Arulvakku

16.06.10 RIGHTEOUS DEEDS

   "(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…

"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…

 "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… (Mt 6:1-6,16-18)

 

Righteous deeds are performed for God and not to be seen by men. Righteous deed could also be said as pious deeds but actually the word means ‘covenant behaviour’.  In this word there is a sense of obligation which Israel had to God because of being his special people.  Israel had these three obligations to God because of their covenant relationship with God. And they are: giving money, praying, and fasting.

These actions are meant to show their relationship with God and these actions are not for men to see or to be seen by men. Israel had to learn to do the simply to and for God himself. God is the centre.

We are not asked to perform them without reward in mind. Because he himself repeats three times that ‘Your Father will reward’. Jesus is not bothered about disinterested behaviour. Jesus is more realistic. Even the most disinterested action/behaviour, will show that we are interested in pleasing our lofty ideal of disinterested action. Jesus, instead, wants us to be eager to please and to love God. That is why Jesus is asking us to do charity without keeping record, praying privately and fasting without being noticed.