They have received their reward is a catchy phrase used by Jesus while speaking about giving to the needy and about praying. The thing is that my NASB translation says: "they have received their reward in full." Jesus places a great deal of emphasis on the fact that we must beware of doing things to be seen by others because we will not; I repeat will not have a reward from our father who is in heaven. Mathew 6:1-6 says:
"6:1 "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
6:2 "Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
6:3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
6:4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
6:5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
6:6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you (Holy Bible, ESV)."
My personal thought on the foregoing is that it sounds like something we should be very concerned with. If Jesus said it then it is very important. Moreover, I am sure we can wait and receive our reward from our father in heaven in due time.
Jesus makes His closing argument a bit further down in Mathew 6:19-21, when He says:
"6:19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,
6:20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Holy Bible, ESV)."
References:
Holy Bible, ESV
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