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Jesus
said, "Beware of practicing your piety before others
in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward
from your Father in heaven.
"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. But when
you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your
right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in
secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward
you.
"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. But whenever
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.
"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. But when you fast, put oil on your head
and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not
by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your
Father who sees in secret will reward you.
"Do
not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where
moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal;
but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where
neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not
break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also."
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