Lord Jesus teaches us righteousness in our relationship with other people. He teaches us to check our motives in three areas: generosity (Matthew 6:4), prayer (Matthew 6:6) and fasting (Matthew 6:18). Those acts should be God-centred and not self-centred. It should be done for God’s glory and not to glorify ourselves. Our acts of kindness towards others should be motivated out of a love for God.

The term hypocrites, as used here, describes people who do good acts for appearances only and not out of compassion or other good motives. Their actions may be good, but their motives are empty. These empty acts are their only reward, but God will only give His reward to those who are sincere in their faith, and the reward that God promises us is not of this world.

It is easy to give with mixed motives, to do something for someone if it will benefit us in return. And it is easier to do what is right when we gain recognition and praise. Doing something only for ourselves is not a living sacrifice. But we should do our good deeds as a response of God’s love, and we should do it quietly or in secret.

Let us ask ourselves when we do our good deeds. Why do you do it? Would you still do it if no one would ever know you did it?