Matthew 6:1-18

Do Not Be Hypocrites

¹ “Be careful that you do not do your righteous works ^[1] in front of people, so that they will notice. If you do, you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. ² So whenever you perform acts of mercy, do not sound a trumpet for yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets to be praised by people. Amen I tell you: They have received their reward. ³ Instead, when you perform acts of mercy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. ⁴ Then your acts of mercy will be in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. ^[2]

⁵ “Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. They love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by people. Amen I tell you: They have received their reward. ⁶ But whenever you pray, go into your private room, close your door, and pray to your Father who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what others cannot see, will reward you. ^[3]

The Lord’s Prayer

⁷ “And when you pray, do not babble like the heathen, since they think that they will be heard because of their many words. ⁸ However do not be like them, because your Father knows what you need before you ask him. ⁹ Therefore pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. ¹⁰ Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. ¹¹ Give us today our daily bread. ¹² Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. ¹³ Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’ ^[4]

¹⁴ “Indeed if you forgive people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive people their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Fasting

¹⁶ “Whenever you fast, do not make yourself look sad like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show everyone that they are fasting. Amen I tell you: They have received their reward. ¹⁷ But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, ¹⁸ so that it is not apparent to people that you are fasting, but only to your Father who sees what is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.