Christian Graces

^2 (A)Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it ^(B)with thanksgiving; ^3 (C)meanwhile praying also for us, that God would ^(D)open to us a door for the word, to speak ^(E)the ^[a]mystery of Christ, ^(F)for which I am also in chains, ⁴ that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

Do Good to Please God

6 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. ² Therefore, ^(A)when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. ³ But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret ^(B)will Himself reward you ^[a]openly.

The Model Prayer^(C)

⁵ “And when you pray, you shall not be like the ^[b]hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. ⁶ But you, when you pray, ^(D)go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you ^[c]openly. ⁷ And when you pray, ^(E)do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. ^(F)For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

⁸ “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father ^(G)knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. ⁹ In this ^(H)manner, therefore, pray:

^14 (Q)“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But ^(R)if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Fasting to Be Seen Only by God

¹⁶ “Moreover, ^(S)when you fast, do not be like the ^[e]hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. ¹⁷ But you, when you fast, ^(T)anoint your head and wash your face, ¹⁸ so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you ^[f]openly.

Lay Up Treasures in Heaven^(U)

^19 (V)“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; ^20 (W)but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The Lamp of the Body^(X)

^22 (Y)“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is ^[g]good, your whole body will be full of light. ²³ But if your eye is ^[h]bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

^39 (A)But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would ^[a]have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. ^40 (B)Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

^41 (A)Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. ^(B)The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Final Exhortations

^13 (A)Watch, ^(B)stand fast in the faith, be brave, ^(C)be strong. ^14 (D)Let all that you do be done with love.

^6 (A)Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but ^(B)let us watch and be ^[a]sober.

⁸ Be ^[a]sober, be ^[b]vigilant; ^[c]because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

The Dead Church

3 “And to the ^[a]angel of the church in Sardis write,

‘These things says He who ^(A)has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. ² Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before ^[b]God. ^3 (B)Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and ^(C)repent. ^(D)Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you ^(E)as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.

¹⁴ For they are spirits of demons, ^(A)performing signs, which go out to the kings ^[a]of the earth and of ^(B)the whole world, to gather them to ^(C)the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

^15 (D)“Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, ^(E)lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”