Matthew 5 and 6 - To be seen or not?

 One of the set readings for Lent, importantly, is Jesus' teaching from Matthew 6 about doing your religious duties such as alms-giving, prayer and fasting in secret. 

But this follows hot on the heals of Matthew 5:16 where Jesus tells us to let our light shine before people so that they may see your good works. 

How do we reconcile these two verses?

One important consideration is the motive and aim:

Do not do your good works to be seen by people to impress them with how holy you are so that you get the reward of their esteem. Rather, do good works in secret and look for the reward of your heavenly Father who sees what is done in secret. 

But do your good works so that others will see and glorify God. This of course doesn't mean that your good works need to be done with an elaborate performance and public fanfare. But it does mean that you are to known as a Christian. And if you get the chance, you'll want people to know any good you do is not because you are such a great guy, but out of grateful response for all that God has done for you in Christ. You got your light from The Light of the World and in your own dim way you seek to reflect something of his glory to others. 

Good works are to glorify God not you. 

Your reward comes from God, not from other people.