WHEN to KEEP a SECRET
People tend to hide their sin and parade their so-called righteousness for all to see. But in the Bible passage below in the Gospel of Matthew chapter six, Jesus teaches that the opposite should be the case. Instead of hiding our sin, we should admit it to the Lord and agree with Him that we have transgressed against God and others. We should also not put our good works on display. The acts of charity and piety we do should be done in secret. We love and help others, not for some earthly respect or reward, but in obedience to the God who made us, who loves us, and who calls us out of darkness and into His marvelous light.
(Matthew 6:1-8) 1 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 “So when you give to the needy, do not 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 have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
5 “And when you pray, do not 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 have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
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