Three of the basic obligations for an observant Jew in Jesus' time were: almsgiving, fasting and prayer. Again, Jesus emphasises, not the external action, but the inner intentions of the person. For the legalists it was important that they be seen keeping these laws. So Jesus mocks those who blow trumpets when they are giving money to the poor, those who say their prayers in very conspicuous places like the synagogue or street corners and those who make themselves look miserable to show they are fasting. There is no merit or reward for such people. These actions are to be done not for their own sake, but for God's sake - as our way of expressing our love and reverence for him. We give alms, not to show how generous we are but to help those who are genuinely in need; we pray not to display our piety but to be deeply in touch with God and His will for us. When we fast, people should not even be aware of it but rather it is a way of curbing our selfish tendency to indulge every desire for pleasure.