"Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them...
- when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others...
- when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others...
- when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others...
- when you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins...
And your Father who sees in secret will reward you" (Matthew 6:1-18).
Pious is defined as being devoted to a particular religion, but it is also marked as conspicuous religiosity, such as a hypocrite having pious words and uncharitable deeds.[1] Jesus gives us instructions on how to be devoted to Him, how to live a righteous life without the external show of piety. God wants our heart not some pretense of morality. If we practice righteousness to be seen by others it is no longer His but ours, it is self righteousness and like filthy rags to him. We seek to honor him not man.
Righteous living is training for Godliness. Paul writes that learning to discern what is righteousness is a part of this training, "have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance" (1 Timothy 4:7-8). Train yourself for godliness, this requires action.
In a new covenant of Grace we are made righteous by the works of Christ, it was his works, His sacrifice that justifies those that believe in him. This Grace is the core of who we are, to love him and others is the greatest commandment. But we are required to be holy as he is holy, to train for Godliness. There are many instructions or commandments that Jesus gave us. If we look closely in the above scripture, we see four instructions that we can act out or live out; when you give, when you pray, when you fast, and when you forgive.
Give, pray, fast, and forgive. When you do these for God and not for self you "lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" v.20-21.
When you give to the needy... God has a heart for the needy, the least of these, to James serving them is a part of righteous living; "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world" (James 1:26-27)
Righteous living is training for Godliness. Paul writes that learning to discern what is righteousness is a part of this training, "have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance" (1 Timothy 4:7-8). Train yourself for godliness, this requires action.
In a new covenant of Grace we are made righteous by the works of Christ, it was his works, His sacrifice that justifies those that believe in him. This Grace is the core of who we are, to love him and others is the greatest commandment. But we are required to be holy as he is holy, to train for Godliness. There are many instructions or commandments that Jesus gave us. If we look closely in the above scripture, we see four instructions that we can act out or live out; when you give, when you pray, when you fast, and when you forgive.
Give, pray, fast, and forgive. When you do these for God and not for self you "lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" v.20-21.
When you give to the needy... God has a heart for the needy, the least of these, to James serving them is a part of righteous living; "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world" (James 1:26-27)