Matthew 6:1-18

How to Give

1 "Be careful not to practice your righteousness ^[a] in front of people, to be seen by them. Otherwise, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

2 So whenever you give to the poor, don't sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. I assure you: They've got their reward!

3 But when you give to the poor, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. ^[b]

How to Pray

5 "Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. I assure you: They've got their reward!

6 But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. ^[c]

7 When you pray, don't babble like the idolaters, ^[d] since they imagine they'll be heard for their many words.

8 Don't be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask Him.

The Model Prayer

9 "Therefore, you should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, Your name be honored as holy.

10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us today our daily bread. ^[e]

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

13 And do not bring us into ^[f] temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. ^[g] [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.] ^[h]

14 "For if you forgive people their wrongdoing, ^[i] your heavenly Father will forgive you as well.

15 But if you don't forgive people, ^[j] your Father will not forgive your wrongdoing. ^[k]

How to Fast

16 "Whenever you fast, don't be sad-faced like the hypocrites. For they make their faces unattractive ^[l] so their fasting is obvious to people. I assure you: They've got their reward!

17 But when you fast, put oil on your head, and wash your face,

18 so that you don't show your fasting to people but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. ^[m]

Footnotes

• [a]. Other mss read charitable giving
• [b]. Other mss read will Himself reward you openly
• [c]. Other mss add openly
• [d]. Or Gentiles, or nations, or heathen, or pagans
• [e]. Or our necessary bread, or our bread for tomorrow
• [f]. Or do not cause us to come into
• [g]. Or from evil
• [h]. Other mss omit bracketed text
• [i]. Or trespasses
• [j]. Other mss add their wrongdoing
• [k]. Or trespasses
• [l]. Or unrecognizable, or disfigured
• [m]. Other mss add openly