NOTES for Mat 6:1-15
The logic of the Sermon on the Mount continues: the logic of internalizing, of bringing spiritual life from the outside within. A genuine relationship with God consists not in performing particular actions, but in the inner motivation for those actions. It is best when these actions become so inwardly natural to us that we ourselves no longer notice their motives. It is no coincidence that the words "your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you openly" recur here like a refrain. Almsgiving unnoticed by others and prayer of few words without onlookers are elements of this naturalness. Jesus Himself gives an example of such naturalness: the prayer "Our Father," born right here and now, which became the model for Christians of every generation. It begins with the word most natural for the Son addressing the Father, "Abba," which would most accurately be translated not as "Father," nor even as "Papa," but as "Daddy," so childlike and tender is this form of address.