INTRODUCTION

The hypocrite has forgotten God (Job 8:13So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:
See All...). Therefore, the hypocrite has little to no concern for receiving the praise of God. Instead, this natural desire to please someone other than one’s self has turned into a desire to receive praise and glory from other men. This desire affects everything that the hypocrite does. He gives, in hopes that others will admire his generosity (Matthew 6:2-4 [2] Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. [3] But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: [4] That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
See All...). He prays, hoping someone will notice the eloquence with which he calls upon God (Matthew 6:5-8 [5] And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. [6] But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. [7] But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. [8] Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
See All...). He fasts, but not in hopes of moving the Lord; rather, he wants man to marvel at the dedication with which he has devoted himself to God (Matthew 6:16-18 [16] Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. [17] But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; [18] That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
See All...).

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For smaller children) Some of the chief rulers believed that Jesus was the Son of God but would not say so because they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God and did not want to be put out of the synagogue (John 12:42-43 [42] Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: [43] For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
  See All...).
• In Matthew 6, the phrase " they have their reward " occurs three times (Matthew 6:2Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
  See All..., 5, 16), each time speaking of hypocrites. What does it mean that the hypocrite has his reward?
• Who are you seeking to please? What does it suggest if you are seeking to please men (see Galatians 1:10For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
  See All...)? What happens when you make it your goal to please men?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask the Lord to make it your goal to please Him.
• Ask the Lord to show you the areas of hypocrisy in your life.

HYMN

Be Thou My Vision

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