Fasting

While the Bible gives details on fasting, the main point for Christ’s sermon is the display of religious observances for the purpose of gaining attention and reputation. Here, Christ applies this principle to the practice of fasting, by saying that when we do fast, we should not appear to fast. The private religious choices we make based on personal conviction are one thing. To do so for the purpose of increasing our religious reputation is but to make a theater out of worship. Public displays of private feelings are not religion, but self-exaltation.