Earlier in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told us that we are to live our Christian life in a very visible way. We are to be the salt of the earth and, in imitation of him, the light of the world. However, he also emphasised we are to do this not so that people will say how good and holy we are but so that they will be led to become followers of Jesus themselves. Today, then, we see Jesus speaking against those who practised their religion with the sole intention that people would admire their 'holiness' and their scrupulous observance of the rules of their religion. This could happen in three areas which were supposed to mark the life of a good Jew - the giving of alms, the saying of prayers, and fasting. Some of the Pharisees, who looked down on 'ordinary' people, did all of these things in a very ostentatious way. As Jesus says, they have had their reward already. On the contrary, the true follower of Jesus will also do these things but in such a quiet way that people will not even be aware of it. However, his previous teaching must not be forgotten. We are to live our Christian lives in a very obvious way but with the intention of showing and sharing the love for God and for all his people, especially those in need.