Jesus has offered three-fold instruction addressing giving, prayer, and fasting. The message is woven together by a unifying theme, hypocrisy. Jesus expresses his thesis statement for this section in Matthew 6:1, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.”

His disciples were susceptible to a danger that is generally invisible. Hypocrites have the appearance of godliness, safety, and maturity. Their example is attractive and easy to follow. Beware! It has been Jesus’ priority in this sermon to expose what is happening in the heart. To encourage us to tend to our hearts.

Fasting is a spiritual discipline of the heart. Self-denial for the purpose of spiritual awareness, repentance, and greater faith. Fasting puts us in the posture of humility, and humility is the victorious enemy of hypocrisy.