Rend Your Heart

The Lord’s Answer

¹⁹ The Lord replied^[a] to them:

Psalm 51^[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.^(A)

²⁰ We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors,^(A) as though God were making his appeal through us.^(B) We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.^{(C) 21} God made him who had no sin^(D) to be sin^[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.^(E)

6 As God’s co-workers^(F) we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.^{(G) 2} For he says,

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

Paul’s Hardships

³ We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path,^(I) so that our ministry will not be discredited. ⁴ Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; ⁵ in beatings, imprisonments^(J) and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger;^{(K) 6} in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit^(L) and in sincere love;^{(M) 7} in truthful speech^(N) and in the power of God;^(O) with weapons of righteousness^(P) in the right hand and in the left; ⁸ through glory and dishonor,^(Q) bad report^(R) and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors;^{(S) 9} known, yet regarded as unknown; dying,^(T) and yet we live on;^(U) beaten, and yet not killed; ¹⁰ sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;^(V) poor, yet making many rich;^(W) having nothing,^(X) and yet possessing everything.^(Y)

Giving to the Needy

6 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them.^(A) If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

² “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ³ But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.^(B)

Prayer^(C)

⁵ “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing^(D) in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ⁶ But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father,^(E) who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Fasting

¹⁶ “When you fast,^(A) do not look somber^(B) as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ¹⁷ But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, ¹⁸ so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.^(C)

Treasures in Heaven^(D)

¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,^(E) where moths and vermin destroy,^(F) and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,^(G) where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.^{(H) 21} For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.^(I)