Matthew 6

1 “Pay attention, lest you perform your justice before men, in order to be seen by them; otherwise you shall not have a reward with your Father, who is in heaven.2 Therefore, when you give alms, do not choose to sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the towns, so that they may be honored by men. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward.3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,4 so that your almsgiving may be in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will repay you.5 And when you pray, you should not be like the hypocrites, who love standing in the synagogues and at the corners of the streets to pray, so that they may be seen by men. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward.6 But you, when you pray, enter into your room, and having shut the door, pray to your Father in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will repay you.7 And when praying, do not choose many words, as the pagans do. For they think that by their excess of words they might be heeded.8 Therefore, do not choose to imitate them. For your Father knows what your needs may be, even before you ask him.9 Therefore, you shall pray in this way: Our Father, who is in heaven: May your name be kept holy.10 May your kingdom come. May your will be done, as in heaven, so also on earth.11 Give us this day our life-sustaining bread.12 And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.13 And lead us not into temptation. But free us from evil. Amen.14 For if you will forgive men their sins, your heavenly Father also will forgive you your offenses.15 But if you will not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive you your sins.16 And when you fast, do not choose to become gloomy, like the hypocrites. For they alter their faces, so that their fasting may be apparent to men. Amen I say to you, that they have received their reward.17 But as for you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,18 so that your fasting will not be apparent to men, but to your Father, who is in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will repay you.19 Do not choose to store up for yourselves treasures on earth: where rust and moth consume, and where thieves break in and steal.20 Instead, store up for yourselves treasures in heaven: where neither rust nor moth consumes, and where thieves do not break in and steal.21 For where your treasure is, there also is your heart.22 The lamp of your body is your eye. If your eye is wholesome, your entire body will be filled with light.23 But if your eye has been corrupted, your entire body will be darkened. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great will that darkness be!24 No one is able to serve two masters. For either he will have hatred for the one, and love the other, or he will persevere with the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.25 And so I say to you, do not be anxious about your life, as to what you will eat, nor about your body, as to what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?26 Consider the birds of the air, how they neither sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of much greater value than they are?27 And which of you, by thinking, is able to add one cubit to his stature?28 And as for clothing, why are you anxious? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither work nor weave.29 But I say to you, that not even Solomon, in all his glory, was arrayed like one of these.30 So if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and cast into the oven tomorrow, how much more will he care for you, O little in faith?31 Therefore, do not choose to be anxious, saying: ‘What shall we eat, and what shall we drink, and with what shall we be clothed?’32 For the Gentiles seek all these things. Yet your Father knows that you need all these things.33 Therefore, seek first the kingdom of God and his justice, and all these things shall be added to you as well.34 Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow; for the future day will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its evil.”

Matthew 6

Pure-hearted Giving

1 “Bes careful not to display your righteousness merely to be seen by people.t Otherwise you have no reward with your Father in heaven.2 Thus whenever you do charitable giving,t do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in synagoguess and on streets so that people will praise them. I tell you the truth,t they have their reward.3 But when you do your giving, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

4 so that your gift may be in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.s

Private Prayer

5 “Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray while standing in synagoguess and on street corners so that people can see them. Truly I say to you, they have their reward.6 But whenever you pray, go into your room,s close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.ss7 Whent you pray, do not babble repetitiously like the Gentiles, because they think that by their many words they will be heard.8 Dot not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9 So pray this way:s
Our Fathers in heaven, may your name be honored,t

10 may your kingdom come,s
may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us today our daily bread,t

12 and forgive us our debts, as we ourselvest have forgiven our debtors.

13 And do not lead us into temptation,ts but deliver us from the evil one.st
14 “For if you forgive otherst their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

15 But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive you your sins.

Proper Fasting

16 “Whent you fast, do not look sullen like the hypocrites, for they make their faces unattractivet so that people will see them fasting. I tell you the truth,t they have their reward.17 Whent you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,

18 so that it will not be obvious to others when you are fasting, but only to your Father who is in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.

Lasting Treasure

19 “Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, where motht and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.20 But accumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.

21 For where yourt treasures is, there your heart will be also.
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If then your eye is healthy,t your whole body will be full of light.

23 But if your eye is diseased,ts your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hates the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despiset the other. You cannot serve God and money.ts

Do Not Worry

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worryt about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing?26 Look at the birds in the sky:t They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feedst them. Aren’t you more valuablet than they are?27 And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life?t28 Why do you worry about clothing? Think about how the flowerst of the field grow; they do not workt or spin.29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these!30 And if this is how God clothes the wild grass,t which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven,ts won’t he clothe you even more,s you people of little faith?31 So then, don’t worry saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’32 For the unconvertedt pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.33 But above all pursue his kingdomss and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

34 So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.t