SHOULD WE LET OUR WORKS BE SEEN BY OTHERS?

Matthew 5:16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (KJV) Matthew 6:1  Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. (KJV)

Another case where context is important.  These two passages compliment, not contradict, each other.  The point here is that our good deeds must be genuine, and not something done to make us look good.  The Matthew 5 passage is telling us to let God's glory shine through us, to be compassionate and generous with others.  The Matthew 6 passage warns us not to do it boastfully.  God wants us to be charitable because we genuinely care, not to be charitable to make ourselves look good before others.  Not a contradiction.