What is Faith? Hebews 11:1

What is Faith? Hebews 11:1

What Is Faith?

"Faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld." (Hebrews 11:1)

The Greek word for "faith" (πίστις pistis) conveys the idea of confidence, trust, firmness, or persuasion. This means faith is not a blind belief but rather a deep conviction based on evidence and reason.

Faith as Substance

Hebrews 11:1 describes faith as the "substance" (hypostasis), meaning it has a concrete reality. Faith is not a vague hope but a foundation built on the reliability of what God has revealed. The term “substance” here emphasizes the solid ground upon which faith rests.

Additionally, the phrase "things not seen" does not only refer to future promises but can also relate to past divine actions that are now learned through testimony (pragmaton). This aligns with Hebrews 11:3, which states that "faith" allows believers to perceive God’s hand in history and trust in His future fulfillment. As Romans 10:17 states, “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

How Do We Obtain Faith?

Faith is not something imposed by God; rather, it is our response to His revelation. Although human nature is weak, we can still trust in what God has made known through His word.

Developing faith is a process that unfolds in three stages:

• Hearing and Understanding – As we read the Scriptures, we recognize their harmony and truth. (Romans 10:17)
• Experiencing God's Work – Faith grows as we see God's influence in our lives. (1 Peter 1:3-12)
• Active Trust – Faith becomes stronger through prayer and deeper knowledge. (Colossians 3:10)

Faith and Love

Faith is not a passive state; it must be accompanied by action. The Gospel of Philip states:

"Faith receives, love gives. [No one can receive] without faith, and no one can give without love. So to receive we have faith and to love we give. If someone gives without love, that person gets no benefit from what was given. Anyone who receives something but does not receive the Lord is still a Hebrew." (Gospel of Philip)

Faith and love work together. Faith allows us to receive God's promises, while love compels us to give. Without love, faith alone is incomplete.

Faith and Justification

Justification means being counted as righteous before God. Though humans are imperfect, God considers them righteous if they truly have faith. Paul highlights this in Romans 4:3-5, where Abraham was counted righteous due to his faith, not his works. The Greek words used—logizomai ("count"), reckon, and impute—show that righteousness is attributed based on faith.

Faith as Spiritual Growth

Faith is not merely a mental concept but a transformative power. The Gospel of Philip compares faith to farming:

"Farming in this world depends on four things, and a harvest is gathered and taken into the barn as a result of water, earth, air, and light. God’s farming also depends on four things: faith, hope, love, and knowledge. Faith is the earth in which we take root. Hope is the water with which we are nourished. Love is the air through which we grow. Knowledge is the light by which we [ripen]." (Gospel of Philip)

Faith is the foundation (earth) in which believers are rooted. Hope sustains them (water), love enables growth (air), and knowledge leads to spiritual maturity (light).

Faith vs. Belief

While "faith" is often equated with "belief," they are distinct. Faith implies confidence and understanding, not just intellectual assent. In Paul’s writings, faith is linked to a conscious awakening:

"'Awakened by the message' and 'faith comes from what is heard.' This emphasis on hearing, as an event, which awakens faith, is central to Paul."

Faith involves comprehension and practice, not just belief in Jesus but living by His teachings. Jesus emphasized that faith is foundational for building the Kingdom of God. He told Peter:

"According to your faith be it done unto you." (Matthew 9:29)

Faith as a Rational Understanding

Spiritual faith is more than emotional conviction—it is a rational, conscious trust in God's promises. The New Testament emphasizes that faith is based on understanding, not blind belief. Many translations use "belief" as a verb for faith because "she faiths" is not grammatically correct. However, "believe" can be misleading if it suggests a passive or blind acceptance rather than a well-founded conviction.

True faith involves confidence in God’s word, action based on that trust, and growth in spiritual wisdom. It is both substance and evidence—a reality and proof of what God has promised.

Grace: The Undeserved Kindness of God and the Aeon Charis

Grace: The Undeserved Kindness of God and the Aeon Charis

Grace, in its profound essence, is the undeserved kindness of God. Rooted in the Greek term xáris (5485), grace is described as a "favor freely done, without claim or expectation of return, leaning toward to share benefit." It embodies God's inclination to give Himself freely to humanity, extending an open invitation to partake in His divine nature. This favor, freely extended to give God’s benevolent presence to people, comes without any claim for repayment, reflecting God's unconditional goodwill. As described in Ephesians 2:5, “By grace have ye been saved,” grace represents the divine mercy that aids humanity in the process of regeneration and spiritual renewal.

The concept of grace is more than a theological idea; it is the action of God’s love and favor in the world. As noted in John 1:17, "Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ," grace manifests fully through Jesus, bringing a transforming, redeeming, and saving power to humanity. This grace is not merely a passive gift, but a dynamic force that transforms the believer’s consciousness and relationship with God.
The Aeon Charis: Divine Emanation of Grace

In the context of divine emanation, grace can be understood through the Aeon Charis, a primordial principle within the divine fullness or Pleroma. Charis, as an Aeon, signifies not only God's kindness but also His active disposition to share His divine life with humanity. This Aeon embodies the unearned favor extended to mankind, offering salvation, transformation, and enlightenment.

The role of the Aeon Charis within the Pleroma is essential. It is through Charis that humanity can access the divine realm, aligning with the Logos (Word) and entering into the higher consciousness revealed by Jesus Christ. As the Aeon Charis flows from the divine fullness, it becomes the mediating force that connects the human experience to the eternal divine. Just as light is radiated from a source, grace emanates from God, bringing knowledge, wisdom, and salvation to those who receive it. Charis, in this sense, is both a gift and a call to transformation, guiding believers toward a higher consciousness and a more intimate communion with the divine.
Conditional Grace and the Human Response

While grace is freely given, it is also conditional, requiring a response from humanity. God’s grace has been extended to the entire human race, as noted in Titus 2:11: "For the grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men." However, this does not imply universal salvation, for grace, while offered to all, requires a human response of faith and obedience.

The example of Noah illustrates this principle. As stated in Genesis 6:8, Noah "found grace in the eyes of Yahweh," yet Noah's salvation came through obedience, building the ark as God instructed (Hebrews 11:7). Similarly, believers must accept and actively engage with God's grace through faith, obedience, and repentance. The Apostle Paul underscores this idea in Romans 5:1 and 6:3-4, teaching that grace is accessed through faith in the work of Christ, and through it, believers are justified, sanctified, and ultimately glorified.
The Grace and Knowledge Connection

Grace is intimately connected with the knowledge of God. In 1 Corinthians 1:4-7, Paul speaks of the Corinthians being enriched "in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge," emphasizing that grace includes the impartation of divine wisdom and understanding. God's grace is not merely a passive gift; it is coupled with the revelation of divine truth, enabling believers to grow in knowledge and spiritual maturity.

This connection between grace and knowledge is essential for the Christian life. As Paul writes in Titus 2:11-12, God's grace teaches believers how to live godly lives. Knowledge of God's will, through His word and revelation, is the means by which grace operates in the life of the believer. Christianity is not only about receiving grace but also about learning from the divine instruction that grace makes available. The grace of God is, therefore, both an unearned favor and an active force that leads believers into a deeper understanding of God's truth and purpose.
Grace Is Not Earned

An essential characteristic of grace is that it is not earned. Humanity cannot merit God's favor through good works or deeds. As Paul writes in Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace ye are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." Grace excludes all human merit; it is a free gift from God, given out of His boundless mercy. Even if a person were to perform every righteous act commanded by God, they would still be unworthy of the favor extended through grace. Jesus Himself taught that no one can "liquidate" the debt of sin through their own efforts, as seen in the parable of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18:24-27).

Understanding grace in its fullness compels believers to approach God with humility and gratitude, recognizing that salvation is not a result of human achievement but of God's generous mercy. It is only by comprehending the unearned nature of grace that believers can serve God with true zeal and devotion, free from the misconception of earning God's favor.
The Transformative Power of Grace

Grace is more than a theological concept; it is a transformative power that can radically change a person's life. "Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ," John 1:17 tells us. Through Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, grace was made available to all, bringing redemption and transformation to those who respond. This grace is not passive but dynamic, fostering a new and higher consciousness in the earth.

Through grace, humanity can be regenerated, brought into a higher state of spiritual awareness, and united with the divine. This grace is available to all who are willing to receive it, through faith and obedience to the teachings and example of Jesus. It is through the Aeon Charis that believers are drawn into a deeper relationship with God, empowered by the grace that flows from the divine fullness.

In conclusion, grace, as expressed through the Aeon Charis, is both a gift and a calling. It is freely given, but it requires a response from humanity—faith, obedience, and the pursuit of knowledge. As we align ourselves with this divine grace, we enter into the transforming power that leads to redemption, spiritual renewal, and a higher consciousness in Christ. Grace, in all its fullness, opens the door to a life of transformation, empowering believers to live in accordance with God's will and purpose.

E=MC2 vs C=FP2

E=MC2- vs C=FP2

Well, I am no Einstein, not even a physicist, but I believe there is spiritual wisdom hidden in this natural law. Let’s consider the divine equation revealed to Einstein: E=MC². Why divine? As mentioned before, it is because all truths support The Truth. All the truths from math, science, chemistry, etc exist because they shadow a higher Truth.
So back to E=MC² where E is energy, M is mass, and C is the speed of light in a vacuum. One thing we know from this equation is that energy and mass are directly related. In fact, one could really think of all matter as condensed light! Hard to even imagine how much light is stored in our small, frail bodies. Converting this natural equation into a spiritual one is difficult, but here is my understanding.
It seems clear that C (speed of Light and a constant) is the shadow of God’s glory, power and will because they are both constants. Some “science sticklers” may bring up the point that the speed of light is not constant except in the vacuum of space and is slower in other mediums. Well, I think this fact also relates to a spiritual truth. If the speed of light {C} is the shadow of God’s will or power then let’s consider if it is the same at every level of existence. It seems clear that God’s will is not always done here on Earth. On the other hand, God’s will before time and space in the void was done at that moment called “here and now.” In that moment God’s will or power is constant and there is nothing greater. This is like the speed of light. In the void, the speed of light {C} is a constant. Like God’s will and power, “C” only becomes lessened, in a sense, in lower mediums like our world. So now, back to the equation at hand.
I believe that E (energy) is a shadow of our consciousness, or spiritual energy if you like. Our spiritual energy is our “light” that Jesus said we should not keep hidden. I think then M (mass) represents our faith in God. Faith is the substance of our spiritual life like mass is the substance of all things. Things exist in this world because they have mass. God exists in our consciousness because we have faith. Faith has spiritual weight like mass has weight. So, the equation for this is spiritual law then would be as follows:
Consciousness of God {C} = Faith in God {F} x Power of God² {P²} or C=FP².
Let’s consider this spiritual theory. The first question that might arise is why P²? Well, again in this world we have the Holy Spirit and the Son helping us to the Father, so this would be P x P or P². The power of God {P} “squared” sounds a bit absurd, but man cannot even fathom a single P. Can you imagine God’s power? Wouldn’t trying to grasp God’s power {P} be like counting to infinity? If we can agree that God has power that cannot be measured, why then would it be any different for P x P? See my point? So let’s test this theory as best we can.
When our Consciousness of God {C} increases then does our Faith {F}, or closeness to God also increases? Yes, I believe this true. Our awareness of God is directly proportional to our faith and closeness to God.
JAS 4:7 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you.
As our faith grows, we grow closer to God and our understanding and knowledge of him and life increases. Einstein was certainly no dummy! What he discovered in the natural has its meaning in the spiritual just as every shadow has its higher reality. Perhaps in “heaven” we will have P³- the power of Father, Son and Holy Spirit available to our consciousness! We can’t even imagine! Talk about being able to fly high! Until they then though, it seems we are to remain a bit “grounded” by the earthly forces that be.

GRAVITY-
1COR 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Gravity may be my favorite force of nature. Why? This is because without a doubt it represents God’s love. As Paul alludes to, love is the greatest “force” in the spiritual universe! Gravity, like God’s love, is a complete mystification. Man cannot explain the force of gravity, but simply labels it a “law” that just is the way it is. We have no earthly idea why objects attract one another, but without gravity (and certainly God's love), life as we know it could not exist.
If one examines the law of gravity closely and then looks up to find the higher law or force it represents, we must come to the conclusion that God’s love is the spiritual form of gravity. They seem to parallel each other in every way imaginable. Like God, gravity is ever present, ever active, ever lasting. It doesn’t run out, run down and it is everywhere there is mass. The greater that mass of an object is the greater is the force of gravity. Again, spiritual mass would represent our faith or nearness to God. The closer we get to God, the stronger our love (spiritual gravity) becomes. This is the higher law of Love.

GAL 5:14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
It is written that God is love, and any that love are born of God. What a profound mystery that Love has created. It seems clear that the will of gravity and the will of God are the same- to be ONE. Both are constant, unyielding and dominating in their kingdoms. Gravity and God’s love affects all things at all times. It is unwavering no matter the circumstances. What is really interesting is what happens when gravity is taken to extreme limits.
The notion of “black holes” was at first mere speculation. Then later they became theoretical, but today they are all but accepted as fact. The black hole is all about extreme gravity. It is a sinkhole for all mass and energy- even light. The force of gravity becomes so strong that it overpowers all other forces of the universe! Now, that sounds like God’s love! It seems that within a black hole, the laws of physics are superseded by a higher order of “laws” just as Christ supersedes the Law of Moses.
As discussed in the article The Meaning of Life, matter and consciousness are inversely related in that as matter decreases in the universe, overall consciousness increases. So in the black hole, matter is taken from this world and consciousness is given into the spiritual realm. Again recall the spiritual equation of consciousness:
Consciousness {C} = Faith in God {F} x Power of God² {P²}
As our faith grows, our consciousness (or awareness) of God’s will also increases. This is the same relationship we see with gravity within the black hole. The black hole is drawing all things together just as God is drawing us all back so that God is all in all. The closer the mass becomes the greater the force of gravity. God’s love increases as we come together as well. We are called to love our neighbor as our self, but do we realize why? It is because we are all part of the Body of Christ. As we come together because of the overpowering force of God’s love, we become ONE body! And like the mass transformed in the black hole, we are also transformed into a higher state of being in Christ!
What I also find interesting is a black hole is likely formed when a large star goes super nova. In other words, once a star has surrendered a critical amount of mass through the process of fusion, it then explodes and collapses upon itself. It gives all that it can, and then it begins to take EVERYTHING back! This is the nature of God and the “Cycle of Life,”. If all has come from God and all is returning to God, then love is the gravity making this possible.

Gnostic Christianity's Response to Terrorism

 Gnostic Christianity's Response to Terrorism

Hate repaid with hate is twice the hate. Return hate with love is the true Christian response to terrorism. Non-violence illustrate this response. Wars have killed billions. If we practiced what Jesus and Paul taught terrorism would have been defeated by love.

Love "is the answer". Non-violence is its weapon. Peace and abundance is love's reward.

In their own words, Jesus and Paul's response to terrorism is:

Jesus in Matt 5:38-42 (JBV)43 “YOU heard that it was said, ‘You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 However, I say to YOU: Continue to love YOUR enemies and to pray for those persecuting YOU; 45 that YOU may prove yourselves sons of YOUR Father who is in the heavens, since he makes his sun rise upon wicked people and good and makes it rain upon righteous people and unrighteous. 46 For if YOU love those loving YOU, what reward do YOU have? Are not also the tax collectors doing the same thing? 47 And if YOU greet YOUR brothers only, what extraordinary thing are YOU doing? Are not also the people of the nations doing the same thing? 48 YOU must accordingly be perfect, as YOUR heavenly Father is perfect.

Paul in Rm 12:14-21(JBV)

Bless those who persecute you: never curse them, bless them. Rejoice with those who rejoice and be sad those in sorrow. Treat everyone with equal kindness; never be patronizing but make real friends with the poor. Do not allow yourself to become self-satisfied. Never repay evil with evil but let everyone see that you are interested only in the highest ideals. Do all you can to live at peace with everyone. Never try to get revenge; leave that, my friends, to God's anger. As scripture says: Vengeance is mine-I will pay them back, the Lord promises. But there is more: If your enemy is hungry, you should give him food, and if he is thirsty, let him drink. Thus you heap red-hot coals on his head. Resist evil and conquer it with good.

Paul in Phil 2:1-6 (JBV)

If our life in Christ means anything to you, if love can persuade at all, or the Spirit that we have in common, or any tenderness and sympathy, then be united in your convictions and united in your love, with a common purpose and a common mind. That is the one thing which would make me completely happy. There must be no competition among you, no conceit; but everybody is to be self-effacing. Always consider the other person to be better than yourself, so that nobody thinks of his own interests first, but everybody thinks of other people's interests instead. In your minds you must be the same as Christ Jesus: His state was divine, yet he did not cling to his equality with God.

Religions and Beliefs

Religions and Beliefs:

Greetings to you  my brothers and sisters.

I appeal to you concerning a matter that needs to be addressed which is common among you.
There is to much contention among you concerning your many beliefs, this much was even done among the disciples of Christ, and it did not benefit none.


1 Corinthians 3:4 ►....... English Standard Version
For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?

1 Corinthians 1:12 ►........ New Living Translation
Some of you are saying, "I am a follower of Paul." Others are saying, "I follow Apollos," or "I follow Peter," or "I follow only Christ."

For others I say in this manner:

Some say I study the Samaritan way while others say I study the Greek, and yet others, say I follow Moses, those with like minds shall never attain into the truth of the preexisting father nor understand his way.

Know this my brothers our father and the kingdom of heaven is in you and all around you, but many cannot see it nor grasp hold of this meaning, the understanding of the kingdom does not come by some mixture or combination of mixtures but by a personal relationship with whom you all are seeking to know, did not he say we all are his children, and if you consider yourself his child then develop a father or mother relationship with them.

As for me my desire is for you all to know him and her as I do, but I know one son and one daughter knows the father and mother different from another, or is there one among you saying that they are incapable of loving each according to the level of knowledge that, that one son and daughter has, surely I tell you a mystery.

So let one share his or her knowledge in the thing he or she knows, our father and mother shall reveal the light of true gnosis to all, and that is on each level, and at the time of unity then and only then shall we be able to speak the same language.
So then let us put aside such things there is much to be learned.
I leave you with this.

1 Corinthians 13:12 ►.......... New Living Translation
Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely

Good Soil Gospel of Thomas Saying 9

Gospel of Thomas Saying 9 Jesus said, "Listen, a sower came forth, took a handful, and cast. Now, some fell upon the path, and the birds came and picked them out. Others fell upon rock, and they did not take root in the soil, and did not send up ears. And others fell upon the thorns, and they choked the seed; and the grubs devoured them. And others fell upon good soil, and it sent up good crops and yielded sixty per measure and a hundred and twenty per measure.

The comparison of this spoken word of God to seed is a very happy comparison. Viewing the mind of man as soil, there is a strict analogy between the one and the other. Just as soil—the very best—has no power to yield garden flowers without seed or its equivalent, so the human brain has no power to evolve knowledge or wisdom without the impartation of ideas from without. Ideas are not innate in the human mind. The mind of a new-born babe is an absolute blank: and the mind of a grown man would be the same, if from his babyhood he were kept away from all contact with idea-acquiring agencies and sources. The kind of ideas he forms depends upon the class of ideas implanted by these external agencies. His mind will develop according to the influences acting upon it from without.

The phrase: ”bore sixty per measure and a hundred and twenty per measure." this may refer to each of the twelve disciples receiving FIVE measures, five is the number of Grace  12 x 5 = 60
If they each doubled what they were given, as in the parable of the “talents” in Matthew 25:14-29, that would be TEN measures each. 12 x 10 = 120

 Jesus said, "Now the sower [anyone who is truly commissioned to sow the word] went out, took a handful (of seeds) [the Words of life], and scattered them [again He "enlightens every man that comes into the world"]. Some fell on the road [the broad way - the Judean\Christo-pagan systems of worship who are full of believers but none with sufficient faith to obey and keep the Word]; the birds [sinful minded religious leaders (Pharisees and Scribes who followed Mosaic/Talmudic Law back then and still do today through the Triple Crown Power) whose road leads to death (the whole world follows after this beast now)] came and gathered them up [they cleverly hid the Keys of Knowledge and the hidden Word from people everywhere by imprisoning and killing anyone who spoke of it (they kept the scrolls and the Keys to themselves allowing no laity access to them]. Others fell on the rock [those who gleefully received the Word but with hardened hearts], did not take root in the soil [having a lack of moisture (faith in the Word) these yearned for the "traditions" of their forefathers and were not able to endure the obedience test], and did not produce ears [first-fruit - sons of the Kingdom who carry the seeds of life within them]. And others fell on thorns [those who although believing, are already established in their worldly ways]; they choked the seed(s) ["quenched the spirit" (of the Word) due to their lusting after the world and its riches] and worms ate them [serpentine (errant) thoughts made them into food for their belly that they might use the Word for their own benefit]. And others fell on the good soil [those of a pure heart full of moisture (faith)] and produced good fruit [spiritual food and more faithful believers]: it bore sixty per measure and a hundred and twenty per measure."

lion becomes a man Gospel of Thomas Saying 7

Jesus says: "Blessed is the lion which a man eats so that the lion becomes a man. But cursed is the man whom a lion eats so that the man becomes a lion!"

Jesus is the lion of Judea (#Ge 49:9,10 Nu 24:9 Heb 7:14 Rev 5:5) The lion was often the symbol of royalty. Thus, the lion is a symbol of the King. And here are the symbolism of that which is good and desirable characteristic or quality: Majesty, courage, destructiveness to enemies symbolism Justice, attribute of “living creature” near the throne (Re 4:7) Jesus as royal majesty, King, executor of justice (Ge 49:9; Re 5:5) Yahweh (Isa 31:4; Ho 11:10) Israel (Mic 5:8)


Eating: From other sayings in Thomas, we may infer that the lion can be eaten only if it is killed and becomes a corpse compare Saying 11, 60. The lord Jesus tells us to eat his flesh. Thus his follower can only do this after his death

Thus “the lion will become man.” after Christ being formed within you after eating the meat of the word the lion (the king) will become a (new) man (in you) I must ask whether the conclusion of this logion ought not to read: [‘and the man will become lion’]. Anyway, they both make sense with this meaning

The Lion also represents the savage thoughts that arise within us
The lion was also used to symbolize human passions. Wicked men (e.g., Psa. 22:12, 13; 57:4; Prov. 28:15 1Pe 5:8).

As I have said above the lion can be eaten only if it is killed and becomes a corpse or the lion can only eat or devour the man if he is dead compare Saying 11, 60 For the lion to devour you first you must be dead that is spiritually dead.  eat or devour One's character, property, life, etc. See Mat 23:14; Hab 1:13; Psa 37:12

The lion will become a man this speaks of ignorance and evil taking over a man and turning a man into something less than a man. Therefore, we need to control our passions in order to transform us in to the image of Christ who is now the true image of God. 

7) Jesus said, "Blessed is the lion [the individual spirit consciousness who has been moved by the "spirit of the world" (sin 1Jo 2:16 ) exhibiting carnal (fleshly) nature] which becomes man [becomes enlightened by the "spirit of truth" one of the "Elect "] when consumed by man [when the spirit of truth in man gets mastery over the flesh and the world i.e. "kills the old man" i.e. devours the lion (beast) within]; and cursed is the man ["one who once tasted the free gifts of the spirit" (enlightenment)] whom the lion consumes [sin once again gets mastery over this one], and the lion becomes man [created in his own image i.e. the spirit of "anti-Christ" - "who went out from among us" (the Elect)]." 

Do Not Do What You Hate Gospel of Thomas Saying 6

Gospel of Thomas saying 6  [His disciples] questioned him [and said], "How [shall we] fast? [How shall we pray]? How [shall we give alms]? What [diet] shall [we] observe?" Jesus said, "[Do not tell lies, and] do not do what you [hate, for all things are plain in the sight] of truth. [For nothing] hidden [will not become manifest]."

Like all devout Jews, the disciples knew their religion, but Jesus knew the Truth. They were focused on following rules and laws, but Jesus simply followed God. They had been taught what was right and proper, but Jesus knew in his spirit what was holy and perfect. Jesus gave them a basic lesson for any interested in finding the Truth. Do not lie! He also adds that we should not do what we hate.

true fasting is abstinence from evil words and actions, not from indifferent things like food Sayings 14, 27, 104

It is apparent from Jesus’s answers that He was making it a point to inform us that the questions asked of Him were born of the flesh and not of the spirit.  Everything we do is in plain sight of Heaven and since heaven is both inside and outside, our acts will be exposed not only to ourselves but others.  Most people think that no one sees them in their little lies, their silly justifications and their (in their mind) covert actions but the reality is that they are always discovered by a son of the Most High no matter how hard they try to cover them.

6)# His disciples questioned Him and said to Him, "Do you want us to fast? How shall we pray? Shall we give alms? What diet shall we observe?" [all of these questions demonstrate a lack of understanding at the time by the disciples] Jesus said, "Do not tell lies [do not try to cover up (justify) your sins], and do not do what you hate [for this is the epitome of hypocrisy - we should "do unto others as we would have done unto us"], for all things are plain in the sight [spiritual eyes] of Heaven [those who have these eyes]. For nothing hidden [in the hearts of man or in the scriptures] will not become manifest [to those who "have eyes to see" and ears to "hear what the spirit is saying"], and nothing covered will remain without being uncovered [One with two eyes and two ears is able to discern both the lower/outward (fleshly) forms and the higher/inward (spiritual) substance of the Word for these have discovered these "keys of Knowledge" and are able to "uncover" the hidden things in man and in the Word]."