What if the very acts of righteousness we perform—our giving, our praying, our fasting—could actually become barriers to genuine relationship with God? This exploration of Matthew 6:1-8 and 16-18 challenges us to examine the hidden motivations behind our spiritual practices. Jesus uses the powerful metaphor of actors wearing masks in Greek theater to describe religious hypocrisy, warning us against performing our faith for human applause rather than divine pleasure. The sermon unpacks three vital practices—generosity, prayer, and fasting—showing how each can be corrupted when done 'to be seen by others' rather than in authentic communion with our Father who sees in secret. What's liberating here is the invitation to drop our exhausting performances and live transparently before God, who already knows our struggles yet loves us completely. We're reminded that our Father isn't primarily a taskmaster or critic but a loving parent who delights in us even while knowing everything about us. The call isn't to stop doing good works but to examine why we do them—are we seeking the temporary applause of people or the eternal reward of intimacy with God? This message offers freedom from the heavy burden of maintaining appearances and invites us into the lightness of authentic faith where our good works naturally point others toward glorifying our Father in heaven.