Thematic Bible: Should avoid ostentation in
Thematic Bible
Works, good » Saints » Should avoid ostentation in
"Be careful that you do not do your good deeds in front of people for the purpose of being seen by them, for [if you do] you will not have a reward from your Father in heaven. "Therefore, when you give money to help poor people, do not blow a trumpet in front of you [i.e., to call attention to it] as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and streets. They do this in order to win praise from people. It is true when I say to you, they have [already] received their reward. But when you give money to help poor people, do not allow your left hand to know what your right hand is doing [i.e., do it inconspicuously] read more.
so that your giving to poor people may be done secretly. Then your Father, who sees what is done secretly, will pay you back. "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners [i.e., in prominent view of everyone] in order to be seen [and praised] by people. But when you pray, go to a private place and after closing the door, pray to your Father who is in a secret place, and [since] He sees in secret places, He will reward you. And when you pray, do not use worthless repetitions like the [unconverted] Gentiles, for they think their lengthy, repetitious wording [in prayer] is more likely to be heard [by God]. So, do not be like them, for your Father [already] knows what things you need, [even] before you ask Him. Therefore, you should pray this way: 'Our Father in heaven, may your name be highly honored. May your kingdom come [to earth]; may your will be done on earth just as it is [already being done] in heaven. Give us our [needed] food for the day. And forgive us of the wrongs we have done to others, since we have also forgiven the wrongs done to us. And do not allow us to fall under temptation, but deliver us from [being harmed by] the evil one.' For if you forgive the wrongs people have done [to you], your heavenly Father will also forgive the wrongs you have done [to Him]. But if you do not forgive the wrongs people have done [to you], neither will your Father forgive the wrongs you have done [to Him]. "In addition, when you fast [i.e., go without food and/or drink for religious reasons], do not be like the hypocrites with long faces, for they go around with gloomy expressions on their faces in order to advertise that they are fasting. It is true when I say to you, these people have [already] received their reward. But when you fast, groom your hair and wash your face so that people will not see that you are fasting, but [only] your Father who is in secret [will know about it]. For, [since] He sees [what is done] in secret, He will repay you.
so that your giving to poor people may be done secretly. Then your Father, who sees what is done secretly, will pay you back. "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners [i.e., in prominent view of everyone] in order to be seen [and praised] by people. But when you pray, go to a private place and after closing the door, pray to your Father who is in a secret place, and [since] He sees in secret places, He will reward you. And when you pray, do not use worthless repetitions like the [unconverted] Gentiles, for they think their lengthy, repetitious wording [in prayer] is more likely to be heard [by God]. So, do not be like them, for your Father [already] knows what things you need, [even] before you ask Him. Therefore, you should pray this way: 'Our Father in heaven, may your name be highly honored. May your kingdom come [to earth]; may your will be done on earth just as it is [already being done] in heaven. Give us our [needed] food for the day. And forgive us of the wrongs we have done to others, since we have also forgiven the wrongs done to us. And do not allow us to fall under temptation, but deliver us from [being harmed by] the evil one.' For if you forgive the wrongs people have done [to you], your heavenly Father will also forgive the wrongs you have done [to Him]. But if you do not forgive the wrongs people have done [to you], neither will your Father forgive the wrongs you have done [to Him]. "In addition, when you fast [i.e., go without food and/or drink for religious reasons], do not be like the hypocrites with long faces, for they go around with gloomy expressions on their faces in order to advertise that they are fasting. It is true when I say to you, these people have [already] received their reward. But when you fast, groom your hair and wash your face so that people will not see that you are fasting, but [only] your Father who is in secret [will know about it]. For, [since] He sees [what is done] in secret, He will repay you.