do this!
“Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” Matthew 6:20