Jesus teaches that personal discipline and external righteousness are not enough to deepen our relationship with God. He emphasizes the importance of internal relationship with God, where our actions flow from a heart that loves and trusts Him. This means that our spiritual activities, such as prayer, giving, and fasting, should be motivated by a desire to know and love God, rather than to impress others or earn His favor. By focusing on our relationship with God, we can experience the freedom and joy that comes from living a life that is pleasing to Him.
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