“…when you do a charitable deed,
do not sound a trumpet before you
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues
and in the streets,
that they may have glory from men.
Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.”
Matthew 6:2

God sees the motive in the heart, and he is always working to destroy pride because pride is the deadliest of all sins, pride absolutely blinds a man. In this passage, the Lord is saying that before you do any good thing, search your heart to make sure you’re doing it for the glory of God, and not to appear “holy” to people. There is nothing holy about pride. The praise you get from men will be the only reward, and that is fleeting.

Hypocrisy:

vs 16-18:
“Moreover, when you fast,
do not be like the hypocrites,
with a sad countenance.
For they disfigure their faces
that they may appear to men to be fasting.
Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
But you, when you fast,
anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you do not appear to men to be fasting,
but to your Father who is in the secret place;
and your Father who sees in secret
will reward you openly.”

The integrity of the heart is shown in what is done in secret. One must decide in his lifetime whether he wants the praise of men, whether he wants people to be in awe of him and think him great, OR whether he is willing to give up the deeds of pride and stand before God in integrity, before the only One whose approval matters.

What is done before the Lord alone – will be eternal. If you want the eternal, you must be perpetually on guard against the insidious nature of pride.