Page 406 - Bible History

CHRIST, THE GREAT TEA ER 379
at was it that moved the gentle Savior to utter such terrible words as these? It was the kind of lives that the Pharisees lived. They were very careful to perform all the outward actions that the Law of Moses commanded, but in their hearts there was no real love of God. They thought only of themselves, and pre­ tended to be good in order to make an impression on
the people. If they fasted, they took care that every­ one should know about it. They had no pity upon sinners and oppressed the poor. Jesus said to the people, "When you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you as the Pharisees do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honored by men. For they have received their reward. When you give alms, let not your left hand know what your right hand doth, that your alms may be in secret. And your heavenly Father, Who seeth in secret, will reward you.
"When you pray, do not pray as the Pharisees do, who love to pray in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. When you pray, enter into your room and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, Who seeth in secret, will repay you.
''When you fast, be not as the Pharisees, sad. For they dis gure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. And they receive their reward from men. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that you may not appear to men to fast, but to your Father Who is in secret. Your Father, Who seeth in secret, will repay you.''