In Matthew 6, Jesus teaches us how to live an authentic spiritual life. He warns against practicing faith to impress others. Even good things like giving, praying, and fasting can become empty if our motives are wrong. Jesus points out that true spiritual life comes not from outward appearances but from inward devotion. He then gives us a model prayer,…

As we move from Matthew 5 to Matthew 6, Jesus transitions from a focus on inner righteousness to outward expressions of devotion. He speaks about giving, prayer, and fasting—central spiritual practices—but warns us that even good practices can be corrupted by self-centered motives. If we give, pray, or fast to gain approval, we have already received our reward in full,…

A young man with a bandaged hand once walked into a post office and asked the clerk for help. “Would you mind writing a note on this postcard for me?” he said. The clerk gladly agreed and even offered to write the message for him. After finishing, the clerk asked, “Is there anything else I can help you with?” The…