Zechariah 7:5-7

5Say to all the people of the land and the priests, 'When you fasted and mourned in athe fifth month and in bthe seventh, for these cseventy years, dwas it efor me that you fasted? 6 fAnd when you eat and when you drink, do you not eat for yourselves and drink for yourselves? 7 gWere not these the words that the Lord proclaimed hby the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and prosperous, iwith her cities around her, and the jSouth and the klowland were inhabited?'”

Matthew 5:46

46 lFor if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

Matthew 6:1-4

Giving to the Needy

1Beware of mpracticing your righteousness before other people in order nto be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

2 oThus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may pbe praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have qreceived their reward. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. rAnd your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Matthew 6:16-18

Fasting

16And swhen you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. tTruly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17But when you fast, uanoint your head and wash your face, 18that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. vAnd your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Luke 6:32-36

32 wIf you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34And xif you ylend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35But zlove your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and aayou will be sons of abthe Most High, for ache is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 adBe merciful, even as aeyour Father is merciful.

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