The concern of every Christian is ensuring that our motives are pure. It is easy to start craving the aproval of men more than desireing to please God. We must keep it real at all times if we expect to be rewarded by God.

Introduction: what is a hypocrite?

• a. An actor.
• b. A person who puts on false appearances of virtue or religion (Merriam-Webster's definition)

I. The Bad Example of the Hypocrite

• Charitable Deeds
1. The hypocrite will help others so that they can be seen. It’s not love of others that drive the phony to give, but rather the love of self. This person that Jesus is describing craves the spot light.
2. It’s hard to be around a person like this, because they are always boasting about what they have done or given. Sometimes personal information about others is shared when it should be kept private.
• Prayer
1. This passage of scripture was hard for me at one time. I have lead prayer in church from a relatively young age, and the first time I read this I thought that I was doing something wrong.
2. The location of the prayer is not the problem that Jesus is talking about, but he is talking about the hypocritical attitude of the person praying. When one prays just to impress people, then that is weak a prayer; no matter how good it may sound.
• Fasting
1. The hypocrite would advertise that he is fasting, and want some glory from men. They would not wash and try to look the part.

II. The Proper Way to Act

• Don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing (Charitable deeds)
1. The theme that Jesus is conveying is God centered rather than man centered. In all these examples Jesus wants us to act for only God can see our good deeds.
2. The giving of alms is to be done as privately and spontaneously as possible. Jesus is employing a bit of hyperbole. Your giving should be done so spontaneously and secretly that the left had wont know that the right hand has given.
3. This is not to say that you have to not put your tithes in the envelope and claim it on taxes, but that you should not give in order to be praised by men.
• Go in to your secret room (to pray)
1. This prayer is not the corporate prayer that I spoke of earlier, but this is the prayer that personal in nature. When we pray in a personal way, then we should do it privately.
• Wash your face and anoint your head (When fasting)
1. The same thing is stated for the times of fasting. Keep it between just you and God.

III. The Way rewards are Given

• If your do things to be seen then you already have your reward
1. When we take extra effort to have men and women complement us for what we do then that complement is our reward; God has no more reward for us. This is not saying that if we get complements that we have no reward, but if all we were looking for is complements then we have our reward.
• When you do well even when no one is watching then God will reward you openly.
1. If our only concern pleasing God, then God rewards us for that. Solomon was given not only wisdom, but God blessed him with wealth and wisdom; because God was pleased with his request for wisdom.