THE DISCIPLES TAUGHT
TO AVOID THE WAYS OF HYPOCRITES.
IN this lesson we will continue to study the Sermon On The Mount. Some of the Jews had the habit of giving to the poor and doing other good deeds, in the sight of men, so that they might be praised for their goodness. This they had done till they seemed to think it all right, and were even glad to have a trumpet sounded whenever they bestowed a gift. It was wrong for them to do so; for they did not give because they loved God, or pitied the poor but because they wanted to be honored of men. Such giving would not make them tender and loving, but would make then grow more selfish continually. They did not do these things for God, and so they could not have any reward from him. Jesus said to them, "Take heed that ye do not your alms before men to be seen of them; otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrite do in the synagogues and in the streets that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.
But when thou doest alms, let not the left hand know what thy right hand doest that thine alms may be in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
"And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are; for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do; for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them; for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner, therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom, come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance; for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head and wash thy face; that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward the openly."