Mt 6:1-6, 16-18
That people may see: Man is a social being, living and acting in community. Good as well as bad acts are not done in isolation; they are seen, and no matter how hidden, covert acts will eventually be revealed. An action, however, may be motivated by an intention other than that perceived by other people.
Jesus here warns against the performance of the Jewish practices of piety just for showing off. He points out that the scribes and Pharisees pray, fast, and give alms in a manner calculated to attract the most attention. They do this to impress the people with their superior piety and their strict compliance with the law. While following the law is one way of growing in faith, thePharisees would like the people to believe that God wants only blind obedience to the law.
For his disciples, Jesus’ warning serves two purposes. First, it will prevent them from following the Pharisees’ example. Second, it will make them realize that intimate communion with God is possible and, indeed, preferable. To live faithfully as Jesus’ disciple is to live a simple life marked by intense love for God and one’s neighbor.