"(But) take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When 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. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. "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. But 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. "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. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so 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. (Mt 6:1-6,16-18)
Jesus is talking about performing righteous deeds. Here he talks about three of them: almsgiving, prayer and fasting. Jews believed that doing the righteous deeds were sufficient enough to be a good person or a righteous person. Jesus moved behind this to the intention of the doer. Good deeds should have the right intentions as well. If the intentions are selfish and for self glory then whatever be the deed, it will not be considered as righteous.
Righteous deed should have only one source and should have only one end: God. Righteous deeds should be done for the glory of God and the reward for the same should be from God. Like the intention of a righteous deed so also the source of the righteous deed and goal of it. Primacy of God and the ultimate goal is God, are the two essential principles that should guide the people who want to be righteous.
Any action that is done for the eye of the people or any action that is done for the glory of the self, or any action that is done for the visibility of the others is not a righteous action. Every righteous action should be avoided with the following: knowledge (right hand should not know what the left hand is doing), visibility (it should be performed in secret – in the inner room where door is shut), open (Father who sees what is hidden). Any action that is for knowledge, visibility and open, is for performance and applause.
