Two mornings a week I drive from Ontario, Oregon, to Caldwell, Idaho, to teach at College of Idaho. When gas prices shot up I got into the habit of driving slowly and increasing my miles per gallon. Driving slowly isn’t a hazard while in the country between the two towns. However, when I draw near Caldwell, the signs reduce speed to 65. There, in order to stay up with the larger flow of traffic, I must increase my speed so I don’t jam up traffic. We all end up driving a safe speed, but we do so for different reasons.
Our Lord Jesus in Matthew 6 mentions three religious acts that are being performed for reasons that are “different” from what he approves. He talks about people who give alms, which means money for charity; yet, their doing so is theatrical, making their giving with a flouris…