Hypocrites

Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. 

“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to others to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.” (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18)

Perform righteous deeds, pray, and fast are all important tasks, and responsibilities.  However, Jesus essentially says to us: “Stop patting yourselves on your shoulders.  It’s not about what people think about you.  It’s what you think about yourselves.   It’s realizing it’s all about your relationship with God and what you do to strengthen that relationship especially through compassion, love, and your conversations with God through prayer.”

We’re all guilty of being hypocrites and in many ways especially when we do not practice what we preach.  I can relate to that.  We’re not perfect like our heavenly Father.   Let’s try to keep our left hand ignorant of the right; close the door to our inner rooms; and look shipshape.  Our Father will repay us.

Deacon David Pierce