Against hypocrisy and vainglory

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi[b] by others. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. (Matthew 23: 1-12)

Each of us must keep the divine commandments. A true disciple does it to love God and his neighbour, the hypocrite does it, instead, out of vainglory, that is to be praised more by others than by God. To combat this hypocrisy and vainglory, therefore, we must not desire the admiration of men but that of God, without taking as our own the merits of God’s gifts to us.