“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others just to be seen by them,” said Jesus. “If you do, you’ll have no reward from your Father in heaven.
“So when you give to the needy, don’t announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they’ve already received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand’s doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what’s done in secret, will reward you.
“And when you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they’ve already received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who’s unseen. Then your Father, who sees what’s done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, don’t keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they’ll be heard because of their many words. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
“This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we’ve also forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you don’t forgive others their sins, your Father won’t forgive your sins.”
Matthew
Love Never Dies 