Mt 6:1-6, 16-18
[Jesus said to his disciples,] 1“Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. 2When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, 4so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
5“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
16“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”
AS THE HYPOCRITES DO: The Greek hypocritai (“hypocrites”) refers to persons who “pretend” or “act a part” and was used of theatrical actors in Jesus’ time. Scholars note that recent archaeological diggings in Sepphoris, a town near Nazareth (not, however, mentioned in the Bible), reveal an amphitheater, public buildings, and other projects of Herod Antipas for the Jewish and pagan inhabitants. They further surmise that Joseph and Jesus, who were “carpenters” or “artisans,” worked as laborers on these projects, and Jesus became familiar with the term hypocritai that he later used for such people as the scribes and the Pharisees.
The Pharisees are the prototypical hypocrites of the gospels. They are self-righteous and ostentatious, they teach people false religious beliefs, and they try to trap Jesus. In the Gospel, the hypocrites are those who like to be seen and applauded when they give alms, pray, or fast. Jesus says that they have no reward whatsoever from God.
Only when the person acts consistently can he truly be authentic. Otherwise, he is only stage-acting. God, who knows what lies in the human heart, cannot be deceived. The fullness of our hearts will flow in our words and actions, which in turn will manifest either our authenticity or our hypocrisy.