Jesus said:
“Beware of practicing your
piety before others
in order to be seen by
them;
for then you have no reward from your Parent in
heaven.
2“So whenever you
give alms,
do not sound a trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the
streets,
so
that they may be praised by others.
Truly I tell you,
they have received their
reward.
3But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right hand
is doing,
4so that your alms may be done in
secret;
and your
Mother who sees in secret will reward you.
5“And whenever you
pray,
do not be like the
hypocrites;
for they love to stand and pray
in the synagogues and
at the street corners,
so
that they may be seen by others.
Truly I tell you,
they have received their
reward.
6But whenever you pray,
go into your room
and shut the door
and pray to your Parent who is in secret;
and
your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
16“And whenever
you fast,
do not look dismal, like the hypocrites,
for they disfigure their faces
so as
to show others that they are fasting.
Truly I tell you,
they have received their
reward.
17But when you fast,
put oil on your head and wash your face,
18so that your fasting may be seen
not by others
but by your Parent who is in secret;
and your Mother who sees in secret will reward you.
19“Do not store up
for yourselves treasures on earth,
where moth and rust consume
and where thieves break in and steal;
20but store up for yourselves
treasures in heaven,
where neither moth nor rust consumes
and where thieves do not break in and
steal.
21For where your treasure
is,
there
your heart will be also."Queeries for the text:
Is reading this same text every year on Ash Wednesday doing more harm than good?
Is Jesus doing psychological behavior modification?
Is Jesus just giving us alternative behaviors because we only do things for rewards?Why do we hear so much about hypocrisy on Ash Wednesday?
How do we evangelize if we're so good at not telling people what we're doing?
How can we care for each other's spiritual well-being if we can't talk about money and giving?
Is there any more awesome promise than verse 21?
What does my checkbook say about the location of my heart?
Where is my heart? Where do I want my heart to be?
What are your queeries?
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