Matthew 6:1-18

Charitable Giving to the Poor and Prayer

¹“Take care not to practice your righteousness in the sight of people, to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.

²“So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, so that they will be praised by people. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. ³But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴so that your charitable giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

⁵“And when you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they will be seen by people. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. ⁶But as for you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

⁷“And when you are praying, do not use thoughtless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. ⁸So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

The Lord’s Prayer

⁹“Pray, then, in this way:

‘Our Father, who is in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

10‘Your kingdom come.

Your will be done,

On earth as it is in heaven.

11‘Give us this day our daily bread.

12‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’

¹⁴For if you forgive other people for their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵But if you do not forgive other people, then your Father will not forgive your offenses.

Fasting; The True Treasure; Wealth

¹⁶“Now whenever you fast, do not make a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they distort their faces so that they will be noticed by people when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. ¹⁷But as for you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, ¹⁸so that your fasting will not be noticed by people but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

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