That is why Jesus says he dislikes the idea of praying, standing in street corners, or making a great show of fasting. The point worship is to be justified before God, not before humanity (Matthew 6). Being overly obsessed with being judged by the community and judging others was not righteousness.

Worship for Jesus is rooted in the cultivation of a personal relationship with God and righteousness of one's soul. Good actions flow naturally from such a relationship. If a Christian does not perform or wish to perform acts of charity there is likely something amiss with his or her relationship with God, but being more ostentatious about giving to the poor is not the answer to the failure of his or her connection to God. Spiritual practices stem from being humble and meek in spirit, not the other way around.

Jesus' expressed point-of-view in Matthew is a powerful rebuke...
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